Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem at DVinfo.net

Tom Loftus · February 27th, 2012, 06:16 PM

I appear to have a problem with the Nanoflash 50Mbps XDCAM MXF files and playback on a PDWHW-1500 XDCam Deck. After recording a production in the field, I copy the mxf files to a XDCam Disc, using either the XDCam transfer on the Mac or direct file copy on a PC, for playback in our control room. (Following these steps nanoFlash on a XDCAM Disc at DVinfo.net )The files play great, but the deck does not read any timecode off the files. The TC reader stays at 00:00:00:00. Control track counter works as expected.

If if view the files on a pc (with a pdw-u1) using XDCAM EX Clipbrowser, I have the same problem -- no timecode playback.

If I view the files using Sony XDCam Viewer the timecode is fine??? It appears there is timecode on the file, but the deck does not read it properly.

Any ideas?

Dan Keaton · February 28th, 2012, 07:23 AM

Dear Tom,

I hope one of our users will be able to help you with this timecode issue.

We do not have the PDWHW-1500 XDCam Deck in our lab, sorry.

Dave Sperling · March 4th, 2012, 10:58 AM

Tom,

I can't speak about the deck since I don't have one.

However, I pulled my U1 out today to check it with a new (PC) laptop, and figured I'd test to see whether there were any TC problems transferring from PC to U1.
Simply put, everything worked fine. Recorded MXF 50Mbps on NanoFlash, transferred file straight to U1 on PC (just using drag-and-drop to copy the files into the Clip folder on the disc). Correct timecode went across. Correct matching timecode also was visible on Proxy files which were created automatically. Played clips back both in XDcam Browser and in PDZ10 XDcam player. No problems.

One thought -- in the U1 drive software there is an option to NOT use the timecode from the original file, but to create continuous timecode on the disc. While this is not the default setting, if you've selected it then the timecode created on the disc should be different than your source time code.

Tom Loftus · March 8th, 2012, 11:26 AM

Thanks for the info Dave.

By any chance do you also have the XDCam EX Clipbrowser installed? I ask because I am able to see the timecode in the XDCam Viewer software, but not the Clipbrowser software. We usually use the Clipbrowser because it can preview both EX and XDCam files and we regularly use both.

Copying the files straight across on a PC results in the same timecode problem on the Deck and Clipbrowser (but XDCam Viewer has timecode).

When I get a chance, I do hope to experiment some more...

Dave Sperling · March 8th, 2012, 02:24 PM

Hi Tom,
I uninstalled XDcam EX Clip Browser and moved to XDcam Browser 2.0 after the last firmware upgrade on my F3 required XDcam Browser for viewing/converting clips.
You can view your disc footage in XDcam Browser as well, and as I mentioned the time code came across and viewed in it just fine.
At first I was nervous about changing over because I hadn't been wild about XDcam Browser 1.0, but the 2.0 version addressed 95% of my issues with the earlier version.
If you want, you could post full tech specs from your recording (format, frame rate, etc.) and I'll try to take a look next time everything is hooked up (it's currently all in cases from a shoot yesterday / and for another shoot next week).

February 27th, 2012, 06:16 PM	#1
Tom Loftus Tourist Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 3	Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem I appear to have a problem with the Nanoflash 50Mbps XDCAM MXF files and playback on a PDWHW-1500 XDCam Deck. After recording a production in the field, I copy the mxf files to a XDCam Disc, using either the XDCam transfer on the Mac or direct file copy on a PC, for playback in our control room. (Following these steps nanoFlash on a XDCAM Disc at DVinfo.net )The files play great, but the deck does not read any timecode off the files. The TC reader stays at 00:00:00:00. Control track counter works as expected. If if view the files on a pc (with a pdw-u1) using XDCAM EX Clipbrowser, I have the same problem -- no timecode playback. If I view the files using Sony XDCam Viewer the timecode is fine??? It appears there is timecode on the file, but the deck does not read it properly. Any ideas?

February 28th, 2012, 07:23 AM	#2
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Re: Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem Dear Tom, I hope one of our users will be able to help you with this timecode issue. We do not have the PDWHW-1500 XDCam Deck in our lab, sorry. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

March 4th, 2012, 10:58 AM	#3
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Re: Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem Tom, I can't speak about the deck since I don't have one. However, I pulled my U1 out today to check it with a new (PC) laptop, and figured I'd test to see whether there were any TC problems transferring from PC to U1. Simply put, everything worked fine. Recorded MXF 50Mbps on NanoFlash, transferred file straight to U1 on PC (just using drag-and-drop to copy the files into the Clip folder on the disc). Correct timecode went across. Correct matching timecode also was visible on Proxy files which were created automatically. Played clips back both in XDcam Browser and in PDZ10 XDcam player. No problems. One thought -- in the U1 drive software there is an option to NOT use the timecode from the original file, but to create continuous timecode on the disc. While this is not the default setting, if you've selected it then the timecode created on the disc should be different than your source time code.

March 8th, 2012, 11:26 AM	#4
Tom Loftus Tourist Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 3	Re: Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem Thanks for the info Dave. By any chance do you also have the XDCam EX Clipbrowser installed? I ask because I am able to see the timecode in the XDCam Viewer software, but not the Clipbrowser software. We usually use the Clipbrowser because it can preview both EX and XDCam files and we regularly use both. Copying the files straight across on a PC results in the same timecode problem on the Deck and Clipbrowser (but XDCam Viewer has timecode). When I get a chance, I do hope to experiment some more...

March 8th, 2012, 02:24 PM	#5
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Re: Nano 50Mbps MXF & XDCAM Timecode Problem Hi Tom, I uninstalled XDcam EX Clip Browser and moved to XDcam Browser 2.0 after the last firmware upgrade on my F3 required XDcam Browser for viewing/converting clips. You can view your disc footage in XDcam Browser as well, and as I mentioned the time code came across and viewed in it just fine. At first I was nervous about changing over because I hadn't been wild about XDcam Browser 1.0, but the 2.0 version addressed 95% of my issues with the earlier version. If you want, you could post full tech specs from your recording (format, frame rate, etc.) and I'll try to take a look next time everything is hooked up (it's currently all in cases from a shoot yesterday / and for another shoot next week).