Just got some XDCAM footage. Need help

xberk wrote on 8/14/2013, 10:47 PM

I just got some footage from the UK via DROPBOX. I am told it is off a JVC GY HM 150U camera .. A quick lookup tells me that is XDCAM EX footage.

The files they sent look like this on my PC. XDCAM files

There are MP4, SMI, PPN, XML, XMP and BIM files. All the clips are in their own folder.

The MP4 file plays fine in Vegas but looks lousy (grainy and color shifted) I can't tell if the footage is just shot poorly or this is some sort of proxy MP4.
Can anyone clue me in .. don't know squat about XDCAM files or how to work with them in Vegas. i'm running Win8 and Vegas Pro 12.

Comments

i am erikd wrote on 8/15/2013, 12:48 AM

That looks like you are not working with any proxy but the original as it was shot. Chances are what you see is what you got. If you connect your camera using firewire or usb you can use Device Explorer I think to import the clips into Vegas for editing.

Erik

farss wrote on 8/15/2013, 1:26 AM

In the sample you provided there's a XML file in the same folder as the ,MP4 file. XML is pretty easy to read and from that you might find information about the cameras settings when the clip was shot. That could provide a clue as to why the MP4 file "looks lousy".

Bob.

fldave wrote on 8/15/2013, 7:47 AM

That didn't look like the EX footage I worked with before, maybe it's JVC vs. Sony. Look for the XDCAM Browser, though I haven't tried it yet (replaces XDCAM Clip Viewer described Here , which I have used)

Newer XDCAM Browser

Maybe they converted to a low quality MP4 file?

rs170a wrote on 8/15/2013, 7:57 AM

I shoot with a JVC HM-750 and the only thing missing from my expanded folder is the .XMP file.
FYI, the XDCAM ClipBrowser is used to rewrap the files from MP4 to MXF format.

edit: I hate to say it but if the video looks lousy, it was probably shot that way :(

Mike

WillemT wrote on 8/15/2013, 8:12 AM

That file structure looks exactly the same as the Sony EX3 structure, except I do not get the .MXP file.

You can use the stand alone Sony Clip Browser to re-wrap them to .MXF or the Device Explorer in Vegas to import them as .MP4s. Browse to the "Mandy 1" folder and all the clips will be displayed.

Those .MP4s are the clips as shot (I am afraid).

Willem.

xberk wrote on 8/15/2013, 9:22 PM

Thanks Guys. I really appreciate the excellent help.

All I have to work with is what they sent me via DROPBOX. but the MP4's work fine in Vegas 12. No trouble working with them -- I was just hoping they would look better than they do and looking for a reason why they look grainy ! In some places it looks like the thing was shot on Tri-X pushed a few stops.

I'm starting to think they shot all the footage as IVTC, 23.96 fps. But then decided to render to PAL format, 25 fps. I say this because they have sent me two copies of each clip. See file properties below:

Name: 078G0152.mp4
Streams
Video: 00:01:17.744, 23.976 fps progressive, 1920x1080x12, AVC
Audio: 00:01:17.744, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, AAC

Name: 078G0152_01.MP4
Streams
Video: 00:01:17.760, 25.000 fps progressive, 1920x1080x12, MPEG-2
Audio: 00:01:17.760, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, PCM

I'd say the 25 fps file has been rendered or converted from the original AVC.
The 25 fps is the version that came with the folder structure and the XLM files etc.

I see no need to convert to MXF as I can edit the MP4's fine. BUT ...

Here's the big BUT .. I'm integrating this footage with other HD footage shot as follows:

Name: 00069.MTS
Streams
Video: 00:05:40.340, 29.970 fps interlaced, 1920x1080x12, AVC
Audio: 00:05:40.340, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, Dolby AC-3

I suppose I need to convert the footage from the UK to conform to the MTS files? The UK stuff will be less that 5% of the project. I imagine it will still give me audio sync problems ....

Tech Diver wrote on 8/15/2013, 9:56 PM

Was your footage shot in low light by chance? Both the JVC GY-HM150 and the JVC GY-HM750 are based on triple CCD sensors, which are a great technology in bright light (no shutter roll) but are not too sensitive for low light. As a result, one must boost the sensor gain when lighting is poor, which produces rather grainy images (especially at +18db). Even if lighting conditions were not poor, it is possible that the gain boost switch was accidentally set in the wrong position.

Peter

xberk wrote on 8/15/2013, 10:26 PM

True .. some of the footage is available light indoors ... the stuff shot outside does look better (way less noise) but even some of that is color shifted and over-exposed. I guess I have to accept the fact that it is what it is and the folks using the camera had the wrong settings -- they may have turned on the gain boost for indoors (giving me lots of noise) and then left it on outdoors, giving me over-exposed footage.?

It is what it is. funny thing is about two months ago they sent me some stuff, shot in available light indoors, supposedly off the same camera. That suff was spot on .. really sharp, nice looking stuff. All I got then was the HD MP4 file. None of the other XDCAM files. Weird.

WillemT wrote on 8/16/2013, 4:47 AM

The file as per your original screen capture nl.

Name: 078G0152_01.MP4
Streams
Video: 00:01:17.760, 25.000 fps progressive, 1920x1080x12, MPEG-2
Audio: 00:01:17.760, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, PCM

Will be the originally shot file. XDCAM produces MPEG-2 files. The AVC must be a rendered version.

Willem.

xberk wrote on 8/16/2013, 10:18 PM

Thanks Willem .. I think I get it now.

Hopefully the differing frame rates will play ok in the context of this being a verite type documentary.