XDcam PDW700 live capture/streaming to laptop, .MXF to .MOV conversion to Apple TV at DVinfo.net

Matthew Davies · April 15th, 2013, 09:38 PM

Hi everyone.
This has been killing me for the last week! So basically Im shooting IV's that need to be quickly imported back into a laptop and then put into Itunes for viewing on an apple TV system. Unfortunately the PDW700 shoots in .MXF format and I need to convert the files into Itunes playable .MOV format. My initial thought was live capture straight into Avid, FCP or alike and capture the input as a .MOV however as far as im aware live capture from the PDW700 is impossible. If anyone knows otherwise of a way to live capture with this camera, I would be eternally grateful!
The second option is hooking the camera up to the laptop after shooting the IV's and using the XDcam transfer programme to quickly convert to a .MOV. Given the Interviews are only a few minutes the transfer only takes two minutes or so. The down side is although they are converted to .MOV files they wont play on Itunes. If anyone knows a way to make these files playable or even why they aren't playing that would be such a massive help. Likewise if anyone knows of another programme to quickly convert .MXF to .MOV that would be great. the iv's are roughly 4 minutes, however unfortunately the conversion of the file also needs to only take a few minutes which it makes it harder still!
Thanks for all your help and advice :-)
Matt

Jack Zhang · April 16th, 2013, 08:41 AM

Ideally, you can use a Blackmagic H.264 Pro Recorder to record to Apple TV compatible files: Blackmagic Design: H.264 Pro Recorder

Christopher Young · April 21st, 2013, 12:07 AM

Yes have done this from XDCam to the Blackmagic H.264 encoder. Just one tip. Media Express the Blackmagic encoder software that works with the encoder likes a laptop with a fast processor and a reasonable amount of ram. Had a few issues where the software would hang or appear to be recording but it would just create a black file. Ended up going with the following solution.

Not the cheapest solution but if you can work with 1280 x 720 4mbps at 25 or 30 fps MOV files take a look at the Ikan MR7 monitor with built in recorder. It will record straight from your SDI output to an internal 4GB memory or to a 32GB SD card. We use the cards. This system works really well. It's all hardware, it's simple, the quality is great and you can trigger it from your camera rec start stop over the SDI. Additionally you can view the audio levels and monitor easily with headphones. All of which we found trickier with the Blackmagic H.264 solution

Currently working with a system using three of these where we have to deliver files straight after the shoot for distribution on USB thumb drives. Very happy with the results so far.

Check out the Ikan here and watch the video:

http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=511

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

Peter Newsom · October 31st, 2013, 08:30 AM

Sony makes a docking ASI converter (Sony HDCA-702), that also outputs HDV on a FireWire 400. Not cheap, but it might work for your application.

April 15th, 2013, 09:38 PM	#1
Matthew Davies Tourist Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1	XDcam PDW700 live capture/streaming to laptop, .MXF to .MOV conversion to Apple TV Hi everyone. This has been killing me for the last week! So basically Im shooting IV's that need to be quickly imported back into a laptop and then put into Itunes for viewing on an apple TV system. Unfortunately the PDW700 shoots in .MXF format and I need to convert the files into Itunes playable .MOV format. My initial thought was live capture straight into Avid, FCP or alike and capture the input as a .MOV however as far as im aware live capture from the PDW700 is impossible. If anyone knows otherwise of a way to live capture with this camera, I would be eternally grateful! The second option is hooking the camera up to the laptop after shooting the IV's and using the XDcam transfer programme to quickly convert to a .MOV. Given the Interviews are only a few minutes the transfer only takes two minutes or so. The down side is although they are converted to .MOV files they wont play on Itunes. If anyone knows a way to make these files playable or even why they aren't playing that would be such a massive help. Likewise if anyone knows of another programme to quickly convert .MXF to .MOV that would be great. the iv's are roughly 4 minutes, however unfortunately the conversion of the file also needs to only take a few minutes which it makes it harder still! Thanks for all your help and advice :-) Matt

April 16th, 2013, 08:41 AM	#2
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: XDcam PDW700 live capture/streaming to laptop, .MXF to .MOV conversion to Apple T Ideally, you can use a Blackmagic H.264 Pro Recorder to record to Apple TV compatible files: Blackmagic Design: H.264 Pro Recorder

April 21st, 2013, 12:07 AM	#3
Christopher Young Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,528	Re: XDcam PDW700 live capture/streaming to laptop, .MXF to .MOV conversion to Apple T Yes have done this from XDCam to the Blackmagic H.264 encoder. Just one tip. Media Express the Blackmagic encoder software that works with the encoder likes a laptop with a fast processor and a reasonable amount of ram. Had a few issues where the software would hang or appear to be recording but it would just create a black file. Ended up going with the following solution. Not the cheapest solution but if you can work with 1280 x 720 4mbps at 25 or 30 fps MOV files take a look at the Ikan MR7 monitor with built in recorder. It will record straight from your SDI output to an internal 4GB memory or to a 32GB SD card. We use the cards. This system works really well. It's all hardware, it's simple, the quality is great and you can trigger it from your camera rec start stop over the SDI. Additionally you can view the audio levels and monitor easily with headphones. All of which we found trickier with the Blackmagic H.264 solution Currently working with a system using three of these where we have to deliver files straight after the shoot for distribution on USB thumb drives. Very happy with the results so far. Check out the Ikan here and watch the video: http://ikancorp.com/productdetail.php?id=511 Chris Young CYV Productions Sydney Last edited by Christopher Young; April 21st, 2013 at 12:08 AM. Reason: insert url

October 31st, 2013, 08:30 AM	#4
Peter Newsom Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 182	Re: XDcam PDW700 live capture/streaming to laptop, .MXF to .MOV conversion to Apple T Sony makes a docking ASI converter (Sony HDCA-702), that also outputs HDV on a FireWire 400. Not cheap, but it might work for your application.