How to Transcode Canon MXF to Avid DNxHD MOV for Avid MC?

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In an age where a new camera seems to come out every month, many new questions about workflow occured in the meantime. Here we are aimed to importing Canon MXF footage into the non-linear editing systems Avid Media Composer. The Canon XF series of cameras (which includes the XF305, XF300, XF105 and XF100) as well as Canon Cinema EOS Cameras(Canon C300, C500, etc) have the similar workflow, because these cameras record in the same .mxf format. Below, we outline how to transfer Canon MXF footage onto a hard drive, and how to import MXF into Avid Media Composer.

Part I: Back Up Canon MXF footage to Hard Drive

Canon provides a piece of software called the Canon XF utility, which is used to playback and download clips off their original media. The footage on the CF card can be backed up with the XF Utility by clicking on the ‘Backup’ button on the upper left corner. Before doing so, make sure you set the location to store your footage in the Preferences menu.

backup-mxf-files.gif

Part II: Import Canon MXF footage to Avid Media Composer

When importing and editing Canon MXF videos in Avid Media Composer, users always encounter video and audio problems, as .mxf format is efficient, but simply isn’t engineered to maintain quality during complex post production effects processing. Uncompressed HD format delivers superior image quality, but data rates and file sizes can stop a workflow dead in its tracks. Well, Avid DNxHD format delivers both efficiency and quality without compromises. So, before transferring Canon MXF to Avid MC, you’d better convert Canon MXF to Avid DNxHD for smoothly editing.

Overall, UFUSoft MXF Converter for Mac is just one of the best Avid MXF Converter for you to transcode MXF files for Avid smooth editing on Mac (Mountain Lion included). The program is capable of converting Canon XF as well as Sony XDCAM and Panasonic P2 MXF to DNxHD, MPEG-2, Apple ProRes, AIC, etc on Mac OS X for smoothly importing and editing in various non-linear editing systems (NLE), including Avid Media Composer 5.5/6.0/6.5, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie and more. If you’re using a Windows PC, please turn to its equivalent Windows version – MXF Converter. Below is the workflow of Canon MXF to DNxHD MOV conversion.

How to Transcode Canon MXF to Avid DNxHD MOV

Step 1. Add Canon MXF footage to the Canon MXF Converter.

Run the top-rated MXF to MOV Converter. Click “Add” to load the source Canon MXF files. When the Canon MXF files are loaded to the MXF Converter, you can view the videos from the Preview window.

Canon MXF to iMovie Converter

Step 2. Set Avid DNxHD MOV as output format.

Click on “Format”, and select output format from the drop-down list. Follow “Avid Media Composer” > Avid DHxHD (*.mov)”.

 XAVC to DNxHD

Step 3. Adjust video resolution, bit rate, frame rate, etc.

Click “Settings” button if you’d like to customize advanced audio and video parameters like Video Codec, aspect ratio, bit rate, frame rate, Audio codec, sample rate, audio channels.

Step 4: Start converting MXF to Avid MC

Click “Convert” button and the Canon MXF files will be converted to Avid DNxHD MOV immediately. Soon after the conversion, just click “Open” button to get the generated files for edit in Avid Media Composer perfectly.