This post helps those who need to convert XAVC to ProRes for use in Final Cut Pro 7 smoothly. It introduces a helpful and reliable XAVC to FCP 7 converter to transcode XAVC .mxf footage to FCP 7 preferred ProRes codec.
How can I work with Sony FS7 XAVC in FCP 7?
“Hi there, I’m still using Final Cut Pro 7 and trying to work with video recordings shot on my new Sony FS7. The FS7 records footage in XAVC codec as mxf files. I have updated Quicktime 7 and have installed the new ProApps update that is supposed to make it easy to use XAVC in Final Cut 7. However neither Quicktime 7 nor Final Cut 7 will open the XAVC mxf files. Does anyone have any ideas on this? Thanks for any suggestions.”
If you are a FCP X user, it won’t be a problem to work with XAVC footage in FCP X with Sony’s XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2) installed. However, if you are still using FCP version 7, you will find Log and Transfer won’t work with XAVC footage. That’s because XAVC came out after FCP 7 was discontinued, no FCP 7 support for XAVC was made. To be able to edit XAVC footage in Final Cut Pro 7 smoothly, the best option is to convert XAVC files to ProRes codec. HD Video Converter will do the trick. Here’s how.
How to convert Sony XAVC MXF footage to ProRes for FCP 7?
Software requirement
HD Converter for Mac
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Converter for Mac as a professional XAVC to FCP 7 Converter. When its main interface comes up, click ‘Add File’ to load source video to it.
Step 2: Select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format for opening with FCP 7
From the ‘Profile’ menu, 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 7 and its former version FCP 6 and the most recent version FCPX. When loading them into FCP (X), you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering. To create smaller files, transcode your source files to Apple ProRes 422 (LT).
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 material.
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 Sony XAVC files to ProRes MOV conversion.
Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes QuickTime files for transferring and editing in Final Cut Pro 7 with optimum performance.
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