Quicker way to import XDCAM?

[Raja]

Metadata is also necessary if you have additional audio tracks, still snapshots, or pretty much anything "extra" beyond just the clip.

While it sounds like Raja's been doing fine, I still strongly recommend pulling in all the related data to prevent future heartburn.

Hey Brandon, I'd love to use the metadata in Edius as then we could use clip shot markers, white balance change clip info, etc etc, which our cameras can store, but back in the day someone told me Edius does not recognise XDCAM metadata? Is that still the case or does it recognise it now?

[strange]

Although most of the time I use XDCAM Browser to drag-n-drop import XDCAM to Edius (since version 4.61 in fact) recently I encountered one exception however. Plural Eyes trial version was not able to interpret XML metadata of these clips. I had to re-import bare MPEG files instead.

[GrassValley_BH]

Metadata is also necessary if you have additional audio tracks, still snapshots, or pretty much anything "extra" beyond just the clip.

While it sounds like Raja's been doing fine, I still strongly recommend pulling in all the related data to prevent future heartburn.

[Raja]

Navigating down directories and extracting the mpeg files IS NOT the way to go. Metadata is not maintained using this method and problems can also occur with spanned clips.
The Sony software was written for a reason, why do people insist on making life complicated for themselves?

There are many ways to crack a nut. Explorer is the easiest for me. Metadata is only used if the application can make use of it and it is NOT necessary. There is also NO problem with spanned clips in XDCAM. Been using this method for over 6 years on a regular basis.

[zvit]

I didn't realise that the actual files would be duplicated and copied to the project file. I always assumed that bin files were just holding points/markers for the originals on the computer hard drives.

They are not duplicated. What you said about reference points is correct.

[rodpike]

Drybiscuit,I have not worked with this format before,and unpacking each folder individually was obviously not the way to go, hence the question.

I do have the Sony PMB browser which I tried, but it obviously wasn't the right programme as I now know via Ron. It wasn't a question of doing it the hard way, more doing it at all!

Anyway, problem solved (in several ways!) so thanks for all the input everyone, much appreciated.

[Dry Biscuit]

From day one customers here use the following workflow:

1. Open Sony ClipBrower

2. Drag the picons from the Sony browser to the Edius Bin

3. Done

Correct.

This has been covered so many times previously. The way Zorro suggests is the easiest and the method with the least steps.

Navigating down directories and extracting the mpeg files IS NOT the way to go. Metadata is not maintained using this method and problems can also occur with spanned clips.
The Sony software was written for a reason, why do people insist on making life complicated for themselves?

[strange]

I just use the .MP4 files on their own and don't even bother with the browser software, Edius XDCAM import or anything.
Go to the root directory of your video files on your XDCAM SxS card and do a search for *.MP4. Once all the MP4s are in one search window select all and copy across to a directory on your hard drive. I usually name d1, d2, d3 etc for the different cards.
Drag the d1, d2, d3 directories directly into he bin

Another option is to use a file manager Total Commander 8.0. It has a neat button called "Show all files in current dir and all subdirs". If the sort mode is set to "by file extension" all MP4s files are sorted next to each other. They can be easily selected, copied, dragged over to Edius or ... ...

TC 8 is a superb utility for general Windows file management tasks.

[Raja]

I just use the .MP4 files on their own and don't even bother with the browser software, Edius XDCAM import or anything.
Go to the root directory of your video files on your XDCAM SxS card and do a search for *.MP4. Once all the MP4s are in one search window select all and copy across to a directory on your hard drive. I usually name d1, d2, d3 etc for the different cards.
Drag the d1, d2, d3 directories directly into he bin

[Hawke]

Here is the link to the Sony download site:

http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-xdcam/resource.downloads.bbsccms-assets-micro-xdcam-downloads-XDCAMBrowserWINTC

The new XDCAM Browser V2.1 is available.
NOTE: XDCAM Clip Browser has been discontinued and replaced with XDCAM Browser. It's doubly confusing because the old software was at V2.6 the new software with the slightly changed name started at V2.0!
I use the program to move clips from drive to drive without a problem.

[Ron Evans]

I don't know to which method you are replying but in EDIUS you have 2 methods:
1 add to bin ...will point to the original location
2 add transfer to bin ..will make a copy of the files in the project folder and EDIUS will point to those.

So it is a matter of how you do it.

That is why I like keeping transfer to PC and then backup before editing. Doing this wrong with file based camcorders can loose all your work. You might think your saving time but loosing all your files is much worse than one extra step. This way I also get to decide where the files go rather than the default project folder. When my friend shoots with his EX3 I just have his hard drive overnight to copy and backup before I give it back to him. Which if course he then formats to shoot more stuff at his work !!! Don't want to get that sequence wrong !!!

Ron Evans

[rodpike]

Steve, thanks so much- a simple thing that I didn't know! (I have found the stupid hat!). Transfer to bin it will be- problem solved. Thankyou all
Rod

[GrassValley_SL]

I don't know to which method you are replying but in EDIUS you have 2 methods:
1 add to bin ...will point to the original location
2 add transfer to bin ..will make a copy of the files in the project folder and EDIUS will point to those.

So it is a matter of how you do it.

[rodpike]

I didn't realise that the actual files would be duplicated and copied to the project file. I always assumed that bin files were just holding points/markers for the originals on the computer hard drives.

[Zorro]

From day one customers here use the following workflow:

1. Open Sony ClipBrower

2. Drag the picons from the Sony browser to the Edius Bin

3. Done