How to import from Sony PMW-200

Hi, - I am a very beginner! We just did a multi camera recording and one of the cameras was a Sony PMR-200.
It recorded .MXF and .XML files, which my FCPX won't read.

After some Google searching I found Sony download of PDZK-LT2 which I thought would allow ingesting these files. I installed the .dmg files and restarted FCPX, but could see no difference, and it still wouldn't recognise the .MXF source.

I then tried to convert the >MXF files using HandBrake, but I could figure a way to do it with the original quality. i.e. an MXF file of 2.7GB became 248MB .MP4 and looked crap!

So my questions:

Q1: Using the Sony importing file PDZK-LT2, other than unpacking and installing the .dmg file, are there any special steps required? Either for installation, or for subsequent ingesting?

Q2: What parameters should I use with HandBrake to convert .MXF to an FCPX readable source that preseves the original quality? (I did read the HandBrake support pages, but couldn't figure out the answer to this).

Thanks in advance,
-paul

Hi Paul,

In order to read SxS cards you will need the FAM driver from the Sony web site. It's available from the second tab on the download page you (hopefully) used to get the PDZK-LD2 plugin. (The plugin works with SxS cards but will not import MXF files from optical discs - you need Sony's Browser software for that).

I don't use Sony cameras myself but I have had to set this up for one of my clients and needed the SxS driver to make it all work.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

ianstubbs wrote: Hi Paul,

In order to read SxS cards you will need the FAM driver from the Sony web site. It's available from the second tab on the download page you (hopefully) used to get the PDZK-LD2 plugin. (The plugin works with SxS cards but will not import MXF files from optical discs - you need Sony's Browser software for that).

I don't use Sony cameras myself but I have had to set this up for one of my clients and needed the SxS driver to make it all work.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

Appreciate you writing a reply, however as I stated in my post, I DID install the Sony PDZK-LT2 app! It made no difference, FCPX still would not import the files. Please read my opening post.

So far I ran Handbrake to transcode the Sony files, and that worked.

I would like to know if there was an integrated option, or how to make the Sony app actually work.

Perhaps I wasn't clear - you may need to install the SxS FAM driver in addition to the PDZK-LD2 plugin that you have already installed. (I did read your original post) this may not be the answer in your case but it worked for one of my clients so may be worth a try. The SxS FAM driver is available from the Sony web site.

Ian.

Several new Sony cameras are having a lot of problems importing into quite a few NLEs, including Sony Vegas. The just released version of Catalyst Browse from Sony (the free version) will at least convert these clips to several flavors of ProRes that do import into FCPX. This may not be the case with the PMW 200, but I thought it worth a mention.

Thanks guys (both of you) for the replies. I shall investigate both options. At the moment I managed to get a decent conversion using HandBrake. However a seamless alternative would be better.

pszilard wrote: ... I managed to get a decent conversion using HandBrake. ...

HB converts only into h.264 = no decent codec for editing...
I could imagine, that the transcoding of mpeg2HD to h264 is a very lossy process. Esp. with HB, which is by concept meant as a DVDripper = small, playback optimized files, not 'huge' edit optimized files

I would give ddixon's suggestion a try... for sure, the resulting proRes files will be really big.

ddixon wrote: Several new Sony cameras are having a lot of problems importing into quite a few NLEs, including Sony Vegas. The just released version of Catalyst Browse from Sony (the free version) will at least convert these clips to several flavors of ProRes that do import into FCPX. This may not be the case with the PMW 200, but I thought it worth a mention.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks ddixon.

My experience today:
Sony Catalyst Browse - This is a free program, and it allows viewing MXF file, but no conversion. UPDATE: IT DOES ALLOW CONVERSION FILE AT A TIME. THANKS TO DDIXON FOR ENLIGHTENING ME.

Sony Content Browser 2 - Free Eval/$19.95 allows marking In/Out points and Export into FCP. It seems to do this by transcoding (I think!). The Batch mode didn't offer this export feature. When I exported a file to FCPX, it created a selectable Event, however in FCPX it showed an "!" as source not found. I could however then create an FCP Proxy, but not Hi Res file. I then tried IMPORTING this into FCPX instead of just using it the Event, which seemed to work also. It seemed that the file that was output by the Catalyst Browser 2 app, was in fact hi-res.

MXF Converter by aPubSoft - This costs $29. The Eval version will only convert the 1st 5 minutes of an MXF file. The maker says it outputs ProRes 422. I am running this right now...

Sony Catalyst Browser 2 created Linear PCM, XDCAM HD422 1080p25 (50Mb/s) codec according to FCPX.
aPubSoft created Apple ProRes422, PCM

I had a 29 minute MXF file which was 13GB. Approx then 5 minutes of that would be 1/6 in size, i.e. about 2GB.

When I ran the aPubSoft, the Apple ProRes 422 was 4.2GB indicating that it is different from the Sony produced XDCAM.

So my summary (correct me if I am wrong):

Sony software for $20 might be better supported and supporting of new cameras as it is from Sony, but conversion is not to Apple ProRes 422 and not in batch mode

aPubSoft for $30 produces ProRes at selectable resolutions and has batch mode. How it will handle new Sony cameras is unknown.

Sony software would be a better choice …

XDCAM HD422 is a very nice quality codec although it does not support well multi reencoding , i would prefer to use XDCAM HD422 original media as it is only rewrapped in QT no rencoding … Choosing rendering or sharing by FCPX to ProRes 422 or 422 HQ depending on the level of fidelity required at the ouput would be a good strategy.

my two cents

Francois

I used Sony Catalyst Browse (just updated last week), then you have to select one file only in the Browse view (will not work with multiple files selected). At the bottom right there is a File icon. In the drop down there is a Transcode To... choice. That lets you set the export format to ProRes, then choose a preset from multiple ProRes options up to 4444.

I did this using some sample XAVC 10-bit 4:2:2 clips from the Sony X70. I don't know if it works for the PMW-200 or not, but you have to follow this exact procedure.

I've read that Sony is already working on adding batch export as a feature, and you have to think Sony is working on the FCPX plugin for these new cameras. I still find it astounding that there is not even import into Sony Vegas available yet!

Thanks!