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TomWheel Author

Level 2

426 points

Editing XVAC-S Footage in FCP X

I have just recieved a fully maxed out new Mac Pro 6.1 ordered on December 18th.

My main use for the 12-core model will be editing and exporting 4K video productions. I plan to purchase the Sony FDR-AX100 4K camcorder that was just announced at the CES last week.Sony has had a consumer camcorder on the market since last September (the Sony FDR-AX1) which uses the same XAVC-S codec as the not yet released Sony FDR-AX100. If anyone has had any experience editing this format in Final Cut Pro X, I would be pleased to learn of their experience and the specs of the computer they are using. I am hopeful that editing XVAC-S footage on the new Mac Pro will be possible without the large file sizes produced by transcoding.

Thanks in advance for responding.

Tom

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1), 1 TB PCIe Flash, W700, 64 GB ram

Posted on Jan 14, 2014 9:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

tidasaha

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jan 19, 2014 5:41 AM

Sony FDR-AX100's XAVC S codec video is MP4 format. Final Cut Pro support MP4 video importing, but the XAVC S video codec is a new one. I think Final Cut Pro X doesn't support Sony XAVC S MP4 well. You can convert Sony XAVC S to ProRes codec on Mac via a XAVC S video converter. You can follow this link to get the detail.

http://www.hdmediaconverter.com/convert-sony-xavc-s-mp4-on-mac-windows-for-editi ng-playback-or-sharing/

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23 replies

Jul 4, 2014 1:02 PM in response to TomWheel

Wow was that informative. That was all the information I need. I had scoured the inter web for that over the last few days. Thanks so much for the help. Happy 4th.

Jul 4, 2014 1:25 PM in response to TomWheel

another thing that threw me was when i would plug in the SDXC card from the camera to the computer it would gray out the file ending in .xml and only show mp4 so it made it look like i was unable to pull the one i wanted off. Do you know the reason for this? Why there is two files with the same name but one ending in .xml which is grayed out and takes me to a empty web page when clicked, and the mp4 which is able to play.

Thanks again

TomWheel Author

Level 2

426 points

Jul 4, 2014 6:07 PM in response to farminfool

,xml = Extensible Markup Language file and is a file type which is used to exchange information between programs and for other uses. It is not a video file. For example, FCP X can export a project as an .xml file that can be opened in other NLE software that reads the .xml file type that FCP X exports. Sony has some free software (PlayMemories Home) for viewing the files saved to the SDXC card by the Sony FDR-A100. I suspect that the .xml file that you are seeing is designed to communicate information to Sony's program.

Tom

Pathma

Level 1

0 points

Sep 19, 2014 7:40 PM in response to TomWheel

or faster and fluid workflow, Sony has created a special plug-in (PDZK-LT2 V.1.10). This free of charge software for Mac provides support for XAVC and XDCAM / XDCAM HD files in FCP allowing viewing and editing capability. You can download the plug-in at this address http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/pdzk-lt2

The new version Final Cut Pro X supports:

XAVC 4K/HD and XAVC-S with Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a non-linear video editing software application developed by Apple. The most recent version, Final Cut Pro X 10.1 (FCP), runs on Intel-based Mac computers powered by OS X version 10.9 or later.

FCP has been updated for the next-generation architecture in the new
Mac Pro, providing the high performance when editing and monitoring 4K video and working with complex graphics and effects. The latest FCP version smoothly edits multiple streams of 4K at full resolution. An enhanced playback architecture paired with the power of the new Mac Pro lets edit multicam video with up to 16 simultaneous streams of 4K ProRes. And if the videographer prefers to work directly with 4K camera formats, FCP natively supports XAVC.

FCP works with

The previous version of FCP, version 7, is not compatible with XAVC or XAVC S. Only the latest version – Final Cut Pro 10.1 (Final Cut Pro X) adds general QuickTime support for XAVC.

Supported XAVC modes

● Decode XAVC Intra 4K and HD
● Decode XAVC S Long GOP QFHD and HD.
Notes:
FCP can decode XAVC Intra in 4K and HD in native with the PDZK-LT2 plug-in. “Native editing” processes the original files from camcorder, through the plug-in, to the NLE system. PDZK-LT2 plug-in also supports the XDCAM EX format.
Installation procedure and use
The process of installing the plug-in and ingesting XAVC material into FCP is as follows:-
● Insure that the version of FCP supports the chosen XAVC mode.
● Install the XAVC/XDCAM plug-in for FCP (PDZK-LT2 V.1.10).
● Click the Import button on the left-hand side of Project.
● Locate the footage from card (SxS, XQD or SD) in Devices.
● Click on any of the clips and choose Import Selected.
- ● Confirm in the new window to:
- ● Copy files in Final Cut Events folder (to work with native XAVC files)
- ● ... or create Optimized Media, which will convert the files into ProRes
- ● ... and/or Create Proxy Media.

May 22, 2015 3:01 PM in response to Pathma

I wonder If you could help me answer an AX-100Mac question

Just got one yesterday and the footage looks great both at 50mbs and 100mbs.

Both play back beautifully in the camera monitor and on a (non-4k)tv via hdmi from the camera (which I believe is just the viewfinder feed.

But if I put the SD card into my mbp it jitters like crazy whether I play direct, thru Quicktime, or after importing into iMovie.

I'm anxious to confirm that the footage has been recorded correctly... Sony tells me it has if it plays back fine in the camera, buy you may be more knowledgeable than they are!

I recorded onto a Sandisk sdxc UHS-1 card rated 10 U3 (it says up to 80mb/s)

Strangely, a few times quicktime did play clips nicely, but don't know why or how to make that happen again.

Thanks!

Charlie

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,001 points

May 22, 2015 3:08 PM in response to Charlie Levi

PPlease give exact specs of the media you shot. Post screen shots of the media spec and the problem you're seeing.

May 22, 2015 3:24 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

I recorded 4k xvac-s at both 60 and 100 mb/s on the Sony AX100.

Playback is gorgeous out of the camera, but jitters in the mac.

I'm not sure how a single screenshot would help - the individual frames are fine.

Let me know what other information I can provide.

thx

May 22, 2015 3:45 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

FWIW - I just restarted (not for the first time, by any means) and now everything plays beautifully in Quicktime or in preview from the finder, so perhaps there's no problem at all....

Thank you!

Editing XVAC-S Footage in FCP X