Import Sony EX1 MP4 files to Final Cut Pro X/7

Learn the best way to import and Edit Sony EX1 MP4 files in Final Cut Pro.

The Sony PMW-EX1 is the first in a new range of professional HD products in Sony. However, many users have problems when importing Sony EX1 files into Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7 for editing, as follows: 

Q1: "Why do I get a green band (no image/no sound) when exporting MP4's from my Sony EX1 in FCP X? - I have just bought Final Cut Pro X. I am filming with a Sony EX1 in Full HD - Codecs is MPEG-4 Video, Linear PCM. 

I am kind of freaking out as when I import the files into FCP X all I am getting is a green band with no image no sound. When I import my GoPro footage it works fine. I have hundreds of gigs of footage to cut and make trailers and I don't seem to get any image or sound out of my files." 

Q2: "Am using FCP for the first time with EX1 BPAV folders and cannot import the contents to edit. I am confused by Sony software. FCP7 on MacPro with Snow Leopard is my system." 

In fact, you need an exporting tool to get the original MP4 files rewrapped and then you can transfer Sony PMW-EX1 XDCAM files to Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7. An here Sony's XDCAM EX Clip Brower is required, which can edit metadata and transfer the media to a hard drive for later importation. When it goes to the XDCAM EX Clip Brower rewarp workflow, you have two ways. The first one is that you can take Sony XDCAM EX Clip Brower as a plug-in within FCP and then import and edit the original files via it. The other way is to make it as stand alone, thus you can create the MXF files and save it on your HDD. The second way is highly recommended in case of the loss of data and you can keep the .mxf files for other usage. When you get the rewrap clips and want to edit PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX rewrapped MXF files in Final Cut Pro, you will meet the incompatiblity problem, since the FCP can not support the .mxf video files. 

In this situation, the best method is to convert rewrapped MXF files (or the original MP4 files) to ProRes codec, which ensures maximum editing quality and efficiency when working with Final Cut Pro X and FCP 7. It's a great way to achieve your goal smoothly. For this purose, this article will show you how to transcode Sony EX1 files to ProRes MOV in detail. 

Wokflow: Converting Sony EX1 MP4/MXF files to Apple ProRes MOV for FCP X/7 

The quick woraround is to use the easy-to-use yet professional app called Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac which can used under OS X Leopard (10.5), Snow Leopard (10.6), Lion (10.7), Mountain Lion (10.8). It is free, clean and safe to install and use. With it, you can effortlessly transcode Sony EX1 original MP4 files or rewrapped MXF files to ProRes MOV for editing smoothly in Final Cut Pro 7 and FCP 7. It works well and converts flawlessly. 

Step 1: Download and instal this Sony XDCAM Converter to your Mac, and then import PMW-EX1 files into it. You'd btter Connect Sony PMW-EX1 to Mac and rewrap the mp4 files to MXF file folder in advance. 


Tips: 

1. If you want to merge MXF files, just need to check the “Merge into one” box. 
2. You shouldn't move the single MXF video out of the whole MXF whole structure folder, or the MXF video would loss some metadata, such as sound. 

Step 2. Click the format bar, and move mouse cursor to "Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)" as output format. 




Step 3. Click “Convert” button to start transcoding Sony EX1 MP4/Rewrapped MXF files to Apple ProRes Codec for Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7 on Mac OS. 

So there you have it. Pretty simple. After the workflow, you can go to the output folder to find the converted video files. Now you are free to log and transfer or import/edit Sony PMW-EX1 files in Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7 under Mac without problems.