Convert mp4 (xdcam) to mov (pro res)

Question

Convert mp4 (xdcam) to mov (pro res)

Hello

I had another cameraman filming on an EX3. When I went to pick-up the footage they had PC set-up, I had mac hard-drive.

Time was very short, so they put the data on DVD's. I told them I needed the whole directory structure or it would not work. They didn't understand. It was in Spain.

ANYWAY - I'm left with a few MP4 files that will not work in XCDAM transfer obviously, do not work in Compressor, Final Cut, or Magic Bullet Grinder! Very annoying.

How can I convert these mp4's to Pro Res?? There must be a way (hopes)

Please help asap.

Thanks!!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6), 2 x 2.93 6 core (12 core) 16Gb Ram 512Gb SSD 1TB internal

Posted on Jun 11, 2011 10:05 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 11, 2011 10:57 AM in response to Nick Treharne

Try Mpegstreamclip. it's a great program and it's free...

http://www.squared5.com/

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Answer 2

Jun 11, 2011 11:09 AM in response to Christina Rodriguez

Does it transfer at high quality tho?

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Answer 3

Jun 11, 2011 11:13 AM in response to Nick Treharne

Yes it does. Try it on a clip... You just need to adjust the settings for your needs.

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Answer 4

Jun 11, 2011 11:26 AM in response to Christina Rodriguez

See, it's quite customizable....

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Answer 5

Jun 11, 2011 12:53 PM in response to Christina Rodriguez

Thanks for info. I tried it but it wouldn't recognise file.

I used Xilisoft converter. I was reluctant to use as I used before and the highest bitrate I could convert to was 12Mb/s. They seem to have fixed the bug and I can now convert to 1920x1080 35mb/s. Although it h264 not prores. At least I can now use it.

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Answer 6

Jun 11, 2011 12:55 PM in response to Nick Treharne

Am now converting to prores with Magic Bullet Grinder

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Answer 7

Jun 11, 2011 12:58 PM in response to Nick Treharne

Well, technically mp4 is a relative of h264.... I think we need Shane here....

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,986 points

Jun 11, 2011 1:12 PM in response to Nick Treharne

Do not use H.264 with FCP.

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Answer 9

CBeditor

Level 1

24 points

Jun 13, 2011 4:00 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

What?! 😮😕😮😕😮😕😮😕😮😕😮😕😮😕😮😕

That's what I've been using all my life. What would you suggest we use in a situation like this then?

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Answer 10

Shane Ross

Level 8

43,110 points

Jun 13, 2011 4:19 AM in response to CBeditor

>I think we need Shane here.... (Christina)

Shane's experience with XDCAM EX is very limited. The one project that was primarily XDCAM was all converted by an assistant editor before I got there. They used Log and transfer, then the Media Manager to convert.

You have several MP4s that won't convert? You say you have the FULL card structure, but you can't get L&T to recognize the footage? OK, have you tried the SOny Clip Browser...it is designed to read the XDCAM EX cards, and convert to native codec QT files for FCP. And then from there, use the Media Manager, or MPEG STREAMCLIP, or COmpressor (I recommend Compressor).

>That's what I've been using all my life. What would you suggest we use in a situation like this then? (CB editor)

You've been using H.264s to edit with all your life? You're young! (snicker). No, you are not supposed to edit with H.264 files. They aren't in an editing codec. We say that daily here...twice, three, four times a day. You get no RT with FCP, and it bogs the system down...it is processor intensive. Always convert to ProRes.

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Answer 11

Dec 16, 2012 10:14 AM in response to Nick Treharne

Hi Nick,

If you don't have the full card structure, navigate to the actual MP4 file in the folder with numbers like 454_1346_01 etc and drag it into the source column of XDCAM transfer, I have been able to do that and rewrap the files to XDCAMEX, which can then be imported into FCP for editing.

DM

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