Avids goal should be to import straight into the NLE and not to use third party software to do conversions first. But I guess it is a start. I am hoping that MC3 will allow us to do so.

Someday...

The problem right now is that Sony's XDCAM EX files are MPEG-4 and they need to be re-wrapped as MPEG-2 for use in systems that were designed to handle XDCAM.  It's hard to keep up with formats when the manufacturers can't even make their own products compatible with each other.  Not to say it shouldn't happen but the playing field and the rules keep changing so there's no solid ground on which to kick a goal into a ever shrinking net.  That's it, I'm out of analogies.

AquaPix:

 Avids goal should be to import straight into the NLE and not to use third party software to do conversions first. But I guess it is a start. I am hoping that MC3 will allow us to do so.

I agree to some point, but you do want to have backups somewhere, so you can import them again!

I've tested MC 2.8.3 and the EX35, and it works great.

Workflow:

EXCARD -> Archive Drive (using sony clipbrowser 1.1) -> MC 2.8.3 (Drag the files to a bin to quickimport.)

 If I get an EX1 or EX3 I'll buy the XDcam disk recorder, to back up everything in the field already. The disks have a shelf life of about 50 years, store up to 50GB and start at around 12.- GBP here in the UK. So before I even start to import from the SxS cards I'll have my backup. Sounds good enough to me. 

Andy

www.aquapix.tv

 yes, June.

AquaPix:

So before I even start to import from the SxS cards I'll have my backup. Sounds good enough to me. 

For what? An initial 5 minute time saving that would be relevant once in a blue moon

You say you are going to "BACKUP" to an XDDisk. Infact you are not as you backup becomes your original the instant you reuse your very expensive SxS/P2 temporary media storage card.

Any speed advantage derived by working directly from cards also dissappears. 

The most sane thinking I have seen in this arena is a Sony Camera adding an ability to record to card IN TANDEM with the main XDCAM HD disk. Recognising that in a few circumstances quickly having your footage directly available from a temporary storage card to an NLE has merit.

 Andrew, I think I have not explained myself well, so here we go.

I film a lot abroad in remote countries for weeks on time, where I don't have access to studios. Since tape seems to be on its way out and I need to store my footage somehow, it makes sense to transfer to XDcam disks whilst I am in the field. I really don't want to use hard drives as they are definitely not a save to carry around.

As soon as I am back I'll transfer to hard drives and use them for the edit. The XDcam disks essentially become my backups.

I don't like to do it this way, but since Sony has decided to go down the tapeless road on the EX 1+3 (and I am really liking the cams), I don't seem to have any other other choice, except maybe DLT tapes.

If you have any other solution I would really appreciate your thoughts on it.

I love the pics from that camera and its price but would not touch it with a barge pole with the card system. 

Does not help but why Sony did not conceive that camera with a dual layer mini XDCAM disk is a mystery. The impending ability to utilize the U1 seems to be the best nearly current workaround even though it still wastes alot of time and negates any positive a cardbased system is originally sold for.

My concern is that so many people are rushing into this, currently, severely flawed card based system for media aquisition that it has the potential to become a standard almost by default

 You are right in every point Andrew, but we have to go with the technology that is available.

Since the tapeless aquisition seems to be the way the big brands want to go, what other choice do we have?

BTW, I am not rushing into it. Since the appearance of the Panny P2 format I have been watching the market. Most NLE's, including Avid are working on solutions to streamline the workflow.

I couldn't agree more that it is very clumsy and time consuming to use these workflows at the moment though.

Let's wait for MC2.8.3 and see what is changing

AquaPix:

Let's wait for MC2.8.3 and see what is changing

Did some testing on the upcoming workflow and posted the results on another thread...

http://community.avid.com/forums/t/55783.aspx

hbrock:

Did some testing on the upcoming workflow and posted the results on another thread...

http://community.avid.com/forums/t/55783.aspx

...AND there is a clumsy and annoying (but working) solution in that same thread if you need to deal with the EX@35 right now...

MediaComposer 2.8.3 is out on download center. (..now with EX35 support)

interestingly the readme says nothing about it all, but more than a few users have reported that it is indeed the case...

No but I double checked with Avid an that feature is, indeed, in x.8.3.