Transferring XDCAM MP4 files to AVI's

Shaun R Walker · October 10th, 2009, 12:11 AM

A client of mine hired my EX1 to shoot some stuff, but instead of copying the entire BPAV folder onto his HDD he only copied the contents of the CLPR folders. Because the mediapro.xml and cueup.xml files weren't copied with them he can't transfer them to AVI using Clip Browser. Anyone have any ideas how he can convert them to AVI's so he can edit in Premier? Will MPEG Sreamclip be able to batch convert them?

Craig Seeman · October 10th, 2009, 01:06 AM

So he hired the camera and didn't think to hire someone who actually KNEW how to use the camera. Any assistance anyone gives him should charge him appropriately.

If he shot on minDV would he then rip off the case and pull out the tape spool and try to use it? Sony designs an elaborate folder system and he decides that Sony put useless folders on the card?

Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 should handle the MP4 directly but I'm not sure if it needs the full metadata to import it.

Since apparently he didn't understand the workflow maybe, given it's a Sony EX camera he might even look on Sony's website for NLE workflows before using the camera.

If he happens to only have CS3 they have a video tutorial and workflow
Sony | Micro Site - XDCAM EX

He might import the orphaned MP4 into ClipBrowser 2.5.1 and make new BPAVs. He might read the manual for it too so he can understand how it works.

Does your friend drive a car without taking driving lessons too?

I'm sorry but I have a very low threshold for people who jump out of airplanes and ask about the parachute after hitting the ground at terminal velocity.

Shaun R Walker · October 10th, 2009, 01:25 AM

Mate, I agree with you 100%. It is frustrating because he's also a friend of 15 years standing, and our families do a lot of socialising together. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. But, what can I do? Friends help out friends.

Craig Seeman · October 10th, 2009, 07:17 AM

There a series of public service spots (TV spots) that says "Friends don't let friends drive drunk." Of course this doesn't preclude that one might rescue your friend after the get in to the car accident.

The problem is your friend didn't know the workflow. Maybe you should have told him. He hired the kit and he might blame you for not warning him (rightly or wrongly).

Some rental houses will give someone a bit of free training when they hire new kit. The customer has a happier experience and he may come back again. In this case even if your friend doesn't blame you, he may be afraid to hire again, even if you rescue the clips.

See above though for solutions. CS4 may read the clips anyway. He may need to make new BPAV folders by importing the orphaned MP4 in ClipBrowser.

Maybe he doesn't even understand the workflow on Premiere at all. See Sony's link. EX should work with most professional NLE with either MP4, MXF or MOV so asking for AVI shows there's a lot of knowledge missing on pro formats.

Charles Newcomb · October 10th, 2009, 12:17 PM

Shaun: Just for grins and giggles I tried to open a file from a clpr folder in Mpeg StreamClip. No joy. So it would be a fair bet it won't batch convert, either.

Has he tried importing/converting them one clip at a time from Clip Browser? That would take a long time, but it's better than the alternative.

Craig: Lighten up. We all screw up sometimes. The guy probably feels bad enough as it is.

David Issko · October 10th, 2009, 03:13 PM

Shaun, if I might respectfully chime in with another pov. Knowing that there is a file transfer protocol/procedure needed to successfully transfer EX recordings, I strongly believe that your client should have been made aware of this in advance.

Overall, few operators (other than EX camera owners) know the EX file setup and letting them know in advance how to transfer the files or offering to do it for them in advance makes you out to be not only a good guy but a great guy.

Yes, they should have read up about the EX system and as we all know people don't, but it is a great backup for the EX owner to advise as well.

It's great seeing more and more Aussies on this forum! Cheers

Craig Seeman · October 10th, 2009, 06:32 PM

The mp4 needs to completely removed from the CLPR folder. Use File/Import in ClipBrowser. This will NOT work in version 2.00. You must update to 2.5 (2.5.1).

Charles, I don't screw up things like that on jobs. Interns might make a mistake like that but not someone hiring a camera. If one hires a camera one doesn't no either one takes time to do a test run throw or one asks for training/lesson.

Shaun R Walker · October 10th, 2009, 10:14 PM

Just so that you guys know, I did run through the workflow with him a number of times. In his defence however, it is an easy enough mistake to assume that copying the video component of the BPAV folder is the same as copying the actual BPAV folder. I made quite a few mistakes when I first got my EX1 too, as I am sure most of you guys did when moving from tape to solid state. Anyone else re-formatted a card before you transferred the contents?

Craig, thanks for the info. I'll tell him to give that a try.

October 10th, 2009, 12:11 AM	#1
Shaun R Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central Coast, NSW Australia Posts: 119	Transferring XDCAM MP4 files to AVI's - can't use Clip Browser A client of mine hired my EX1 to shoot some stuff, but instead of copying the entire BPAV folder onto his HDD he only copied the contents of the CLPR folders. Because the mediapro.xml and cueup.xml files weren't copied with them he can't transfer them to AVI using Clip Browser. Anyone have any ideas how he can convert them to AVI's so he can edit in Premier? Will MPEG Sreamclip be able to batch convert them?

October 10th, 2009, 03:13 PM	#6
David Issko Major Player Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 393	Shaun, if I might respectfully chime in with another pov. Knowing that there is a file transfer protocol/procedure needed to successfully transfer EX recordings, I strongly believe that your client should have been made aware of this in advance. Overall, few operators (other than EX camera owners) know the EX file setup and letting them know in advance how to transfer the files or offering to do it for them in advance makes you out to be not only a good guy but a great guy. Yes, they should have read up about the EX system and as we all know people don't, but it is a great backup for the EX owner to advise as well. It's great seeing more and more Aussies on this forum! Cheers __________________ David Issko Edit 1 Video Productions

October 10th, 2009, 01:06 AM	#2
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	So he hired the camera and didn't think to hire someone who actually KNEW how to use the camera. Any assistance anyone gives him should charge him appropriately. If he shot on minDV would he then rip off the case and pull out the tape spool and try to use it? Sony designs an elaborate folder system and he decides that Sony put useless folders on the card? Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 should handle the MP4 directly but I'm not sure if it needs the full metadata to import it. Since apparently he didn't understand the workflow maybe, given it's a Sony EX camera he might even look on Sony's website for NLE workflows before using the camera. If he happens to only have CS3 they have a video tutorial and workflow Sony \| Micro Site - XDCAM EX He might import the orphaned MP4 into ClipBrowser 2.5.1 and make new BPAVs. He might read the manual for it too so he can understand how it works. Does your friend drive a car without taking driving lessons too? I'm sorry but I have a very low threshold for people who jump out of airplanes and ask about the parachute after hitting the ground at terminal velocity.

October 10th, 2009, 01:25 AM	#3
Shaun R Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central Coast, NSW Australia Posts: 119	Mate, I agree with you 100%. It is frustrating because he's also a friend of 15 years standing, and our families do a lot of socialising together. I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. But, what can I do? Friends help out friends.

October 10th, 2009, 07:17 AM	#4
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	There a series of public service spots (TV spots) that says "Friends don't let friends drive drunk." Of course this doesn't preclude that one might rescue your friend after the get in to the car accident. The problem is your friend didn't know the workflow. Maybe you should have told him. He hired the kit and he might blame you for not warning him (rightly or wrongly). Some rental houses will give someone a bit of free training when they hire new kit. The customer has a happier experience and he may come back again. In this case even if your friend doesn't blame you, he may be afraid to hire again, even if you rescue the clips. See above though for solutions. CS4 may read the clips anyway. He may need to make new BPAV folders by importing the orphaned MP4 in ClipBrowser. Maybe he doesn't even understand the workflow on Premiere at all. See Sony's link. EX should work with most professional NLE with either MP4, MXF or MOV so asking for AVI shows there's a lot of knowledge missing on pro formats.

October 10th, 2009, 12:17 PM	#5
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	Shaun: Just for grins and giggles I tried to open a file from a clpr folder in Mpeg StreamClip. No joy. So it would be a fair bet it won't batch convert, either. Has he tried importing/converting them one clip at a time from Clip Browser? That would take a long time, but it's better than the alternative. Craig: Lighten up. We all screw up sometimes. The guy probably feels bad enough as it is.

October 10th, 2009, 06:32 PM	#7
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	The mp4 needs to completely removed from the CLPR folder. Use File/Import in ClipBrowser. This will NOT work in version 2.00. You must update to 2.5 (2.5.1). Charles, I don't screw up things like that on jobs. Interns might make a mistake like that but not someone hiring a camera. If one hires a camera one doesn't no either one takes time to do a test run throw or one asks for training/lesson.

October 10th, 2009, 10:14 PM	#8
Shaun R Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central Coast, NSW Australia Posts: 119	Just so that you guys know, I did run through the workflow with him a number of times. In his defence however, it is an easy enough mistake to assume that copying the video component of the BPAV folder is the same as copying the actual BPAV folder. I made quite a few mistakes when I first got my EX1 too, as I am sure most of you guys did when moving from tape to solid state. Anyone else re-formatted a card before you transferred the contents? Craig, thanks for the info. I'll tell him to give that a try.