How to XMPilot The Overview Guide
About this document This document is Version 1 and will be added to and updated over time This document is an overview to setup your XMPilot System Full details on how to perform specific operations are given in the XDCAM camcorders or software tools manuals
The Ultimate Goal Faster Workflow Easier Logging Faster Ingest Saved Costs
What s the End Game? Remove Paper Logging Maintain Searchable Metadata Automatic Ingest Automatic Clip Naming Automatic Clip Organisation
What s the End Game? Automated flow of metadata and logging into your NLE Find clips Organise bins Scrub to the point of interest in your clip Build your FCP7 Project with automatic clip-renaming, folder creation and clip sorting to the correct folders
Customer Testimonial Video Watch Talkback Thames testimonial following their first trials of XMPilot Click here to watch or search YouTube for XMPilot Testimonial for customer testimonial from Talkback Thames
End to End Workflow Production Planning Field Mobile Shot Edit & Archive 3G / GSM / USB / Network Wi-Fi Metadata Metadata Create Metadata Review Metadata And Live Logging Shot Marks/ Status Flags Search/Add More Metadata with XMPilot Planning Tools with XMPilot Mobile Device Apps with XMPilot WiFi Adaptor + XDCAM Camcorder upgrades with XMPilot Ingest Tools
How?
Building your Shooting Assignment
Shooting Assignment Your Shooting Assignment is where it all begins You must let the camcorder know what you are planning to shoot You therefore need to create the Planning Metadata
Planning Metadata file 1 of 3 The Assignment holds all important information you need about assignment, e.g. Location, Operator, Director, Production Company, etc. Assignment Metadata for all clips in the assignment
Planning Metadata file 2 of 3 The Clip Category allows you to group related clips together Assignment Clip Category Clip Category
Planning Metadata file 3 of 3 Add Textual Tags for the Frame-based / Timecode Logging By default XDCAM uses #ShotMark0 to #ShotMark99 Much nicer to give them a name, e.g. #ShotMark0 = Goal #ShotMark1 = Yellow Card Etc.
Assignment Building the Assignment Four options: Three Ways: 1. Outlook Plug In (very basic) 2. XMPilot Planner 4. Android or Apple Application 3. XDCAM Browser XMPilot Add-On
Assignment Building the Assignment XMPilot Planner is available on Sony Websites Outlook Plug-In comes with the WiFi Adaptor XDCAM Browser XMPilot Add-On from Sony Creative Software Website Android Application from the Android Marketplace Apple Application from Apple App Store
What do these tools produce? The Outlook Plug-In, XMPilot Planner and XDCAM Browser XMPilot Plug-In all produce the Planning Metadata as a file to be uploaded to the camcorder The mobile applications produce the same file that can be wirelessly uploaded to the camcorder With advanced workflows, the Planning Metadata file can be directly picked up on a mobile device. This can then be wirelessly uploaded to the camcorder
Wired and Wireless Upload of the Assignment Assignment Mobile Applications can download the Planning Metadata file directly from the XMPilot Planner Tool Mobile Applications can also create the Assignment Metadata
Mobile Application Logging in the field Assignment The simplest logging method is to change the clip category This allows you to search, group and find clips quickly Changing the clip category on the Mobile App changes the category of the current clip and all following clips Made a mistake on the clip category? Don t worry - you can correct!
Mobile Application Logging in the field Assignment More advanced logging can be done for time-based events occurring in your shoot Traditionally this is where people previously used Log Sheets with Notes against Timecode Let s say you are shooting an interview: You assign text tags for your ShotMarks in your Assignment : e.g. Question Start, Question End, Answer Start, Answer End, Cough, Swear, Mic in Shot, etc. On the Mobile App you simply just tap the button on the phone or tablet as it occurs!
Mobile Application Logging in the field With the XDCAM HD422 camcorders you are able to do logging using remote viewing Here the Proxy Video and Audio is sent over the WiFi for the user to watch Whilst remotely viewing, the phone or tablet user can press their event based logging buttons
Ingest for XMPilot For Avid: Sony has extended the AMA (Avid Media Access) to support XMPilot metadata use by Avid Avid is enabled to search that metadata allowing you create new bins based on your searches For Apple Final Cut Pro 7: Sony has created the XMPilot Ingest tool that will automatically ingest your clips into your system This also allows for automatic clip-renaming based on your rules and builds your FCP Project folder structure
XMPilot Ingest Where to get the ingest tools For Avid: Download from Sony Website: PDZK-MA2 v1.2 or later For Apple Final Cut Pro 7: Download from Sony Website: XMPilot Ingest Tool v1.0 or later and XDCAM Transfer v2.13 or later
XMPilot Elements Element Purpose Options List Price (Europe) Availability Computer Software Metadata Planning Tool Metadata XML file generation Web-services News access through web browser or integrated in NRCS Stand Alone Windows Application OR Outlook Plug-in News and Mainstream Production Free Now Mobile Application XMPilot App Metadata Live-logging Remote live viewing IOS ipad, iphone4 Android Sony Ericsson Xperia, other android smart phones Free Now NLE Plug-in Metadata Auto-ingest Plug-in Ingest automation and bin auto-allocation Cut logging and cataloging time PDZK-MA2 AMA 1.2 Plug-in for AVID Media Composer, Ver.3.5 and later XDCAM Ingest Utility for FCP7 Free Now Camcorder Firmware XDCAM Camcorder Upgrades Live Logging functionality Wireless LAN capability (with CBK-WA01) Visibility and editing of Planning Metadata in the XDCAM Browser CBK-UPG01 for PMW-500 CBKZ-UPG01 for PDW-F800 / -700 CBK-UPG02 - for PMW-320 /-350 /-TD300 CBK-RGB01 for PMW-F3 Ask your dealer Now Camcorder Accessory XDCAM Wireless Adapter- CBK-WA01 USB plug-in for XDCAM Camcorder to link into WiFi network One fits all: Memory camcorders: PMW-320/350/F3/TD300/500 ** Professional Disc: PDW-700 / -F800 Ask your dealer Now ** No live viewing support for PMW-320 / -350
Camcorders Supported
XDCAM EX Camcorders Support PMW-EX1R/EX3 Assignment PMW-EX1R and PMW-EX3 allow the clips to be assigned to a particular assignment The Assignment can only be uploaded via the SxS or SDHC cards
XDCAM EX Camcorders Support PMW-TD300/320/350/F3 Assignment Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, SxS/SDHC or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet
XDCAM HD422 Camcorders Support PMW-500, PDW-700/F800 Assignment Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, SxS/SDHC (PMW-500), Professional Disc (PDW-700/F800) or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet Remote Viewing of the Video and Audio is possible
Loading the Assignment using Media PMW-F3/TD300/320/350/500 PDW-700/F800 Assignment PMW-EX1R/EX3/F3/TD300/320/350/500 PDW-700/F800 PMW-F3/TD300/320/350/500 PDW-700/F800
WiFi Adaptor - no interference for the Operator
Setting Up Your System
Assignment Generation Tools 1. Please download the Assignment tool of your choice and follow the included installation guidelines 2. With the installer you will find an operations manual that will explain how to generate the Planning Metadata file
Assignment Generation Tools With the XMPilot Planner you are able to generate Assignments and then download them to your XMPilot Mobile Application via your network or Internet To configure this please consult the XMPilot Planner manual and Mobile Application manual which are both available on the Sony website
Loading the Assignment using Media Assignment Note: not all options are available for all camcorders
Setting Up Your Camcorder For the camcorder to use clip naming from your Planning Metadata file we must switch it to Plan in clip naming If unsure, please download the latest manual from Sony s website for full instructions The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location for Auto Naming may differ in other camcorders
Loading the Assignment via USB 1. Create on your USB memory stick the folder structure: General Sony Planning 1. Save your Planning Metadata files in the Planning folder you created 2. If unsure, please download the latest manual from Sony s website for full instructions
Loading the Assignment via ProDisc, SxS or SDHC On a formatted Professional Disc or SxS card, the folder structure is already there ProDisc and SxS (UDF Formatted): SxS (FAT Formatted): SDHC: General Sony Planning BPAV General Sony Planning PRIVATE SONY BPAV General Sony Planning Save your Planning Metadata files in the Planning folder If unsure, please download the latest manual from Sony s website for full instructions
Loading the Assignment from Media 1. Place your media in Disc Drive or in the memory in Slot A, Slot B or the USB port 2. In the menu Navigate to your Planning Metadata to load from the media The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location may differ in other camcorders. Note: in the Professional Disc based products you will find this in the Disc Menu. If unsure, please download the latest manual from Sony s website for full instructions
Loading the Assignment Wirelessly Assignment Note: not all options are available for all camcorders
Setting Up the Camcorder Network 1. Give the camcorder and the mobile device an address so they know how to talk to each other 2. Ensure the camcorder and mobile device are on the same network. Otherwise they cannot talk to each other The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location may differ in other camcorders.
Setting Up the Camcorder Network By default, an XDCAM camcorder uses the address value: 192.168.1.10 The Subnet Mask by default is 255.255.255.0 It is best not to change this These values can be changed to other values. Please consult your camcorder s manual on the procedure
A simple way to think about this numeric address is: Setting Up the Camcorder Network Country City Street House Number For the devices to talk together we must give them unique address in the same country, city and street but a different house number E.g. Camcorder = 192.168.1.10 Mobile Device = 192.168.1.20
Default Network Settings For your reference, the default network settings are: DHCP = Disabled IP Address = 192.168.1.10 Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway = 0.0.0.0 User Name = admin Password = ******* (this is the model name of your camcorder, e.g. PMW-500)
Two types of network: Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure Setting Up the Camcorder Network An Ad-Hoc Network is a One-To-One WiFi network An Infrastructure Network is a where devices are connected via a WiFi router XDCAM Camcorders can use both types of network
Ad-Hoc One-to-One Network Make sure the camcorder is in Ad-Hoc Mode and give the camcorder network a name You can give the camcorder network a name in the SSID Here the camcorder is called David The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location may differ in other camcorders.
Ad-Hoc One-to-One Network On your mobile device, find the camcorder network and connect to it Here we have connected to the camcorder via the network David Under Ad-Hoc we need to give the mobile device a Static Address Please consult your mobile device s manual on how to set a Static Address and Subnet Mask
Infrastructure Network For an Infrastructure Network, switch the camcorder to Infra mode and then Scan Networks The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location may differ in other camcorders.
Infrastructure Network Then select the network router you wish to connect to. The PMW-500 is shown here. The exact menu location may differ in other camcorders.
Infrastructure Network On your mobile device, find your router network and connect to it Here we have connected to the WiFi router DPY Hotspot which is also the same router the camcorder is connected to
You are able to add WiFi Encryption to the camcorder Encryption on Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure Network It is advisable to first make sure all devices without encryption can correctly talk to each other Once that is confirmed, various WiFi security protocols can be applied to the camcorder
Last Steps of the WiFi Network To confirm any setting changes you do, ensure you select and Execute the Set on the camcorder Lastly, please ensure that the WiFi is set to Enable to activate the WiFi on the camcorder
READY Mobile Apps Android App Available Now from the Android Market Place Apple App Available Now the Apple App Store
XMPilot Mobile Apps The Android and Apple Apps have three tabs: Assignment Logging Cameras Loading and Viewing Assignments Logging and changing Clip Category Selecting Camcorder to connect to
The Camera tab is where you can connect to a particular camcorder Just tap the camcorder to connect to it! The Camera tab is also where you can add further camcorders you may wish to connect to Adding a Camcorder to Mobile App
Adding a Camcorder to Mobile App The Name for a newly added camcorder can be anything you wish The Host is the IP Address value set in the Network Settings of the camcorder The Username and Password are also the same values found in the Network Settings of the camcorder
The application reporting the Camcorder s Codec, Status and Time will indicate you have a successful connection between the camcorder and mobile application Knowing you are correctly connected
Loading the Assignment Wirelessly Assignment Note: not all options are available for all camcorders
Activating your Assignment You can create an Assignment on your mobile application When this is done and you are connected to the camcorder just tap the assignment to activate it on the camcorder For full operation instructions consult the application s manual available on the Sony website
Further Functions of the Applications The applications have many features to help you add information to your clips such as logging and changing clip categories You can also review the clips after shooting, correct clip categories, use remote viewing, do retrospective logging, add clip and assignment comments and add voice notes For full operation instructions consult the application s manual available on the Sony websites
XMPilot Ingest Tools
XMPilot Ingest Tools : Avid Sony has a new Avid Media Access (AMA) Tool that exposes the XMPilot Metadata to the Avid systems Avid can hence understand your user specific metadata and store it in its own media database This allows you to search and find clips quicker allowing you to organise your bins more efficiently Simply download the free new AMA from Sony s website and install it
XMPilot Ingest Tools : Final Cut Pro 7 The XMPilot Ingest Tool for FCP7 will allow you to automatically ingest content into your Mac system Media Inserted Simply insert your disc, memory card or point to your hard drive and the computer can ingest the content to a location that you have preconfigured Three Assignments found on the media Select the Assignment and auto-build your FCP Project!
XMPilot Ingest Tools : Final Cut Pro 7 You can configure the ingest tool to rename clips to whatever you wish Create a Bin or Project You can also select metadata fields to be in the Clip Name, Log Note or Master Comment You can even Get Fields from your Assignment to add user metadata to your Clip Name, Log Note or Master Comment Drag and Drop the Fields in the File Name, Log Note or Master Comment
XMPilot Ingest Tools : Final Cut Pro 7 Example: We are shooting episode 75 and we choose to manually type into the Log Note RX75_ so all clips begin with that prefix. We are shooting a Drama with various clip categories that can be assigned to clips e.g. Outside Close Up, Outside Wide Angle, Background Shots, etc. We choose to include that in the Log Note by dragging the category box to the Log Note. The camcorder used was the PMW-500. The filename is the original clip name given to the clip via the Assignment Love Drama xyz (xyz would be the original clip number) We can therefore end up with clips with such names as: RX75_Outside Close Up_PMW-500_Love Drama001 RX75_Outside Close Wide Angle_PMW-500_Love Drama002 RX75_Outside Close Background Shot_PMW-500_Love Drama003
XMPilot Ingest Tools : Final Cut Pro 7 Example: RX75_Outside Close Up_PMW-500_Love Drama001 RX75_Outside Close Wide Angle_PMW-500_Love Drama002 RX75_Outside Close Background Shot_PMW-500_Love Drama003 In addition to this, the clips can be organised by the Ingest Tool into Category Folders within FCP Clip Category Assignment Clip Category
Where to get the ingest tools For Avid: Download from Sony Websites: PDZK-MA2 v1.2 or later For Apple Final Cut Pro 7: Download from Sony Websites: XMPilot Ingest Tool v1.0 or later and XDCAM Transfer v2.13 or later
Metadata and WiFi reliability
How reliable is WiFi? Many devices use the WiFi spectrum You can t rely on it
The Solution? On the 1 st connection the mobile device synchronises with the internal clock of the camcorder Watches are Synchronised No constant WiFi communication link needed after that
Marrying up the metadata Mobile device says to the camcorder: Based on your internal clock, on this particular time, whatever clip you were recording at that time, add this metadata mark
Benefit of Sony s System Sony knows WiFi is unreliable Logging can continue even if the Mobile Device is out of range of the camcorder It does not matter what timecode system you are using as based on camcorder s internal clock Note: If you wish to use the mobile application to remotely view the content - you need a constant WiFi link to stream the audio and video
Get XMPilot READY
Production Planning READY Field Mobile End to End Workflow Shot Edit & Archive 3G / GSM / USB / Network Wi-Fi Metadata Metadata Create Metadata Review Metadata And Live Logging Shot Marks/ Status Flags Search/Add More Metadata with XMPilot Planning Tools with XMPilot Mobile Device Apps with XMPilot WiFi Adaptor + XDCAM Camcorder upgrades with XMPilot Ingest Tools
XMPilot Elements Element Purpose Options List Price (Europe) Availability Computer Software Metadata Planning Tool Metadata XML file generation Web-services News access through web browser or integrated in NRCS Stand Alone Windows Application OR Outlook Plug-in News and Mainstream Production Free Now Mobile Application XMPilot App Metadata Live-logging Remote live viewing IOS ipad, iphone4 Android Sony Ericsson Xperia, other android smart phones Free Now NLE Plug-in Metadata Auto-ingest Plug-in Ingest automation and bin auto-allocation Cut logging and cataloging time PDZK-MA2 AMA 1.2 Plug-in for AVID Media Composer, Ver.3.5 and later XDCAM Ingest Utility for FCP7 Free Now Camcorder Firmware XDCAM Camcorder Upgrades Live Logging functionality Wireless LAN capability (with CBK-WA01) Visibility and editing of Planning Metadata in the XDCAM Browser CBK-UPG01 for PMW-500 CBKZ-UPG01 for PDW-F800 / -700 CBK-UPG02 - for PMW-320 /-350 /-TD300 CBK-RGB01 for PMW-F3 Ask your dealer Now Camcorder Accessory XDCAM Wireless Adapter- CBK-WA01 USB plug-in for XDCAM Camcorder to link into WiFi network One fits all: Memory camcorders: PMW-320/350/F3/TD300/500 ** Professional Disc: PDW-700 / -F800 Ask your dealer Now ** No live viewing support for PMW-320 / -350
READY Planning Assignment Generation Tools Outlook Plug-In: v1.0.0.1252 Free with WiFi Adaptor XDCAM Browser XMPilot Plug-In Sony Creative Software XMPilot Planner Light: v1.0 Free from Sony Websites Android and Apple Application: v1.0 Free from Android Marketplace or Free from Apple App Store Assignment
READY Camera PMW-EX1R/EX3 Assignment + Firmware version 1.2 or greater Assignments can be uploaded via the media from the camcorder s menus If this is missing, please ensure you are running the latest firmware on the camcorder
READY Camera PMW-F3 Assignment + Firmware version 1.2 or greater + CBK-WA01 (WiFi adaptor) + CBK-RGB01 (to activate WiFi connectivity) Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, SxS/SDHC or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet
READY Camera PMW-TD300 /320/350 Assignment + Firmware version 1.2 or greater + CBK-WA01 (WiFi adaptor) + CBK-UPG02 (to activate WiFi connectivity) Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, SxS/SDHC or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet
READY Camera PMW-500 Assignment + Firmware version 1.12 or greater + CBK-WA01 (WiFi adaptor) + CBK-UPG01 (to activate WiFi connectivity) Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, SxS/SDHC or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet Remote Viewing of the Video and Audio is possible (in UDF mode only)
READY Camera PDW-700/F800 Assignment + Firmware version 1.8 or greater + CBK-WA01 (WiFi adaptor) + CBKZ-UPG01 (to activate WiFi connectivity) Assignments can be uploaded via USB memory, Professional Disc or wirelessly via a Smart Phone or Tablet Wireless Logging and changing the Clip Category can be done via a Smart Phone or Tablet Remote Viewing of the Video and Audio is possible
READY Mobile Apps Android App Available Now from the Android Market Place Apple App Available Now from the Apple App Store
READY Ingest Tools Avid Media Access (AMA) Download from the Sony Website: PDZK-MA2 version 1.2 or later XMPilot Ingest Tool for Final Cut Pro 7 Download from the Sony Website: XMPilot Ingest Tool v1.0 or later and XDCAM Transfer v2.13 or later
READY Side Notes XMPilot Metadata Workflow Solution supports only XDCAM camcorders The WiFi Adaptor CBK-WA01 can be used and swapped between any camcorder that can accept it The WiFi Activation Keys CBK-UPG01 and CBK-UPG02 are physical hardware activation keys and can be swapped between camcorders The WiFi Activation Key CBK-RGB01 (also allows RGB444, S-Log and Monitoring LUTs) can be swapped between PMW-F3 camcorders The WiFi Activation Key CBKZ-UPG01 is a software key bonded to a camcorder s serial number and cannot be swapped between camcorders
READY Side Notes Live viewing with PMW-500 is only available when PMW-500 camcorder is in UDF mode Recording Media Live viewing and logging is only available when recording with SxS media Live viewing and logging is not supported when recording on SD cards or memory stick (with the MEAD adaptor no support for UDF mode)
READY XDCAM Side Notes For your information these are the latest firmware version as of January 2012: PMW-EX1 = v1.26 PMW-EX1R = v1.20 PMW-EX3 = v1.18 PMW-F3 = v1.2 PMW-320 = v1.2 PMW-350 = v1.3 PMW-TD300 = v1.1 PMW-500 = v1.12 PDW-700 = v1.8 PDW-F800 = v1.8