Can't get MP4 Video to import

Question

Level 1

30 points

Can't get MP4 Video to import

These are the specs on a video file on my computer recorded off of a JVC GY-HM 100U. I can't get it to import into FCPX, and it wont' import into Compressor.

What is apple's official stance on what to do with these files?

What is the easiest way to get this into FCPX? Is there any way of doing this without having to use a third party program? I find it insane that a professional editing system such as FCPX and Compressor would not be enough to handle a file as common as an MP4.

(ps i'm well aware that the JVC camera is capable of recording the file as a .MOV, but i wasn't the one who shot the footage).

OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 1:20 PM

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Answer 1

bradhotdog Author

Level 1

30 points

Feb 1, 2013 1:24 PM in response to bradhotdog

the files import to fcpx but the video is completely green with no audio

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Answer 2

Feb 1, 2013 1:31 PM in response to bradhotdog

I don't use FCPX, but just glancing up at your screenshot, it seems like the LPCM must be the problem. Did you try encoding your audio with AAC, AC3, or MP3?

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Answer 3

bradhotdog Author

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Feb 1, 2013 1:32 PM in response to davidsignal

I don't know how to do that because it won't open up in Compressor.

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Answer 4

Feb 1, 2013 1:37 PM in response to bradhotdog

It could be your video codec too.... which inspector doesn't show. It only says MP4, which is really just a container for some video and some audio codecs. I am not at home now, but I think use a program called mediainfo mac which gives detailed information on all those kinds of things.

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Answer 5

bradhotdog Author

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30 points

Feb 1, 2013 1:39 PM in response to davidsignal

couldn't the codec be MPEG-4?

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Answer 6

Feb 1, 2013 1:44 PM in response to bradhotdog

Thats just the container file. The actual video codec should probably be AVC / H.264. I'm not sure what other video codecs FCP supports.

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Answer 7

bradhotdog Author

Level 1

30 points

Feb 1, 2013 1:52 PM in response to davidsignal

Just downloaded MediaInfo Mac and it says "Video Codec Used: MPEG-2 Video"

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:09 PM in response to davidsignal

Do NOT do this. Linear PCM is correct.

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Answer 9

Feb 1, 2013 2:11 PM in response to bradhotdog

Well that could be your problem then. Does FCPX decode MPEG-2? I know you didn't want to try 3rd party tools, but you should try downloading MP4tools for free and just see what happens if you convert the video to H.264 and the audio to AAC. If it works, then your camcorder is not using codecs supported by FCPX.

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Answer 10

digibudII

Level 2

491 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:14 PM in response to bradhotdog

try simply right clicking on it in the finder and see if you can transcode it there or try transcoding to prores in mpeg streamclip. was this a file inside the camera that you copied, taking it out of a folder? You may need to import it with the camera connected to the computer or by copying the entire folder to your Mac

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:20 PM in response to bradhotdog

The camera shooting the MPEG-4 variant is XDCAM EX. I'm not sure if FCP supports this version of XDCAM.

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Answer 12

bradhotdog Author

Level 1

30 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:23 PM in response to digibudII

I tried right clicking the file and transcoding it to Apple Pro Res but i get an error after it tries to encode it.

I've also already downloaded MPEG Streamclip and the program gives me an error when trying to open the file.

I'm running out of options here. What else am i suppose to do? I can't believe that this JVC camera (a $2,000 + camera at that), is not compatible with Final Cut Pro. Or that any of their pro apps are not capable of handling such a file.

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Answer 13

bradhotdog Author

Level 1

30 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:25 PM in response to davidsignal

I looked at FCPX's manual online and it states...

If you’re importing video clips from a still camera or other flash memory device, make sure the file format of your video is MPEG-2, MPEG-4, or AVCHD, all of which are compatible with Final Cut Pro.

...So it says MPEG-2 AND MPEG-4 are acceptable formats. So why is this still not working?

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Answer 14

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

151,010 points

Feb 1, 2013 2:33 PM in response to bradhotdog

Look at the JVC camera specs. The media is XDCAM in an MPEG-4 wrapper.

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Answer 15

Feb 1, 2013 2:35 PM in response to bradhotdog

I guess you should contact JVC then. It is something to do with the codecs used by your camera. They must have some kind of transfer application or driver package to get the video onto a computer.

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