Summary: To make Canon EOS C300 MXF footage work with FCP, iMovie, FCE, and Avid, you will need to download Plugins from Canon site. But what to do if the plug in doesn’t work as expected? The best workaround is transcoding Canon C300 MXF clips to a format that is well supported by your editing program.
To make Canon EOS C300 MXF footage work with FCP, iMovie, FCE, and Avid, you will need to download Plugins from Canon site. For instance, XF Plugin is required for editing C300 MXF with Final Cut Pro, and the AMA plug in is required for importing C300 MXF to Avid Media Composer. But what to do if the plug in doesn’t work as expected?
User question
“I have MXF footage shot on a Canon EOS C300 camera. I try to edit the C300 MXF files in Avid Media Composer. I have the AMA plug in downloaded and installed, but I’m still unable to play any clip. I googled a lot and saw people posting the same question regarding this issue, but none seem to have been resolved. Any clues?”
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If you have the latest Canon plugin installed, and you’re choosing the right C300 folder and still nothing is importing, your footage may be shot at an unsupported frame rate. Of course, there may be some other unknown reasons that caused the issue.
To be able to import and edit Canon EOS C300 MXF clips in iMovie, FCE and Avid without plugins, the best and easiest way is to transcode Canon MXF video files to your NLE’s native format. For example, iMovie and FCE’s native format is AIC, so for the purpose of editing Canon EOS C300 MXF in iMovie/FCE, you are suggested to convert to AIC (Apple InterMediateCodec) before you start. Avid’s native format is DNxHD, so you’d better transcode C300 MXF to DNxHD before importing to Avid. To do format conversion for Canon EOS C300 MXF footage, we would recommend 3rd party software Video Converter for Mac, which works excellently as a Canon EOS C300 MXF Converter for Mac.
Download a free trial of Canon EOS C300 MXF Converter for Mac
How to convert Canon EOS C300 MXF for editing with iMovie, FCE and Avid?
To be able to import Canon EOS C300 MXF to iMovie, FCE, and Avid, you will need to convert Canon video files to your editing program readable formats. For instance, you will need to convert Canon EOS C300 MXF to AIC for using in iMovie and FCE, transcode Canon EOS C300 MXF to DNxHD for Avid systems. To do format conversion using HD Video Converter for Mac, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start up Video Converter for Mac as a Mac Canon C300 MXF Converter. Once the main interface pops up, click ‘Add File’ button to import MXF shootings captured by a Canon C300.
Step 2: Select output format for iMovie, FCE, and Avid
In order to edit Canon EOS C300 MXF files in iMovie and FCE, from the Format bar, choose ‘Apple InterMediateCodec (AIC) (*.mov) as output format from ‘iMovie and Final Cut Express’ catalogue.
For the purpose of importing and editing Canon EOS C300 MXF video files in Avid, from the Format bar, choose ‘Avid DNxHD(*.mov)’ as output format from ‘Avid Media Composer’ column.
Important: If you’ve loaded a number of video clips to do batch conversion, please do remember ticking off ‘Apply to All’ option before you start.
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 Canon EOS C300 MXF footage for using within iMovie 8’/9/11, FCE, and Avid and Media Composer.
Tips: You can tick off ‘Showdown 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 using in iMovie, Final Cut Express, and Avid.
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