Sony recently released a new version of their XDCAM EX Clip Browser with a couple of great new features. If you aren’t familiar with the software, it is Sony’s free tool for working with XDCAM EX clips. It allows users to download, subclip and add metadata to clips. It’s the best tool out there for working with EX material…and it’s free.

In this latest release, Sony added a Flash Band correction function. This will scan your clips and look for banding created by flashes. It is very similar to what the Panasonic HPX300 does in-camera. This is an important function for anyone shooting live events, or anywhere where there’s flash photography.

…continue reading New Features in Sony’s EX Clip Browser 2.6

Today Sony announced a free firmware upgrade to the PMW-EX30 deck. Originally the deck would only record 1080/60i, 1080/50i, or 720/60p signals. With the firmware upgrade you will be able to record 1080 in 23.98 PsF or 30 PsF. This is a great and long awaited enhancement. Now the unit can record the PsF output from the EX3 or EX1 (with 1.11 firmware) or any other PsF HDSDI source. I test our EX30 and was also able to playback 24P material in PsF. This allows quick dubbing (without pulldown) to a tape deck like an HDCAM or HDCAM SR deck.

They have also added the following useful updates:

1, Selection of whether 16; 9 information is embedded on Down-converted SD video outputs or not
(On/Off).
2. All Clip Copy function to copy all the clips from Slot A to B (and vice versa)
3. Down-converted DV output via i.LINK, during the HQ mode playback, as well as SP mode playback.

The upgrade is listed for the following serial numbers: 100,001 to 1,01113. Upgrades are free but must be sent to Sony at users expense.