How to rescue C300 files? at DVinfo.net

Sabyasachi Patra · June 19th, 2013, 02:57 AM

There is an unfortunate mistake a SOS situation. How to rescue the C300 footage?

Files were not downloaded properly. The CF card was connected to the laptop and only the clips which are saved as individual folders have been copied to another folder in the laptop. Normally the folder structure looks like this.

20130618211007/CONTENTS/CLIPS001/AA0488, AA0489 etc

Only the folders AA0488, AA0489 etc which are the individual clips have been copied. I am wondering how to read those clips.

Any idea what to do?

Warren Kawamoto · June 19th, 2013, 08:22 AM

This is a wild guess, but worth a try..
1. Count how many clips you have stored improperly. Lets say you have 100.
2. Get the C300 and start and stop it 100 times on a new card.
3. Copy the entire card structure to your laptop.
4. Replace the sub folders with your footage.

I'm curious to know if this would work!

Daniel Epstein · June 19th, 2013, 12:40 PM

I would just throw all the folders in to the Clips 001 folder inside a Contents folder from an empty formatted card and see if that works. Also keep the Canon XF folder which the Contents folder resides in. You may also be able to just name the outside folders which are all in Caps. Good luck

Pete Bauer · June 19th, 2013, 03:52 PM

Your NLE may be able to open the files without the folder structure. Prelude and Premiere both will open individual Canon MXF files as-is. I don't know which other NLEs do or don't.

Sabyasachi Patra · June 23rd, 2013, 01:08 AM

I tried copying the folders into the CLIPS 001 folder but nothing works. I then copied those to one card and tried to see if I can view those files in the C300 and I can't.

I use FCP X and it doesn't recognise the folders. Hopefully I can find a solution soon.

Pete Bauer · June 23rd, 2013, 07:45 AM

I'm not aware of any software that can reconstruct the CONTENTS folder/file structure without the original pointer and database files like CIF, SIF, XML and the index file. If anyone knows of one, please post.

Just a quick look around the web finds that there are a few utilities to convert MXF to other file formats like MOV or AVI but I have never tried them and can't vouch for them. Creative Cloud has a 30 day free trial that you could download to use Prelude or Premiere. They will not be able to reconstruct the CONTENTS folder structure, but they will convert from the MXF file to MOV or many other formats. I'm sure you would be able to convert to something that FCP can work with. Costs nothing to try.

June 19th, 2013, 02:57 AM	#1
Sabyasachi Patra Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 507	How to rescue C300 files? There is an unfortunate mistake a SOS situation. How to rescue the C300 footage? Files were not downloaded properly. The CF card was connected to the laptop and only the clips which are saved as individual folders have been copied to another folder in the laptop. Normally the folder structure looks like this. 20130618211007/CONTENTS/CLIPS001/AA0488, AA0489 etc Only the folders AA0488, AA0489 etc which are the individual clips have been copied. I am wondering how to read those clips. Any idea what to do? __________________ Wild Tiger Productions http://www.indiawilds.com/about.htm

June 19th, 2013, 08:22 AM	#2
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	Re: How to rescue C300 files? This is a wild guess, but worth a try.. 1. Count how many clips you have stored improperly. Lets say you have 100. 2. Get the C300 and start and stop it 100 times on a new card. 3. Copy the entire card structure to your laptop. 4. Replace the sub folders with your footage. I'm curious to know if this would work!

June 19th, 2013, 12:40 PM	#3
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: How to rescue C300 files? I would just throw all the folders in to the Clips 001 folder inside a Contents folder from an empty formatted card and see if that works. Also keep the Canon XF folder which the Contents folder resides in. You may also be able to just name the outside folders which are all in Caps. Good luck

June 19th, 2013, 03:52 PM	#4
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Re: How to rescue C300 files? Your NLE may be able to open the files without the folder structure. Prelude and Premiere both will open individual Canon MXF files as-is. I don't know which other NLEs do or don't. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

June 23rd, 2013, 01:08 AM	#5
Sabyasachi Patra Major Player Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 507	Re: How to rescue C300 files? I tried copying the folders into the CLIPS 001 folder but nothing works. I then copied those to one card and tried to see if I can view those files in the C300 and I can't. I use FCP X and it doesn't recognise the folders. Hopefully I can find a solution soon. __________________ Wild Tiger Productions http://www.indiawilds.com/about.htm

June 23rd, 2013, 07:45 AM	#6
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Re: How to rescue C300 files? I'm not aware of any software that can reconstruct the CONTENTS folder/file structure without the original pointer and database files like CIF, SIF, XML and the index file. If anyone knows of one, please post. Just a quick look around the web finds that there are a few utilities to convert MXF to other file formats like MOV or AVI but I have never tried them and can't vouch for them. Creative Cloud has a 30 day free trial that you could download to use Prelude or Premiere. They will not be able to reconstruct the CONTENTS folder structure, but they will convert from the MXF file to MOV or many other formats. I'm sure you would be able to convert to something that FCP can work with. Costs nothing to try. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!