XDCAM EX answers...

Alister Chapman · October 12th, 2007, 02:36 PM

Transfer to XDCAM disks requires the use of the MXF conversion routine that will be included in the new Sony clip browser software. At the moment this only works for SP mode as XDCAM HD only supports 1440x1080. I expect this will get updated in the future. The MP4 to MXF conversion simply re-wraps the MPEG content into an MXF wrapper so happens on the fly. You can copy/convert straight from an SxS card direct to a XDCAM HD disk (using the transfer tool) at between 2x and 3x depending on the xdcam deck used.

Archiving to Blu-ray is a lower cost option and you can keep the full 1920x1080 resolution. Simply burn the root folder from the SxS card to the blu-ray disk and you will retain all the meta data and correct file structure.

For handing off rushes to clients I would recommend USB hard drives until such time as Blu-ray drives become common place. If you stick the Sony Browser Software on the disk as well the client can use that to view (full screen) and log the footage.

Kevin Shaw · October 12th, 2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

Some rough math. 800 Mega BITS a second is about 100 Mega BYTES second (actually 95.367 according to conversion chart below).

Officially it's exactly 100 Megabytes now using the modern base-10 definition, which equals 95.367 "Mebibytes". See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabyte. However, the Windows file manager still uses the base 2 definitions.

Brian Cassar · October 14th, 2007, 10:10 AM

I'm not sure whether this should go under this thread and whether this has already been discussed elsewhere.

Is it possible to transfer video clips from the EX1 to a fifth generation iPod without a pc? I got this idea from this site:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301059

And I also found this needed item since the EX1 has a firewire and not a USB connector:

http://www.eforcity.com/220567.html?...t071015=220567

Theoretically with this connector + an iPod + the EX will lead to file transfer on the field. Or am I missing something? Any feedback on this?

Also there still remains the issue of transferring speed which has to be seen whether it is worth it.

Octavio Gasca · October 14th, 2007, 03:35 PM

Yes, I think is technically possible use the iPod as a small field storage. You can use the ipod with the Sony USB reader/writer instead the adapter. This reader will come as XDCAM EX accessorie.

Alex Leith · October 14th, 2007, 03:55 PM

That's very interesting... I assumed that there would be no way of offloading without a laptop in the field...

But that would be incredibly cool. Let's hope that the Sony Card Reader uses one of the protocols supported by the iPod...

Alex Leith · October 14th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Apparently it needs to be PTP protocol otherwise the iPod will only import what it finds in the DCIM folder on the media card...

I'm guessing that the PMW-EX1 does not store clips to a "DCIM" folder...

Lets hope the card-reader supports PTP...

Serena Steuart · October 14th, 2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Cassar

And I also found this needed item since the EX1 has a firewire and not a USB connector:

The EX1 has USB, firewire (HDV), HD-SDI, SD-SDI as well as the usual analogue outputs.

Octavio Gasca · October 14th, 2007, 09:12 PM

The actual manual don't say anything about the USB protocol, but gives a hope:
"With the PMW-EX1 camcorder, recordings are made as data
files in the “MP4” format,which is widely used in a number of
recent electronic portable devices and has been
standardized by ISO.
The file-based recording allows material to be handled with
great flexibility in a commonly available IT-based
environment for copying, transferring, sharing, and archiving.
All these operations are accomplished lossless without any
“re-digitizing” process required."

Stil Williams · October 15th, 2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alister Chapman

For handing off rushes to clients I would recommend USB hard drives until such time as Blu-ray drives become common place. If you stick the Sony Browser Software on the disk as well the client can use that to view (full screen) and log the footage.

Sounds good but does this viewer software need to be installed natively into an OS to run ? I dont believe clients will be enthused about installing new software on any of their machines whether laptop/ desktop or workstation, to log and view footage.

Jiri Bakala · October 15th, 2007, 02:03 AM

I think most clients wouldn't object to installing a simple viewer. The issue really is how to hand the material over to clients at the end of the shoot (as in - the client is posting it and the camera operator is no longer involved at all).

Craig Seeman · October 15th, 2007, 08:42 PM

For those concerned about client playback keep the following in mind.
With miniDV a client was able to playback the tape with a consumer camera.
HDV on the other hand, is a major headache since there is no single deck and certainly no consumer camera that can play back every format from every HDV camera.

With EX1's .mp4 files the client may now download a simple free player (so we hope).

Yes what one hands to a client after a shoot is an issue. Portable 80GB USB drives can be found for under $100. 40GB are under $50.

While this is more expensive than DV or HDV tape it may not be too unreasonable.

Although we're comparing to DV and HDV because that may be where our client base in coming from, compare the same costs to DVCProHD tapes XDCAM discs or maybe even HDCAM tapes and the costs vs quality and ease of client playback of the file, make this format very attractive.

David Parks · October 15th, 2007, 09:07 PM

In addition to handing the client a USB drive, if they need to see rushes you could hand them a tape.

HDCAM through HDSDI out, Betacam SP through component analog, DV tape through iLink or dare I say it, a VHS from the composite out. It's a good thing Sony included all of these outputs.

Jiri Bakala · October 15th, 2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Parks

DV tape through iLink...

Really? It downconverts to DV via FW? That would be great!

Piotr Wozniacki · October 16th, 2007, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiri Bakala

Really? It downconverts to DV via FW? That would be great!

No, it does not - HDV only.

Peter Arnold · October 16th, 2007, 02:25 AM

Thanks for all the infos in this thread..

There is an option for a flip 35mm Adapter on the EX. It's called EXTREME :-) and comes from Letus www.adapterplace.com

I will get 2 of those brand new adapters this week I hope or maybe next and will keep this forum updated about it. I will "only" be able to test it on my HVX200 and a F330 from a friend of mine. But the first scenes I saw look very very promising. The coolest thing is it cost only 1500$.

Peter

October 12th, 2007, 02:36 PM	#46
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Transfer to XDCAM disks requires the use of the MXF conversion routine that will be included in the new Sony clip browser software. At the moment this only works for SP mode as XDCAM HD only supports 1440x1080. I expect this will get updated in the future. The MP4 to MXF conversion simply re-wraps the MPEG content into an MXF wrapper so happens on the fly. You can copy/convert straight from an SxS card direct to a XDCAM HD disk (using the transfer tool) at between 2x and 3x depending on the xdcam deck used. Archiving to Blu-ray is a lower cost option and you can keep the full 1920x1080 resolution. Simply burn the root folder from the SxS card to the blu-ray disk and you will retain all the meta data and correct file structure. For handing off rushes to clients I would recommend USB hard drives until such time as Blu-ray drives become common place. If you stick the Sony Browser Software on the disk as well the client can use that to view (full screen) and log the footage. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

October 14th, 2007, 10:10 AM	#48
Brian Cassar Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malta Posts: 306	Transferring files to an iPod I'm not sure whether this should go under this thread and whether this has already been discussed elsewhere. Is it possible to transfer video clips from the EX1 to a fifth generation iPod without a pc? I got this idea from this site: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301059 And I also found this needed item since the EX1 has a firewire and not a USB connector: http://www.eforcity.com/220567.html?...t071015=220567 Theoretically with this connector + an iPod + the EX will lead to file transfer on the field. Or am I missing something? Any feedback on this? Also there still remains the issue of transferring speed which has to be seen whether it is worth it.

October 14th, 2007, 03:55 PM	#50
Alex Leith Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northampton, England Posts: 500	That's very interesting... I assumed that there would be no way of offloading without a laptop in the field... But that would be incredibly cool. Let's hope that the Sony Card Reader uses one of the protocols supported by the iPod... __________________ Alex

October 14th, 2007, 04:07 PM	#51
Alex Leith Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northampton, England Posts: 500	Apparently it needs to be PTP protocol otherwise the iPod will only import what it finds in the DCIM folder on the media card... I'm guessing that the PMW-EX1 does not store clips to a "DCIM" folder... Lets hope the card-reader supports PTP... __________________ Alex

October 15th, 2007, 02:03 AM	#55
Jiri Bakala Major Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kelowna BC Canada Posts: 706	I think most clients wouldn't object to installing a simple viewer. The issue really is how to hand the material over to clients at the end of the shoot (as in - the client is posting it and the camera operator is no longer involved at all). __________________ www.ascentfilms.com

October 14th, 2007, 03:35 PM	#49
Octavio Gasca New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chihuahua, Mexico Posts: 22	Yes, I think is technically possible use the iPod as a small field storage. You can use the ipod with the Sony USB reader/writer instead the adapter. This reader will come as XDCAM EX accessorie.

October 14th, 2007, 09:12 PM	#53
Octavio Gasca New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chihuahua, Mexico Posts: 22	The actual manual don't say anything about the USB protocol, but gives a hope: "With the PMW-EX1 camcorder, recordings are made as data files in the “MP4” format,which is widely used in a number of recent electronic portable devices and has been standardized by ISO. The file-based recording allows material to be handled with great flexibility in a commonly available IT-based environment for copying, transferring, sharing, and archiving. All these operations are accomplished lossless without any “re-digitizing” process required."

October 15th, 2007, 08:42 PM	#56
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	For those concerned about client playback keep the following in mind. With miniDV a client was able to playback the tape with a consumer camera. HDV on the other hand, is a major headache since there is no single deck and certainly no consumer camera that can play back every format from every HDV camera. With EX1's .mp4 files the client may now download a simple free player (so we hope). Yes what one hands to a client after a shoot is an issue. Portable 80GB USB drives can be found for under $100. 40GB are under $50. While this is more expensive than DV or HDV tape it may not be too unreasonable. Although we're comparing to DV and HDV because that may be where our client base in coming from, compare the same costs to DVCProHD tapes XDCAM discs or maybe even HDCAM tapes and the costs vs quality and ease of client playback of the file, make this format very attractive.

October 15th, 2007, 09:07 PM	#57
David Parks Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 789	In addition to handing the client a USB drive, if they need to see rushes you could hand them a tape. HDCAM through HDSDI out, Betacam SP through component analog, DV tape through iLink or dare I say it, a VHS from the composite out. It's a good thing Sony included all of these outputs. __________________ David Parks: DP/Editor: Jacobs Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center https://www.youtube.com/user/JacobsESCG

October 16th, 2007, 02:25 AM	#60
Peter Arnold Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: cham, switzerland Posts: 36	35mm Adapter Thanks for all the infos in this thread.. There is an option for a flip 35mm Adapter on the EX. It's called EXTREME :-) and comes from Letus www.adapterplace.com I will get 2 of those brand new adapters this week I hope or maybe next and will keep this forum updated about it. I will "only" be able to test it on my HVX200 and a F330 from a friend of mine. But the first scenes I saw look very very promising. The coolest thing is it cost only 1500$. Peter