Problems Mounting XDCAM Volumes

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Similar to working with P2 cards, when working with data files stored on a re-recordable medium, there have been issues with users properly moving the data from XDCAM media (discs or memory cards) into the Mac for transfer into Final Cut Pro.

One way to transfer XDCAM material is to mount the disc or memory card on your Mac and transfer directly into FCP (by way of third party software). But not all users opt for this workflow, and instead wish to copy the contents of the XDCAM disc or memory card into the computer first, and then ingest the material into FCP at a later point.

There are two potential problems here:

• Attempting to mount the XDCAM material directly in FCP through the Log and Capture window or through the Log and Transfer window.

• Copying the material over into the Mac in a way that will not be recognized properly.

Using Sony's XDCAM Transfer Software

The first issue is easily addressed. Instead of using the built-in interfaces of Final Cut Pro (Log and Capture, Log and Transfer) to ingest the XDCAM material, another software application is needed from Sony called XDCAM Transfer Software. This works hand-in-hand with Final Cut.

To download the XDCAM Transfer software from Sony, click here to be taken to Sony's website. Once downloaded and installed, launch Final Cut Pro. Then go to File > Import > Sony XDCAM. This will launch the XDCAM Transfer software where you ingest footage, converting the files into QuickTime files which are then imported into Final Cut.

Transferring XDCAM content to a Mac

The other issue is not copying the material into the Mac in a way that will be recognized by the Sony XDCAM Transfer software.

The answer to this is similar to ingesting from P2 cards. If you do not wish to ingest into FCP through the Sony software directly, but wish to copy over the content to the Mac first, then use the following procedure.

When you connect a device to your Mac with XDCAM material (whether XDCAM HD or XDCAM EX), it will mount on your Desktop. In the following screen shot, a mounted XDCAM HD disc is shown.

The entire contents of the XDCAM disc (or card) needs to be copied to a folder you create on your Mac, and it needs to have the exact same structure as the XDCAM disc (or card). Although the contents of XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX medium will differ from one another, the overall workflow is the same. We'll use XDCAM HD in the following example.

1. Create a folder.

2. Opening the mounted XDCAM medium.

3. Copy everything in the XDCAM media to the folder you created.

In the case of XDCAM EX, you will only see a single folder inside the mounted card labeled BPAV. Copy this folder into the folder you created.

4. To mount the folder in the Sony XDCAM Transfer software for ingest, mount the Enclosing folder you created, in the case above, you would mount the folder called Reel 1. Do not attempt to mount any of the folders inside (in the case of XDCAM EX, don't attempt to mount the BPAV folder, just the enclosing folder).

Things to keep in mind:

• Each XDCAM disc or card needs to be copied into its own computer folder.

• Copying the contents of multiple discs or cards into a single folder will also not be properly recognized by the Sony transfer software.