Other: Pulling clips quickly for upload

JPNola

JPNola

Veteran
I have a client who, immediately following an event, wants to pull select clips to be uploaded via Wifi.

The client has no preference as to what codec or even frame rate I shoot- they just want me to be able to quickly pull select clips following the event. I know nothing about editing or transcoding. I'm a pure shooter ( that's code for 'lazy' ).

What is the easiest way for me to do this? What codec should I shoot, MPEG?

A DIT told me that if I shoot XAVC all I have to do is open the clip folder, choose the desired .MXF file, right-click and choose "compress", and then upload the resulting compressed file. Or just upload the chosen .MXF files uncompressed. But I am skeptical. I seem to remember an editor telling me that in order to edit they need the .XML and .BIM files that correspond to each .MXF file.

The method the DIT suggested sounds way too easy to be true. I suspect he doesn't know what he is talking about with that advice.

So, anyway, if I have 20 clips on a card, how can I simply and efficiently separate out just a few select clips to be uploaded there in the field at the end of the day?
 
How long will these clips be? And are you uploading them to an editor - or do they need to be playable / viewable immediately after uploading?
I think you'll need at least a laptop with Cat Browse or editing software to transcode the select clips to mp4 or prores and then upload these files. (it's a pretty easy process in Cat Browse). I would be a bit wary of sending the mxf file found in the XDROOT folder structure - and would certainly try this out ahead of time (not sure how well that would import into NLE system without other info contained in the root folder).
The other option - and I think it would be preferable and save some time - would be to record externally to recorder. Ideally something like the Vid Devices Pix recorders which would allow you to record both h.264 "proxy files" along side pro-res files. You could immediately upload the h.264 clips after shooting - and then send the higher quality files later (if necessary).
 
I want to publicly thank Mark for his timely suggestion. I ended up downloading and installing Cat Browse. With that I was able to relatively easily transcode the clips into mp4's and upload those following the shoot.

That sort of helpful and quick response is why I love this forum. An excellent resource and a great little online community for us camera jockeys.
 
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