What are the options to write back to the XDCAM Disc
from an Apple? Is it like a hard drive when connected
to the computer?

If you have FCP 5.1.2, you will take your finished sequence and do export->Sony XDCAM. Be sure to put the camera in the same mode as your sequence setting (ie 35mb 60i).

That's it. Just know that it's going to take awhile for the computer to render the sequence since it's MPEG. Your sequence will become the last clip on disc.

-gb-

Thanks Greg.
I just started using the XDCAM as a backup device also.
It's great for just dragging anything into the General folder
on the disc; kind of a "psedu-blu-ray" Apple backup solution.

Do you take any kind of quality hit by doing it this way?

It's just data. I have many other edited timelines in many different formats
that I could have printed back to tape. But, XDCAM DISC is claimed to
have a 50+ year life. Beats tapes and having to worry about dropping frames,
artifacts, striping tapes, etc. Plus it's a little faster to drop as data to
the XDCAM rather than tape.

I guess if you wanted to back up to XDCAM Disc and be able to play
it back from the deck or camera you would have to convert the
file to XDCAM format, mess with the FCP settings and of course
make sure your XDCAM disc is formatted to the same setting...?

I've just done this Bill.

It is a breeze, simply go to File/Export/XDCAM, and hit enter.

Its quick, easy and there is no quality loss by doing this.

The idea of the general folser is indeed to store EDL's, projects, stills etc so you can keep an entire project along with the rushes. One of the advantages of file based formats.

Do you take any kind of quality hit by doing it this way?

Not really, although it will re-conform the GOP structure around edit points.

-gb-

I was just at a Sony HD seminar today and one of the Sony reps mentioned they would be coming out with XDCAM drives in addition to the Blue Ray HD drives.

cheers

Morton

Did Sony say what the costs would be?

No mention of price but I would imagine it would be in the range of what a good Blue Ray drive would be $ 1,000.00 + perhaps a bit more. Still a lot less than having to buy a F30 player deck.


Morton

PDW-D1 XDCAM Drive Unit
Is now shipping.

Costs about $4500 USD.
Seems a little spendy if you can't
use your 330/350 camera(s) to
do the same thing.

PDW-D1 is limited to XDCAM IMX for some reason.

Doesn't make sense to me that it's only limited to SD MXFs, as I would think data is data, but that's what I've been lead to believe on that box.

To be honest, the formatting of the XDCAM discs is a mystery to me. I too would have thought that data was data. It would be incredibly useful if SD and HD equipment could at least read all the types of XD files just for data transfer even if they can't actually play back the footage.

It would enable current XD equipped places to cope with HD XD editing should they need to without having to get more equipment.

I've just done this Bill.

It is a breeze, simply go to File/Export/XDCAM, and hit enter.

Its quick, easy and there is no quality loss by doing this.

Does it work if you have FX in your sequences too?

Thierry.

It will export exactly what is on the timeline, just as when you export to any other deck.

I've only done this once, no FX, but a few titles and some sound track.

It will export exactly what is on the timeline, just as when you export to any other deck.

I've only done this once, no FX, but a few titles and some sound track.

Interesting... So this means FCP can write MXF files using Sony's XDCAM MPEG-HD codecs right?

Thierry.

Interesting... So this mean FCP can write MXF files using Sony's XDCAM MPEG-HD codecs right?


Bingo! That is correct. And you can place all the supplemental items like scripts, notes, graphics, etc. in the GENERAL directory of the disc. That's your 500mb to do with as you like.

-gb-

I think the issue with the IMX drive not working with HD is down to the fact that the camera/decks/drives creates the proxies internally when you write a full res clip to the unit. So even a drive must be able to "read" the data in the files to be able to create an appropriate proxy. I am guessing that this is important to maintain the integrity of the disk file structure so that any compatible deck/camera can read the disk correctly.

I think the issue with the IMX drive not working with HD is down to the fact that the...

Aha. Makes perfect sense. I had been searching for a real tech reason why that drive would be limited.

I bet with the new drive coming out, they offload that functionality to the computer; as in the drive will only work with software that will make sure that structure (with proxies generated by computer) happens correctly.