A Sony camera doesn't always write a clip as one loose file. Depending on the recording format, the card holds a fixed folder tree with the video plus small files next to it, and some editing tools look for that tree when you import. This is what the layouts look like and what to keep together when you back a card up.
The short version: XAVC S (MP4) clips sit in PRIVATE/M4ROOT/CLIP/; XAVC (MXF) clips sit in XDROOT/Clip/ with sidecars such as .XML, .BIM and DISCMETA.XML. Copy the card's whole top-level tree into its own dated folder, keep one folder per card, and reorganize only a second copy.
Two layouts you'll meet
CatDV's camera-format reference lists two different patterns for Sony. XAVC S,
recorded as MP4, appears as PRIVATE/M4ROOT/CLIP/*.MP4 (the page also lists an
MP_ROOT/101XXX/*.MP4 pattern for the same format). XAVC, recorded
as MXF, appears as XDROOT/Clip/*.MXF with sidecars next to it:
.XML, .BIM, CUEUP.XML, DISCMETA.XML and
MEDIAPRO.XML.
Sony's own help guide for the ILME-FX5 shows how the root can change. Proxy files are
written to /PRIVATE/M4ROOT/SUB on an SDXC card and to /M4ROOT/SUB
on a CFexpress Type A card, and in the full menu the root folder name can be set to
M4ROOT or to a Cam ID plus reel number. So the folder name above isn't
guaranteed on every camera and setting.
The safe rule: copy the card's whole top-level tree
(PRIVATE, XDROOT, or whatever your camera wrote), with its
structure, to your archive as an untouched backup. Reorganize on a second copy.
Why keep the structure and the sidecars
CatDV's documentation says that importing a camera clip into an editing system usually
requires keeping all of the clip's files and preserving the original card directory
structure. A thread on Adobe's community forum shows what that can look like in practice: a
Premiere Pro user with a Sony FS7 found that a folder rebuilt by Sony's Catalyst Browse had no
DISCMETA.XML and that Premiere's Media Browser didn't recognise it until
they copied that file in from a card. That is one user's report on one setup, not a
rule for every camera or editor, but it's a good reason not to throw sidecars away.
A practical workflow
- Copy the whole top-level tree from each card into its own dated folder in your archive, and let your copy tool verify it against the source.
- Keep one folder per card instead of merging cards. In the same Adobe thread, a reply advises against merging because you will probably lose metadata, and suggests a “camera original” folder with a subfolder for each date and card.
- Treat that copy as the original. Don't rename or move files inside it.
- Work from a second copy if you want clips organized by date or camera.
- Only format the card in the camera after both copies are verified.
Where ShotGrab fits, and where it doesn't
ShotGrab builds each file's destination from a folder template (date, camera, client), so it
doesn't recreate a camera's PRIVATE/M4ROOT or XDROOT tree. Video
files (MP4, MXF) fall in the video category. Sidecar files such as .XML and
.BIM are their own category in a project's file filter: they're copied only if you
include that category or add the extension by hand. If your editor needs a Sony card's
original structure, copy the top-level folder with a tool that preserves the tree, or include
the sidecars in the filter and test an import in your editing software before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the video files on a Sony camera card?
XAVC S clips recorded as MP4 are usually in PRIVATE/M4ROOT/CLIP/. XAVC clips recorded as MXF are in XDROOT/Clip/, next to sidecar files. Some cameras let you rename the root folder, so check yours.
What should I copy from a Sony card?
The whole top-level tree (PRIVATE, XDROOT or whatever your camera wrote), with its structure, into a dated folder per card. Keep that copy untouched as the original.
Should I merge folders from two Sony cards?
It's better not to. Merging can lose metadata; keep a camera-original folder with a subfolder for each date and card instead.
Why won't Premiere recognise my Sony footage folder?
Editors such as Premiere's Media Browser can depend on the original card structure and its sidecar files. One reported case was fixed by copying the missing DISCMETA.XML back from the card.
What we couldn't confirm
We didn't find a Sony page that documents the purpose of every folder and file in these trees
(CLIP, THMBNL, GENERAL, the XML files). The help guide we
checked covers the FX5 only, and the rest comes from CatDV and one forum thread. Check your
camera's manual for its exact layout before building a workflow around this.