Yes, that is what I experienced with the Sony Utility. To clarify: I wanted to compare 2 separate workflows using a single shot that exceeded 4GB so 2 files were created on the CF card:

Workflow 1 (No Sony Utility): Dragging the 2 files directly from the card into Premiere Pro CS4 and then to the timeline. Result: 2 frame gap at the join point

Workflow 2: Using the Sony Utility program to convert two files on the card into a single file. This file was then dragged into Premiere Pro and then into the timeline. Result: No gap.

Ohhh. I read that to mean that you dragged both to PP FIRST and then used the utilty.

So, Greg, is this the resolution to the problem you posted about in your other thread?

This is the way the Sony Motion Browser software works for cams like the XR500. The camera sees one clip however long the shot was, Sony Motion Browser sees this one clip to transfer to the PC and when transferred it is one long clip. I know that the hard drive on the XR500 is FAT 32 but I never see this when looking at clips on the camera or when Sony Motion Browser looks at a clip on the camera from the PC. FAT32 is always masked from the user. I have shot several shows in the last month where I left the XR500 running for about 3 hours and the clip was transferred as 1 clip.

Ron Evans

I downloaded some footage I shot this weekend, I used the utility program, and it worked fine. Unless resetting the unit as Sony suggested and re-formatting the cards did something, I couldn’t get it to work before. When I posted this weekend I used the footage I had from the prior week. I downloaded the new footage last night and it was fine. It worked perfectly. I called Sony last night and the guy I was speaking to didn’t show any software upgrade for the unit. Of course to boot, he said the guy I spoke to Friday didn’t log the call. He suggested I call during the day when more techs would be available. I’ll let everyone know what they tell me. If you’re having the same problem, try resetting the unit and then try the utility. I wish the utility worked with files on the hard drive so I can go back and test the older footage. I guess I could always copy them back to the CF card and try it that way. Sorry for the dissertation.

I believe it was a combination of things. Most of the problems were cleared up when I quit formatting the cards in my computer (I should have read the manual). Ironically, it seemed like I had to format the cards a couple of times in the MRC1 until all of the problems disappeared. It was sort of like there was some kind of residue left over from the computer formatting. ???? For extra insurance, I now avoid formatting the cards unless I have had a problem (no problems recently). Now I just delete files, instead. Plus I don't do anything at all with the CF cards once they come out of the MRC1 until I have run them through the Sony utility. It has been working much better since I adopted this routine. I think 99% of my problems were operator induced errors.

Has anybody had issues with M2T files and Adobe Premiere (or any other software) where the last seven or so frames of each clip has video but no audio? Not a huge deal unless I'm creating an unedited version of a project for a client.

what exactly is this 'sony utility' everyone keeps referring to?

my unit came with a 'utility' called CF Capture, but i don't see any option to 'join' separate takes into one long file?

i can't comment on the above problem since i haven't shot anything continuously for more than 15 to 20 minutes.

leslie

Hi Leslie,

It's actually called the Sony Recording Unit Utility. It's primary task is to join files larger than 4GB as per FAT32 limitations. If you're curious here's the Sony page Digital HD Video Camera Recorder - Memory Recording Unit

It's essential if you have files over 21:44 minutes. But if all your clips are under that, the utility will work, but the end result is the same as if you were to copy the files directly from the unit via Windows explorer.

Unfortunately the unit won't join multiple files into one, just the files that exceed 4GB. It's unfortunate, because up until now, my workflow has consisted of editing hour+ long Matrox AVIs, rather than hundreds of separate clips. On that note, if anyone knows of a utility (for Windows) that will merge multiple M2T files into one large file, I'd be forever indebted!

Rich

thanks richard,

that's the software that came with my mrc1 - and which i use to off-load from cf cards.

in which case, it seems i'd never have know ;-)

Richard,
I haven't tried this with .m2t files, but I've managed to combine multiple .m2ts files using TSRemux or TSMuxer, both free. Neither are perfectly intuitive, but they're not impossible either. They'd be worth a try if you're using Windows.

Hi Alexander,

Thanks a mill for your suggestion. I will definitely give them both a try. How lossless are the resulting files in your opinion?

Rich

Richard,
Since the files are remuxed and non recompressed, the resultant combined file is completely lossless from the previous "generation." You're basically just taking existing streams and joining them together. It's also a pretty quick process. I hope it works on your files. I've only used it to backup my Blu-ray discs. I use Sony's CF Utility to combine the .m2t files from my camera.

I may be wrong, but I think the Sony utility does some magic using the sidecar files for long clips to repair the seam where it breaks them up. The Sony utility is the only way I have found to restore the missing frame(s) at the break.

Alex,

When you say you use Sony's CF Utility to combine the M2Ts from your camera, you mean just the >4GB files, not every single clip (40MB, 100MB, etc) right? I want to make sure I'm not missing out on an updated version of the software...

Rich