I've encountered an interesting problem when importing XDCAM HD footage into our system. 

In the past I've imported proxies, completed my edit and run in to major problems on the uprez.  I eventually figured out that I was creating trouble for myself when I attempted to "organize" the footage on my XDCAM HD discs by going into the Sony PDZ-1 software and editing the alpha-numeric name of clips given by our 335L camera (i.e. birds - wide shot, cardinal - medium shot).  When I changed those names outside of Avid I could import proxies just fine but for some reason the changed descriptions I had given to the clips didn't apply to both the proxies and HiRez footage.  I eventually completed my edit and attempted to uprez only to find that Avid couldn't locate the HiRez and would merely begin re-importing proxies only! 

My error in file renaming notwithstanding, I have had a strange thing occur during the Batch Import process when either uprezzing/reimporting offline files to an edited sequence.  Sometimes this footage shows up as "XDCAM HD 35MBsec" and other times it shows up as "HDV 1080i".  I cannot figure out why some files would be shown as XDCAM HD and others HDV!  The difference in file type doesn't seem to coorelate with any camera setting changes.  My only hunch would be that some of my footage might be shot in Picture Cache Recording mode and Avid sees this differently some how.  But if that were the case then the footage shot in Picture Cache mode wouldn't import anyway because Picture Cache/Interval Record modes are not supported in Batch Import.  So that can't be it!

Presently I have an edited timeline of offine media that I need to reassociate with XDCAM HD material between 2 different XDCAM HD discs.  Batch Import isn't working because of the Picture Cache conflict and dragging clips directly to the bin and relinking doesn't work either.  No matter what I try I cannot get Avid to relink to the newly imported clips which have identical timecode and date information.  I have noticed though that after directly importing XDCAM HD clips into a bin that the "Tape" and "Tape ID" column of the bin in Text view are blank.  Could this be the problem?  I don't see how because each of the clips I've imported have been given identical tape/disc labels when prompted by Avid.

I'm really flummoxed as to why all this is happening.  I've searched the forums and haven't found anyone else with an issue similar to this so perhaps someone will at least be able to help me brainstorm a troubleshooting solution.

Thanks in advance and I hope to hear from some of you!  Your forum topics in the past have been a great help!

 We've had similar problems on XDCAM batch imports, and the solution for us was to modify clips to give them tape style names using "set source".

 One reason footage might show up as XDCAM HD 35 MB or HDV 1080i is if your original footage was shoot SQ/25MB, thsi would import as HDV. HQ/35MB footage should show up as XDCAM HD 35MB, etc.

 I'm pretty sure the failure to Batch Import Hi-Res thing is a bug.  Avid is aware and it should be fixed soon. 

I have noticed though that after directly importing XDCAM HD clips into a bin that the "Tape" and "Tape ID" column of the bin in Text view are blank.  Could this be the problem?  I don't see how because each of the clips I've imported have been given identical tape/disc labels when prompted by Avid.

I have noticed the same thing and I tried to add a coloumn like "Disc ID" but couldn't find anything. Just if you modify a clip, you get the possibility to change the Disc Label instead of the Tape. But would be nice, to have a bin view with the Disc Label coloumn.

Except from that, batch import works well on our system. (XDCAM HD 422 - PDW-U1).

Regards Moses

 Moses:

On our systems, there is a bin heading "disk label". Does yours not have that option?

hm... there are some possibilities:

a) I'm too blind to find it. (ok - I am half blind, but I ware glasses)
b) I'm too stupid to find it. (I hope, I'm not)
c) Our system doesn't have this optin (which I can't believe)
d) I was distracted by my dog. (He doesn't like editing) 

I'll take another look.

Regards Moses 

Larry Rubin:

 Moses:

On our systems, there is a bin heading "disk label". Does yours not have that option?

 I can't find it in the bin heading either....it would be nice to though! 

Got it! in your media bin -> click the Hamburger Menu -> Headings -> Select Disc Label

Thanks for the hint Larry.

M.

 Knew it had to be there, especially since you have the XDCAM drivers installed.

Thanks Moses and Larry    I think I need a refersher course on how to use this thing, I sometimes wonder if, for every new thing I've learned, something else has been shoved out of my brain!

Larry Rubin:

 We've had similar problems on XDCAM batch imports, and the solution for us was to modify clips to give them tape style names using "set source".

Larry, I'm interested in what you mean by "set source".  Are you refering to a camera setting?  Or do you mean the Disc Label field at the bottom of the import window?  (Because I do that). 

I've concluded that relinking is problematic with XDCAM HD video because of the import method we're using in our workflow.  Because we drag 'n drop into bins from the Clip folder of the disc itself, we give the disc a "Disc Label" but not a "Tape" or "Tape ID".  If we captured the video via deck control instead of directly importing via FAM then we'd have the option of giving our clips a "Tape" or "Tape ID".  Relinking seems to only make use of the timecode and "Tape" name when reassociating clips with offline material. 

So if that train of thought is accurate then Avid should add "Timecode and Disc Label" to the relinking method to encompass the fact that XDCAM direct imports forgo the naming of "Tapes".  Otherwise nothing is relinked.

Moses.M:

Got it! in your media bin -> click the Hamburger Menu -> Headings -> Select Disc Label

Thanks for the hint Larry.

M.

 Thanks Larry and Moses.  This was a useful part of the puzzle.

why do you "drag'n drop" and not let Avid do it's "Import XDCAM Proxy..." job?