Sony XDCAM and Final Cut Pro X Workflow: Importing Sony XDCAM media to FCP X on Mac

XDCAM

XDCAM, introduced by Sony in 2003, has four different products lines – the XDCAM SD, XDCAM HD, XDCAM EX and XDCAM HD422, which differ in encoder, frame size, container and recording media. Designed for heavy-duty field acquisition, Sony XDCAM camcorders provide the excellent picture quality, operability and reliability. Besides that, Sony XDCAM camcorders offer a wide range of innovative features that maximize the benefits of nonlinear disc media.

Sony XDCAM camcorders usually record MXF and MP4 format video, and it usually use MPEG2 codec, this codec is not good for editing in FCP X, and you will encounter importing and codec problems when you try to import Sony XDCAM footage to Final Cut Pro X.

Final Cut Pro X

FCP X (Final Cut Pro X) is the most popular video editing software on Mac, it can’t surpport Sony XDCAM HD High-Definition Camcorders PDW-F800, PDW-700, PDW-F355L etc. MXF files, you need a Sony XDCAM to FCP X Converter for Mac to help you convert/transcode Sony XDCAM MXF/MP4 files to FCP X (included FCP, FCP 6/7) compatible format Apple ProRes 422 MOV for editing on Mac.

Import Sony XDCAM media to FCP X issues

Q1. I just downloaded the trial version FinalCut X. I’ve tried to imort video both with XDCam browser, and straight from an external hard drive and gotten the same blank geen screen results. I really think I can work with this software if I could just find out what I am missing. Updated eveything when I downloaded the software. Can someone please help?

Q2. Hi I’m a TV cameraman and I need to export my edited job from FCP X back to my sony XDCAM F800 camera. I could do this on FCP 6 and 7 back it doesn’t seem to work on X does anybody how to do this or any plugins so I can export back to XDCAM.

Q3. How do I import PDW F800 .mxf files (from my hard drive) into Final Cut Pro? I have tried log & transfer, it doesn’t seem to work. Tried XDCAM transfer tool, doesn’t work either. Any solutions?

Q4. I’d like to import and edit .mxf video files in Final Cut Pro, what plug-in do I need to install? Log and Transfer doesn’t work because .mxf files are gray out not allowing me to select it.

Q5: I’ve been given some MXF files that were made by a Sony XDCAM camera. How do i import those files to FCP? I read a bit and I concluded to Calibrated. Is there another way, maybe a freeware utility?

As far as I know, FCP X best supported video format is “Apple ProRes 422 codec MOV format”, so the best way to solve Sony XDCAM importing and codec problem is to convert Sony XDCAM media footage to ProRes for editing in Final Cut Pro X (or FCP, FCP 6/7).

What’s the best way to import Sony XDCAM video to Final Cut Pro X for editing without problems? You can follow the steps below “Sony XDCAM and Final Cut Pro X Workflow on Mac

Necessary tools: Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac

Step 1. Load MXF or MP4 files from Sony XDCAM camcorder to the professional Mac XDCAM to FCP X Converter.

Install and launch this Sony XDCAM to Final Cut Pro X Converter. Transfer the MXF or MP4 video from Sony XDCAM camcorder to your Mac computer hard drive via USB cable. Click the button “Add video” to add Sony XDCAM files (or directly drag and drop your Sony XDCAM files) to the Sony XDCAM to FCP X Converter for Mac. If it is necessary, you can double click the each file to have a preview.

Tip: If you want to merge Sony XDCAM MXF or MP4 files for Final Cut Pro X, just need to check the “Merge into one files” box.

Step 2: Select Apple ProRes 422 as native format for FCP X.
Click on the Format box and select “Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)” or  “Apple ProRes 422 HQ (*.mov)” format from dropdown-list. Due to the difference in the compresstion standard of AVCHD and ProRes 422, the converted files are significantly larger than the original ones. If you prefer smaller file size, please choose “Apple ProRes 422 (LT) (*.mov)” instead.

Tips: The main difference between the five ProRes codecs for you:

Apple ProRes 422 – Higher quality than Apple ProRes 422 (LT);

Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) – Keep original video quality for editing in FCP;

Apple ProRes 422 (LT) – Get a smaller file sizes than Apple ProRes 422;

Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy) – SD levels – 480i/p and 576i/p. Used in offline workflows;

Apple ProRes 4444 – Edit and finish 4:4:4 materialStep 3: Set to get better quality as you like.

Step 3: Edit Sony XDCAM MXF/MP4 footage with the best Sony XDCAM Converter for FCP X: trim MXF/MP4 file into small segments, cut black sides around video, apply special effects, audio replacement, etc. And click “Settings” button, then you will enter the following interface, on which you are allowed to customize size, bit rate, frame rate, sample rate, and audio channel to your required ones. (Tip: this converter can helps you to downmix 5.1 channell to stereo for Final Cut Pro X editing)

Step 4: You can edit the Sony XDCAM MXF or MP4 video before conversion. By clicking “Edit” button, you can trim, crop the video, or add watermark and adjust effect to the videos which you will convert.

Step 5: Click “Convert” to start to transcode Sony XDCAM footage to ProRes 422 MOV on Mac OS X.

When the Sony XDCAM MXF/MP4 to ProRes MOV conversion is done, simply click “Open” button to transfer the generated files to FCP X for editing on Mac.  Find this Sony XDCAM to FCP X Converter makes your editing work more easy and convenient? Now you can effortlessly and losslessly convert and import Sony XDCAM MXF/MP4 footage into FCP X without rending time.

XDCAM to ProRes Convertersupports MXF or MP4 video files from all Sony XDCAM camcorders including below models.

PDW510, XDCAM Camcorder (DVCAM)

PDW530, XDCAM Camcorder (MPEG IMX/DVCAM)

PDW700, Sony Professional XDCAM? HD Camcorder

PDW F335L, XDCAM HD Camcorder

PDW F355L, XDCAM HD Camcorder

PDW F800, Sony Professional XDCAM? HD422 Camcorder

PMW100, One 1/2.9″ Exmor CMOS XDCAM HD422 Handy CamcorderPMW320K, XDCAM EX 1/2″-type Shoulder-mount Camcorder with Lens PackagePMW320KCE, PMW-320K with the CBK-CE01 50pin Interface pre-installed

PMW320LCE, PMW-320L with the CBK-CE01 50pin Interface pre-installed

PMW350K, XDCAM EX 2/3″-type Shoulder-mount Camcorder with Lens Package

PMW350KCE, PMW-350K with the CBK-CE01 50pin Interface Pre-Installed
PMW350L, XDCAM EX 2/3″-type Shoulder-mount Camcorder without Lens

PMW350LCE, PMW-350L with the CBK-CE01 50pin Interface Pre-Installed

PMW500/HD02, XDCAM HD422 2/3″ CCD Shoulder-mount Memory Camcorder

PMWEX1R, XDCAM EX Full HD Memory Camcorder

PMWEX3, XDCAM EX semi-shoulder mount camcorder

PMWF3L/RGB, Super 35mm XDCAM EX Camera w/o lens

PMWTD300, Solid-state Memory 3D Shoulder Camcorder

You can also find more tips and tricks on FCP or MXF in FCP column and MXF column, hope these guides can help you use Sony XDCAM video easily.

Further Reading:

• How to Edit Sony CX106 AVCHD Videos on Pinnacle Studio 15 without Rendering?
• Convert Multi-audio Channels MXF with Original Audio Tracks Preserved
• How to Play Videos on Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 (Pro)

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