METHOD 1 (EXPRESS SLOT) AND METHOD 2 (USB CABLE TO CAMCORDER)
After shooting, remove the SxS card from camcorder and place it in the express slot of laptop; or attach the camcorder (with the SxS card still inside) to the computer via the supplied USB cable and turn the camera power switch to the Media position.
Step 1: Connect Cables
Step 2: Import
In Final Cut Pro, initiate the import by using the pull-down menu— File/Import/Sony XDCAM. This opens the Sony XDCAM Transfer software interface.
Step 3: Arrange Your Clips
Select the clip to view from the thumbnail images in the top half of the interface. Play the clip in the viewing window at the bottom of the interface. You can also mark "ins" and "outs" if you just want to import part of the clip. Add comments and other information to the clip in the lower right area of the interface.
Step 4: Import All Your Clips
Click on the Import button to ingest the clip to Final Cut Pro. You can import all the clips on the card by selecting all the clips and them clicking on Import.
METHOD 3: CAPTURE VIDEO VIA HD-SDI OUTPUT
Step 1: Connect to the Input
Connect the HD-SDI output connector on the camera (BNC) to the SDI input of the capture device.
Step 2: Log and Capture
In Final Cut Pro, select Log and Capture.
Step 3: Select Your Clip
With the PMW-EX1 power switch set to Media, select the first clip. Press the Play control on top of the camera.
Step 4: Capture
In Final Cut Pro, quickly start the capture by pressing Now in the Capture interface.
Your Guide
David Leathers
Filmmaker/Musician Eye Square Productions
David Leathers is a writer, producer and musician in the Los Angeles area. He’s been working on NLEs since 1990. In the late 1970s and early 1980s he was a member of the punk band Mink DeVille. His company, Eye Square Productions, specializes in audio and video post.
David Says Keep in Mind... There are three ways to move footage from the Sony PMW-EX1 camcorder to Final Cut Pro. Deciding which method to use depends on your equipment and desired file format.
You can directly import XDCAM-HD files by attaching your camcorder (with the memory cards still in it) to the computer via USB cable (method 1) or by removing the cards from the camcorder and placing them in the express card slot of a MacBook Pro (method 2). Both methods require Final Cut Studio 6.02 and XDCAM Transfer Software (a free download from Sony).
The third way is to capture the video via the (HD)SDI output of the camera into a computer using an (HD)SDI capture card or device. The camera’s SDI output can be set to HDSDI or to a down-converted SDI signal. If you use this method, the video can be captured in alternative formats and codecs, including Apple’s ProRes 422.
Eye Square Productions
Culver City, CA
ph. 310.837.6391
e-mail: dl@eysq.com
Comments (12) for "Three Ways to Transfer Sony XDCAM Content to Final Cut Pro"
1.
i find your site very usefull ... actually it saved my ass ....
Posted by samir kassab on Thursday, March 20, 2008 @ 06:00 AM
2.
Is it possible to email clips?
Posted by kelly on Friday, March 21, 2008 @ 04:06 PM
3.
Hi, I got a XDcamHD422, I transfer the footge into Quick Time, but my client need them on AVID format, there is any plug in to add to the XDCAM HD Transfer? instead to do it direct to Quick Time or FC?
Thanks very much in advance
Posted by Eduardo on Friday, November 14, 2008 @ 03:06 PM
4.
I need help please, I use Sony PMW-X5 camera with the XDCAM file tansfer into Final Cut pro 6, but am not able to view my video clips, this happens in the XDCAM transfer softwareand in the Final cut pro also. When I to render the files I get the message that ther's a missing codec but it is not specifically listed on the poping menu. The camera comes with a software called Sony PMW-X5 clips browser, am able to watch the clips using this software but not on the other two...what could be the missing codec/ problem?
Posted by Livewire on Thursday, February 19, 2009 @ 07:51 AM
5.
Hi David, Is there anyway to mport footage from xdcam ex into fcp5. Is there any software I can get to convert/read it?
Posted by coilin on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 @ 12:32 PM
6.
hi david .Grea article. I ran into a problem when importing xdcam clips using the xd cam software..a big grey patch covers most of my footage..it doesnt go.how do i remove it? I use a macbook pro with the expansion slot to read the cards.
Posted by ochyeng on Monday, May 4, 2009 @ 12:38 AM
7.
Everything was working fine. But Now I can't see the XDCAM EX1 as a hard drive on my desktop.
Please, help!
Thank You!
Posted by luciano on Monday, June 8, 2009 @ 12:58 AM
8.
I have pmwex3 cameras for field use. I'm using final cut 4.5 hd on osx 5.7.Can I get the clips into this version of final cut. I can't event get the clip browser software to work. It is listed in the final cut software when I click input. It brings up the clip browser but shows no clips. Help.
Posted by Jack on Thursday, July 23, 2009 @ 11:57 PM
9.
In my version of FCP, there is no "HDCam" choice under Import. I do have XD Cam Transer software installed. So why does the tutorial refer to something that does not exist without making reference to how to make it so?
Posted by George on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 @ 11:44 PM
10.
how to import xdcam format in final cut pro?
Posted by wai yan lin on Monday, January 25, 2010 @ 11:13 PM
11.
to free download sony transfer software for fcp
Posted by wai yan lin on Monday, February 1, 2010 @ 12:10 PM
12.
Hi Dave, Im in a terrible jam, and Ive been scouting the internet for 2 days non-stop! I have film footage as BPAV from XDCAM EX, and I have FCP 5. I can't access the footage. Is there any way I can do that with FCP 5? Im a student and this is my project... and time's running out! Thanks a lot, Dave.
Posted by Lani on Monday, August 16, 2010 @ 09:29 PM
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