Movie Tips on Mac

Transcode/Convert Canon MXF to ProRes for iMovie editing

Specially designed for video hobbyists and independent filmmakers, iMovie is a proprietary video editing software application which allows Mac, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2 users to edit their own home movies. iMovie makes it easy to turn your home videos into your all-time favorite films. Here it mainly talks about how to get Canon XF footages to iMovie for editing smoothly.

As you see, iMovie supports importing directly from a large amount of popular camcorders or digital still cameras. But as for Canon XF footages, this becomes a bit tacky that you can not natively import and edit .mxf wrapped footage from the XF100, XF105, XF300 and XF305 cameras in iMovie without rendering time. A newbie may feel disappinted when the iMovie failed to import recordings from Canon XF105 or XF300 while experienced users will convert the Canon MXF to something iMovie can edit natively, say Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC) encoded MOV format. Along with some help from the third-party software. Video Converter Varies, a recommended one is Pavtube MXF to iMovie Converter for Mac. continue reading…

Below are several disscussions about looking for the way importing MXF files to the Final Cut Pro X:

Q1: MXF files into FCP X
I’m interested in the new Canon XF300 camera, but I’m still working on an Apple G5 with FCP X. Is there an application, plug-in, etc. for the new FCP X to take in MXF files? [G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11)]

Q2: importing .MXF files to Final Cut Pro X
What plug-in do I need to install so i can import and edit .MXF video files in Final Cut. The suggestion of doing Log and Transfer doesn’t work (the .MXF files are gray out not allowing me to select it.) [Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.5.8)]

Q3: Support for Canon MXF from xf100 in FCP X?
How do I import .mxf files into Final Cut Pro X? This is the latests and greatests software right? There must be a way. Help Please.

Here many folks are talking about how to import MXF files into Final Cut Pro X for editing without rendering time. Well, don’t blame to the Final Cut Pro X, the “Import from Camera…” option works just like “Log and Transfer”. The thing is, even FCP X does not work with the Canon or Panasonic P2 MXF files. As far as i know, to solve those problems, the most important piece of the equation is that transcoding MXF files to Final Cut Pro X native formats(e.g. Apple ProRes encoded mov format) along with some help from the third-party software. To help those who wanna import/edit MXF files in Final Cut Pro X flawlessly, I’m sharing my experience to convert MXF files to Apple ProRes Codec for Final Cut Pro X

Required Software:

Pavtube MXF to FCP X Converter for Mac (Download a free trial here) continue reading…