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XDCam EX .mov to Premiere Pro?
First of kudos to all the cow community; everytime I’ve had an issue I count on coming here first and BAM! an answer to solve my issue. I’ve never had to create a new post. Until now…
I had a friend do me a favor, let me borrow his Sony EX1 – a great looking camera – for a shoot. Afterwards I gave him back the camera and media and it was implied he’d get me the files/footage off of the camera.
Well, he did, but he first conformed them to .mov. And I work in premiere pro, where the professional XDCam .mov codec is as yet unavailable (and I’d prefer not to have to by the calibrated{q} software for a one-off instance). He did not save the master BPAV files from the media, so the .mov files are them, in total.
I’ve read throughout the COW that .mov is only a wrapper and all we have to do is rewrap them. Which I’ve assumed we can do using the sony XDCam Log and Transfer without having to reencode/recompress. So begins the questions:
1. Is the rewrap solution true, won’t the underlying codec still be apple’s quicktime codec? (I’ve heard transfer out to mxf files, but even so, won’t they still have the same underlying apple codec? if not, praises be.)
2. If the rewrap will work, how do we do that? We can download XDCam EX Log and Transfer utility, and the XDCam Transfer Tool, what is the exact settings/process/output supposed to be set to within FCP?
3. What should I rewrap them to? The footage is 720p24 EX footage in the .mov wrapper (if I’m correct, if not please set me straight). Can it be output as an mp4 mxf? or are those two things different wrappers and what are the correct codecs supposed to be? How should that end file read – an mxf file encoded as an mp4? an mxf file as an EX___ codec? an mp4 as something?
I apologize for wordiness – I’m trying to be thorough, but I don’t have a mac beside me to sort some of the above terms/processes out. In short – I need to have these files to me such a way that they are not degraded but usable in Premiere Pro CS3.
Thank you for any help on this subject!
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16 Replies
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1. Is the rewrap solution true, won’t the underlying codec still be apple’s quicktime codec? (I’ve heard transfer out to mxf files, but even so, won’t they still have the same underlying apple codec? if not, praises be.)
Its true. The import is a simple rewrap of the “essence”, only the container changes, not the content.
2. If the rewrap will work, how do we do that? We can download XDCam EX Log and Transfer utility, and the XDCam Transfer Tool, what is the exact settings/process/output supposed to be set to within FCP?
You need to download and install Sony’s XDCAM Transfer Tool (PDZK-P1). Once you have installed that app then you’ll find a new Sony XDCAM export option in FCP’s File > Export submenu. You can use that to export clips or sequences as xdcam native MXF or MP4 movies … either format “should” work directly in Premiere but I have read that MXF support is more stable.
3. What should I rewrap them to? The footage is 720p24 EX footage in the .mov wrapper (if I’m correct, if not please set me straight). Can it be output as an mp4 mxf? or are those two things different wrappers and what are the correct codecs supposed to be? How should that end file read – an mxf file encoded as an mp4? an mxf file as an EX___ codec? an mp4 as something?
Export as MXF as suggested above.
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You can edit Pro-Res inside of Premiere Pro with no problem (which is what FCP converts XDCAM to). Premiere Pro can create custom setups and you just need to know how. I point people to this blog:
https://blogs.adobe.com/davtechtable/2007/06/adobe_production_premium_cs3_a.html#moreThis should give you all you need to know. Hope this helps.
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Sorry but in Premiere PRO RES video appears with no real time playback (as in Final Cut). Am I doing something wrong? I get a YELLOW line over my footage in the timeline and my blackmagic card jitters when outputting to video In FC is live with no jitter.
M -
Sorry.. you say… You can use that to export clips or sequences… I can only manage timelines but not clips. I’d like to batch convert all my MOV clips to MP4 wrapped format, not one by one inside the timeline. Is this no possible?
Thanks,
M -
It becomes a different issue if you’re using video hardware like BMD.
Are you still using CS3 or have you moved to CS4? CS4 makes a couple of things easier in this case.
I would try a couple of things
1 – try nesting your sequence within another. If you’re in CS3, I’m assuming you’re using a BMD project. If you’re on CS4, try Adobe native (in desktop mode) and then a BMD sequence
2 – If you’re using a dual monitor – try importing the footage into a CS3 Adobe native project (not BMD). Go to playback settings and use your second monitor as a playback device. My apologies if I’m not more clear, but I’m doing it from memory.
3 – try an Adobe native project and see if the playback is significantly better.
4 – Download the CS4 trial and set up a desktop mode CS4 edit.I hope this helps a bit,
Dennis -
I was reviewing my posts and got to this one.. Sorry.. I didn’t read the answer at the time.. Still.. I have problems understanding what Premiere can do and what it can’t do…. If I import XDCAM (MP4 wrapper) I have realtime playback.. if I import XDCAM (but MOV wrapper) I don’t. Same filesize, samecodec, just a different wrapper. The funny thing is that Premiere can export in MOV wrapper and not in MP4… So.. I can shoot in MP4 wrapper, edit in MP4 wrapper and render only in MOV wrapper.. This means that if I reimport my edit I cannot view it realtime. Or.. If I shoot in MOV wrapper and edit in Final Cut… and then want to go in Premiere.. I have to stay with non-realtime playback.
Am I missing something?siRoma di Marcello Mazzilli
Corporate video productions in Italy
http://www.siroma.com -
Hello,
I’m just checking to see if this information is still current.
My problem: I’m trying to import a timeline and clips from FCP into PP. I’ve successfully imported the timeline but, I don’t know how to make PP recognize the .mov clips that came with the project. Will they have to be re – outputted from FCP with the export tool you mention above?Thanks for your time. I really appreciate all the work people do on forums to keep people like me going and looking like we know more than we do………
Regards,
Jessica -
Hey Jessica
> I don’t know how to make PP recognize the .mov clips that came with the project. Will they have to be re – outputted from FCP with the export tool you mention above?
If the clips you’ve been provided with are XDCAM EX .MOV files then you could buy Calibrated Software’s XD Decode quicktime component for your Premier Pro machine .. that component will allow you PP install to directly read the .MOV files without conversion.
https://www.calibratedsoftware.com/QXD.aspIf that’s not an option then yes, you’ll need to get the clips rewrapped as MXF or MP4 files before you can work with them in PP.
Best
Andy -
The yellow line should indicate in Premiere Pro that it will play back in real time but need to be rendered for final output, so I don’t think you have a problem there.
As for exporting, I think that’s an area where we need to grow. I’ve got XDCAM HD export working, but it’s not a part of the public builds. Doesn’t help you now, but it’s good to know that Adobe’s focused on it.
I hope this helps.
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