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Importing MXF files into FCP 6.0
A client of mine using FCP 6.0 is having problems importing a batch of MXF files created by the Sony XDCAM Clip Browser. Premiere CS4 supports the direct editing of MXF files (alone, without the original card’s content/file structure), and I’m wondering how he can go about obtaining the same functionality in FCP.
Is an upgrade to 6.02 required? Is a conversion of every MXF file to MOV required, and if so, is there any software out there you can recommend?
So far I’ve come across the Calibrated{Q} software, but I’m still unclear as to whether or not that will allow for directing importing and editing of lone MXF files in FCP.
Thanks in advance for any help.
replied 15 years, 5 months ago 12 Members · 31 Replies
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31 Replies
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There is no native MXF editing in FCP…not with FCP alone. You need third party software to deal with that, like MXF4MAC, Calibrated or Raylight. But if you get the Sony XDCAM Log and Transfer plugin, you can then import the files as .mov quicktimes. FCP is designed to work with QT files. Why not import that way? Why the insistence on editing native MXF? There is no quality loss.
But, if you must, there are options.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Thanks for the quick response Shane. Just so I’m clear on this, the Log and Transfer plugin will let him import the lone MXF files (as in, no original content/structure folder) as MOV?
If so, that’s the perfect solution.
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NO FILE STRUCTURE!?! Did I miss that? Wow…who the heck does that? WHY the heck do they do that. Stupid stupid…
ANYWAY…moving on.
There are demos for all those options…I’d try them all and see what works. XDCAM is not my forté.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
There has to be a way to accomplish this without the original file structure. Premiere CS4 (and even CS3) handles it just fine.
I’ll tell him to try those out. Any other help would be appreciated.
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[Randy Hopkins] “There has to be a way to accomplish this without the original file structure. “
There is…with third party solutions only. FCP doesn’t work with MXF natively.
[Randy Hopkins] “Premiere CS4 (and even CS3) handles it just fine. “
Premiere CS4 isn’t FCP. Avid deals with them too, but guess what? Avid isn’t FCP either. Just because ONE application does it doesn’t mean another will. They are two different applications.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I understand that. FCP’s incompatibilities and trivial shortcomings are no strangers to me. This is just a new one.
What I still don’t understand is whether or not Raylight or Calibrate will convert or allow for the importing of “native” MXF files sans original file structure. Both product descriptions mention direct editing from a P2 card, or from an existing file structure, but it’s still not clear to me if they would also support a single MXF file.
Anyone with XDCAM experience have any insights?
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[Randy Hopkins] ”
Anyone with XDCAM experience have any insights?”MXF4mac will.
Jeremy
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$500+ software isn’t an option in this case, though I appreciate the suggestion.
Any cheaper alternatives?
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As Shane mentioned, there’s demos. Go see for yourself.
Jeremy
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Well…you are trying to fix a mistake…a pretty big one. Not saving the entire card structure. Sure, some NLE’s deal with that natively, so people get lazy and only think of that. But now you are trying to edit the footage and are stuck. And you want FREE or very cheap solutions.
Try Raylight…that is $99..or is it $199? I forget. Calibrated is $79…get the demo and see what that does.
Or your only other alternatives are to edit with software that deals with the MXF files natively.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def
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