If you experience any issue working with Sony XDCAM EX MP4 footage in FCP 7 or FCP X, you can follow this post to figure out a solution to your problem. This post will guide you through the process of converting XDCAM EX MP4 files to ProRes 422 for use in Final Cut Pro (7 or X) with optimum performance.
To be able to edit Sony XDCAM EX footage in FCP 7, you can use the Log and Transfer window to ingest XDCAM EX media. This option requires the XDCAM EX Log and Transfer plug-in software.
To be able to work with Sony XDCAM EX footage in FCP X, you will need to download and install XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Apple (PDZK-LT2), which provides support for XAVC and XDCAM / XDCAM EX files shot on Sony SxS card, allowing viewing and editing capability in Final Cut Pro X.
Unfortunately, these plug-ins do not always work, and there are still a number of people experiencing incompatibility issues between Sony XDCAM EX footage and FCP 7/X due to different reasons. Is there a possibility to import XDCAM EX files to FCP 7/X without installing additional plug-in software? Yes, there is. All you need to do is ‘convert them first’. Read on to discover a simple guide on how to transcode XDCAM EX MP4 media to ProRes 422 for use in FCP 7/X natively without extra rendering.
XDCAM EX MP4 workflow guide with FCP 7/X – encode XDCAM EX MP4 media to ProRes 422 for native editing in FCP 7/X
Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter for Mac
Supported XDCAM EX camcorders include:
Sony PMW-EX3, Sony PMW-200, Sony PMW-EX1, Sony PMW 150, Sony PMW-F3, Sony PMW-350, and more
Download, install and run HD Video Converter for Mac, then follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter for Mac as a professional XDCAM EX MP4 to ProRes 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 X/7
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 FCP 7. When loading them into FCP X/6/7, you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering.
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 XDCAM EX MP4 to ProRes MOV conversion.
Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes 422 QuickTime files for transferring and editing in Final Cut Pro 7 or FCP X with optimum performance.
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Best Mac XDCAM EX MP4 Converter | Sony EX1/EX3 MP4 to MOV