Importing MXF files (originated from Panasonic HVX200/P2) into Avid
- Thread starter DC
- Start date
Brantz
New member
P2 MXF File Naming & Avid
Does anybody know what the naming convention is for P2 MXF Files with Avid (5.2.4)? The project we are working on requires that all clips have a unique file name, but we have several duplicates that we need to reconcile... We first tried our preferred idea of prepending the file name with a letter - each batch would be prepended with an "A" or a "B" etc... When we tried to load these into Avid, it didn't see them. Thinking it was the file name length, we went back to 6 characters (from 7) and tried both numbers and letters as the leading character of the file names - still no joy - Avid didn't see those either.
Here are some examples:
0002NW.MXF - Works fine
A0002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
A002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
9002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
Is there some file naming formula that we are missing?
Thanks!
Brantz
Does anybody know what the naming convention is for P2 MXF Files with Avid (5.2.4)? The project we are working on requires that all clips have a unique file name, but we have several duplicates that we need to reconcile... We first tried our preferred idea of prepending the file name with a letter - each batch would be prepended with an "A" or a "B" etc... When we tried to load these into Avid, it didn't see them. Thinking it was the file name length, we went back to 6 characters (from 7) and tried both numbers and letters as the leading character of the file names - still no joy - Avid didn't see those either.
Here are some examples:
0002NW.MXF - Works fine
A0002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
A002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
9002NW.MXF - Doesn't work
Is there some file naming formula that we are missing?
Thanks!
Brantz
Joe_Digital
Well-known member
I am working with V.5.7d (beta) and there are some new, useful tools for P2, such as direct import.
The workflow isn't perfect however. I have asked them to include notes on how I typically work, which might be similar to what others here do. They need to instruct users to create Avid MediaFiles folders on their external drives...then create the "1" folder, and copy raw MXF into this folder and import via Media Tool. Everything works nicely this way, however the direct import would be great if those of us who copy our P2 media to DVD-R (and sometimes create a sub folder for the extra media recorded above the 4.5 GB limitation of DVD-R's), and eventually get to the desktop for import.
Also, it should be noted that if you're working with 720/24P recorded material and you want to output via the Mojo for example, you need to create an NTSC 23.976 project, and import your media via Media Tool. This way you can output to Digi Beta, or whatever other pro grade VTR if required for usage on another system. You lose your original timecode but I have found that in those projects not requiring an HD master, it's useful to have something like a D-beta back up. Transcoding in your 720 project is a waste of time -this method allows you instant access to your media without having to transcode.
The workflow isn't perfect however. I have asked them to include notes on how I typically work, which might be similar to what others here do. They need to instruct users to create Avid MediaFiles folders on their external drives...then create the "1" folder, and copy raw MXF into this folder and import via Media Tool. Everything works nicely this way, however the direct import would be great if those of us who copy our P2 media to DVD-R (and sometimes create a sub folder for the extra media recorded above the 4.5 GB limitation of DVD-R's), and eventually get to the desktop for import.
Also, it should be noted that if you're working with 720/24P recorded material and you want to output via the Mojo for example, you need to create an NTSC 23.976 project, and import your media via Media Tool. This way you can output to Digi Beta, or whatever other pro grade VTR if required for usage on another system. You lose your original timecode but I have found that in those projects not requiring an HD master, it's useful to have something like a D-beta back up. Transcoding in your 720 project is a waste of time -this method allows you instant access to your media without having to transcode.
Joe_Digital
Well-known member
I'm not sure what you mean about the sequences -presumably you have to create one before you start editing. Once you've done your edit then you output via Digital Cut.
DC
Cinematographiliac
Hmmm, maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I'm assuming you first edit a sequence in a 720P 23.976 project. Then you can import that same footage within an NTSC 23.976 project via Media Tool? But my real question is how do you rebuild the original sequence (from the 720P, 23.976) in the new project (NTSC, 23.976)?
After that, it is a simple Digital Cut with Mojo. That part I get.
After that, it is a simple Digital Cut with Mojo. That part I get.
bherr
Well-known member
If anyone is wondering whether Avid Xpress Pro 5.6.4 has any better P2 media handling than the 5.4.x versions, my experience says "no." It still loses the A1 track and I still have to delete the database files in the mxf/1/ folder to get Avid to see and use all four audio tracks (with Avid XP not running.)
Hello, Canopus?
Hello, Canopus?
DC
Cinematographiliac
You're right. The situation is that it is a manual process and a bit of a hassle, though not much. It kinda makes you long for Avid to create a "wizard" interface to do this sort of thing.bherr said:
However, Avid Xpress Pro HD v5.7.x and above is supposed to make some welcome improvements to the P2 workflow. For now, we have to wait and see . . .
Hmm, I don't have that problem of losing the A1 audio track with MXF files. Have you tried installing v5.6.6 (it's available as a CPR download from Avid)?bherr said:
bherr
Well-known member
Thanks for the link, but it looks like Avid has yanked 5.6.6 offline -- it's not on the FTP server anymore. Perhaps the treatment was worse than the illness. The A1 problem is sporadic, but it's been mentioned in this forum and in the Avid user forums. I wonder if they'll charge for "the next big release."
cbrougham
Well-known member
The CPR is available from http://www.avid.com/onlinesupport/downloadcpr.asp
Go to "Editor DNA SOFT", and at the bottom is "XpressPro_5.6.6_PC_Mac". You can select either the PC or Mac version from there.
Go to "Editor DNA SOFT", and at the bottom is "XpressPro_5.6.6_PC_Mac". You can select either the PC or Mac version from there.
Brandon Rice
Distributed Producer
I downloaded 5.6.6 and it's working great!
DC
Cinematographiliac
Yes, you'll need to purchase a dongle update going from Avid Xpress Pro v4.6 to v5.6.6. The rule of thumb is that every .5 (halves and/or wholes) version release, you'll need to pay an upgrade fee. Obviously, the further you are behind, the more you'll end up paying.Tom_Borg said:
S.E. Hardy
Member
Hello -
I'm asst. editing a feature. I don't know how much info is needed for someone to answer my questions, but I'll give you as much as I know.
We shot onto P2 cards, transferred onto a external hard drive and backed up onto 2 dual layer DVD's. We are on an Avid Media Composer (Educational Edition, but I don't know exactly what version, I can check when I go back in on Wednesday). I put each P2 card into the MXF file, with each P2 cards audio and video files pulled into its own folder. Then I imported them using the Media Tool (I made the mistake of re-naming all of the shots and saving without having binned the files, therefore losing all my file names) So I renamed them all and binned them. We have 2 monitors, but right now one of the monitors is being routed to a wide screen HD TV so that the editor can watch all of the dailies and make his notes. And that's about where I am.
I have 2 problems:
1) We have been getting artifacts on the screen, usually at the bottom when there is fast camera motion. We have tried playing in Full screen mode and it is still there, on both the TV and the comp monitors. We have changes the resolution of the playback and it is still there when its on high (green). Does anybody have any ideas as to what is causing this? My editor (who also directed it) is worried that it might be on the original files, but to me it seems much more likely to be a playback, or Avid problem. Any ideas???
2) Is an offspring of the first: Today the editor asked if I had kept a log of the orig. P2 assigned names of the files and of what I changed them to (I didn't). He thinks that maybe the problem is from the hard drive that we copied the files to before we put them on the RAID of the editing computer, so if we have to re-import from the DVDs, we would want to know which files; does the Avid hold the original P2 assigned file names anywhere other than in the MXF file? Or is there a way to (easily) trace which file corresponds to which P2 MXF files?
This is my first project on an Avid and my first HD project, so I have a double learning curve, any help on any of this would be very (very, very) much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
~s.e.
I'm asst. editing a feature. I don't know how much info is needed for someone to answer my questions, but I'll give you as much as I know.
We shot onto P2 cards, transferred onto a external hard drive and backed up onto 2 dual layer DVD's. We are on an Avid Media Composer (Educational Edition, but I don't know exactly what version, I can check when I go back in on Wednesday). I put each P2 card into the MXF file, with each P2 cards audio and video files pulled into its own folder. Then I imported them using the Media Tool (I made the mistake of re-naming all of the shots and saving without having binned the files, therefore losing all my file names) So I renamed them all and binned them. We have 2 monitors, but right now one of the monitors is being routed to a wide screen HD TV so that the editor can watch all of the dailies and make his notes. And that's about where I am.
I have 2 problems:
1) We have been getting artifacts on the screen, usually at the bottom when there is fast camera motion. We have tried playing in Full screen mode and it is still there, on both the TV and the comp monitors. We have changes the resolution of the playback and it is still there when its on high (green). Does anybody have any ideas as to what is causing this? My editor (who also directed it) is worried that it might be on the original files, but to me it seems much more likely to be a playback, or Avid problem. Any ideas???
2) Is an offspring of the first: Today the editor asked if I had kept a log of the orig. P2 assigned names of the files and of what I changed them to (I didn't). He thinks that maybe the problem is from the hard drive that we copied the files to before we put them on the RAID of the editing computer, so if we have to re-import from the DVDs, we would want to know which files; does the Avid hold the original P2 assigned file names anywhere other than in the MXF file? Or is there a way to (easily) trace which file corresponds to which P2 MXF files?
This is my first project on an Avid and my first HD project, so I have a double learning curve, any help on any of this would be very (very, very) much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
~s.e.
DC
Cinematographiliac
S.E. Hardy said:
Do you mean you put each P2 card into the MXF folder?
S.E. Hardy said:
Hmmm, at first I thought it might be a monitor problem. But you say it happens on both monitors. Perhaps a setting in Avid? Can you provide link to a short clip showing an example of this artifacting? This might help us better determine the problem.
S.E. Hardy said:
Avid creates database files in each MXF directory that keeps track of all that - Media Management. I would think if the MXF file names remained unchanged, Avid would be able to re-link once you re-imported. Did you rename the clips in the Media Tool window OR did you rename the actual MXF files? If you did the latter, you might be kinda screwed.
S.E. Hardy
Member
So it looks like its an Avid thing... we took the same footage and put it into FCP and there were no artifacts.... weird.
Thanks!
Thanks!
dustinsleeping
Member
Hello
I am new here and I have just come across this thread.
I am shooting a short film this weekend using an HVX200 w/ the P2 Store. I will be dumping the footage to am external hard drive on the set using a Dell laptop and a G-Raid 500gb Hard Drive. I will then bring the hard drive back to my Avid Xpress Pro HD system (PC) and edit.
But...
I am having the same problem as a lot of people...I cant get the Avid to see the MXF files. I shot some test footage and I did the whole Avid MediaFiles folder bit (as descibed in the 1st post on this thread) and nothing.
The folder I made looks like this in my computer...
E:\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1
Is it the direction of the slashes that is causing the problem? Should it look like this...
E:/Avid MediaFiles/MXF/1
...and if so how do I cange them to look that way?
Any help or advice would be totally appreciated.
Thank You. :dankk2:
Dustin Lane
I am new here and I have just come across this thread.
I am shooting a short film this weekend using an HVX200 w/ the P2 Store. I will be dumping the footage to am external hard drive on the set using a Dell laptop and a G-Raid 500gb Hard Drive. I will then bring the hard drive back to my Avid Xpress Pro HD system (PC) and edit.
But...
I am having the same problem as a lot of people...I cant get the Avid to see the MXF files. I shot some test footage and I did the whole Avid MediaFiles folder bit (as descibed in the 1st post on this thread) and nothing.
The folder I made looks like this in my computer...
E:\Avid MediaFiles\MXF\1
Is it the direction of the slashes that is causing the problem? Should it look like this...
E:/Avid MediaFiles/MXF/1
...and if so how do I cange them to look that way?
Any help or advice would be totally appreciated.
Thank You. :dankk2:
Dustin Lane
Joe_Digital
Well-known member
You shouldn't have to create the "1" folder -the recent versions of software generate this folder.
What I will say is that I am still having this curious issue of missing A1 audio files even though they physically exist and I can play back from my HVX and the A1 audio is still on the P2. The transfer to the hard drive shows the file is there, and upon import via media tool, the clip shows up, plays back fine -except!- A1 is showing as online but there is no audio, and no sample plot can be generated, which means all I'm hearing is camera mic audio from Ch. 3 &4. And I'm using 5.7.
What I will say is that I am still having this curious issue of missing A1 audio files even though they physically exist and I can play back from my HVX and the A1 audio is still on the P2. The transfer to the hard drive shows the file is there, and upon import via media tool, the clip shows up, plays back fine -except!- A1 is showing as online but there is no audio, and no sample plot can be generated, which means all I'm hearing is camera mic audio from Ch. 3 &4. And I'm using 5.7.