How do you view MXF files on WinXP computer?

C

ChillaVision

Member
Sorry to ask such a dumb newbie question... but here goes:

Having never used a video camera before I left the HVX on auto and pressed "record" button. It didn't take long before the 4g P2 card was "full" so I took it out of the camera. I installed the "P2 driver" from the CD onto my WinXP laptop. I then inserted the P2 card into the laptop and the P2 Card Manager software saw the card serial number and shows firmware version 0101. There doesn't seem to be any other functionality to the the Card Manager software other than adding a name and password to the P2 card. There seems to be no "viewer" function in the software, no "copy" function to copy the card contents onto the computer's harddrive, and no type of "conversion" function to convert the P2's MXF file format to .avi for example so that quicktime or windows media player could run the files.

So, I copied the "contents" folder from the P2 card to my desktop. The contents folder, of course, contains, various subfolders like "video" and "audio" that contain various .mxf files.

I have the Abobe Production Suite loaded on my laptop which includes Premiere Pro 2.0. However, I don't see that Premiere Pro supports importing .mxf files. Does this mean I need to resort to something like Cineform's Aspect HD in order to edit video from the HVX?

I've never shot any video before and now I finally do and I don't know how to see it!!! I would just like to be able to see the results of what I got when I hit the record button. Is there any way I can view my video?

I went to the Panasonic website and searched about every way I could think of for any help for any kind of mxf viewing software or converting software but if there is anything there, they have it very well hidden.

Sorry to be dumb..... Any help at all would be much appreciated.
 
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Thank you HVXguy!!!

Thank you HVXguy!!!

Thank you, thank you! The player works great. You'd think that Panasonic would make that software much easier to find!! They don't even seem to mention it anywhere on their site except in passing that there is some sort of software available. I would think this link is of critical importance to P2 card users!

Again thank you very much!

I haven't had a chance to check out Edius yet, but will certainly do so.

It seems this world of video is a pretty complicated place. But then most things of value have a little learning curve involved.

Now I just gotta figure out how to erase the card so I can start all over again... oh boy! Watch out world!

(and once again HVXguy.... thank you so very much.... I was really lost and getting very frustrated.)
 
No problem,
Read up in the manual about erasing or formatting the card.
You do that back in the camera after you have off-loaded the contents.
Hit that switch in the back and your P2 contents show up in the
viewfinder.
Then navigate around and you will see Format.
e-mail agin if you need help and I will pull my camera out
and go though it with you.
 
ChillaVision said:
They don't even seem to mention it anywhere on their site except in passing that there is some sort of software available. I would think this link is of critical importance to P2 card users!
Click to expand...

Hi, We do make reference this on page 4 of the operations manual. We back up one additional page so that you have a reference that it is a Panasonic site as the download site is not well branded. But it is there.

Best,

Jan
 
Panasonic's nearly an Easter Egg!

Panasonic's nearly an Easter Egg!

OMG Jan!

You're right. The info is there... sort of. It's very well hidden and if you didn't know it was there you'd never guess. I guess Panasonic sort of wants it kept secret, but thanks for sharing.

To find the link you need to look in the fine print that comes at the very front of the camera operating instructions manual before the "Important Safety Instructions" like "1) Read these instructions." and before the Contents etc..

Here's the actual language:

"Software information for this product

1. Customer advisory. This product includes software licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and GNU Lesser Gerneral Public License (LGPL); customers have the right to download, modify, and redistribute source code for this software.
Descriptions of the GPL and LGPL are stored on the installation CD included with the camera-recorder. See the folder named /LDOC (The description is the original (written in English)). To download the relevant source code, visit https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/
Please not that we cannot answer any questions you may have about the content, etc. of any source code you may obtain from the above Web site.
2. The product includes software licensed under the MIT License. A description of the MIT is stored on the installation CD included with this camera-recorder. See the folder named /LDOC (The description is the original (written in English))."


Now, Jan, if the above language is supposed to give anyone the idea that this is where you need to go to download the P2 viewer software you have got to be kidding! As unobvious as it is, Jan is right. This is the P2 viewer link.

Click on the link.
Then click on "Service and Support"
Then click on "P2 Support Desk"
Then click on "Download"

This will take you to the "Software Download Site" where there really is some good stuff software-wise for P2 card owners! This is a very good page to know about. Here's the direct link:

https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/p2indexe.html


Jan, I don't mean to sound critical, and I'm sure there are reasons why the manuals are written the way they are. For what it's worth, IMHO it would be worthwhile for dummy customers such as myself to make this info a little more accessable. Maybe a little clearer explanation in the manual. For example, it could be featured in the P2 Software Insall Manual, maybe in the Software for Each P2 Device section or the Software To Be Installed section. Heck why not just put the P2 viewer on the CD that comes with the camera?

Oh well, don't mean to vent. I'm just a little confused about why Panasonic doesn't seem to be doing everything they can to assist their customers in using their product. I would think it be in Panasonic's best interests to make it as easy as possible for customers to use their products.
 
Billion dollar corporations have so many people doing so many things that it is hard to keep up with some details. I worked for years on corporate videos and the amount of political in-fighting kept everything dull and bland. I could not stand it anymore and now I am trying something I have always dreamed about. At least Jan monitors this site and we do appreciate the support. After all the camera owners are the ones who support Panasonic, who pays Jans paycheck!
 
Hi ChillaVision,

Okay so the first page you found to be an Easter Egg as it was mixed in with other stuff that wasn't so interesting. Sorry if you took my guidance the wrong way.

How about on page 27
"For the latest information not available in the Operating Instructions, visit the P2 Support Desk at the following Web sites. https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/"

Or over on page 32 nestled in with the instructions on using the SD Memory cards, or
page 57 where they specifically talk about down loading the P2 viewer under the Metadata section
"You will need the latest updated version of P2 Viewer. Download it from the URL address given below, and install it in the computer. https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/"

or on page 127 where it mentions software upgrades to the camera. The web address is through out the manual.

I know the manual is not perfect but the information is in there. It may be a little obtuse but it is in there. Yes it is a very typical video product manual and I think I know why it isn't more user friendly, if it were written by some English speaking person, they would first have to understand the camera and then write about it. And if we think about that, that is what Barry Green has done, with a small offset from the introduction of the camera and he was working from some time before the introduction. So we have a manual that is written by the engineers who really understand it and then translated into English, and that seems to be the methodology for many of these manuals. I finally got a shot at the DVX100B manual as there was a known complaint that I had in the the DVX100A manual so when they sent it for my perusal, I knew what I wanted to change. When they sent the HVX manual, we changed some things but it wasn't possible to change it to the extent that it would read like a novel.

You should however bookmark that site, as you may wish to come back and download again, especially if you change something on your computer. All software does change and the P2 viewer is not an exception. There have been 2 updates in the last year, of course one of those was to deal with the HD footage from the HVX.

Also if you lose that bookmark, on our website, on the HVX200 page under the resources tab:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...roupId=14569&surfModel=AG-HVX200&displayTab=R
there is also a link for the P2 viewer download.

You should also note this page as this will be the one of the pages where the link for free copy of Barry Green's book will be located. This will happen once we have books to ship.

Best,

Jan
 
Jan_Crittenden said:
Also if you lose that bookmark, on our website, on the HVX200 page under the resources tab:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webap...roupId=14569&surfModel=AG-HVX200&displayTab=R
there is also a link for the P2 viewer download.

You should also note this page as this will be the one of the pages where the link for free copy of Barry Green's book will be located. This will happen once we have books to ship.

Best,

Jan
Click to expand...

Hello Jan,
Now that is taking care of the details. That link is fantastic and it is good to know that the HVX and P2 and going forward and are solid contenders.
Thanks
 
Hi Jan,

Let me second HVXGuy's thoughts. I meant no offense... but I did want to point out what I thought was something of a shortcoming in the manuals and, more importantly, I wanted to point out that that link really is an important one and as you mentioned, should be bookmarked. I certainly have done so.

I really do appreciate your presence here Jan. I'm new here. I just got an HVX and, in fact, have never used any type of camcorder before. This is all new stuff to me. I need (and appreciate) all the help I can get.

I was trying to give a little bit of perspective from the "video outsider" along with the suggestion that Panasonic consider making this kind of super important info stand out a bit more. Us customers need someone to advocate our concerns to the corporation and I hope, Jan, that your job description includes this duty as well as "hand holding" us know nothings such as myself.

Thank you very much for your assistance. I'm sure this is hardly the last time I shall infringe on your time and knowledge. Thank you for sharing. I hope Panasonic appreciates you as much as I do.
 
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Contents folder

Contents folder

Hello,

I had the same problem as stated since I am new to the P2 world, however I am still unclear in how to use the viewer which is installed in my windows xp computer:

1-I copied my P2 card to an external firewire drive.
2-When I open viewer, all I see in the drop down menu is to look for "P2 cards", I can not find some sort of directory to route it to the folder where the "Contents" are on my firewire drive.
3-Which files am I opening? Since I see alot of folders (proxy, audio, video, clips, etc).

I all I wanna see is my footage out of my firewire drive, but now i can only see it straight out of the P2 card.

thanks
 
Yes, how do you view mxf files from your harddrive, rather than a P2 card? I don't have the HVX yet, but I do have some mxf files...
 
Hi,

In the P2 Viewer, use the drop down window to set "virtual P2 cards." A windo will open, and there is a top button that is a little square with a search light on it. Use that to navigate to the Directory where your P2 file is located. Do not include the Contents folder in the path, just the folder that has the Contents folder in it.
Click okay. You will see that that directory path is now in the window.

Then go to view, drop down menu and see your choice of Show Primary Bin or Secondary Bin. The Primary will be the P2 Card, or it can be you HDD, or you can break that bin area in half by the use of Show the seconday Bin, and then choose the path you just chose under tools as that will be there. Click on the clip of your choice and view. Depending on the speed of your PC you may have dropped frames.

Interesting enough you can use this utility to off load your P2 cards into one large Contents folder with the P2 card in the top Bin and your destination drive in the lower, you can drag and drop, the clips from the P2 card to the HDD directory.

Hope this helps,

Jan
 
I'm still having some trouble with the p2 viewer. Every time I start it, or delete a clip, etc. this loading clips message appears and I have to wait about 5 minutes to move on. Someone in the forum mentioned disabling the card reader slots, I did, and it worked. Now I hooked up an external fire wire hard drive and its doing it again. Any suggestions? Thanks
 
Take a look in the lower right hand corner, does it say: Loading Files?

There are times that mine takes a few minutes to load up as it is looking and loading the files. A full HD P2 card will take a little more time to come up.

Best,

Jan
 
I'm only using video MXFs - I can open them in Windows Media Player, and I can convert them Aspect HD, but P2 Viewer shows nothing.I don't have any other files (that might go in the other folders in the Contents folder). Is that it? Does P2 Viewer need more information to work properly? I just want to make sure I have it down when my camera gets here.
Thanks Jan.
 
Hello again Jan. Just so I'm clear . . . there is nothing I can do to reduce this 5 minute wait time between functions of the p2 viewer? If that's the way it's supposed to be, I'll live with it, Thanks
 
I wouldn't say that's how it's supposed to be, it's clearly a bug or weird interaction with something else on the system.

As was previously mentioned, there is a problem on startup when empty removeable drives are scanned. This affects P2 Viewer and also Canopus' Edius P2 Select program (which loads MXF files into the media bin), so I suspect that the problem is with the P2 drivers.

Try running MSINFO32, then go to System Summary -> Components -> Storage -> Drives as well as System Summary -> Components -> Storage -> Disks, and see what is shown there.
 
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