Importing C300 Footage into an External Library

[Adam Schoales]

Canon C300 media is already optimized in FCPX. You can’t create ProRes movies from it in FCPX (optimized media is greyed out)

So, you import the footage, and when you click the import button, you will get the import preferences screen.

The first radio button under the Event section is “Media Storage: Copy Files into:”

From there you select the door down and select “Choose…”

Then chose a folder on the server for FCPX to rewrap the footage to 50Mbit 422 MPEG2.

Now, forgive me if I’m mistaken, but the FCP 7 method *does* result in ProRes files. If we wanted ProRes files rather than raw Canon XF files is there a way to do this through FCP X?

I don’t know for sure if we actually *do* need ProRes, especially since this case it’s for a FCP X workflow, I just know my boss always wants us working in ProRes for easy cross-compatability. In other words, I’m just trying to cover my bases.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Adam Schoales] “Now, forgive me if I’m mistaken, but the FCP 7 method *does* result in ProRes files. If we wanted ProRes files rather than raw Canon XF files is there a way to do this through FCP X? “

No. FCPX deems 50Mbit 422 MPEG2 HD movies as optimized. You can flip the files in Compressor or something if you want.

[Adam Schoales] “I don’t know for sure if we actually *do* need ProRes, especially since this case it’s for a FCP X workflow, I just know my boss always wants us working in ProRes for easy cross-compatability. In other words, I’m just trying to cover my bases.”

Yes. You will need to convert the files in another program if you need ProRes source files.

[Adam Schoales]

Perfect, thanks very much for the clarification. Greatly appreciate it.

[Chris Gu]

Generally, it’s not quite straight forward to edit Canon C300 MXF in Final Cut Pro. You may need to Canon XF Utility to download clips off your original media from a CF card (The C300 records to Compact Flash cards) and backing up the clips in a unique folder based on the date and time of the transfer. Next step you’ll need to install Canon XF plugin and finally launch Final Cut Pro to begin the import process. The importing way is a tedious process, which needs you patience. The alternative way is to transcode C300 MXF to ProRes first before post production.

[Jeremy Garchow]

[chris gu] “Generally, it’s not quite straight forward to edit Canon C300 MXF in Final Cut Pro. “

This should process should be different with 10.1.4 as FCPX can now read MXF files without rewrapping to QT.

Jeremy