Working with MXF video files in FCP X on Mac OS X El Capitan v10.11


If you are having issues working with MXF files in FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11, you may wish to read this post. It displays a workaround to transcode MXF footage to ProRes 422 codec for use in FCP X on El Capitan platform without any hassles.

Problem importing Canon XF300 MXF media to FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11
“Hello, everyone, I’ve recently upgraded to Mac OS X El Capitan version 10.11. I’m filming video recordings with Canon XF300 and editing with Final Cut Pro X. Now I’m having a problem importing XF300 MXF footage to FCP X. I know I need to download and install Canon XF plugin for FCP X to work with Canon XF300 footage. The thing is that Canon has drivers and software on their site for the OS X El Capitan v10.11, but nothing listed for OS X El Capitan 10.11, leaving me to believe the drivers are not yet available. When I’m trying to import my footage directly from the camera in the File/Import/Media… screen, FCP X tells me:
‘No Importable Files’
‘None of the selected files or folders can be imported.’
Does anyone know what should I do to make FCP X recognize MXF files on El Capitan v10.11? Please suggest a solution. Thanks a lot in advance.”

If for whatever reason you are unable to use MXF footage in FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11 smoothly, we would recommend transcoding them to a format that is best suitable for editing in FCP X first, such as ProRes 422, FCP X’s favorite editing codec, which FCP X will recognize and handle well. Here’s a short tutorial guides you through the process of converting MXF content to ProRes 422 for use in FCP X on El Capitan v10.11.

[Guide] How to encode MXF files to ProRes 422 for editing in FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11?

Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter for Mac
issues working with MXF files in FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11

The steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter for Mac as a professional MXF Converter for OS X El Capitan v10.11. When its main interface comes up, click ‘Add File’ to load source video to it.
transcode MXF footage to ProRes 422 codec for use in FCP X on El Capitan

Step 2: Select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format for opening with FCP X
From the ‘Profile’ list, move to ‘Final Cut Pro’ catalogue, and select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as target format. Apple ProRes is the best suited editing codec for FCP X and its former version FCP 6 and 7. When loading them into FCP (X), you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering.
importing Canon XF300 MXF media to FCP X on OS X El Capitan v10.11
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: Adjust video and audio settings (for advanced users)
If necessary, you can click ‘Settings’ button and go to ‘Profiles Settings’ panel to modify video and audio settings like video encoder, resolution, video bit rate, frame rate, aspect ratio, audio encoder, sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channels. 3D settings are also available.

Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ to start MXF footage to ProRes MOV conversion.

Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes 422 QuickTime files for transferring and editing in Final Cut Pro X on EI Capitan v10.11 with optimum performance.

To import the transcoded files into Final Cut Pro X, navigate to File > Import > Media. In the window that comes up select your transcoded ProRes clips. DO NOT check “Create Optimized Media” OR “Create Proxy Media”. Both of these check boxes are unnecessary because we already converted the media to ProRes which means Final Cut Pro X can use the footage without “optimizing” it. Checking this box would create a redundant and time consuming second transcode of your footage.

You’re now ready to edit!

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