XDCAM Optical support - 1st sample

Alister Chapman · October 15th, 2009, 01:32 PM

A firewire version would bring no advantage as the read/write speeds are limited by the laser deck which is about 80Mb/s, so certainly no speed/performance advantage for firewire over USB.

Denis OKeefe · October 15th, 2009, 02:57 PM

Ah, I hadn't thought of that, and was looking to save a bit of time in the field writing to the PDW u1.
So usb it is

Dennis Dillon · October 25th, 2009, 10:41 AM

Just got back from a long set of gigs. The file works like a charm. Dropped it directly from my download folder into XD transfer. Imported into FCP. No rendering!! Thank you CD. Now we have the Holy Grail for XD/EX archiving. Ill be in Philly and NY next month to discuss XDHD and Nano workflows. see Philly info below. NY location to follow.
SONY is hosting a hands on demonstration and seminar featuring our
XDCAM and XDCAM - EX cameras.

This event will focus on SONY's tapeless HD solutions
for ENG specific to the
Freelance Videographers and the Production Community

When - Wednesday November 4th

Time - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - 1st session - Shoot & Deliver
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - 2nd Session - Shoot & Post

Where - QVC – Studio Park
1200 Wilson Drive
West Chester, PA 19380
(484) 701-1000
Special Events Room

Please park in “Studio Tour Guest” lot and enter at the Studio Tour Entrance. You will be escorted to the event room. Please RSVP to be put on the guest list for this event.

RSVP by 10/31: E-Mail Jaclynne Gentry at jaclynne.gentry@am.sony.com
(For More information, you can contact Matt Mussari at 610-359-1886)

Directions: Directions to QVC Studio Park

This demonstration will include our PDWF800, PDW700, PMWEX1 and PMWEX3 currently in use by Major Networks and TV Stations. In addition, the new SONY HDCA702 ASI adaptor and our digital wireless audio will be featured.

We will break the day into two sessions: Shoot and Deliver and Shoot and Post:

Shoot & Deliver
This session will be focused on freelancers who shoot and deliver camera originals to their clients. Peter Crithary will provide an in-depth overview of each camera .

Shoot & Post
This session will be focused on freelancers that shoot and post produce content for their clients. Dennis Dillon will provide an overview of the workflow he has used on many completed projects .

Speakers
Peter Crithary is a Sony Sales Support Engineer. Peter is an expert on XDCAM and was a freelancer before joining Sony. He has also been one of the lead technical resources on several key customers migration to HD including CNN. Peter will provide XDCAM & EX product overviews and workflows for Avid and Apple FCP.

Dennis Dillon Background & Job Experience:
25 Years as a DP/Editor for the Network News Magazines. CBS (60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Reports), HDNet, NBC (Dateline, Today, Nightly), ABC (20/20, World, GMA), Discovery, National Geographic, Smithsonian, et al.

Dennis’ Comments:
This business can be all absorbing. My approach has been to find the best way of getting it done, while maintaining a sense of balance between my work and my family. Having the opportunities to go out and document the lives of others and pass that information to those that benefit from their stories brings me great satisfaction. With regards to workflow, I'm constantly seeking ways to enhance my approach to create a great product, save money (time), and make it to my daughter's soccer game.

Bob Willis · October 25th, 2009, 12:16 PM

The file works in Avid MC 3.0. I have not tested export yet.

This is really amazing, so now you can shoot on the Nanoflash in Sony Optical disc format at 4:2:2 50mbps and then archive to Sony discs WITH PROXIES created.

So, I can now send a producer either the Nanoflash/Sony files on a hard drive, which he can edit in any major NLE or I can write to disc and he can take the disc with proxies to edit at his/her facility.

Will the PDW-U1 generate proxies or just a camera/deck?

Aaron Newsome · October 25th, 2009, 12:43 PM

I'm not very familiar with this kind of workflow. Where do the proxies come from?

Alister Chapman · October 25th, 2009, 01:09 PM

When you shoot with a Sony XDCAM HD camcorder the camera records two files. The low resolution mpeg 4 Proxy file as well as the full resolution SD or HD MXF file. With the latest 4:2:2 cameras the proxy can be recorded to both the optical discs and to a memory card connected in the cameras USB port.

When you write a compatible MXF file to a camera or studio deck a proxy file gets generated internally by the camera/deck and written to the disc. When you write to a PDW-U1 drive the computer software creates the proxy which is then written to the disc along with the MXF file.

The proxy workflow has many uses. Proxies can be sent via ftp (or even email) to a news studio for an offline edit while the studio waits for the full res files to arrive. Proxies can be used by a PA or producer to log and view footage without needing any special hardware or taking up large amounts of disc space. It only takes a few minutes to copy over an hours worth of proxies from an XDCAM disc. I have even seen proxies being broadcast during breaking news stories while the studio waits for the full resolution files to be delivered/downloaded or where there is no way to get large files out of a war or disaster zone.

By making the CD 50Mb/s MXF's 100% XDCAM HD compatible, Convergent Design have completed the last piece in the Jigsaw. Being able to write the files directly to Sony's professional discs will make archive and backup easy. With the discs designed to last 50 years and the ability to play them like a tape in a studio deck or camera gives users amazing flexibility and security and the ability to tap into all of Sony's free metadata, logging and database tools.

Denis OKeefe · October 25th, 2009, 02:49 PM

Unfortunately I upgraded to Snow Leopard and FCP7, then heard Sony isn't there yet. So Dennis and ALister, are you still on the earlier Mac software versions or have you figured a way to make this work with what we have at hand?
When I use the Nanoflash to create MXF files (which worked flawlessly on a CBS project this past week) I end up with the file I create, for example CBScard1, and inside that a folder named {CLP} which contains all the .mxf files.
Were I to copy to an XDdisc would I have the same file structure? Ideally I'd like to create a hard drive with content and structure identical to an XDcam disk.
Initially I did use XDcam transfer ( I believe it was 2.10) successfully with FCP7, but each time I've tried since the clip count remains zero.
Patience may be the only answer (till Sony releases a new version), I just don't like that answer.

Dan Keaton · October 25th, 2009, 04:31 PM

Dear Denis,

As part of our support for Sony's Optical Disk format, our free File Converter software, for the Mac, will take our earlier files and create files in the new Sony Optical Disk Format.

We can let you know as soon as this software is ready.

Denis, please feel free to call me and I will assist.

Mark Job · October 25th, 2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy Schell

Hi,

Here's a 1st sample file, an MXF file of ours which is adjusted to accomodate XDCAM Optical equipment.
If anyone would like to try and confirm that this file works in your NLE, please do so and we appreciate any feedback.

Tommy Schell

(70 Mbytes, 1080i60, 50 Mbit XDCAM 422)
http://69.15.88.17/downloads/mxf_web...sample.MXF.zip

...Hi Tommy:
I've tested your XDCAM HD file in Avid Media Composer Version 3.1.3.2 and the results are as follows.......

1. Import: Pass

2. Play in Source Window: Pass

3. Play in timeline: Pass

4. Editable: Pass.

5. Color Correctable: Pass

6. Effects Appliable: Pass.

7. Exportable: Pass.

8. Net Result: Pass.

Dennis Dillon · October 25th, 2009, 07:17 PM

Dennis O,
FCP 6.0.6 and D, the updated file structure is not out yet from CD. Not gone FCP 7 yet. If the file structure is updated via CD Nano, you can treat (move) it as any MXF file from/ to and where ever. Delivery on a HD disk or better yet, a 50 year true archive on Sony Optical Disk.

Allister
for Aaron, Well put and clear. Imagine, Proxies from SxS upped to 50/100 Mbs LGOP(EX 1/3 PMW-350!!!!). It has been my bane of my XD existence(2005 Birth of XD) to get the people to understand the benefits of Proxies and Metadata, never mind what Michael and Dan have done to raise the bar on data rates and an outright killer recorder. 10 Bit can wait. This group is so ahead of the "mass" curve.
Dan,
A file converter for new and old files to a Sony Optical compatible? Thank you very much.

Bob W.,
Exactly.
"Will the PDW-U1 generate proxies or just a camera/deck?"
All three. That is the "amazing" f__cking thing. Take any camera with HD SDI out and provide Sony Optical 422 50/100/140/160 LGOP files to a perfect archive. Not to mention that XDCAM is blowing the doors off all other acquisition/workflow systems. This helps those who own a tape based system to migrate to XD. Buy a U1 Drive, A CD Nano Flash Drive and Wah lah. 6K(US) keeps your gear going till you finally move to XD. Or better yet add a bunch of EX1/3's and start tomorrow. Note, If you can pull the quid for a 700/800, it gets even better with the above combo. Sizes and shapes for all.

Merry Christmas to all.

Dennis Dillon · October 25th, 2009, 07:28 PM

"Take any camera with HD SDI out and provide Sony Optical 422 50/100/140/160 LGOP files to a perfect archive." add HDMI. Pretty much covers every decent Pro/Prosumer camera out there.

Mike Schell · October 25th, 2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Dillon

"Take any camera with HD SDI out and provide Sony Optical 422 50/100/140/160 LGOP files to a perfect archive." add HDMI. Pretty much covers every decent Pro/Prosumer camera out there.

Hi Dennis-
Thanks for the feedback! We got the new firmware with the XDCAM Optical MXF format working on Friday. Our engineers also added the faster CF write routine, so almost all CF cards move up a notch in performance.

We wiil post test footage from the nanoFlash in the next day or so for evaluation.

We are also very excited about the XDCAM Optical compatibility, since any HD-SDI or HDMI camera (from any manufacturer) can now generate this file format via the nanoFlash.

Best-

Dennis Dillon · October 25th, 2009, 08:09 PM

Mike,
Any time. I have got to go to bed. Talk later.
My wife needs her optical archive now.

Alister Chapman · October 26th, 2009, 04:16 PM

I'm running FCP 7 and OS-X 10.5.6 Leopard. I normally wait a few months before upgrading an OS while all the bugs get sorted out.

Of course with Windows Vista I never did upgrade as they didn't get all the bugs out of that one!

October 15th, 2009, 01:32 PM	#16
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	A firewire version would bring no advantage as the read/write speeds are limited by the laser deck which is about 80Mb/s, so certainly no speed/performance advantage for firewire over USB. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

October 25th, 2009, 10:41 AM	#18
Dennis Dillon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 213	Amazing Just got back from a long set of gigs. The file works like a charm. Dropped it directly from my download folder into XD transfer. Imported into FCP. No rendering!! Thank you CD. Now we have the Holy Grail for XD/EX archiving. Ill be in Philly and NY next month to discuss XDHD and Nano workflows. see Philly info below. NY location to follow. SONY is hosting a hands on demonstration and seminar featuring our XDCAM and XDCAM - EX cameras. This event will focus on SONY's tapeless HD solutions for ENG specific to the Freelance Videographers and the Production Community When - Wednesday November 4th Time - 10:00 am to 12:00 pm - 1st session - Shoot & Deliver 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm - Lunch 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - 2nd Session - Shoot & Post Where - QVC – Studio Park 1200 Wilson Drive West Chester, PA 19380 (484) 701-1000 Special Events Room Please park in “Studio Tour Guest” lot and enter at the Studio Tour Entrance. You will be escorted to the event room. Please RSVP to be put on the guest list for this event. RSVP by 10/31: E-Mail Jaclynne Gentry at jaclynne.gentry@am.sony.com (For More information, you can contact Matt Mussari at 610-359-1886) Directions: Directions to QVC Studio Park This demonstration will include our PDWF800, PDW700, PMWEX1 and PMWEX3 currently in use by Major Networks and TV Stations. In addition, the new SONY HDCA702 ASI adaptor and our digital wireless audio will be featured. We will break the day into two sessions: Shoot and Deliver and Shoot and Post: Shoot & Deliver This session will be focused on freelancers who shoot and deliver camera originals to their clients. Peter Crithary will provide an in-depth overview of each camera . Shoot & Post This session will be focused on freelancers that shoot and post produce content for their clients. Dennis Dillon will provide an overview of the workflow he has used on many completed projects . Speakers Peter Crithary is a Sony Sales Support Engineer. Peter is an expert on XDCAM and was a freelancer before joining Sony. He has also been one of the lead technical resources on several key customers migration to HD including CNN. Peter will provide XDCAM & EX product overviews and workflows for Avid and Apple FCP. Dennis Dillon Background & Job Experience: 25 Years as a DP/Editor for the Network News Magazines. CBS (60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Reports), HDNet, NBC (Dateline, Today, Nightly), ABC (20/20, World, GMA), Discovery, National Geographic, Smithsonian, et al. Dennis’ Comments: This business can be all absorbing. My approach has been to find the best way of getting it done, while maintaining a sense of balance between my work and my family. Having the opportunities to go out and document the lives of others and pass that information to those that benefit from their stories brings me great satisfaction. With regards to workflow, I'm constantly seeking ways to enhance my approach to create a great product, save money (time), and make it to my daughter's soccer game.

October 25th, 2009, 01:09 PM	#21
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	When you shoot with a Sony XDCAM HD camcorder the camera records two files. The low resolution mpeg 4 Proxy file as well as the full resolution SD or HD MXF file. With the latest 4:2:2 cameras the proxy can be recorded to both the optical discs and to a memory card connected in the cameras USB port. When you write a compatible MXF file to a camera or studio deck a proxy file gets generated internally by the camera/deck and written to the disc. When you write to a PDW-U1 drive the computer software creates the proxy which is then written to the disc along with the MXF file. The proxy workflow has many uses. Proxies can be sent via ftp (or even email) to a news studio for an offline edit while the studio waits for the full res files to arrive. Proxies can be used by a PA or producer to log and view footage without needing any special hardware or taking up large amounts of disc space. It only takes a few minutes to copy over an hours worth of proxies from an XDCAM disc. I have even seen proxies being broadcast during breaking news stories while the studio waits for the full resolution files to be delivered/downloaded or where there is no way to get large files out of a war or disaster zone. By making the CD 50Mb/s MXF's 100% XDCAM HD compatible, Convergent Design have completed the last piece in the Jigsaw. Being able to write the files directly to Sony's professional discs will make archive and backup easy. With the discs designed to last 50 years and the ability to play them like a tape in a studio deck or camera gives users amazing flexibility and security and the ability to tap into all of Sony's free metadata, logging and database tools. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

October 25th, 2009, 04:31 PM	#23
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Denis, As part of our support for Sony's Optical Disk format, our free File Converter software, for the Mac, will take our earlier files and create files in the new Sony Optical Disk Format. We can let you know as soon as this software is ready. Denis, please feel free to call me and I will assist. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

October 25th, 2009, 07:17 PM	#25
Dennis Dillon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 213	Amazing Dennis O, FCP 6.0.6 and D, the updated file structure is not out yet from CD. Not gone FCP 7 yet. If the file structure is updated via CD Nano, you can treat (move) it as any MXF file from/ to and where ever. Delivery on a HD disk or better yet, a 50 year true archive on Sony Optical Disk. Allister for Aaron, Well put and clear. Imagine, Proxies from SxS upped to 50/100 Mbs LGOP(EX 1/3 PMW-350!!!!). It has been my bane of my XD existence(2005 Birth of XD) to get the people to understand the benefits of Proxies and Metadata, never mind what Michael and Dan have done to raise the bar on data rates and an outright killer recorder. 10 Bit can wait. This group is so ahead of the "mass" curve. Dan, A file converter for new and old files to a Sony Optical compatible? Thank you very much. Bob W., Exactly. "Will the PDW-U1 generate proxies or just a camera/deck?" All three. That is the "amazing" f__cking thing. Take any camera with HD SDI out and provide Sony Optical 422 50/100/140/160 LGOP files to a perfect archive. Not to mention that XDCAM is blowing the doors off all other acquisition/workflow systems. This helps those who own a tape based system to migrate to XD. Buy a U1 Drive, A CD Nano Flash Drive and Wah lah. 6K(US) keeps your gear going till you finally move to XD. Or better yet add a bunch of EX1/3's and start tomorrow. Note, If you can pull the quid for a 700/800, it gets even better with the above combo. Sizes and shapes for all. Merry Christmas to all.

October 15th, 2009, 02:57 PM	#17
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	Ah, I hadn't thought of that, and was looking to save a bit of time in the field writing to the PDW u1. So usb it is

October 25th, 2009, 12:16 PM	#19
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	The file works in Avid MC 3.0. I have not tested export yet. This is really amazing, so now you can shoot on the Nanoflash in Sony Optical disc format at 4:2:2 50mbps and then archive to Sony discs WITH PROXIES created. So, I can now send a producer either the Nanoflash/Sony files on a hard drive, which he can edit in any major NLE or I can write to disc and he can take the disc with proxies to edit at his/her facility. Will the PDW-U1 generate proxies or just a camera/deck?

October 25th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#20
Aaron Newsome Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 590	I'm not very familiar with this kind of workflow. Where do the proxies come from?

October 25th, 2009, 02:49 PM	#22
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	Unfortunately I upgraded to Snow Leopard and FCP7, then heard Sony isn't there yet. So Dennis and ALister, are you still on the earlier Mac software versions or have you figured a way to make this work with what we have at hand? When I use the Nanoflash to create MXF files (which worked flawlessly on a CBS project this past week) I end up with the file I create, for example CBScard1, and inside that a folder named {CLP} which contains all the .mxf files. Were I to copy to an XDdisc would I have the same file structure? Ideally I'd like to create a hard drive with content and structure identical to an XDcam disk. Initially I did use XDcam transfer ( I believe it was 2.10) successfully with FCP7, but each time I've tried since the clip count remains zero. Patience may be the only answer (till Sony releases a new version), I just don't like that answer.

October 25th, 2009, 07:28 PM	#26
Dennis Dillon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 213	Left out HDMI "Take any camera with HD SDI out and provide Sony Optical 422 50/100/140/160 LGOP files to a perfect archive." add HDMI. Pretty much covers every decent Pro/Prosumer camera out there.

October 25th, 2009, 08:09 PM	#28
Dennis Dillon Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hobe Sound, Florida Posts: 213	Mike, Any time. I have got to go to bed. Talk later. My wife needs her optical archive now.

October 26th, 2009, 04:16 PM	#29
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I'm running FCP 7 and OS-X 10.5.6 Leopard. I normally wait a few months before upgrading an OS while all the bugs get sorted out. Of course with Windows Vista I never did upgrade as they didn't get all the bugs out of that one! __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com