Thanks. I checked that out but don't have access to the cameras, only the files that have been downloaded to a Mac formatted hard drive. The single long takes are broken up into multiple folders on the Sony's, and even though the C300 files are all in one folder they still are unjoined when I put them on the timeline.

Devices Explorer can be pointed to folders on a local hard disk.

Bob.

Bob,

When I go to Device Explore I just get a message saying "No Device Connected." What should I be doing there?

Going to the XDCAM Explorer it seems as if I should at least be able to get the EX1 files that way but nothing takes. I get a message "The XDCAM disc import process failed." The file structure is: CARD1 /BPAV /CLPR /SYM4001_01 (6 OR 7 of these types of folders). Any advice there? Thanks.

"

Save me a lot of typing, try the manual. Also check the manual on how to specify where you want the Imported files placed, the default is somewhere in My Documents.

"Going to the XDCAM Explorer it seems as if I should at least be able to get the EX1 files that way but nothing takes"

XDCAM Explorer is ONLY for XDCAM HD which uses optical disks. For XDCAM EX you need Device Explorer or use Sony's Clipbrowser to join the files and Export For NLE which will give you joined MXF files that Vegas handles no sweat.

Bob.

Jan, you need to right-click on "No Device Connected", select Browse and then go to the BPAV folder.

Mike

Mike, thanks, I just did that and "OK" is greyed out.

From HELP file



The Device Explorer allows you to browse and import clips from AVCHD, XDCAM EX, NXCAM, and RED ONE and EPIC devices; CompactFlash-based memory recording units such as the HVR-MRC1; and hard-disk-based recording units such as the HVR-DR60.

From the View menu, choose Device Explorer. The Device Explorer window is displayed.

Connect your camera to a USB 2.0 port on your computer. The camera is displayed on the left side of the Device Explorer window.

Select your camera on the left side of the Device Explorer window. The camera's clips are displayed on the right side of the window, and clips that have not yet been imported are indicated with an icon.



Tips:

If you want to use clips from a folder on your computer, right-click the left pane of the Device Explorer window and choose Browse from the shortcut menu.

In order for some devices to appear in the Device Explorer window, you may need to change the device's USB Connect setting from Automatic or MTP to Mass Storage.

The following help topic provides a workflow for efficient editing of video from an XDCAM EX camera.

XDCAM EX differs from XDCAM/XDCAM HD in several key areas.

XDCAM EX cameras record to SxS flash memory rather than optical disc.

XDCAM EX cameras record full-HD video to MPEG-2 (MP4) format.

XDCAM EX video is not visible in the XDCAM Explorer window. Use the Device Explorer window to import clips from an XDCAM EX device.

When editing XDCAM EX video, you'll edit full-resolution MXF files. Proxies are not available.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shoot your video with your XDCAM EX camera.

Transfer your clips from your camera to your computer.

Install the SxS device driver.

Connect your camera (or card reader) to your computer with a USB cable.

Your camera will prompt you to Connect USB Now? Choose Execute.

Use the Device Explorer window to import clips from your XDCAM EX device to the Project Media window.

Previous versions of Vegas Pro required you to convert XDCAM EX clips to MXF format before editing.

This conversion is no longer required, but the workflow is still supported. If you want to wrap your XDCAM EX clips in MXF format, please use XDCAM EX Clip Browsing Software.

Drag your imported clips from the Project Media window to the timeline to create events.

Edit your project as needed.

Render your project for your destination format. You can also render to XDCAM EX format by choosing XDCAM EX (*.MP4) in the Output Format box in the Render As dialog.

The following notes apply when rendering XDCAM EX format files:

Only embedded XML metadata is included with rendered files. Embedded XML metadata supports markers and regions; title, author, and description summary information; recording date/time; and timecode in/out.

When you intend to transfer files back to SxS media, select the Write segmented files if output exceeds 4 GB check box on the Video page of the Custom XDCAM EX Settings dialog (click the Custom button in the Render As dialog and then click the Video tab). When this check box is selected, large files will be segmented at 4 GB for compatibility with the SxS file format.

XDCAM EX supports no-recompress rendering (smart rendering) across the following formats when the source and destination MPEG-2 video match in frame size, bit rate, profile, and level. Frames that have effects, compositing, or transitions applied will be rendered.

SP 18.3 Mbps CBR 1280x720p to/from XDCAM EX and HDV HD-1

SP 25 Mbps CBR 1440x1080i to/from XDCAM EX, XDCAM HD, and HDV HD-2

HQ 35 Mbps VBR 1440x1080 to/from XDCAM EX and XDCAM HD

HQ 35 Mbps VBR 1280x720p to/from XDCAM EX

HQ 35 Mbps VBR 1920x1080 to/from XDCAM EX

The Enable no-recompress long-GOP rendering check box on the General tab of the Preferences dialog must be selected to enable smart rendering.

Did you find a BPAV folder?

Oftenly Mac users say they "copied" the cards when in fact they've imported the footage.

Bob.

Jan, I don't have any XDCAM footage on my home computer but I know this procedure does work. I'm pretty sure you only have to click on the BPAV folder to select it but you might have to go one level deeper.

Mike

"I'm pretty sure you only have to click on the BPAV folder to select it but you might have to go one level deeper."

No, that will not work.
You have to select the folder that contains the BPAV folder.

Bob.

Thanks so much everyone. I've been able to import both the FS100 and EX-1 clips as single 1 1/4 hour clips, as opposed to the multiple clips I had before. Wish I'd know about this a week ago!

Should the Canon C300 mxf files work the same way? I tried the method described in the HELP file, that worked on the Sony cameras, but wasn't able to make anything happen, i.e. inactive OK button.

Thanks again.

"Should the Canon C300 mxf files work the same way?"

I'm inclined to doubt it. We do have a C300 locked away where I work but it'll be after Xmas before I can get to it.

If you can find a Canon utility to deal with the files that might be your best bet.

You could also try doing a simple binary copy and append. You need to go into the DOS command line to do this.

Bob.