What are those files EX1 produces?

[jujufactory]

I don't understand why the EX1 produces these strange files. If you shoot somethiong on the EX1 you get not only the MP4 file but also one SMI, one PPN, one XML, one BIM file. What are these extra files for? I don't get it.

[tonykart125]

its an mpeg 2 based system with an mp4 wrapper. Dont mess with those other files.

[jujufactory]

What do I need those files for? Premiere only requires the MP4 file. It ignores the rest.

[Bobonli]

I do believe this is explained in the camera instruction book, if not the instructions for XDCam clip browser/XDCam transfer.

As I recall, some of those files carry the metadata and other information that must "travel with" the clips themselves. If you delete the "extra" files in the BPAV folder, you run the risk of losing this information, some of which XDCam transfer needs when re-wrapping the files.

But don't take our word for it. Read the instructions and then test for yourslef. Shoot some throw-away footage and then toss away the "extra" files to see what happens.

[MitchLewis]

Files ending in SMI are those that have spanned from one card to another. The other files are camera data and thumbnails. Because they are written to the card, it makes navigating your clips much faster than if the camera had to analyze each individual clip and spit out thumbnails and date.

I'm surprised that you can simply open them in Premiere. Usually editing software looks at the entire BAPV folder and al

[DC EX1]

The content files XxS produces in the BPAV directory is the wrapped version of the footage you shot... When XDCAM transfer or however else you unwrap your footage does it's magic, it's using the files, metadara and media in the directory to create the
"unwrapped" or full resolution equivalent... More or less the data going into the camera and onto the card must be compressed down (like a zip file) and later expanded... I think there's a data rate issue going from the camera to card which is the reason for compression, then again I could be wrong... I'm not sure the exact method behind this or why they wrap their files as mp4 with other directories/meta, but it works pretty well and it pretty quick ripping off the card (sxs) and unwrapping.