How to work with MP4 files from Sony EX1?

M

myCharlie

Well-known member
I've used the Sony Clip Browser software to export the MP4 files as MXF but it's not working when importing into Avid. All I see is green in the clip when imported into Avid. Any other idea?
 
I use the Sony Clip Browser to export the MP4 as MXF file format. Then in Avid, I import the MXF file. The file was imported fine but when I try to play the clip or drag it into the sequence, all I see on the monitor is green. Nothing is display.


Any other suggestions on how to this working in Avid is appreciated. From what I've read so far, Avid has not officially supported the EX1 yet so I'm not sure if this means that there is no other alternatives until Avid says it supports it.
 
yeah thats what i was thinking they might not officially support it, but you may be able to work with the files by following the original method for using P2 by cutting and pasting files, and then importing using the media tool, id elaborate more, but theres a detailed sticky which will describe the process better. It might work for you?
 
I don't think MPEG-4 is a codec you can edit in Avid. I think it is only an export option. Avid can work with MXF files but MXF is a metadata wrapper, just like MOV is Quicktime's metadata wrapper. It's what is inside those wrappers which is ultimately important. Usually, MXF files contain a flavor of DVCPro (which Avid can edit). If your MXF contains an MPEG-4, then I doubt it will work.
 
I'm not sure what the MP4 contains since that's what the EX1 camera creates by default. I used the Sony Clip Browser to export as MXF but still not working.

Papa, will you point me to the thread and page that describes the work-around for this? I like to try.

Thanks!
 
Okay, I tried the link you gave me and it's not working for a file that is recorded as 35bit variable. I got an exception error when opening Avid. It works fine with the Sony Clip Browser if recorded in 25bit.
 
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Sorry, but those MXF files will not work. Your only option is to export your Mpeg4 files as Quicktimes (dnxhd, avid100, meridian, animation, uncompressed, just pick one). then import this into avid. It will take forever, but its the only way. Sorry. :(
 
myCharlie said:
I've used the Sony Clip Browser software to export the MP4 files as MXF but it's not working when importing into Avid. All I see is green in the clip when imported into Avid. Any other idea?
Click to expand...

This is a tip I got that worked for me:

Background/details:

- SONY Clip Browser is using FFmpeg dealing with conversion/re-wrapping

- Using FFmpeg as a stand-alone convertor provide flexibility to export to DV, DNxHD etc.

- FFmpeg is free of charge, but is somewhat technical (pretty much MS-DOS commands)



Using FFmpeg, you can convert the .MP4 files from the EX1 camera to QuickTime using a long list of compressors. For use with Avid, VC-3 or DNxHD would be the prefered method. The files you create using FFmpeg can easily be fast imported into our editors.


General info about FFmpeg: http://www.itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com/ffmpeg_howto.html

Specific info about DNxHD creation using FFmpeg: http://www.itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com/ffmpeg_howto.html#Encoding_VC-3

Even more info/presets: http://www.bolanski.com/ex/home/ffmpeg-is-your-friend/


There's even a much more user friendly Windows GUI application. However, this is limited to XDCAM EX 35 Mbps 1080p. For more info and download, vist http://www.bolanski.com/ex/home/ex1-to-avid-fast-import/
 
You can edit EX1 footage in Vegas 7 but you have to use the Sony Clip Browser software to export the MP4 files as MXF files first.
 
I believed I have used the XDCAM_EX_to_Avid_0.5 from ffmpeg and although it does seem to work, the problem is, it takes forever, and I mean forever, to convert a file. Another big problem with this conversion is that after it's done, the file that was about 225MB turns into a 1GB size. It is impracticle when I have lots of clips to work with.
 
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