What’s the easiest way to convert XDCAM files to .mov files on Mac for editing in FCP, FCE, iMovie, Avid or other NLEs? If you are looking for an answer to this question, you may wish to read this post. It introduces the best XDCAM file converter for Mac and guides you through the process of transcoding Sony XDCAM MXF files to a QuickTime movie format for editing on Mac OS X.
Why need a XDCAM MXF to MOV Converter?
You may need a Sony XDCAM MXF Converter for Mac for various reasons. We have listed some of them out in the following paragraphs.
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Reason #1: The XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2) plug-in doesn’t work for FCP X
To be able to import Sony XDCAM, XDCAM HD, and XDCAM EX media into Final Cut Pro X, you’ll need to download and install the XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2) provided by Sony. If the plug-in doesn’t work correctly, you may need a Sony XDCAM Video Converter for Mac to encode XDCAM MXF files to MOV format with ProRes codec for working with FCP X.
One thing I don't anyone has yet mentioned on this forum anywhere (AFAIK) is that you CAN EXPORT BACK TO.MXF from FCP using XDCAM Transfer. In FCP, select clip or sequence. Select File/Export/Sony XDCAM It'll export the clip/sequence to MXF. Now that means the playback computer must be able to playback MXF. Dec 1, 2020 — Xdcam Transfer Software Download Mac Description. Sony Xdcam Transfer software, free download For Mac. Sony Xdcam Transfer Software. XDCAM Drive Software is a basic utility that allows users to read/write files from a computer connected to a PDW-U1/U2/U4 Professional Disc Drive Unit.
Reason #2: AMA plug-in doesn’t work for viewing and editing XDCAM footage in Avid
The XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Avid (PDZK-MA2) plug-in supports for XAVC and XDCAM / XDCAM EX files in Avid Media Composer, Symphony and NewsCutter products, if this plug-in can not run on your Mac, we do recommend using third party XDCAM MXF Converter for Mac to process file conversion.
Reason #3: iMovie and FCE don’t have native support for Sony XDCAM
If you find iMovie and the discontinued Final Cut Express do not have native support for XDCAM files, you’re suggested to transcode XDCAM MXF files to AIC .mov, iMovie and FCE’s favorite editing codec, which they can recognize and handle well. This requires a XDCAM MXF to MOV Converter.
Reason #4: The editing performance is unstable and unreliable
Your editing program allows for easy and direct importing of XDCAM videos from your camcorder, but it is very unreliable and unstable, so you needed something else to convert them first to a format that is full compatible with your editing application. In that case, you will need a third party XDCAM file converter.
Reason #5: You don’t have the entire folder structure of the XDCAM footage
If you only have some loose .mxf video clips copied from a XDCAM camera, without preserving the complete folder structure, you will run into incompatibility issues while importing them to your Mac NLEs. If that’s the case, a Mac Sony XDCAM MXF Converter will be a lifesaver for you.
What’s the best XDCAM file converter for Mac?
To put it bluntly, HD Video Converter for Mac is positioned as the best Sony XDCAM video converter for Mac. It provides optimal format presets for mostly used NLEs like iMovie, FCE, FCP, Avid, Adobe Premiere, and Sony Vegas, being able to convert XDCAM MXF video to MOV format with Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHD, Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC), DVCPRO, HDV, DV codec maintaining original quality of your source media.
You can download a demo version to have a try. It is not free but it is totally worth it.
Approach to transcoding XDCAM MXF files to MOV for editing on Mac
Step 1: Start up HD Video Converter for Mac as a Mac Sony XDCAM video Converter. Once the main interface pops up, click ‘Add File’ button to import source media captured by a PMW-500, PMW-400, XDS-PD2000, PDW-HR1 or some camera similar. You can load directly from your camera or from a card reader, or from a folder on your HDD that contains your media data.
Step 2: Select output format for your editing programs
In order to edit Sony XDCAM MXF files in iMovie and FCE, from the Profile list, choose ‘Apple InterMediateCodec (AIC) (*.mov) as output format from ‘iMovie and Final Cut Express’ catalogue.
For the purpose of importing and editing Sony XDCAM MXF video files in Avid, Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, from the Profile list, choose ‘Avid DNxHD(*.mov)’ as output format from ‘Avid Media Composer’ column.
To be able to use Sony XDCAM/XDCAM HD MXF footage in FCP 7/6, FCP X, Premiere or DaVinci Resolve, from the Profile list, choose ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format from ‘Final Cut Pro’ catalogue.
Step 3: Custom video and audio settings (for advanced user)
If you are an advanced user and want to adjust video and audio settings like bit rate, frame rate, etc. in your own way, you can click ‘Setting’ button and go to ‘Profile Settings’ panel to do so, if not, simply skip this step.
Step 4: When ready, click the ‘Convert’ button to start converting Sony XDCAM MXF footage to MOV for using within iMovie 8’/9/11, FCE, Avid, FCP (X), Premiere or DaVinci Resolve.
Tips: You can tick off ‘Shut down computer when conversion completed’ checkbox, and go away to do other things instead of waiting around in front of the computer for the entire conversion process.
Step 5: When the conversion finished, click ‘Open Folder’ button to find the generated MOV QuickTime files for editing with your NLEs with optimum performance.
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How to rewrap Sony XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX footage to MOV
There are 2 ways to import footage from the Sony XDCAM camcorder to Final Cut Pro. You can directly import XDCAM-HD files by attaching your camcorder (with the memory cards still in it) to the computer via USB cable or by removing the cards from the camcorder and placing them in the express card slot of a MacBook Pro. Both methods require Final Cut Studio and Sony XDCAM Transfer Software (a free download from Sony).
Method 1: Express Slot and USB Cable to Camcorder
Step 1: Connect Cables
After shooting, remove the SxS card from camcorder and place it in the express slot of laptop; or attach the camcorder (with the SxS card still inside) to the computer via the supplied USB cable and turn the camera power switch to the Media position.
Step 2: Import Sony XDCAM MXF to Final Cut Pro
In Final Cut Pro, initiate the import by using the pull-down menu- File/Import/Sony XDCAM. This opens the Sony XDCAM Transfer software interface.
Step 3. Arrange Your Clips
Select the clip to view from the thumbnail images in the top half of the interface. Play the clip in the viewing window at the bottom of the interface. You can also mark “ins” and “outs” if you just want to import part of the clip. Add comments and other information to the clip in the lower right area of the interface.
Step 4: Import All Your Clips
Click on the Import button to ingest the clip to Final Cut Pro. You can import all the clips on the card by selecting all the clips and them clicking on Import.
- Read More: How to connect/transfer/copy Sony XDCAM Media to Mac?
Method 2: Ingest Sony XDCAM MXF videos and encode the MXF clips to FCP Compatible Codec
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This method should work with most Mac computer. If you run into a problem when importing Sony XDCAM, XDCAM HD and XDCAM EX media to FCP, here’s an alternative workaround: use Media Magician for Mac to ingest Sony XDCAM MXF videos and encode the XDCAM MXF clips to Apple ProRes 422 codec, which is naturally supported by Final Cut Pro 6, 7 and FCP X. The app can also be used to cut and merge MXF files, or convert MXF to QuickTime codec for playing on Mac, iPad, iPhone and other iOS devices.
Step 1: Connect your Sony XDCAM camera to Mac and import MXF from Sony XDCAM to Media Magician for Mac.
Connect your Sony XDCAM camera to Mac computer and launch Pavtube Media Magician for Mac. The app will automatically detect your camera and ask “Camcorder is connected. Are you ready to launch wizard now?” Click “Yes” to confirm. Select the MXF files you’d like to import to FCP, and then press “Start” to import MXF to Media Magician library.
Step 2: Organize and edit Sony XDCAM MXF videos in timeline.
Drag and drop the Sony XDCAM MXF clip to timeline for editing from library. Here you can remove unwanted .mxf clips, trim out unwanted frames from specific clip by frame-accurate, and put them into the right order for merging. Use the scissor icon to do frames trimming.
Step 3: Choose “Output” on the top of main interface to switch it to output interface.
Step 4: Choose Apple ProRes codec as output format.
Here you can set common video format like AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, MPG, etc as well as intermediate codec for editing software. For importing Sony XDCAM MXF to Final Cut Pro, follow the steps to set Apple ProRes 422 preset:
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- 1. Move your mouse to Editor, click on the tab.
- 2. Select “Final Cut Pro” group.
- 3. The default output format for FCP is Apple ProRes 422. To use other codec in the ProRes family, just select the desire codec (ProRes LT, Pro, HD, ProRes 4444) from the drop-down list of “Format” bar. Set bitrate and frame rate if necessary.
Step 5: Export Apple ProRes video for FCP 7/FCP X
Press the plus sign (+) to add task for conversion. Select the task(s) and click on the triangle sign to start encoding Sony XDCAM MXF to Apple ProRes 422 MOV.
Step 6: Import Apple ProRes 422 MOV to Final Cut Pro
In Final Cut Pro, follow pull-down menu- File/Import/Files… to import converted Sony XDcam footage to FCP without rendering on Mac.
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PS. If you have any problem, pls contact with macsupport@pavtube.com to get more information. You also can leave a message on Pavtube Community or Pavtube Facebook, we will answer your questions as soon as possilble.
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