FCP - Sony XDCAM Transfer to Final Cut Pro 6/7/X

Summary: This article aims to guide you how to import Sony XDCAM EX MP4 to Final Cut Pro 7/X without rendering on Mac OS 10.8 by convert Sony XDCAM MP4 to Prores with Pavtube Sony HD Video Converter. Do you knwn any details on the process of transcoding MP4 to ProRes MOV? Just be a good reader below.

More Related: XACAM to Adobe? XDCAM to iMovie/FCE? Why not take as reference if you need?
Sony XDCAM EX camcorders like PMW-EX3, PMW-200, PMW-EX1, PMW 150, etc are great for us to take high quality full HD videos. If you have got one and often use it to record 1080p video, you may have the need to edit the generated XDCAM EX MP4 files in Final Cut Pro on Mac. But after test, we find that this MP4 format can't even be played on Mac OS 10.8 and when loading these MP4 files in FCP X, it shows with a black screen.
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Question : I'm having trouble importing Sony camera footage. FCP X does not accept Sony XDCAM MP4 footage. I'd like to just convert the MP4 to ProRes, instead of using this XDCAM program. Is there a way? And is there a reason why Sony footage files suck when used with FCP X?

Soultions:
Load the MP4 videos in FCP by Sony XDCam Transfer plugin (Complexed and may have reliability and incompatiblity issues) Calibrated{Q} MP4-EX Import component($149.95) supports tranferring MP4 to QuickTime MOV but it don't fit for Final Cut Pro X. (Expensive and not supported FCP X)

Here Mac Sony XDCAM EX Converter( Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac ) helps you to convert Sony XDCAM MP4 files to Prores 422 for FCP X with original quality. (Easy and Helpful way)

As you see, the last solution is the esaiest and effective way.

Below are step to step guide for transferring Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM MP4 files to FCP X on Mac OS 10.8
Step 1. Load MXF or MP4 files from Sony XDCAM camcorder to the professional Mac XDCAM to FCP X Converter.

Download Sony XDCAM MP4 to Prores Converter for mac, and install it. Click the Add Video button to import Sony XDCAM seperate mp4 files or press on"add from folder" button to add MP4 folder.

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.

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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.

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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)

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Step 4. You can edit the Sony XDCAM MP4 video before conversion. By clicking "[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]" button, you can trim, crop the video, or add watermark and adjust effect to the videos which you will convert.

Step 5. Click "[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]" to start to transcode Sony XDCAM MP4 footage to ProRes 422 MOV on 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.

After fast Sony XDCAM mp4 to FCP X Conversion, you can directly Importing video files and projects into Final Cut Pro X without problems on Mac OS X 10.8. And please remember for FCP X users, make sure that you have installed the Apple ProRes Codec manually since the FCP X asks users to install it by themselves.


P. S.
If you want to convert a XDCam EX MP4 file into a mac-compatible file for enjoying which retain the same size and quality, with running xdcam browser you can preview the MP4 files or export as a mxf file, but can't transfer to a .mov file and this rewapped .mxf file may not be viewing. Also, can try a program called "Calibrated{Q} XD Decode codec" ($89.95) to encode MP4 files for playback. But using Pavtube HD Video Converter for mac($35) can helps you to tranfer to a mac friendly format like .mov. easily and fastly.

If you have rewapped the MP4 files to MXF by xdcam browser, you can also use Pavtube Mac HD Video Converter above,and if you like, you can try another related software Mac Sony MXF Converterspecially designed for MXF files.

Hope the guide on making transferring Sony PMW-EX3 XDCAM EX HD Camcorder clip to FCP X easier can give you a big help.

See also:

Put and Play MPG/MPEG files on iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C
• How to Edit MP4 Files Smoothly in FCP 7?

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