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Trouble importing mxf files into FCP 6
Hi,
I am working on a video right now, where we are getting footage from various cinematographers. We received a drive from a guy in Berlin who shot with the HVX200 camera, PAL version. He told us he could just put the files on a drive and send them over, and they would be compatible with FCP. However, when I got the drive and saw that it contained all mxf files, I was immediately alarmed. I’ve never worked with those files before.
Here is where I am in need of major help. How can I get these files to a format that FCP will accept? I’ve read up on a lot of forums, tried various things and can’t get anything to work.
On our system here, the project settings are DVCProHD 720p24p, on Final Cut V. 6 (Final Cut Studio 2).
Here are the specs the DP included with the drive:
– The file format is 720p25 DVCProHD (only European version of the camera was available, therefore no 24p)
– The files are .mfx
– For each video clip there are 4 separate sound clips for each channel with the suffix A, B, L, R and the numbers 01, 02,…
-The corresponding videofile has the suffix w and the numbers 01,02,…
-You can directly import the files into any NLE which supports the .mfx. (I checked it at least with AVID and Premiere CS3)
Since he said it worked with Avid, I had a friend try it on his system and he is getting an error that says the .mxf files cannot be imported because they don’t match the project frame rate? Apparently, the Avid does not have an option for 720p25 or 720p50 and it seems that the mxf files are in that format.
The footage was recorded on to a FireStore 100 and then transferred to this drive that was sent to us.
There was no CONTENTS or LASTCLIP.txt folder on the drive–just the mxf files and a log folder that contains some xml files, which won’t open in FCP either.
ANY HELP would be immensely appreciated.
Thanks!
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21 Replies
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Hi Sandra,
Sorry but I don’t know much about P2 workflow.
You can post directly to Shane Ross (one of the forum leaders) who is a real expert on the format, or in the PANASONIC HVX forum. You may have a faster answer.
cheers,
rafael -
Well, looks like the DP has done the classic blunder of just grabbing the video and audio files and throwing them into a folder. That is NOT the way to do this. This might work with a couple edit systems, but not all of them. They need to keep the entire P2 file structure intact…the CONTENTS folder and LASTCLIP.TXT file that are on each card need to be archived, if they want this footage to be compatible with all systems.
Now your options are Raylight by dvfilm.com…that will allow FCP to read the MXF files and will tie the audio to them…MXF4Quicktime, that will allow you to import the MXF files natively. Although you will have to manually marry audio and video. Install P2CMS from Panasonic and that should also allow you to import the files (this is free)…again, you will have to manually relink audio and video.
I found that Avid will deal with certain P2 files natively, but in other instances it needs the file structure as well. But for DVCPRO 50, we just threw the files (like you got) into one folder and imported and they were fine. But not sure about your PAL issue….that version of Avid might not be compatible with 25p…50i yes, but 25p support was slow on all fronts.
Gotta tell the DP to keep the file structure. Doing what he is doing is very limiting in terms of editing options.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
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I’m always around. Can’t get rid of me.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
I know I can always count on you guys! I’m going to take a stab at your recommendations, Shane.
So you’re saying I can do either of the 3: Raylight, Flip4Mac or P2CMS? I am going to try P2CMS now and see if I can resolve anything. Thanks so much for the insight!
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Couldn’t you use the Log&Transfer tool that comes with FCP? We use Raylight, but when Raylight chokes on a card or file, as it inevitably does for whatever reason, it only takes a few more minutes to ingest through L&T. Between the two I’ve rarely missed a shot.
Cheers,
Andre -
Log and Transfer doesn’t work unless the file structure of the card is intact. And it isn’t.
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
You can also give my software a try to see if it will work out for you. It gives FCP the ability to directly import P2 MXF files.
https://www.calibratedsoftware.com/MXFImportQ_OSX.html
Cheers,
Greg -
Hi Sandra,
we had the same trouble with P2 files which were imported to avid. we bought the mxf4qt product from mxf4mac and it saved our life. we also tried raylight but it doesn’t help if you only have the pure mxfs. we tried the p2cms and calibrated but there is not timecode and it is very slow. the fcp project took 10 minutes to open. we tried mxf4qt and there is timecode and it works with fcp very fast. we received a beta of p2 flow from mxf4mac and this one is just fantastic if you work with the unchanged p2 contents.
the web adress is mxf4mac.com and I found a movie at you tube youtube.com/user/MXF4mac
cheers
michael -
I’m trying the P2 format for the first time. Transfered from P2 to external RAID nicely, the contents folder (with all the directory files,) and the all-important LASTCLIP.txt file. So why doesn’t FC Studio 6 see the files and allow them to import with the Log & Transfer function? What am I not doing correctly I wonder?
Thanks for any ideas.
Wherever I am…I’m lost!
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