Solutions for working with Canon MXF files on Mac/Windows

Summary: In this article you can get the best Canon MXF files playing, editing solutions for both Mac and Windows. Now read on to find out the tricks.

I have media shot on a Canon XF305 camera. I have had to copy the MXF as a series of numbered clips to a local hard drive (I don't have the original XF card) the folders contain the usual files: .SIF; .MXF; .CIF; .XML . I’ve downloaded and installed the Canon- FCP plugin. What now? "Import" won't see the .MXF files nor will Quicktime allow me to convert them to ProRes. I have a feeling the Canon utility wants to transcode the files only from the XF card?

Go through the Canon MXF forums, what I got know that Canon XF Utility only can support users to play and download MXF videos from their original media. When situations like that come up with me or whomever, what we can do is to try Brorsoft MXF Converter for Mac (Mavericks and Mountain Lion included), an easy-to-use yet powerful Mac Canon MXF Converter and Editor. It's able to transcode Canon MXF files to any popular video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, FLV, MPEG, as well as some professional encoders, Apple Intermediate Codec, ProRes and DNxHD - ensuring maximum editing quality and efficiency when working with iMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere or Avid Media Composer, respectively. For Windows users, MXF Converter is your choice.

Step-by-step guide How to Transcode Canon MXF files on Mac and Windows

The quick start guide below uses MXF Converter Mac screenshots. The way to encode Canon MXF files in Windows (Windows 8 included) is almost the same.

Step 1. Install and launch the Canon MXF Converter on your Mac. Click "Add" button to load the source Canon MXF files. (Or you can drag & drop the MXF files to the software's window list.)

Tip: You can click the button "Merge into one" to combine Canon MXF clips to one file.

Step 2. Click "Format" column to choose a decent video format you need. MOV, MP4, WMV, etc video formats are provided for you. What’s more, this conversion app provides 100+ video presets for Galaxy Tab, iPad, Apple TV, Galaxy S4, Nook HD and more portable media players. If you want to edit Canon MXF in FCP, iMovie, Adobe Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas Pro, just choose the certain format as the target.

Tip: You can click "Settings" button to adjust output parameters as you want, such as resolution, bitrate, etc.

Step 3. The final step is to click "Convert" and let the software do the Canon MXF to MP4/MOV/FLV/AVI/MPEG conversion.

After the conversion, you can click "Open" button to locate the converted video files. Now you can edit, play your Canon MXF files on Mac or Windows without any issue.

Source:How to play, edit Canon MXF files on Mac and Windows

http://lydia-file-transferring.jimdo.com/2013/12/05/how-to-play-edit-canon-mxf-files-on-mac-and-windows/