Home » Fail to Import Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S to Final Cut Pro 7, Solved!

Fail to Import Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S to Final Cut Pro 7, Solved!

XAVC S to FCP 7?

Hi, I recently bought Sony's alpha 7 mrk ii. I can shoot video with AVCHD but wanted to check the better encoder XAVC-S. I'm working with FCP 7 and it does not recognize the file (although I can still play the file with QT - a bit strange. I guess I'm missing something here...).
I searched online and found several external software that can convert XAVC-S to ProRes 422. Does anyone have tried out one of these softwares? Any other solution?

Is it possible to Work XAVC/XAVC S with FCP 7?

From Sony's XAVC Workflow guide page, we find that the previous version of FCP, 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. With a special plug-in(PDZK-LT2 V.1.2) offered by Sony, you can decode and import Sony XAVC Intra 4K and HD, XAVC S 4K and HD 4.2.0 8 bits(*.MP4) to FCP X.

Edit XAVC/XAVC S with FCP 7

Transcode 4k XAVC/XAVC S to Prores for FCP 7 Editing

For people who are stilling using Final Cut Pro 7, the only way to load XAVC/XAVC S files into FCP 7 is transcoding XAVC/XAVC S to FCP 7 best favorable editing codec - Apple Prores, a line of intermediate codec which is extended for high quality and high performance video editing in FCP 7. Here, you can easily generate Prores codec with our best Mac XAVC/XAVC S Converter - Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac (support Mac OS X El Capitan), the program can beneficially convert XAVC/XAVC S files recorded from various Sony camera/camcorders such as Sony RX100 III, Sony A6300, Sony A68, Sony RX1R II, etc to Apple Prores in various different types, you can choose the appropriate one based on the following standards:

If you computer is old or slow, or you just want to do some rough editing, you can select to output "Apple Prores Proxy)(*.mov)"or "Apple Prores (LT)(*.mov)"format to save more space and bandwidth. However, if your computer are powerful enough to handle multicam and high-resolution video and you are going to do many effects editing work with FCP X, you'd better choose to output "Apple Prores 422(*.mov)"or "Apple Prores 422(HQ)(*.mov)"for better performance.

Besides generating Apple Prores codec to FCP 7, the program also facilitate to convert XAVC/XAVC S to DNxHD for Avid Media Composer or AIC for iMovie or Final Cut Express or Premiere Pro CC specially optimized file format.

How to Transcode Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S to Prores for Editing with FCP 7?

Notes:
1. When converting video to Final Cut Pro oriented format templates(e.g. Apple Prores), please ensure that your computer has Final Cut Pro installed, otherwise the converted files will have audio only without image.
2. If you are using FCP X, please make sure you have installed ProApps QuickTime Codecs, or you may get files with sound only without video.

Step 1: Transfer XAVC/XAVC S footage from Sony camera/camcorder to computer.
The XAVC S format products are recorded on the fastest SD cards(SDXC), the recorded footage can be transferred to you computer in the following 3 ways:
1. Directly connect the camera/camcorder to the computer via a USB cable.
2.Remove the SDXC card from the camera/camcorder and then plug it into the computer.
3.Fit the computer via the SDXC media adaptor.

Step 2: Load Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S files.
Click "File" drop-down "Add Video/Audio" or "Add from folder" option to add the Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S files that have been transferred from your camera/camcorder to your Mac hard drive.

Step 3: Select output file format.
Click "Format"bar, from its drop-down list, select your desired Prores format such as "Final Cut Pro" > "Apple Prores 422(*.mov)", you can also choose other prores formats on your own needs.

Step 4: Carry out the conversion process.
Switch back to the main interface and press the "Convert" icon on the right-bottom to start Sony 4K XAVC/XAVC S o to Final Cut Pro 7 Apple Prores codec conversion process.
When the conversion is done, feel free to import converted video to FCP 7 for furthering professional editing.

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