I was able to convert your clips. However I did find an issue with the clips with only 2 channel audio, all our samples have 4 channels. So Banrisul0004.MXF converted fine, yet Ipanema0046.MXF & CapsulaZH-090.MXF required a small patch HDLink that will get into the current build. I'll send you the patch.

Patch
 

Hi David,
Do you know when you gonna send the patch?
I can´t convert any of the three files.
Thanks.

Gérson

No need, all the new builds are up and they work fine with XDCAM-HD MXF clips, give it a try.

Hi David,
Just downloaded and tried Aspect and Prospect.
Neither worked. HDLink that comes with Aspect shutdown when I try to convert from MXF to AVI.
HDLink that comes with Prospect returns this message: Format not avaiable (P2 viewer missing).
But I´m trying to convert a XDCam HD file, not P2.
The version is 3.0.5 Build 135. There is no capture card installed in the computer.
I tried two different computers, with a up to date SP 2 installation.
Since I´m in Brazil, the XP comes in Portuguese. Don´t know if this can be a problem.
I read in other posts that some guys installed and are working with the files.
Do you think this can be a instalation problem?

It seems the HDlink can find the MXF libraries on your PCs.
Attached is .reg file, download, unzip and edit it: modify this line to much the path on your PC.
"DataDir"="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\CineForm\\Data"

Then double click on the .reg file to update this entry. I'm guessing that the "C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\CineForm\\Data" path doesn't exist on a Portuguese XP install.

If this works, will will have a official fix in the next build.

Hi David,
Installed the fix, find the modification in regedir. It´s there.
Still not working. I´m using the same three files that I send to you to test. Again three diferent computers. None worked. Same message: Format not avaiable (P2 viewer missing?)

Can you tell me the full path to the Data directory.? We believe this is the failure point, but I can't be sure you have set this registry entry correctly. All three files convert without issue here -- and look very nice, BTW.

Hi David,
The registry:
Hkey_current_users\software\cineform\aspectHD Capture\ datadir reg_sz c:program files\common files\cineform\data

And software:
c:\arquivos de programa\arquivos comuns\cineform\data

As you can see, the software is in a diferent place.
Adobe installs the software in a portuguese XP place.
Do you think this is the problem?

All you need to is make the registry match you install location.

"DataDir"="C:\\arquivos de programa\\arquivos comuns\\cineform\\data"

Did you try that?

Note: '\\' used in the .reg file '\' used if are using regedit.exe.

Hi David,
Uninstalled, cleaned registry, reinstalled, the registry match install location.
Software is located and registry point to: c:\arquivos de programa\arquivos comuns\cineform\data

Inside the data folder there are DMS_crypto.xml 5KB, typer.xml 5kB and xmldict.xml 50kB. Is that correct?

Still not working.

Gérson

Yes, that is correct.

Do you have any english XP systems to try. We need to determine if this is only Portuguese XP install problem -- no other reports of this. Make you sure send this report to support@cineform.com.

Hi David,
Installed in another computer, and Prospect worked. It´s a XP instalation.
But was a new install. I read in another thread that someone had problems with a uninstall and upgrade.
I´m gonna try the solution that was described with a CS3 in this other thread and let you know.
And thank you by the time and support.

Gérson

ps.: I don´t have an english xp.

Hi David,
It was a path problem. Now it´s working in a Quad Core with Premiere CS3.
The convertion quality is very good.
Thanks.

Excellent news! How was the path wrong? Is this information we could help other with?

Hi David,
Adobe installer puts the files in a folder called "Arquivos de programas", that means "program files" in portuguese. May be this happens with other languages. I don't know. My XP is in Portuguese.
After change the reg file with the right path, PP2 worked fine, including After 7.0.
I was having problems installing in a PP CS3. But find a thread that was related with a uninstall of previous version of PP. I patched and PP3 is now working.
After that I tried to import the files in After CS3, but the images were fliped and green! The same image works fine in After 7. Any clues?

Another question: I have a decklink extreme to install with CS3. Wich preset I have to use to see the images in a external HD monitor, inside PP3, using cineform coverted XDCam files: decklink or cineform?

Thanks David.

We are working a on a compatibility issue with some of the AE CS3 components (it will be fixed in couple of weeks), but here is the workaround http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=98146

For output to Decklink you need to use a decklink preset and we only support real-time playback of CineForm projects using AJA cards.

XDCAM in Aspect 5
 

David,

OK..... you've impressed me. I just copied over an MXF file from an XDCAMHD disk to the PC and converted to Cineform so I can do things in CS3.

Now.... I need to go back the other way. I want to take my finished product and go back to an MXF file (not necessarily directly to the disk...just a file is fine).

<wincing> can I do this?

Stacy

Not currently. While it could happen we would need to see the demand grow a lot for that feature. It this for archive or your deliverable? Why is this step necessary in you workflow?

David,

Thanks for the quick reply.

It's for delivery.

Here's my workflow. I create video graphics for the company I work for. Most of them would be transition intersticials that you might see on a football game or sports even for a replay. We use them to sell high-end production switchers.

We have XDCAM HD decks in our demo systems. They are controlled directly by the production switcher. So the end product always needs to be on XDCAM.

I have a mac pro at home. I have a company laptop PC. The company will not buy a macbook. Since we are one of the largest PC laptop manufacturers, buying an mac laptop.... well it just isn't going to happen.

When I'm at home creating stuff on a weekly basis on the mac, no biggie. I can easily import and export to/fromm XDCAM becuase it's (almost) native to FCP. When I'm on the road and have to do this, I must use the PC, and therefore Premiere Pro.

Oh, yes I almost forgot to mention.... I don't have an XDCAM HD deck at home. Too expensive to just sit on my desk. I must use the decks that are in the demo systems. Again, with FCP no problem.... it renders an MXF file that I can transfer from my PC laptop via software.

But.... when I have to create something from scratch in the field I currently have no way (short of rendering an M2T file and using an option card in XDCAM HD) of getting something out of PPro into XDCAM. Oh Adobe says go out and by a $5000 Matrox card.... yeah that's not gonna happen either.

So, sorry for the novel, but that's why I'd love to see XDCAM export from Cineform.

Unless you see another way....

As always, thanks for your help

Interesting, but somewhat illustrating that XDCAM encoding is not for typical applications, and the need is not wide spread. You could export to a CineForm MOV, put that into FCP an export that to XDCAM as needed.

True, but the catch is I don't have a mac on the road. Only a PC. I can transfer the MXF file from a PC, but I can't convert TO the MXF file on a pc. That's where the bugger is.

I guess I'll just have to render to m2t file and use the XDCAM's transport stream option card.

Now if someone could just make a program like Parallels that tricks OSX into running on a virtual machine in a PC! My problem would be solved :-)

Thanks David.

Hi Stacy,
You can use Vegas to convert to MXF.
You edit in PP and with
one more step in Vegas you can convert a MXF. It´s not straight, but you can do in a PC.

It's just that XDCAM is a newer technology. As a hint of future business, Sony is marketing this as the next Betacam. CNN will be using this format as will CBS and all their O&O stations. Other networks are also coming on board.

I feel Stacy's pain. I have XDCAM HD, and I have both Mac and Windows in my house. It's difficult to move between the platforms. But that's the purpose of MXF. It's a Media eXchange Format. The full resolution files are MPEG2 LONG GOP with meta data wrapped together. I know you guys know how to do MPEG2. All that remains is for you to wrap it back into an MXF format file. I am sure Sony would be happy to work with you on this as well.

-gb-

MXF wrapper are nice, we would happily support more acceptence of third party essence media type so we could wrap CineForm compression in this format. Unfortunately MXF is not being used as the exhange format it was proposed for, just islands of custom implements. The Sony MPEG2 implementation is pretty standard, then look at the Panasonic version for real confusion. We will be add MXF MPEG2 exports when there is enough market demand, from our customers.

Hd Link and XDCAM HD
 

Hello has any one have any sucess transfering the XDCAM footage to Cineform. I have Aspect HD 5.05 build 88 with the CS3 package. I thought this was the latest build with the XDCAM HD capabilities. am I wrong? HD link is crashing every time I try to convert the clip. Do I need the Sony software as well or should it work with just HD Link?

There was a bug fix sent to those who asked, but now that is going out generally in a couple of days. A sneak peak will be posted here today.

Are they the ones aready listed in the other post?

HD link and XDCAM HD
 

Still Crashing :( no time to really look into it but I did two uninstalls and then installs. Do a trouble ticket later.

Sounds like you have something missing on your end, as other are working fine with XDCAM. Hopefully support can determine what is missing. In preparation, upload an MXF file that is not working so support can use that to confirm there are no inherent issues.

XDCAM Footage
 

Hey David or anyone can some one send me a native XDCAM file via you send it that would be awsome it could be just the file for some reason. My email in is my profile. thanks Matt I am trying to test the XDCAM HD and Aspect with premiere.

I was informed that it was a 1080P clip. Does that matter?

Matthew, we did find a failure point for MXF XDCAM conversions and addressed it in the latest builds Aspect HD 5.1 and 3.1 of everthing else.

It works
 

hurray it works!!!

XDCAM + ProspectHD + VAIO laptop
 

Hello,
I have been reading and getting all types of useful information on dvinfo since I don't know when, and it is time now for my first post!
;)
I am about to start a production for a TV documentary series that will be shot on the F350. The question is this.
Will I be able to edit the footage on my VAIO laptop using ProspectHD and Premiere CS3? From what I have read so far in the forum and from the cineform product pages, I see that this is the way to go, I just need a confirmation because we need to set it up quickly and I don't want to go on a route that doesn't work due to incompatibilities or other issues.
Also, I read on the product page that minimum requirement for CPU is a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6700. My VAIO VGN-A397XP has a Centrino 2.00GHz with 2GB RAM. Is this sufficient?

Thanks for your time,
Stathis

That minimum system spec is for live captures from HDSDI or HDMI, but as you are shooting to XDCAM disk, that spec doesn't apply. You can convert file based data (like that of XDCAM) on a much sloerw PC than that VAIO system. The only concern with laptop editing is to have the fastest drive(s) you can put in. Stock drives will work, yet for real-time dissolves, and other dual stream operations, a faster disk system helps.

Thanks for the fast reply David.
Yes, the drives we will be using are fast enough, so I have no concerns there. And the laptop will be used only at times, not as a main editing system. Yet it will be necessary, so I needed to know I can work with that configuration.
I read that the activation can be transferred between computers, and from what I understood the PC to be activated has to be on-line. Is that so?

Yes you can transfer your activations, and no you don't have to have the PC online to do it. The activation is and deactivation can be do any net connected PC, the activation/deactivation codes are sent by email. So you can keep you main NLE offline and still transfer the activation.

XDCAM Workflow and clip naming
 

I have been using the XDCAM HD workflow with Cineform for a few shoots now. I love it the one thing that I do not like is that the clip naming function does not seem to be supported. Am I doing something wrong?

Clip naming for those who do not know what it is.
With the XDCAM HD format you can name each clip as it is put onto the disc I usually will name the clip with the show title and the place that I am shooting at since most of the stuff is outdoor TV stuff.

If I use the viewer software that Sony provides with the camera I can see the clip name. So I am pretty sure it is not a camera setting it is a post workflow issue.

Hi Matthew,

What is happening to the names of the clips when you convert?

It should be the existing file name, but with a .AVI extension (and .WAV for appropriate files) instead of the .MXF extension.

If something else is happening, please let me know.

Otherwise, if the naming is stored in metadata, we are not exposed to that during this file-based conversion.

Can't convert MXF files from XDCAM (Aspect HD)
 

I'm planning to use Aspect HD with Premiere Pro CS3/ Sony XDCAM PDW-F355. I got the files from camera on a hard drive. They play fine in Sony MXF Viewer.

I downloaded the trial of Aspect HD but can't convert the MXF clips with HD Link. I'm getting an error - Format Not Available (P2 viewer missing?) I tried installing P2 viewer with drivers, still getting the same error.

Am I missing some additional codec? Isn't Aspect HD supposed to work with XDCAM HD files straight away?

My OS is Vista Business.