XMPilot in Action
March 17, 2013
XMPilot, a cool new technology from Sony, opens up a whole new world of meta-data and viewing on hand-held devices for XDCAM users. It’s convenient to watch live video from the camera wirelessly on a hand-held device. The ease of on-the-fly meta-data input, which synchronizes back to recording media, is exciting to producers and editors everywhere. With XMPilot, comments on each particular video clip are carried throughout the post-production process. Main Frame Digital has XMPilot operating on its XDCAM PDW-F800. Here’s a look at how it works on iPad (it works on iPhone, and there’s an Android version, too). First, download the free XMPilot “app” (aka application) for iPad from the iTunes store [App Store > Productivity > Sony Corporation > XMPilot Tool]. After the installation and set-up of the XMPilot transmitter, the camera creates its own wireless network, which will show up in a wi-fi search on your device. The transmitter is about the size of a jump drive and connects to the camera through the USB connector on the handle (where a jump drive to record proxies would be inserted).
The XMPilot transmitter powers on, when the camera is on.
Go to the Wi-Fi page in your iPad Settings. The camera’s wireless network can be chosen.
Next, open the XMPilot app on your device. Below, it’s the first icon on the row.
After the app opens, the first step is connecting with the camera of your choice. Here, MFDigital PDW-F800 is the single choice.
To connect with the camera, tap the bar. When you’re connected, the bar changes to “Tap to Disconnect,” and the screen is populated with additional information.
Now you can access data entry areas, and details about camera operation are displayed: Filename, Codec, Camera Status and Time. The “Synchronise” function sends all data entries to the recording media in the camera over the wireless network, to be permanently embedded in the video file. The data will track throughout the editing process. The “Read Active Assignment” shows shot requests coming from a news organization. The “Live View” function gives you timecode, live picture with sound, and a recording indicator, pictured on the screen below.
Your iPad is now a monitor!
Notice below, on the bottom of the screen, there are icons for “Assignments,” “Logging” and “Cameras.” Logging is the selection to make when adding script notes.
After “Logging” is selected, two selections are in the top bar, “Markup” and “Categories.” The “Markup” screen is pictured below. This page is where shots can be rated, notes can be added in the “Comment” line, and shot marks can be inserted. This is the place for high-value meta-data entry.
What an advance since the ScriptBoy days!
When the “Categories” tab at the top of the screen is chosen, the screen pictured below is displayed. The categories are fully customizable. The elapsed time of each category is shown, a nice tool for checking coverage.
Markup options can be displayed in the Live View.
Congratulations to Sony for advancing the ease of meta-data entry in the field.
Main Frame Digital is ready to implement XMPilot on your next shoot.
Main Frame Digital 