Material eXchange Format(MXF)-Learn and Understand .mxf Format

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Something You Gotta Known about MXF format and lets you import, edit MXF files in NLEs like FCP , iMovie, Adobe Premiere, Avid Media Composer and more.

What is MXF file:

Multimedia format used by digital audio and video programs; contains captured audio and video data as well as metadata that describes the media stored in the file. MXF files were designed to streamline workflows between different platforms, such as cameras, digital editing equipment, and servers.

What will MXF format Do

>>MXF can support greater than 2 gig file sizes.
>>MXF also supports greater file lengths. The OMF format has a maximum media file capture length of 3 hours. MXF can support 12 hours with 2 channels of 48k audio.
>>MXF has a different style of chunking, which, in future releases, will be called Edit While Capture. This creates one single long file instead of individual files for each chunk.
>>MXF is capable of ‘spanning’. This means if you take a file that is greater than 2 gigs to a file system that does not support files of this size, the MXF will span across as many volumes as it needs to on import to support its size.
>>The MXF container is laid out differently than OMF. In OMF, the media starts at the beginning of the file and the metadata is at the end of the file. With MXF, the media is in the middle of the container and metadata is stored in the header and footer of the file.

How to Open MXF video files

1. How to Play MXF videos:

Files in MXF format are a type of media file (either audio or video, depending on the specifics of a file) designed to be played on a computer. You can access MXF files by adding a few different pieces of software to your computer. You can pick between special media programs that support the MXF format, or you can install specialized codecs that support this format.

Here we recommend you to use VLC Media Player or UFUSoft 8K Video Player to play it.

2. How to Edit MXF videos:

In fact, most of the incompatibilities were addressed and ratified in the 2009 version of the standard. And there are an increasing number of professional NLE’s that can work with MXF files natively including Avid, Adobe Premiere Pro 3.1 or above, Sony Vegas, and GrassValley EDIUS or via import operations like in Final Cut Pro using the Sony XDCAM Transfer plug-in.

But still, MXF is a self-container format, which is not ideal for editing/postproduction anyhow. If you want to import MXF videos shot by Canon/Sony/Panasonic camcorders to FCP, iMovie, Sony Vegas, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Premiere Elements, Pinnacle Studio, VirtualDub, Lightworks.etc, you need to transfer the format first.

MXF Converters:

FFmpeg, an open source project added support for muxing and demuxing of MXF and MXF D-10 in FFmpeg 0.5, released in March 2009.

UFUSoft MXF Converter (Click here if you are running on Mac OS X)

UFUSoft MXF Converter is a professional MXF Converting tool which features transcoding MXF recordings shot by Panasonic P2 camcorders, Canon XF series camcorders and Sony XDCAM camcorders to edit-friendly formats like Apple ProRes, AIC, MPEG-2, DNxHD… compatible with Video Editing Software: Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Final Cut Express, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, Apple Aperture 3, Kdenlive, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle Studio, Windows Movie Maker, Cyberlink, DaVinci Resolve, iPhoto, etc.

Besides offering codecs for NLE, this MXF converter can also convert MXF to a common video format for smooth playing on Home Theater System: WD TV Media Player, HDTV, etc; Portable Devices: iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, PS3, Xbox 360, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2/Tab 3, Kindle Fire HD, Google Nexus 10/7/4, Surface RT/Pro, HTC One, Galaxy S3/S4, etc; Media Players: QuickTime Player, VLC, iTunes, Windows Media Player and more.