XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX workflow with DaVinci Resolve


Can DaVinci Resolve work with XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX files natively? If not, what should I do to go about this? Do I need to transcode to a proper intermediate codec suitable for use in Resolve? Read on to find answers to these questions.

Basically DaVinci Resolve doesn’t support XDCAM footage (both EX and HD) under Windows currently without having a Mac or purchasing some third party software. Does that mean you can work with them on a Mac smoothly without any issues as long as you have FCP 7 installed? The answer is NO. As a matter of fact, a lot of issues can be caused with XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX files in DaVinci Resolve on both Mac and Windows PC. We tend to advise customers to transcode XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX files to DNxHD (if you are running a Windows PC) and ProRes (if you are working with a Mac computer) using 3rd party converter program. Something like HD Video Converter works well for this. It comes in both Windows and Mac version, and provides best suited DNxHD .mov and ProRes .mov presets for use in DaVinci Resolve with optimum performance.
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You can download a demo version (for both, Mac and Windows PC) to have a try. They are not free but it is totally worth it.
xdcam footage in davinci resolvexdcam ex mp4 in resolve

XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX workflow with DaVinci Resolve – convert XDCAM footage (both EX and HD) to QuickTime .mov for DaVinci Resolve

Follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter as a professional XDCAM to DaVinci Resolve Converter. From the main menu, click ‘Add File’ button to import your source files.
xdcam and davinci resolve

Step 2: Select output format for Resolve
1). Convert XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX to ProRes for Resolve
If you are running a Mac, you can click “Profile” list to choose ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format under ‘Final Cut Pro’ column. The ProRes 422 is a good option for the XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX files, and the file size is reasonable.
prores for davinci resolve

2). Transcode XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX files to DNxHD for Resolve
If you are running a Windows PC, you can from ‘Profile’ list, select ‘Avid Media Composer’ > ‘Avid DNxHD (*.mov)’ as output format for DaVinci Resolve. This format is also optimal for use in Avid systems.
dnxhd for davinci resolve

Step 3: Click “Settings” button to custom video and audio parameters on ‘Profile Settings’ panel. (Optional)

Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ button to start converting XDCAM/XDCAM HD/XDCAM EX video files to Apple ProRes 422/DNxHD for DaVinci Resolve.

Step 5: After conversion finished, click “Open Folder” button to get the exported ProRes 422/DNxHD QuickTime files for using in DaVinci Resolve with optimum performance.

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