Anyone out here working with XDCAM HD on a mac? I know there's no browser for the "FAM" on Mac OSX, the client is planning to mostly use SDI but wants to know if you use a PC to download the proxy and high res files if they can be used successfully on a mac.

We will be doing some tests of our own, but I'd love to hear from others. I've lived through working out the P2 workfow and so I'm hoping to lessen the pain on this one.

I've seen that it follows a lot of the same rules as P2, no "best quality" output without a render, etc... But if anyone has good stories or bad, let me know. In good news, using it as a regular deck via SDI is awesome and has to search or rewind time.

You need 2.8.3 but, after converting the XDCam in sony's clip browser, they import right in.

Also, clip browser will  be available for Mac in June.

We have been working with XDCAM HD for over 2 years. Here are a few things we have found:

1. The proxy and hi-rez files can be imported via firewire on either a mac or pc. However, editing proxy files and then batch importing the hi-rez material only works when you do both on the same machine. If you edit proxies on the PC and then transfer the project to the mac, the batch import function will no longer work.

2. We have had success editing proxies on the PC, importing all the hi-rez material to the mac, then relinking the project to the new media. I don't know why this method works, but it does. This means you have all your hi-rez media taking up space on your drives.

3. If you have to use 2 machines, then the old-fashion SDI digitizing method is the most efficient method. Just edit the proxies, transfer the project to the machine you want to finish on, and batch digitize.

4. If you edit the proxies on one machine, then batch import via firewire on that same machine - the system works slowly but perfectly.

Thanks man, where can I get confirmation or info on that clip browser coming to the Mac? (this is a big investment to make)

Great info, I think we will mostly be SDI over there but the proxy is attractive.

Sony announced it at NAB this year.

Also, it is true that moving machines after importing  the proxies does not work. In addition, moving  the high res media  to a different  drive after importing  the proxies is also not supported.

It's a design problem that  Avid is trying to correct. Don't know how soon they'll get it done though.

Hi there,

Would one of you mind clarifying something for me?  If I use Sony Clip Browser via VMWare (running Windows XP) on my MacBook Pro to convert the Sony EX-1 files to DNxHD, can I then shut down VMWare/Windows, and import these files into Avid Media Composer (2.8.3) within my Mac OS and start editing?  

(I'm confused by the two-machine references... essentially my MBP will be two machines... but I think the discussion above has to do with hi-rez/proxy stuff that I don't need to concern myself with).

Cheers, Malcolm

You are right Malcolm. As long as the  High Res Media and the proxies remain on the same drive after you import the Proxies, then the re-import of the High res material will work just fine.

Thanks for getting back to me, BLKDOG.  I hope you don't mind my asking, though, if I even need to worry about Proxies?  I was hoping to simply copy my media from SXS card to MBP hard drive, and then, back in my office, copy again to a backup (external) hard drive and to another external drive that I'll need use for editing.  I hope I don't have to keep any High Res media on my MBP hard drive...    

Does this workflow seem good?

Malcolm

It's fine. If you edit with the High res files from the get-go, then this little problem won't apply to you.

Oh that's great... the simpler the better is my mantra.

Thanks, Malcolm

Is it just me, or does the "no moving" thing really hamper the workflow for any multi system shop?

I guess we'll have to test a bit. I'll report back but I'm curious how this stuff will handle being on a SAN, might be better, technically the drive is the same, but I'm also concerned that it may not work at all being that multiple machines will "touch" the media.

Also, the idea of on and offline needing to stay together is tough in shops where we have offline san volumes and then online vols. Looks like we'll have to plan carefully. MXF is turning out to be so much fun.

More to come.

It is a very huge Yank Cowboy and we've been trying to sort it out with avid for this release but it doesn't look like we'll get there. We're going to keep trying though.