Mastering / Files Back To XDCAM DISC at DVinfo.net

Rob Stiff · October 10th, 2006, 07:24 PM

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?

Greg Boston · October 10th, 2006, 08:46 PM

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-

Rob Stiff · October 14th, 2006, 07:50 AM

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.

Bill Weaver · October 14th, 2006, 09:06 AM

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

Rob Stiff · October 14th, 2006, 09:49 AM

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...?

Nigel Cooper · October 14th, 2006, 06:27 PM

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.

Alister Chapman · October 16th, 2006, 01:18 PM

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.

Greg Boston · October 16th, 2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Weaver

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-

Morton Molyneux · October 16th, 2006, 09:48 PM

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

Rob Stiff · October 17th, 2006, 07:26 AM

Did Sony say what the costs would be?

Morton Molyneux · October 17th, 2006, 08:56 AM

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

Rob Stiff · October 20th, 2006, 08:49 PM

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.

Nate Weaver · October 20th, 2006, 09:21 PM

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.

Simon Wyndham · October 21st, 2006, 04:20 AM

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.

Thierry Humeau · October 21st, 2006, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Cooper

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.

October 10th, 2006, 07:24 PM	#1
Rob Stiff Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 173	Mastering / Files Back To XDCAM DISC 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?

October 14th, 2006, 09:06 AM	#4
Bill Weaver Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria,BC Posts: 124	Do you take any kind of quality hit by doing it this way? __________________ Bill Weaver Across Borders Media / Media that Matters

October 16th, 2006, 01:18 PM	#7
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	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. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

October 20th, 2006, 08:49 PM	#12
Rob Stiff Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 173	PDW-D1 XDCAM Drive Unit 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.

October 20th, 2006, 09:21 PM	#13
Nate Weaver Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,100	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. __________________ My Work: nateweaver.net

October 10th, 2006, 08:46 PM	#2
Greg Boston Wrangler Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DFW area, TX Posts: 6,117 Images: 1	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-

October 14th, 2006, 07:50 AM	#3
Rob Stiff Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 173	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.

October 14th, 2006, 09:49 AM	#5
Rob Stiff Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 173	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...?

October 14th, 2006, 06:27 PM	#6
Nigel Cooper Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cambridgeshire, UK Posts: 112	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.

October 16th, 2006, 09:48 PM	#9
Morton Molyneux Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Posts: 98	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

October 17th, 2006, 07:26 AM	#10
Rob Stiff Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 173	Did Sony say what the costs would be?

October 17th, 2006, 08:56 AM	#11
Morton Molyneux Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Posts: 98	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

October 21st, 2006, 04:20 AM	#14
Simon Wyndham Trustee Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Malvern UK Posts: 1,931	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.