Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue at DVinfo.net

Larry Rodman · June 23rd, 2011, 11:39 AM

I have copied the card intact to an attached hard drive; also used shotPut Pro and copied to same.
FCPX will not read. Also attempted to download from mounted card reader (no problem in FC Studio) and FCPX will not read.

I understand the integrity of the entire card must be preserved, but am at a loss right now; Any thoughts are appreciated.
Larry

Antony Michael Wilson · June 23rd, 2011, 12:02 PM

Does FCPX support the XF codec? I'm told it doesn't.

Gert Kracht · June 23rd, 2011, 01:58 PM

Apple has not implemented the XF100, 105, 300 and 305 codec recognition.
On their website it says something like: 'You need software from Canon'

So it's the old story again. Nothing works until we get an update from Canon and hopefully the system can work with the files without encoding.

I'm also working with Production Premium CS5.5 and that software can work with almost any TV materials made between 1948 and the present. I'm amazed by the choices Apple made with this software......until now. I hope they will improve it soon.

Larry Rodman · June 25th, 2011, 08:50 PM

I have found a workaround; Foxreal Video Converter for $35.00 available from the Mac App store or from their website. Time consuming, but it works well. You can try the trial version, which has a watermark, and then if you purchase the program you need to uninstall the trial version and download the program after you purchase it.

It will have to do until Canon addresses the compatibility issue.

Pete Bauer · June 25th, 2011, 10:05 PM

Canon's flavor of MXF has been out well over a year now, other NLEs handle it natively without any trouble at all, Apple is known to have not shared information during development with many if not most 3rd party vendors, and FCP X is a brand new app that is unable to support MXF. I'm not understanding how the responsibility gets laid at Canon's feet?

Here's a link to Canon's XF 305 page that includes a FCP plug-in in the Downloads area:
http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/p...ersAndSoftware
I'm not a Mac user, but I'd assume this doesn't work in FCP X so I guess you'd use your old version to convert.

Rune Espensen · August 20th, 2011, 01:43 AM

Hi,

I already posted this is another thread inhere - but well, here it is again :p

I made a solution for the problem, that's both fast, free and lossless - and works for a sensible workflow for me...

You can read the blogpost, including download link on my blog: XfcpX – From Canon XF100 to FCPX – a working flow! – PikaBlog'en - Fotograf Rune Espensen

/Cheer

Edit: And no, this is not just another spam post about the Aunsoft/Foxreal Best Converter that is currently cluttering up the internet :-)

Dan Conroy · August 20th, 2011, 11:49 AM

Hello Rune-

After the application of your utility to the files, can the .mov files be imported natively by FCPX? Or are they required to be imported as prores 422 files? If they can be used in their native format, must they be copied into the events folder, or can the vids in the events folder be linked to the vids in the master folder? (no duplication of media)

Thanks, this sounds as if you have done Canon and Apple's job for them. No longer a need for the plugin to work with the cameras...

Simon Wood · August 20th, 2011, 12:09 PM

I'm going on heresay here; but I have heard that the free Sony XDCAM MXF to MOV converter works for XDCAM, Nanoflash & Canon XF codecs.

PDZKP1 XDCAM Transfer Software Version 2.12

Sony | Micro Site XDCAM EX

Dan Conroy · August 20th, 2011, 12:34 PM

Simon, I was told that the audio has syncing issues when the canon files are converted with the Sony software...

Rune Espensen · August 23rd, 2011, 04:27 AM

Hi,

Sorry for the slow reply here - I thought I would be getting emails when people posted in a subject I replied to. Oh well, guess I have to watch manually.

First off - the Sony XDCAM utility will not play nice with your Audio from the XF100 - I have tested it, and it works fine for video though - so if you need no audio (or record on an external device, like the Zoom 4HN) you could use it.

I suggest my program though - it's better ;-)

In response to Dan's Question:
Once you have processed your MXF's through my program, you'll have a bunch of mov's in your destination folder. They can be read directly into FCPX (New Event -> import files -> select the directory). You could leave it like that - and indeed, FCPX will play nice with them and you can start editing right away. I would recommend, however, that you let FCPX Analyze & Transcode the imported media files - ProRes422 is simply better for NLE than the original mpeg2 stream. The good thing about FCPX though, is that you can start working right away, and it will be transcoding in the background and automatically start using the 422 files, once it is done transcoding.

Be sure you download the latest version, as there are already a few bugfixes in it - like a fix for the audio problem that breaks the Sony software - difference is, I am handling it ;-)

Link again: XfcpX – From Canon XF100 to FCPX – a working flow! – PikaBlog'en - Fotograf Rune Espensen

Enjoy.

Omar Quinones · August 24th, 2011, 07:57 AM

I don't have this camera but I am trying to convince my superiors to get one...

Anyway, I'm also trying to figure out how to bring the XF codec into Final Cut Pro X natively. The XfcpX programs sounds good but what if you don't have the card structure? Well I found a company that developed a MXF plugin for Quicktime. ( http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/MXFImportDownload.asp ) You can view the MXF files in any Quicktime compatible player. You still can't pull them into FCPX but you can rewrap them in MPEG Streamclip. The plugin does cost $180 (it's on sale now, regular cost is $250) but it has a demo mode. I download a couple of sample clips that I could find and it seems to work well.

You could also do batches through MPEG Streamclip as well.

-- Omar

Rune Espensen · August 24th, 2011, 08:09 AM

Hi Omar,

I see no reason why you would not have the card structure to be honest - that's all about your workflow, which, if you are a professional, is going to be the same each time you do anything. Well, except if you download sample clips and want to test it of course ;-)
If you want to test your sample clips for comparison with XfcpX you can just create the structure around the files you download. That way you can compare the quality and the workflow between XfcpX and the 180USD program you refer to.
In order to test it out, create the following folders somewhere on your harddrive (case sensitive):
Masters -> 20000000000000 -> CONTENTS -> CLIPS001 -> Test
then copy your downloaded test files into the "Test" folder and point XfcpX to the "Masters" folder.

Personally, I would not mind spending 180 dollars if that meant a workflow that would let me get to the important part - editing - as fast as possible. To be honest, the 180 dollars solution sounds like it adds more steps to the workflow, including a transcoding in Streamclip you'd have to wait for. With the XfcpX solution, the final transcoding to ProRes422 is, if you choose so, handled in the background by FCPX - but let's you start editing right away.

In the end, you should choose the tool that fits your personal workflow the best, even if it costs you money. If you're a pro, the money spent on utilities should earn itself by having a proper and repeatable workflow.

Omar Quinones · August 24th, 2011, 08:37 AM

For some reason I can't get the process to go. I did everything you said but it doesn't seem to do anything. It detects the card structure and I select and click on 1...2...3... Go! and it just moves it over to the left column. I must be missing something... I saw that it created in the destination folder, a folder with the card name (20000000000000) but nothing is inside of it.

With the MPEG Streamclip program, it can transcode but you don't have to. You could just "Save As" and save them as MOV files, which just rewraps and doesn't transcode.

--Omar

Rune Espensen · August 24th, 2011, 08:45 AM

Hmm...strange - TBH I just wrote the above from memory ;-)

Could you post a listing of the contents of the "Test" folder?

(Start "terminal" from spotlight, type "cd <the complete path to the Test folder>" hit enter, then type "ls -la" and copy paste the output - no quotes in the above commands)

Omar Quinones · August 24th, 2011, 08:49 AM

Macintosh:Test omarquinones$ ls -la
total 1071912
drwxr-xr-x 11 omarquinones staff 374 Aug 24 10:18 .
drwxr-xr-x 3 omarquinones staff 102 Aug 24 10:18 ..
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 82043464 Aug 15 18:09 AA001601.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 52859452 Aug 15 18:09 AA002101.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 59072060 Aug 15 18:09 AA004801.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 49749564 Aug 15 18:09 AA005001.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 55965244 Aug 15 18:09 AA005301.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 56009276 Aug 15 18:09 AA005701.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 52892220 Aug 15 18:10 AA005801.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 84230216 Aug 15 17:32 AA026401.MXF
-rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 55971900 Aug 15 17:35 AA028101.MXF

Also, after testing out MPEG Streamclip a little bit more, I noticed that on some clips it introduced some artifacts so I suppose that wouldn't be a good option...
Edit: I take that back... Seems it must be a framerate issue or something. All of the test clips I have are 25p or 50i. When I play back the native MXF I get these artifacts as well. When I go frame by frame they don't appear...

June 23rd, 2011, 11:39 AM	#1
Larry Rodman New Boot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 23	Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue I have copied the card intact to an attached hard drive; also used shotPut Pro and copied to same. FCPX will not read. Also attempted to download from mounted card reader (no problem in FC Studio) and FCPX will not read. I understand the integrity of the entire card must be preserved, but am at a loss right now; Any thoughts are appreciated. Larry

June 23rd, 2011, 12:02 PM	#2
Antony Michael Wilson Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 343	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Does FCPX support the XF codec? I'm told it doesn't.

June 23rd, 2011, 01:58 PM	#3
Gert Kracht Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ens, The Netherlands Posts: 198	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Apple has not implemented the XF100, 105, 300 and 305 codec recognition. On their website it says something like: 'You need software from Canon' So it's the old story again. Nothing works until we get an update from Canon and hopefully the system can work with the files without encoding. I'm also working with Production Premium CS5.5 and that software can work with almost any TV materials made between 1948 and the present. I'm amazed by the choices Apple made with this software......until now. I hope they will improve it soon. __________________ http://www.hdvinfo.nl The Dutch forum and website about HDV & Canon XH-A1

June 25th, 2011, 08:50 PM	#4
Larry Rodman New Boot Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lake Oswego, Oregon Posts: 23	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue I have found a workaround; Foxreal Video Converter for $35.00 available from the Mac App store or from their website. Time consuming, but it works well. You can try the trial version, which has a watermark, and then if you purchase the program you need to uninstall the trial version and download the program after you purchase it. It will have to do until Canon addresses the compatibility issue.

June 25th, 2011, 10:05 PM	#5
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Canon's flavor of MXF has been out well over a year now, other NLEs handle it natively without any trouble at all, Apple is known to have not shared information during development with many if not most 3rd party vendors, and FCP X is a brand new app that is unable to support MXF. I'm not understanding how the responsibility gets laid at Canon's feet? Here's a link to Canon's XF 305 page that includes a FCP plug-in in the Downloads area: http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/p...ersAndSoftware I'm not a Mac user, but I'd assume this doesn't work in FCP X so I guess you'd use your old version to convert. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

August 20th, 2011, 01:43 AM	#6
Rune Espensen New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Danmark Posts: 10	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Hi, I already posted this is another thread inhere - but well, here it is again :p I made a solution for the problem, that's both fast, free and lossless - and works for a sensible workflow for me... You can read the blogpost, including download link on my blog: XfcpX – From Canon XF100 to FCPX – a working flow! – PikaBlog'en - Fotograf Rune Espensen /Cheer Edit: And no, this is not just another spam post about the Aunsoft/Foxreal Best Converter that is currently cluttering up the internet :-)

August 20th, 2011, 11:49 AM	#7
Dan Conroy New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sunnyvale CA Posts: 14	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Hello Rune- After the application of your utility to the files, can the .mov files be imported natively by FCPX? Or are they required to be imported as prores 422 files? If they can be used in their native format, must they be copied into the events folder, or can the vids in the events folder be linked to the vids in the master folder? (no duplication of media) Thanks, this sounds as if you have done Canon and Apple's job for them. No longer a need for the plugin to work with the cameras...

August 20th, 2011, 12:09 PM	#8
Simon Wood Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Entebbe Uganda Posts: 768	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue I'm going on heresay here; but I have heard that the free Sony XDCAM MXF to MOV converter works for XDCAM, Nanoflash & Canon XF codecs. PDZKP1 XDCAM Transfer Software Version 2.12 Sony \| Micro Site XDCAM EX __________________ http://vimeo.com/channels/guerrillafilms

August 20th, 2011, 12:34 PM	#9
Dan Conroy New Boot Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sunnyvale CA Posts: 14	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Simon, I was told that the audio has syncing issues when the canon files are converted with the Sony software...

August 23rd, 2011, 04:27 AM	#10
Rune Espensen New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Danmark Posts: 10	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Hi, Sorry for the slow reply here - I thought I would be getting emails when people posted in a subject I replied to. Oh well, guess I have to watch manually. First off - the Sony XDCAM utility will not play nice with your Audio from the XF100 - I have tested it, and it works fine for video though - so if you need no audio (or record on an external device, like the Zoom 4HN) you could use it. I suggest my program though - it's better ;-) In response to Dan's Question: Once you have processed your MXF's through my program, you'll have a bunch of mov's in your destination folder. They can be read directly into FCPX (New Event -> import files -> select the directory). You could leave it like that - and indeed, FCPX will play nice with them and you can start editing right away. I would recommend, however, that you let FCPX Analyze & Transcode the imported media files - ProRes422 is simply better for NLE than the original mpeg2 stream. The good thing about FCPX though, is that you can start working right away, and it will be transcoding in the background and automatically start using the 422 files, once it is done transcoding. Be sure you download the latest version, as there are already a few bugfixes in it - like a fix for the audio problem that breaks the Sony software - difference is, I am handling it ;-) Link again: XfcpX – From Canon XF100 to FCPX – a working flow! – PikaBlog'en - Fotograf Rune Espensen Enjoy.

August 24th, 2011, 07:57 AM	#11
Omar Quinones New Boot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 9	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue I don't have this camera but I am trying to convince my superiors to get one... Anyway, I'm also trying to figure out how to bring the XF codec into Final Cut Pro X natively. The XfcpX programs sounds good but what if you don't have the card structure? Well I found a company that developed a MXF plugin for Quicktime. ( http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/MXFImportDownload.asp ) You can view the MXF files in any Quicktime compatible player. You still can't pull them into FCPX but you can rewrap them in MPEG Streamclip. The plugin does cost $180 (it's on sale now, regular cost is $250) but it has a demo mode. I download a couple of sample clips that I could find and it seems to work well. You could also do batches through MPEG Streamclip as well. -- Omar Last edited by Omar Quinones; August 24th, 2011 at 08:10 AM. Reason: forgot to link plugin

August 24th, 2011, 08:09 AM	#12
Rune Espensen New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Danmark Posts: 10	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Hi Omar, I see no reason why you would not have the card structure to be honest - that's all about your workflow, which, if you are a professional, is going to be the same each time you do anything. Well, except if you download sample clips and want to test it of course ;-) If you want to test your sample clips for comparison with XfcpX you can just create the structure around the files you download. That way you can compare the quality and the workflow between XfcpX and the 180USD program you refer to. In order to test it out, create the following folders somewhere on your harddrive (case sensitive): Masters -> 20000000000000 -> CONTENTS -> CLIPS001 -> Test then copy your downloaded test files into the "Test" folder and point XfcpX to the "Masters" folder. Personally, I would not mind spending 180 dollars if that meant a workflow that would let me get to the important part - editing - as fast as possible. To be honest, the 180 dollars solution sounds like it adds more steps to the workflow, including a transcoding in Streamclip you'd have to wait for. With the XfcpX solution, the final transcoding to ProRes422 is, if you choose so, handled in the background by FCPX - but let's you start editing right away. In the end, you should choose the tool that fits your personal workflow the best, even if it costs you money. If you're a pro, the money spent on utilities should earn itself by having a proper and repeatable workflow.

August 24th, 2011, 08:37 AM	#13
Omar Quinones New Boot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 9	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue For some reason I can't get the process to go. I did everything you said but it doesn't seem to do anything. It detects the card structure and I select and click on 1...2...3... Go! and it just moves it over to the left column. I must be missing something... I saw that it created in the destination folder, a folder with the card name (20000000000000) but nothing is inside of it. With the MPEG Streamclip program, it can transcode but you don't have to. You could just "Save As" and save them as MOV files, which just rewraps and doesn't transcode. --Omar

August 24th, 2011, 08:45 AM	#14
Rune Espensen New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Danmark Posts: 10	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Hmm...strange - TBH I just wrote the above from memory ;-) Could you post a listing of the contents of the "Test" folder? (Start "terminal" from spotlight, type "cd <the complete path to the Test folder>" hit enter, then type "ls -la" and copy paste the output - no quotes in the above commands)

August 24th, 2011, 08:49 AM	#15
Omar Quinones New Boot Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 9	Re: Canon XF100 & FCPX recognition issue Macintosh:Test omarquinones$ ls -la total 1071912 drwxr-xr-x 11 omarquinones staff 374 Aug 24 10:18 . drwxr-xr-x 3 omarquinones staff 102 Aug 24 10:18 .. -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 82043464 Aug 15 18:09 AA001601.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 52859452 Aug 15 18:09 AA002101.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 59072060 Aug 15 18:09 AA004801.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 49749564 Aug 15 18:09 AA005001.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 55965244 Aug 15 18:09 AA005301.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 56009276 Aug 15 18:09 AA005701.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 52892220 Aug 15 18:10 AA005801.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 84230216 Aug 15 17:32 AA026401.MXF -rw-r--r--@ 1 omarquinones staff 55971900 Aug 15 17:35 AA028101.MXF Also, after testing out MPEG Streamclip a little bit more, I noticed that on some clips it introduced some artifacts so I suppose that wouldn't be a good option... Edit: I take that back... Seems it must be a framerate issue or something. All of the test clips I have are 25p or 50i. When I play back the native MXF I get these artifacts as well. When I go frame by frame they don't appear...