Perhaps somebody official from Avid should add a comment to this article.  You guys kind of get knocked for not having "native" support, and the author implies you cannot currently use MC products to edit this format.  FCP can use EX with Sony's clip browser...just like Avid, right?

http://library.creativecow.net/articles/reeve_dylan/xdcamex.php

Using the Sony Clip Browser software, the MP4 files can be rewrapped as MXF files and imported into the Avid. This is a tutorial I did:

<http://community.avid.com/blogs/training/archive/2008/01/28/sony-xdcam-ex-with-the-avid-media-composer.aspx>

Bob

There is a lot of erroneous info in that article. Including about Sony and FCP. Seems like it was written last year.

I wrote that - it was written last year and sat unpublished until recently when I sent in a few updates to reflect the release of the EX3, unfortunately I didn't have time to revisit all the NLE support issues.

Some of that has been made clear in the comments on the article.

 The text on the spec. of MC3 indicates it will support HDCAM EX natively, is it true or is it just a way the marketing department to describe the actural workflow?

berga:

or is it just a way the marketing department to describe the actual workflow?

A little of both. It will be supported but  you will still have to use Sony's clip browser to get MXF files.

It is really bizarre that Sony decided to use MPEG-4 to wrap XDCAM EX instead of MXF when there is (as far as I can tell) no NLE application at all that supports it natively. FCP requires that the files be re-wrapped as MOV files, and for Avid it's necesarry to re-wrap as MXF, even Sony's own Vegas requires the MXF wrapped version.

I asked a few Sony people at the local product launch last year, no one knew why.

 XDCAM EX is not made in the same division at XDCAM HD, thus the inconsistency in format wrapping.

Michael

A little like Avid and Protools only occassionally getting completely on the same page perhaps Michael?

 Close! But at least MC and Pro Tools use the same wrappers!

Michael

You'd think they could fire an email back and forth

From: XDCAM EX Devteam <exkicksbutt@sony.com>
To: XDCAM HD Development <xdcamhddev@sony.com>
Subject: Rappers!!!11eleven

Hai guyz!

Wat format r u rappin ur filez in?

From: XDCAM HD Development <xdcamhddev@sony.com>
To: XDCAM EX Devteam <exkicksbutt@sony.com>
Subject: Re: Rappers!!!11eleven

We've been using MXF, it enjoys wide industry support and is very flexible. We recommend you do the same.

From: XDCAM EX Devteam <exkicksbutt@sony.com>
To: XDCAM HD Development <xdcamhddev@sony.com>
Subject: Re: Rappers!!!11eleven

MXF?! LMAO!! Quiktime doesnt evn suport tht! My ipod plays mp4, we r gonna use that!

That is pretty funny.

You wonder if Sony doesn't communicate well internally, or if they're still trying to create artificial barriers between pro and prosumer equipment.  Remember the days when nobody ever thought DV material was suitable for broadcast?  Why bother?  Just create a single wrapper and live with it.

editz:

Why bother?  Just create a single wrapper and live with it.

I can live with different framerates, a few anyway, lets say 24, 25 30, 50, 60 -- fairly easy to deal with.

But god the formats, so many formats.