While on a news assignment with a EX camera, I am researching a simple way to convert my edited timeline (AVID) to a XDCAM EX compliant .mp4 file and write it back to a SxS card so I can take the camera to a feed point and use the SDI output of the EX camera to feed the edited piece via satellite. Writing a .mp4 file to a SxS card with the EX Clip Browser but is there any video conversion package on the market that has a preset to create XDCAM EX compliant .mp4 files?

T.

is there any video conversion package on the market that has a preset to create XDCAM EX compliant .mp4 files?


I know you're not going to want to hear this but Final Cut Pro exports to EX MP4. Then ClipBrowser can create a new BPAV. You're still limited by FAT32 constraints (4GB) and there's no .smi created that would link files but that might not be an issue with short new pieces.

I guess AVID doesn't do anything like this. The above feature is due to Sony plugin into FCP so it's not native to FCP.

I have a tutorial I can link to that shows how this works in FCP if it helps (but I don't think it will).

What about Sony Vegas? You could also export to the camera as a HDV sequence over firewire, not ideal but a possible solution.

I second what Alister said. Vegas 9.0c has the ability to render into EX mp4 format, and split the output into < 4GB chunks if necessary.

It also can smart render the EX mp4 clips (even when mixed with equivalent mxf's)!

..

I have a tutorial I can link to that shows how this works in FCP if it helps (but I don't think it will).

Please link me

Avid MC 4.0 can downmix/transcode a sequence to native XDCAM EX 35 mbit-format. However exporting the downmix as a Quicktime-file is not possible. I don't know if there is another way to get the file onto the SxS-card. Maybe it is possible to dig out the MXF-file from the media drive and somehow package it so that it can be read by the camera.
I know to little about the contents of the BPAV-folder to have any ideas on how to do this.

I am currently using avid so not yet willing to jump on the mac fcpro board. I will explore the avid solution a bit deeper.

Thanks

I work with Avid Media Composer 4.0.3 on a Mac Pro, and yes, you can write-back to an XDCAM disc media by using "Output", and "Export To Device" (PDW-U1 or PDW-700 camcorder)

But for the moment I can't find how to export directly from Avid to SxS XDCAM EX.

I try to explore too.... and I'm interesting by your answers...

William.

Here is how I did it through FCP. There are some tricks that took me a long time to discover.
You should be able to do the same with most any other NLE system.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdcam-ex-cinealta/236702-how-export-fcp-sxs-card.html