Other ways to view MXF files?

P

Proteus

Well-known member
Hi all,

Are there any other ways (for us the prospect customers) to view the MXF files without p2 viewer?

So far:

1. I've tried to download "P2 viewer" from https://sec.panasonic.biz/sav/sec-cgi-bin/p2viewer/dlp2v.cgi?mylang=EN but it asks for a valid serial. Why?

2. The "DVFilm maker" prerelease 2.21 that was supposed to work opens the MXF but displays it as a block salad. Should I cross my eyes to see the picture?

3. When I tried to install the same company's Raylight it said: "WARNING: Your processor is not Pentium 4 compatible. Raymaker will not function properly" This is the most stupid statement I have ever read! What they were thinking? To drop our PCs into garbage and all of us buy Pentium 4s?

4. The MXFPlayer was my last hope until I tried to drag n drop a panny's MXF file on the application: The MXFPlayer was *shocked* from this MXF file and crashed violently!

I can't help it but been frustrated after trying for many hours all available solutions (and the less avalilable ones) to read the mxf files without luck.
I have to judge myself if the output quality is suit for my purpose before I spend $10000.

I am in Europe and the HVX200 is not available here, so I can't preview in person this camera -although it would be difficult without renting it. So the obvious choice for all is to see *a lot* of unmodified material.

Any help will be appreciated.
 
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What kind of CPU does your system have? If it is simply an AMD, and that is the sole reason for the error, it would be a problem for many people here. But if you're running a Pentium III or equivelent, then the error is understandable, as it would be too slow to function properly.
 
My system:

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2700+
RAM: 1.83 GB DDR
OS: Windows 2000 pro sp4
G. card: ATI Radeon 9700 pro
Monitor: Appple Cinema 23"


I will test it in XP but the chances are slim...
 
I have a Mac laptop G4 17" with 1GB ram and Mac Osx 10.45 but I don't know what program I could use to view the clips. I work mainly on PC so I don't have any editing software for Mac (It's only a laptop afterall).

Is there a trial of some app that I could use on Mac to view the MXF files?
 
My guess is you don't have Avid Xxpress Pro HD on your machine either (maybe you know someone who does)? As has been previously stated in a differenct thread (don't know which one), the P2 Viewer is perhaps the worst possible way you can view MXF files -- what you will see is NOT what you will get with a proper NLE and computer hardward <-- I can confirm that for you personally as I have an HVX.

I wouldn't suggest anyone go out an spend that kind of money without seeing the product & results beforehand (although I, and a host of others did just that). You can find a lot of compelling (albeit comressed for the web) examples of some really great results from the HVX. It has been said over and over (and I am finally beginning to get it through my think skull . . . lol), that you MUST light these 1/3" ccd cameras properly. No one will achieve remarkable results by simply taking it out of the box and doing a "point & shoot" number with it . . . except perhaps Richard Darge (although it should be clear he understands the equipment).

Not sure I answered your question but the (or at least my) message is: Forget about using the P2 Viewer to make a valid judgement.
 
Proteus said:
I have a Mac laptop G4 17" with 1GB ram and Mac Osx 10.45 but I don't know what program I could use to view the clips. I work mainly on PC so I don't have any editing software for Mac (It's only a laptop afterall).

Is there a trial of some app that I could use on Mac to view the MXF files?
Click to expand...
Basically a PBG4 works beautifully with MXF, you need Final Cut Pro 5 to view the files.
There is no trial version, though. You might be lucky and find a used version on Ebay.
FCP is the way to go anyway for comfortable editing HVX material.
What is the clock speed of your PBG4?
 
Thanx for the responses!

___dregenthal____________________________________________________

"My guess is you don't have Avid Xxpress Pro HD on your machine either"

I don't have Avid Xpress Pro HD and I saw on the site a while ago that 1.there is no trial, 2. It’s only "made for intel" CPUs (again stupid policy) so it's only compatible with my laptop (the mac version).

" It has been said over and over (and I am finally beginning to get it through my think skull . . . lol), that you MUST light these 1/3" ccd cameras properly"

Well, if I needed the camera for shooting indoors, I would make the best lighting setup because I'm a perfectionist (unfortunately).
But I need it for a project mainly for wide-shot landscapes (including cityscapes). There will be light most of the time, but it’s not as controllable.
And landscapes in wide shots in my experience is the most demanding subject because usually there is too much fine detail in the frame and the fine detail gives depth in the image (as does the absence of noise). This is especially true for High Definition video viewed on HD displays because the viewer is used on HD and can see immediately if the image has or has not enough detail and clarity. (Not to mention the sunrises/sunsets with the long shadows and extreme demand for exposure latitude and noise/colour performance). So it's a demanding task for *any* camera.
.
But I'm not looking for the *dream* camera because if there is one, I can't buy it. I know there are many limitations in this price range and CCD size today, so all I want is to buy the camera that will best satisfy *my* priorities in a given budget.

By the way, my priorities (from most important to less important) are:

1. Detail (or high resolution)
2. Exposure latitude (very critical IMO for outdoor shooting)
3. Low noise (or image clarity).
4. Colour performance (or... beauty!)


"You can find a lot of compelling (albeit compressed for the web) examples of some really great results from the HVX"

Because my first priority is *detail*, all those compressed videos are not much useful for me.
In compressed videos one can see maybe the exposure latitude and partially the colour performance, but NOT the actual fine detail and noise performance.

Because I will have to *optimize* my footage I need to know what will be the starting point.

____PKraft_______________________________________________________

"You might be lucky and find a used version on Ebay.
FCP is the way to go anyway for comfortable editing HVX material."

I might find a "used" version to try (FCP or Avid Xpress HD) but if I have to settle to one editing solution that must be for PC.
This is because I'm holding almost my breath for the ultimate laptop ever to be released soon which is the Toshiba Qosmio G30. It can display full HD with it's 17" WUXGA 1920x1200 at 350 nits (40% brighter than my Apple Cinema), with Intel Core Duo T250 (2Ghz), hard drive 240GB (2x120 raid), NVIDIA GeForce Go7600, built in HD Digital TV tuner as well as an analog TV tuner, HDMI output (!!!), Wireless LAN Card etc, world's first 1-bit digital amplifier on a laptop, Bass Reflex Speaker, volume knob and double layer DVD drive, but there are rumours that it will include the first HD-DVD drive on laptop! It also icludes a large remote and comes with Windows XP Media Center ...And it's beautiful! A piece of art!

I'm going to take it with me for this project, to pre-edit and verify my footage.

There is a problem though about what version of this laptop will be released in Europe because there is a "lighter" version with 1440x900. If this is the case I will have to import the *correct* version which is G30/596 LS (at least in Japan).

"What is the clock speed of your PBG4?"
it's 1.5Ghz
 
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