Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I would suggest filing this an enhancement/feature request using the link Paul Hardy provided.

In terms of XAVC-L, there is minimally a bug due to the documentation being out-of-sync with the software.

In Apple's and Sony's documentation, no limitations are cited as to XAVC-L not working. Both simply mention the generic term XAVC. So one would imply that all its flavors (XAVC-I, L, S) would be supported.

So this could be a bug with the docs in that they should detail specifically what is and what is not supported. Or, the docs are actually accurate and the bug is in the software (i.e. software doesn't live up to the documentation).

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Talk about confusing, is PDZK-LT2 Version 1.2 the one we've been waiting for?

Sony Pro site lists XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2) MAC Version 1.0
Sony | Micro Site XDCAM...

But Sony Creative Site shows XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2) MAC Version 1.1 and 1.2
Sony Creative Software - XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2)

So is the latter an update and does it support XAVC-L in FCPX?
Why do the two sites differ?

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I think that is dated a year ago, and only works with XAVC-S, not L

I've read strong hints over at fcp.co that we will see a solution for this very soon, and it may come in the form of an FCPX update (or a pro codecs update) rather than a Sony plugin.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Although it's truly odd that two different Sony sites have different versions of the plugin.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Does that plug-in work for XAVC Intra on FCP X? I accidentally recorded something in XAVC Intra and cannot get FCP X to import or even see it even after installing the LTZ whatever Sony plug-in. :(

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Well that was quick. Apple promptly closed my bug report and marked it as a duplicate of number 16759740. I don't have access to see that particular bug, but it would have been filed around April 2014 (judging from nearby numbers).

Definitely frustrating that it's at least been a year since this was reported and yet no fix has been provided.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Well the 10.2 update's out & it still won't import footage from my X70 (unless I'm missing something). It'll import either a thumbnail or audio only.

Not mad - just disappointed!

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Paul - seeing the exact same thing here - audio only plus first frame of a clip. I rebooted, updated FCPX, Motion, Compressor. I see no update to Pro Codecs either. I am still on 10.10.2 however, but FCPX 10.2 says that's all that's required.

I even checked for an updated plugin from Sony. Yes, disappointing. Glad I have my EditReady/ProRes workflow worked out.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Wow... This is disappointing!!! Hopefully someone that is at NAB can try to clear this up with Sony and/or Apple. What are they thinking? How is that Edit Ready working for u? What kind of encoding times are you seeing. I am just about to buy this camera and think that I will just deal with the AVCHD until full FCPX support this there.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I'm furious. Especially since the bug I had filed with Apple was marked as a duplicate. And the original bug (filed around April 2014) was closed. There are typically two reasons an original bug report is closed. The most common of course is that the bug is fixed. The less common is "works as designed". Unfortunately, I don't have access to the "why" the original was closed.

I just tried importing a clip myself with Final Cut X 10.2 on OS X 10.10.3. Same issue as before that others are seeing. Audio comes in with blank video.

Needless to say, I will fire back a response on my bug report, but I don't expect any answer to that at this point.

I'll give it a few more days, but if Sony/Apple do not have a fix for this, then no sale. I'll either keep what I have, or look at other brands.

Side note... from the 'What's new' for FCX 10.2...

* Support for Panasonic AVC-Ultra, Sony XAVC-S, JVC H.264 Long GOP


Someone dropped the ball big time.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I wonder if it is supposed to work? Why would audio and a thumbnail import? How did it work before this update? Did it not even import anything? Someone needs to raise some hell! Im in a X70 group on Facebook and someone posted from NAB saying that there is alot of buzz on this cam!!! Supposedly the price drop was to make up for the upgrade cost when it comes out. So no new cam until then when I assume it will just ship with the update...

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

With the prior version of FCX, it didn't work either. Same thing; blank video and just audio came in.

Both Apple's and Sony's sites _minimally_ have documentation errors. Both sites say that you can import XAVC. Which in my eyes means all flavors of that. But that's of course not true since XAVC-L fails to work.

What I'd minimally like to see is for Apple/Sony to change their documentation to reflect what actually works. That means explicitly citing the exact flavors of XAVC that can be imported. That of course doesn't fix the issue, but would at least let consumers not waste time.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Sony guy at nab said apple will b announcing upgrade in app store in next few days.sony had given apple what they needed months ago.this delay is on apple not sony

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

It's no more difficult to learn than Vegas, but just has a different approach. You can drag and drop together with doing a number of similar timeline operations as Vegas, although if you do try to use Lightworks exactly like Vegas you'll find it a frustrating business. I say this as a Vegas owner. The best best one for you probably depends on what type of productions you edit.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just found out today that Sony are bringing out a 'Catalyst Production suite "which contains Prepare and a new 'Edit' It claims tight integration between Prepare and Edit and claims to cope with X70 files. I have only seen the promo on the Sony website. Does anyone have any more information? If this really is true, it might be a good way forward.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

An update beyond version 10.2 that was released yesterday? Or was ysterday's update suppose to have the necessary fixes?

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Unless there's a ProApps codecs release soon, there's likely not going to be another FCPX update for about 3 months give or take.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

HD Warrior has a good step by step of the XAVC-L problem regarding the FS7 and the X70.
It seems that the FS7 may work with HD files.

HD Warrior » Blog Archiv » Importing Sony’s XAVC footage into FCPX v10.2

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just spoke with Ian (I believe his last name is Cook) at the Sony booth at NAB. Everyone said he's the most knowledgeable person in the Sony booth on this question. He said that Apple (and Sony in Japan) promised him that a new version of FCP X, version 10.2, would be released on Monday and it would have the fix for bringing XAVC-L files into FCP. I said that I thought v.10.2 had been released this past Monday. He didn't think that was possible but he checked and I was right. He obviously had not been able to check the update to see if it worked with the XAVC-L files but I told him that my understanding from reading this and other x70 forums was that the problem persisted. (Is this true? Did the v. 10.2 update not fix the problem?) He said that there might be a problem with the difference between xdcam file structures (used on sxs cards and optical disks) and the file structure used on SD cards, like in the x70. It could be that FCP was looking for the video files/folders to be at the root level on the storage device and that the SD card protocol required those files/folders to be inside of a "Private" folder. So it's possible that if one pulled the contents of the Private folder out and placed them at the root level of the SD card, things might work. You might need to delete the (now empty) Private folder. I'm not going to be home for another week so I have no way to check this. Can anyone try this?

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

No, pulling things out of the Private folder doesn't help, nor does doing that and also deleting the Private folder. I tested this using a card in a card reader, not from an archive.

The problem is not that FCPX can't find the clips, it's that it can't read/import anything but the audio and a jpeg of the first frame of the video.

Others need to try though but it doesn't change anything for me.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

OK, so by moving the XDROOT folder to the top of the cards directory structure, FCPX now reads the card & sees that the clip is a video clip (single clips show correct start/stop/duration now, but are greyed out) - however FCPX then quits & crashes before it finishes reading the card.

This says to me that FCPX knows nothing about XAVC-L whatsover & by changing the cards file structure it thinks it's seeing regular XAVC files, gets confused by the 'L' variety and then crashes in a blaze of glory!

So no - 10.2 does not add any XAVC-L functionality whatsoever - no cigar!


I know one thing though - I definitely won't be upgrading my X70's to 4K until this is sorted.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Two steps forward, one step back. The supplemental update OSX 10.10.3 still doesn't fix the XAVC-L problem with Final Cut Pro X, version 10.2. I did the update today (The OS X Yosemite 10.10.3 Supplemental Update fixes a video driver issue that may prevent your Mac from starting up when running certain apps that capture video.) and when I tried importing XAVC-L files from the X70, FCPX crashes. Before the update, FCP X would see a thumbnail and an audio file. Now nothing. I tried to import directly from the card as well as from a desktop folder with card contents copied. Sony Catalyst Browse sees the XAVC-L clips on the card. Enough troubleshooting for today. Wait. Maybe I should try cleaning the spark plugs?

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I am having my FCP-X updated tomorrow. I have an X70 and an X180. Perhaps I can copy/paste X70 footage from an SD card onto my X180's SxS cards, and attempt an ingest to see if it's the file structure? Didn't someone post that the X70 XAVC L files have different attributes than other XAVC L files from other cameras?

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I see that Pro Video Formats 2.0.1 is now available. Cross your fingers! Will try this myself in a few hours.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

No No No - the 'Pro Video Formats 2.0.1' update makes absolutely no difference whatsoever

This is unfortunate as I was hoping XAVC-L support would be added via this kind of update & not a full FCPX release, however as this recent update has done absolutely nothing to help this sorry situation - I think it'll now be a long long wait before a fix is released!

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Grumble, grumble. Confirmed that this is still broken. My X70 arrives today. I will be capturing a very short clip over the next couple days to attach to a new bug report filed at Apple. Probably will be sent back as a duplicate of the original closed bug, but still worth a shot.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just finished my first night of full on 1080p60 XAVC L shooting.......ingested like magic into FCPX 10.2, looks amazing, I am soooo happy! With color correction and a broadcast filter in place, my 1080p60 XAVC L exports to 720p60 HDV at 45 seconds to the minute, very fast! 10.2 is SWEET.

That was on my X180 though......... :-\

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

what I don't understand is why if Catalyst Browse, Prepare, Prem Pro CC, Avid etc etc can 'see' X70 long GOP why can't FCPX developers just look at it . There must be common threads in their programmes, why can't they just copy/modify them? Would make even more sense for Vegas ( but I'm on a mac)
Must be a reason, there's a reason for everything!:)

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just put the entire card contents of an SDXC X70 XAVC L card onto my X180 SxS card. I tried adding the files as clips in the X180 video folder, they refused to show. I deleted the card and put the SDXC file structure on the SxS, and FCPX 10.2 still saw the clips as untouchable, with matching JPEG files. Obviously, not a card thing.

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Something is really goofy with Pro Video Formats 2.0.1 update. I keep installing it (via the App Store app) and once even directly by downloading the .pkg file.

But the App Store app continues to show it as an available update. Anyone else seeing this?

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Seems like a common problem - this is a workaround courtesy of 'rgilman' over at FCP.co

Here's the workaround:
1) You download the Pro Video Formats package directly from Apple.
2) Open that package in Pacifist and then use Pacifist to install it.

Worked perfectly for me!

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Thank you! Fixed my issue as well. I was working with Apple support, but we couldn't get it fixed. This saved me from having to call their Enterprise support (was the next step).

Note to self: probably should become a member of FCP.co

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just recorded a 5-second clip (color bars and tone) with my X70. Then filed a new bug report with Apple against FCP X 10.2 and Pro Video Formats 2.0.1. I attached a zip of my memory card.

If the outcome will be to simply close the bug without any information as to why, I will pursue one final option which is to use a DTS (developer tech support) incident. I get 4 of those per year. My aim is to find out exactly why these bugs are being closed when obviously the footage still cannot be imported. But DTS is primarily for code-level support (i.e. writing software). So they may not be too keen on this particular usage.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

They probably don't consider incompatibility as a bug. That's like saying your CD plater not playing DVD's is a bug! :)

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Still can't work it out in my simple brain. Adobe CC, Lightworks, Catalyst browse/prepare etc can do it. It can't be that difficult to sort out can it and I thought these IT guys got paid lots of money?
Would anyone like to respond? I'm a simple person!!!!!:)

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I remember it took Apple a long time to make AVCHD Lite format readable and directly ingestible into FCP7. When they actually implemented it almost nobody who had used FCP7 was shooting in that format anymore. Same to AVCHD 2.0 (1080/50p,60p 28Mbps) ingest in FCPX, it took them quite a while, maybe until 10.0.1 or 10.0.2 to make the raw clips directly ingestible.

Wait for it, it will come.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I would guess it has a lot less to do with being ABLE to get it working than get it working CORRECTLY. You can get anything with 4 wheels rolling on it's own power, but there is a lot more to driving for a living than forward motion. I would also guess there are a lot of ways to get a codec to perform poorly when processed in someone else's, or even your own NLE.

Paul

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

We use EditReady to transcode AVCHD and XAVC-L directly to ProRes 422 in our workflow. EditReady : Transcoding Without The Hassle - divergent media

We prefer preparing, transcoding and renaming the ProRes files BEORE importing into FCPX.

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

Tagging onto what Paul said (post #77), there are probably other issues in the way of a quick fix for the importing problem. Apple’s Developer’s Conference (WWDC 2015) will be in a little over a month on June 8. They’ll be rolling out new versions of iOS, OS X and who knows what else.

There may well be an update to FCP X so it seems likely that all hands will be working to make sure all the releases are trouble-free and there won’t be any hic-ups to mar the WWDC show or the releases that come afterward. It takes time for applications to be tested so they’re as trouble-free as possible and all it takes is one good “gotcha” to go viral.

On top of all this, there are undoubtably contract agreements between companies (Apple and Sony in this case) and lawyers have a reputation for “time is NOT of the essence.” Anybody know if there is any money changing hands between the companies?

For the past few years both the Panasonic and Sony corporations have been bleeding financially. That’s one reason Panasonic spun off JVC and I think Sony has spun off some of their company too. In contrast, Apple keeps making a profit and has a huge pile of cash. A camcorder that can export easily to FCP X will obviously benefit from increased sales. Could there be some corporate gamesmanship going on here? Patent trading?

The plan last summer was to get the X70 when it came out but it wasn’t FCP X friendly. A Sony rep told me they should hopefully have something by fall (2014) so I waited. Thanks to all of Paul Anderegg’s testing and posts on the X70, not to mention the hype on 4K and my waiting, there are now more cam choices available. More decisions. While ClipWrap has been working good at re-wrapping, the next cam(s) will be FCP X friendly (among other requirements) or I won’t buy it (them).

Re: Any word on XAVC-L plugin for FCP X?
 

I just submitted a support question to divergent media. I'm seeing a glitch in the transcoded time code track. Other differences exist too.

My test: XAVC-L 50 Mbps clip shot with Sony's PXW-X70. Transcoded to ProRes 422 in Catalyst Browse, Catalyst Prepare (trial) and EditReady (trial).

I then used QuickTime Player 7 to inspect the tracks. Browse and Prepare both produced files with 10 total tracks: 1 video, 8 sound, and 1 timecode. EditReady produced a file with 6 total tracks: 4 sound, 1 video and 1 timecode. And EditReady's timecode track is displaying garbled characters in the 'TimeCode Start' and 'TimeCode Stop' column of the Properties window. And the garbled characters rapidly change over time. That tells me the software (QTP 7) is attempting to read data about the timecode track and not succeeding.

All footage plays back a-ok in Final Cut Pro X, QuickTime Player and QuickTime Player 7. Still, I haven't used any features that would rely upon the timecode track. So possible something may break down if using the EditReady files.


UPDATE: divergent's support is fast! They haven't heard about this issue, but it may be an edge case involving just QT Player 7. So probably not worth any fix. I was only using that player to inspect transcoded files; it won't be used in any of my workflows.