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.mp4 file won't play on FCP X
I’m shooting footage with Sony PMW-F3 camera, set to 29.97 1920×1080, it produces mp4 files. On my PC I can edit and play this file just fine in Resolve and watch it using VLC, but when my client tries to play it on her Mac in FCP X she gets a blank screen with the play button disabled. Can anyone tell me why?
thanks!
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4 Replies
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my guess is that the footage was recorded using an old codec that mac no longer supports. mp4 is just the wrapping paper so to speak.
As you can open the file, maybe try outputting a new version using a pro res codec. should work
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just looking on resolve on a pc and your best bet is h264 i think. no pro res on a pc by the look of it
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Thanks, Phil. I’m thinking of outputting the F3 to an Atomos Shogun recording ProRes.
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As others have said, mp4 is a container and the codec might be an issue.
In VLC on your computer check the Information to see the codec.
On her computer have her open it in Quicktime to see if it plays there.
You don’t mention which macOS or version of FCP but that is certainly a factor so please note that information.
Since it’s from a Sony camera it’s possible the free Catalyst Browse might be able to transcode it to something she can play.
Sony F3 used MPEG-2 Long GOP and that might be the issue. Catalyst Browse might be able to transcode it to an H264 variant. Maybe XAVC-S would work.
See
https://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/webhelp/catalystbrowse/enu/Content/Transcoding_clips.htm
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