Should these files be playable in the most recent version of the Sony Content Browser- Can the MXF files be imported individually into the content browser, does it matter that these files are outside of the Sony folder structure?

I tried importing them and a browser error saying that it could not import came up.

Content Browser 2.0 "supports" XAVC. But I'm sure they mean XAVC-Intra. It does not support XAVC-S (from AX100) and having used both cameras (I ownt the X70 and used the AX100 for 2weeks) the file structure of the so-called XAVC-L ("Long GOP" from the X70) to my eye is virtually identical to XAVC-S from the AX100. Are we dealing with Sony marketing a so called "professional" codec for the X70 when both codecs are really one and the same? Perhaps someone with more technical and inside knowledge than myself could comment.

Files play fine in Edius Pro 7.

Yes it does but isn't it a PIA to import these files without thumbnails and having to hold down the control key while you select every other file (labeled MXF) and skipping the files labeled HTML one at a time? Perhaps I am missing something here and not doing it the proper way. Perhaps the new software Sony is releasing that supplants Content Browser will recognize all favors of XAVC and we will be back to the days of selecting a large group of thumbnails and dumping them into the Edius bin all at once. Sony touts this camera as "professional" grade but this portion of the editing process certainly isn't.

After looking into it more- It seems like content browser is being replaced by this new software browser on Sept 30th and I expect this will read everything
https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/catalystbrowse

more
http://www.sony.com/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-media-software/2014/sony-announces-new-line-of-media-preparation-appli.shtml

After looking into it more- It seems like content browser is being replaced by this new software browser on Sept 30th and I expect this will read everything
https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/catalystbrowse

more
Sony Corporation of America (http://www.sony.com/SCA/company-news/press-releases/sony-media-software/2014/sony-announces-new-line-of-media-preparation-appli.shtml)

Thanks for the links - I had misplaced them. It looks like "problem solved" as far as clip management.

Also, having a PXW FS7K on order it looks like I might be able to use the S-Log3 functions on that camera and do color grading without having the equivalent of a PhD in color grading and spending hours in the process (or perhaps I.m being overly optimistic).

Ok. I got my x70 yesterday from Singapore ( I live in Thailand) Really distressed about not being able to edit in PPCS6 but have downloaded a trial of PPCC and it works fine. The images are just so crisp and clear on my 27" iMac. I've uploaded some VERY BADLY SHOT AND EDITED footage so that you can take a look. remember it is on YT at 1080, degraded by their compression, but I hope it will help you decide. Believe me, the original footage is just so sharp!
You can see the footage here Sony x70 test shots XDCAM - YouTube

Mike which shop did you buy your X70 from?

If the shop is not a sponsor here, can you email me at hantanbl@gmail.com

thanks

Weird. The video starts off with the unboxing of a Panasonic X70.

:-)

Andrew

[quote=Bill Petropoulos;1862744]Some new videos shot with the PXW-X70:

@samjamez shared on twitter that this was shot with the PXW-X70:
Arras Tunnel Open Day - Wellington - YouTube (http://youtu.be/GkbYkuY3wgU?list=UUdmLKtZomd6R3eQOZlBz-iA)


I had the chance to handle the camera and I can confirm that the handle (the only reason for a non-broadcast user would buy this one over the AX100 basically for the "looks") is small but big compared to the camera, taking all the fun away from a small tool to go unnoticed. Also the handling is absurd (you end up holding it with three fingers, like a toy). The XLR is important with any camera but I doubt that not many of the X70 buyers have any or plan to buy any. Wireless lav is more important (more than XLR) and it works fine on the AX100. The version batteryless is interesting but you still have to bring them for the receiver so... not that big after all (and on the X70 you have to remove the handle making the process idiot-proof, in terms of idiotic if you ask me).

Again the AX100 still looks good with all the problems still not fixed with the X70 by the way.

for broadcast is cheap and interesting.

XAVC-S is 8bit 4:2:0 but XAVC-L is 10bit 4:2:2 depending on the subject matter, lighting and also the playback chain you may not notice much of a difference at first. Heavy processing will see a difference though.

I do not have the camera so I just put the files from the internet into Edius which played back fine. What software came with the camera ?

I too am looking forward to the new Browser software should replace the 4 I now use. PMB, Content Management Utility, XDCam Browser and PlayMemories Home.

I still have PMB on one PC and PlayMemories on a second PC to transfer the AX1 files as PMB has been replaced by PlayMemoies minus some features !!! Hope we get a nice full set of features with the new software.

Ron Evans

I have the new PMW-300 and was early out the gate with applying the latest firmware which brought the XAVC recording capability to the camera. I quickly recorded a sample file just to see how it worked .... and I haven't done any more with it since.

Going out on a limb here ... I simply couldn't see the difference in quality between it and 50Mbit XDCAM. Maybe it's something that you need to get used to (like better quality audio speakers) and it's only later that you can look back and see the difference? I really don't know.

Just earlier today I was recounting this to a friend who works in the industry and does a lot of colourist work in addition to editing. His response wasn't to say "yes, it really is better, just wait and see" in terms of image quality. He merely commented that the XAVC material was even better for colour grading work due to the extra two bits of depth in the image data.

Not that there is anything wrong with 50Mbit XDCAM which itself grades beautifully.

I honestly don't feel compelled to record in XAVC and have my recording capacity cut in half due to the doubled data rate of the new format.

Andrew

Here are some shots I took and finally got a chance to put them together. Crudely thrown together in Premier Pro. The original files do look much better as Mike Griffiths noted.

http://youtu.be/oz-tEmIZKRo

I'll have crack at that embed for you:

Andrew

Sony PXW-X70 Test Footage on Vimeo

Thanks. Not sure what I was doing wrong w. the Vimeo. Youtube embedded just fine. Thanks for the help.

Weird. The video starts off with the unboxing of a Panasonic X70.

:-)

Andrew

Have you never seen this boring videos of people unboxing, there was one of the X70 a few days ago, it was a joke, but maybe you could not see that! ( my sense of humour is pathetic!!)

Weird. The video starts off with the unboxing of a Panasonic X70.

:-)

Andrew

OOPS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!!! thinking of my GH3 at the time that I love, humblest apologies!!!!!!!!

Hi Mike,

I did note the sense of humour. And I knew the Panasonic reference was an unintentional goof. Happens to us all.

Andrew

You've got a credit on the video for pointing it out, no royalties I'm afraid!

Ok, Tonight I tried out the Infra Red system, and am disappointed, but maybe I'm not familiar enough with the camera yet. If anyone has comments, ideas or suggestions PLEASE POST THEM
The video (very short) is Sony X70 IR test - YouTube

I have only limited experience with Sony IR recording, but my thoughts are:
1) it is intended to be used not so much in low light, but rather in NO light
2) the image quality is not expected to be very good
3) the IR light doesn't project very far, so it's more effective for closer in shots.
Personally, I have never found an actual use for this feature, but it is on so many different Sony cams, for so many years, I can't help but think someone must use it for something...

Try your test again in no light, with an up close subject. The camera basically has a small IR spotlight that is only really capable of reaching 9-12 feet. Perfect for interviews, but not usable for really anything else. For me, it's a perfectly acceptable feature as you can't expect a camera to provide light where there is no light.

I think Ghost Hunters, PI's, certain wildlife videographers (bats and other nocturnal critters), and people wanting to take video of sleeping babies are the "primary market"...

Robert is correct on all three observations...

I'll add that nightshot is NOT designed for military style IR as heat detection (useful for ID'ing and icing bad guys), but rather is a mode designed to capture an IR illuminated scene so there is no need for "normal" spectrum light that might disturb the subject or call attention to the shooter in otherwise dark conditions.

As noted, the Sony has a smallish IR emitting LED that will illuminate a limited area (think of it as any other "on camera light"). There are larger IR LED arrays capable of illuminating (in IR light) a much larger area if you need to shoot a large area in near or total darkness (see ebay).

Nightshot and IR illumination are not designed for typical video, but as noted, there must be a market, because it's been a long time Sony "feature", maybe someone at Sony REALLY likes video of stuff that goes bump in the night?!

Sony Catalyst is available! a bit strange but it does work for the X70

Honestly, I have seen better looking downsampled ax100 footage.
I agree, but have you seen the Sony promo where they are blowing glass? that will blow your mind

Thanks everyone for the comments on IR. I'm new to Sony, having used Panny cameras for several years now. This test does illustrate the points made. The IR light is weak, not much use but someone will use it
See a VERY short clip http://youtu.be/SaD4mtz04QU

I am a little disappointed so far. It does not recognize the Sony MRW-E80 XQD card reader at all which PlayMemories does just fine, it will only display/transfers AVCHD files and does not join these FAT32 flies into m2ts clips so pretty useless for me !! There are icons for files and clips in the lower right of the copy window but the clips icon is greyed out. So hope it is me not using correctly or maybe a future update but as it is it is useless to me. Will stay with using 3 programs ( Playmemories for AX1, Content Management Utility for NXCam AVCHD and PMB for the CX700 stuff). Since there is no driver for Win 8.1 for the MRW-E80 I will see if it works for the AX1 directly connected on my laptop later and report back.

Sony seem to be going backwards in their software. Playmemories has less features than PMB, the original NXCam Content Management Utility for me has more useful features than the newer Content Browser !!!

Ron Evans

Sony Catalyst is available! a bit strange but it does work for the X70

About the only thing it does is add clip previews and playback. When you copy it to your hard drive it puts in the whole structure - not just the MXF files - it puts in XML files and if you are copying a group of clips you can't select copy all - you have to go down and individually select every other file (MXF) or organize them according to clip size and only copy the large files (XML files are only a few KB). You cannot drag and drop a group of clips into your NLE (at least not mine - Edius Pro 7). Content Browser was much simpler and more efficient.

Strange piece of software that Catalyst Browser... You can't do much with it.

- transcode to another format must be done clip by clip, rather annoying when you have 300 clips to transcode
- strange way of browsing, not intuitive at all
- adjust color: missing simple things like EXPOSURE or CONTRAST, or things like PRESETS
- when selecting clips I hear loud ticks from my USB audio unit!?! Buggy
- nowhere you can right click and get a nice context sensitive menu with lots of options
- it can copy, wow, but you can already do that with finder or explorer
- still can't open X70 clips with Final Cut
- missing: adjusting the interface, dragging borders, adding or deleting columns
- adding metadata not there
- confusing keyboard functions... delete lets you browse up a level?

This software isn't even for beginners. Let's just say it is a beta version with lots of possibilities for future expansion.

Tried Catalyst on my laptop , Win 8.1, did not recognize my FDR-AX1 but thought it was just an attached USB drive !!! It saw the XAVC-S files when I searched through the directories and would play them. PlayMemories recognizes it as a FDR-AX1 and presents the clips without having to search through the directories. The NX30U was recognized and metadata displayed but not clips just individual FAT32 files. Useless. I will wait to see if a real version appears in a future update.

Ron Evans

Strange piece of software that Catalyst Browser... You can't do much with it.

This software isn't even for beginners. Let's just say it is a beta version with lots of possibilities for future expansion.

I agree completely. If they just could have taken the old Content Browser and made it recognize other codecs than Mpg HD 422. It was all so simple - just have it recognize the SxS from the camera - copy to another file on your video editing drive and then click on that and highlight and drag the thumbnails right into your video editing bin.

I suspect some of the features that people really want will be in Catalyst Prepare at $200 a pop.

Earlier on, some people asked for some X70 raw footage. Here are some of the files i shot in the park behind my appartment today:

http://we.tl/XlxyCMBi6U

Please feel free to use, not to publish.

What surprises me the most: The XAVC files are in .MXF format as wrapper, Sony people on the Sony stand at IBC told me it would be .MP4. Furthermore, VLC player doesn't play these XAVC files, hope they come up with an update really soon. Older versions of NLE software neither do cooperate with these files so updating your software is absolutely necessary.

After unzipping the mxf files, I am not able to drag and drop into Sony Vegas 13 timeline. Am I missing something? Please help as I will be ordering 1 soon. thanks

So what do we think of the quality of the footage? On "another forum" they are not impressed, calling it mushy and soft. Yes, I've seen the glass-blowing piece. Yes it looks very nice. What do our members who've got hands on experience think?

It has potential for great footage. but easily suffers from noticeable noise in shadows and/or low light. Some of the zooming exacerbates this.

I feel that the higher quality XAVC format is slightly wasted on the camera.

You can also hear the zoom servo when zooming quickly.

Probably good value for the price point, though.

Andrew

PS. My experience with the camera is limited to reviewing the test footage that was linked to in an above post.

So what do we think of the quality of the footage? On "another forum" they are not impressed, calling it mushy and soft. Yes, I've seen the glass-blowing piece. Yes it looks very nice. What do our members who've got hands on experience think?

I have limited experience due to time constraints namely my son's Taekwondo class (shot in XAVC-L at 1080 60p) but imo it is every bit as good as my PMW 200 shooting the same material under same lighting conditions. I notice no mushiness - I can read the small lettering on the uniform patches and also the colors are excellent. You do have to pay a little more attention to proper focus with the 1" sensor and DOF consideration but I am pleased with the camera so far.

Would you say those noise issues are worse/better than/equal to that on an EX1? That's a cam I get to use fairly often and have seen the footage in post a lot. In the dark with some gain applied (even 6 db) you can see some minor noise.

Now listed as "In Stock" at B&H - for now

Sony PXW-X70 Professional XDCAM Compact Camcorder PXW-X70 B&H

After unzipping the mxf files, I am not able to drag and drop into Sony Vegas 13 timeline. Am I missing something? Please help as I will be ordering 1 soon. thanks

I cannot get them to play in Vegas 12 either but they work fine in Edius Pro 7.

Ron Evans

Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=907330&Replies=7)

Ron looks quite a lot of us got this issue. Hopefully Sony can resolve this quickly.

Sony Creative Software - Forums - Vegas Pro - Video Messages (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/Forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=907330&Replies=7)

Ron looks quite a lot of us got this issue. Hopefully Sony can resolve this quickly.

Well I think it is useful for people using a Mac as they can at least convert to Prores and get to use in FCPX etc. But for PC users Sony has much better options. Sad.

Catalyst should recognize all Sony cameras as advertized. It should transfer clips ( all files between start and stop on the camera) as clips not files just like PMB, Should rename just like PMB to date and time of clip taken and place in directory of the date transferred ( just like PMB or better yet allow naming before transfer in metadata ). not sure what they were thinking. Not having Vegas recognize files is just silly when Edius does just fine.


Ron Evans

If you're talking about Catalyst - no, the ProRes export is grayed out on a Mac according to another user here on dvinfo.

?????? I can see and use Pro Res and import into Premiere Pro CS6 but just one clip at a time, tedious

Slight change, Talking about CONTENT BROWSER

I have just bought Content Browser so that I can see X70 MXF files. I can see them and I can see AVCHD from the camera, but I cannot export them. All export options are greyed out:
iMac Mavericks 10.9, content browser 2.3 ( downloaded today)
When I tried the trial yesterday I could’ import into FPX. I don’t use FP I use Premiere Pro, but at least I was able to import them, and PP would accept them now I can do nothing
Help please

Like others it's been a nightmare trying to get X70 clips into Vegas 13. It's just not happening. Converting the XAVC-L 50-mbit 422 files to XAVC Intra has worked by using Catalyst but man is it slow and tedious when it can only handle one clip at a time. Sony SCS need to fix this quickly with a Vegas build update. Especially as opposition NLEs like Edius 7 can handle the native X70 files with no issues.

I downloaded Gabor Heeres' X70 footage to have play with in Vegas, thanks Gabor for making these clips available.

http://we.tl/XlxyCMBi6U

Must say I am pleasantly surprised at the images coming out of this camera from what little I have seen. The zoom also seems to be quite useable. Look forward to trying one of these out soon.

Anyone interested in having a look at the Ops manual I've uploaded it here:

www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/j94ogl

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

I do edit most of my work using Vegas Pro 13. Though on my macbook I work with Premiere Pro using a CC membership. For now, I make a rawcut XDCAM HD 422 MXF file of it using premiere. That one I am able to edit in Vegas again. Quite comprehensive though..... I really hope updates of all software for this XAVC Long-gop codec are coming soon. :Looks like FCP, Avid, Vegas Pro and even VLC player are still aren't able to work with these files.

I can select multiple files with normal windows actions. Highlight the first , hold down shift and click the last then all are selected. Likewise using ctrl I can select a group of files. This is for AVCHD files since I only have one x70 file from the internet. As I said before this action is useless as it does not join files into a clip just transfer as mts files.

Ron Evans

Ron, The AVCHD files aren't the problem. Those you are able to import and edit. The issue exists with the XAVC-L MXF files. There are a couple of files available for download here to play with:

http://we.tl/XlxyCMBi6U

Thanks I have those files. Like the Mac the windows version will only deal even with AVCHD one file at a time for transcode but will transfer to the PC a group of files selected as I mentioned. It is not as good as PlayMemories at the moment in my mind. PlayMemories does recognise clips on the cards ( not files), camera info etc so this is a backward step in my mind. It may be an attempt by the Sony Pro division to catch up with the consumer division !!!

Ron Evans

Did any software come with the X70 camera ? Normally Sony includes software with the camera.

Ron Evans

The CD that came with the camera only contains the user manual in multiple languages.
As others have reported, the XAVC files will play in PPro CC 2014, but file import is not properly worked out yet.
Sony PMH will not recognize the MXF files.
Catalyst Browse will copy the files to the HDD, but file naming is lame (001, 002, etc.), and then when I import to PPro and drag to a timeline, it duplicates the audio to 4 separate tracks which are linked such that I can't delete the redundant 3 tracks.
On the other hand, shooting AVCHD at the highest quality produces some very beautiful footage.
I'm using the preset PP2 in bright sunlight today.
I really like the 1" Exmor R backlit sensor. This camera reminds me of the things I liked about the Sony VG 20, but obviously the X70 is way better in so many ways.
The AVCHD files import easily with Sony PMH and have the nice filenames that include the date.
Bottom line for me right now is I'm happy to stick with AVCHD until Sony sorts out the workflow problems with XAVC

Yes me too, I'll work in AVCHD for now as you say, really nice. i've sent a test file to Red Giant who were surprised to find they too could not open the XAVC video file. They seem to be working on it. Let's hope

Through old connections I have with Sony SCS, don't ask it's a long story. The short of it is that I used to demonstrate Vegas at major broadcast shows so still have some old connections through to SCS.

I received an email today from from Michael Bryant, he's the Director of Marketing at Sony Creative Software. Here is what he had to say:

"Hi Chris;

We are aware of this problem with Vegas Pro and it is on our roadmap to rectify. We do not have a specific release time for the update but will net-notify everyone once it is in place. We’re also aware of the batch export feature request for Catalyst Browse and have sent the request to the dev team.

Thanks for checking out Catalyst Browse and for all the support you have provided for Vegas Pro over the years."

So I guess the upshot is that they are working on it and we just have to be patient I guess. Hope it's soon!

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

Here's a real short video I put together using the Slow Motion feature on the PXW-X70. I shot it by myself of myself so it's not the best angles possible. I really like this feature as well as the Quick Motion. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer, I'm just a hobbyist, and by no means am I any where even remotely professional, so treat it as such.

Fun With Slow Motion Youtube - YouTube