There is a cool free video transfer utility for the Z7 / 270 here:

http://bssc.sel.sony.com/BroadcastandBusiness/minisites/HDV/HVR-Z7U/unit_software.html

There are Windows and Mac versions (the mac version looks cooler).

Basically it solves two problems that you'll run into when you copy files to your hard drive:

1/ The compact flash is formatted as FAT32 and the maximum clip length is 4 gig or 20 minutes. The utility will reattach separated clips.

2/ When you have a number of Compact Flash cards (and you will because they're so cheap), you can run into problems where the names on different cards could be the same. The utility well let you assign a number to each import.

Cool stuff! :-)

I just noticed that the link I posted no longer works.

You can now find the Windows version here:

http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?site=biz_fr_EU&contentId=1198162909729

I'm not sure where to find the Mac version.

FCP version is here:

http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=HVR-DR60&site=biz_fr_EU&category=HDVVTRs&contentId=1205247708665&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true

I downloaded the windows version and tried it. It found the MRU with the CF card and shows all files. I highlighted all and it transferred all 48. They came in just like I had done a copy and paste in the past. All 48 files are in the folder not just one file. My friend John also had the same results. Has anyone gotten this utility to make 1 file.--Bruce

You're missing the point of this utility. It doesn't join all the clips together. What it does is reattach any clips that were separated because they went over the maximum FAT32 file size of 4 gig (20 minutes). This would affect things like recording a wedding ceremony, play or music concert.

Most of the time you won't have any clips this size and it will be exactly the same as a regular copy.

thanks for the info, I thought it joined all clips into one, too bad but still useful.

You're missing the point of this utility. It doesn't join all the clips together. What it does is reattach any clips that were separated because they went over the maximum FAT32 file size of 4 gig (20 minutes). This would affect things like recording a wedding ceremony, play or music concert.

Most of the time you won't have any clips this size and it will be exactly the same as a regular copy.

That sucks!

Has anyone tried using a CF formatted as an NTFS partition in the Sony CF recorder? Will the Sony CF recorder recognize it?

That sucks!

Tell me about it. My life would be soooooo much easier if the import plugins (for any of the tapeless cameras) let you select concurrent clips w/continuous timecode and import them as a single clip.


-A

Just updating this old thread with a current US link for this utility:

Digital HD Video Camera Recorder - Memory Recording Unit (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/hdv/z7u_s270u_m35u/HVR-Z7U/unit_software.html)

FCP version is here:

Sony : Sony Recording Unit/FCP 6 Plug-in : Autre (http://www.sonybiz.net/biz/view/ShowContent.action?product=HVR-DR60&site=biz_fr_EU&category=HDVVTRs&contentId=1205247708665&sectiontype=Product&preserveContext=true)

If only it was in English

Just updating this old thread with a current US link for this utility:

Digital HD Video Camera Recorder - Memory Recording Unit (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/hdv/z7u_s270u_m35u/HVR-Z7U/unit_software.html)

Can we put a stickie on this thread? or start a new one w/ just this link on it.

I know DVInfo doesn't like cross posting, but I think it would make sense to have a stickie in the Z5 forum too, just to make it easier when people first get their hands on the CF recorder.

Now this is probably a very, very stupid question, but what is the use of a Mac-version for this software taking into account that on a Mac you can log and transfer clips that last 72 minutes (= a full 16 gb CF-card) ? What's the point of the stitching possibiity then?

You can also easily name the card in the camera, so even there I see no advantage.

I must be missing something here... and that's puzzling me.

I must be missing something here... and that's puzzling me.

I'm pretty sure that FCP won't Log & Transfer the clips with out this.

I'm really hoping that FCS 3 will be able to log & transfer a lot better, mostly I want to able to handle these HDV .m2t files the same way FCP handles P2 clips.

I'm really hoping that FCS 3 will be able to log & transfer a lot better, mostly I want to able to handle these HDV .m2t files the same way FCP handles P2 clips.

Agreed. The thing that frustrates me is many times I can't tell what a clip is to label it in the L&T window. I really wish you could preview it.

I'm pretty sure that FCP won't Log & Transfer the clips with out this.

Oh yes, it does. I've transferred hundreds of clips with FCP without this software. I did download the dedicated Sony Plugin for FCP, though. So I still wonder what the purpose of this software could be...?