Summary: If you are facing problems with Panasonic AG-HPX300, AG-HPX370/371, AG-HPX500, AJ-HPX2100, AJ-HPX2700, AJ-HPX3000, etc P2 MXF when importing to FCE 4, you can convert P2 MXF to AIC MOV for Editing with Final Cut Express 4.
“I attempted to import .mxf files generated by my Panasonic AG-HVX201 P2 card to Final Cut Express 4 for editing through Log & Transfer, without much luck, FCE refused to accept those .mxf files. The MXF clips are about a concert and a birthday party. I just want to import P2 MXF to Final Cut Express for further editing, and then burn them to a DVD using iDVD for saving. These days I’ve been trying to figure out how to get Final Cut Express 4 to recognize my MXF recordings, but there is no-go. Can anyone kindly shed some light on this conundrum? Many thanks.”
People who are start using a P2 digital video camera like AG-HPX170 (NTSC version), AG-HPX171 (European version), AG-HPX300, AG-HPX370/371, AG-HPX500, AJ-HPX2100, AJ-HPX2700, AJ-HPX3000, and AJ-HPX3700 often have the same case as quoted above. The reliable workaround we’ve found so far is to transcode P2 MXF to AIC MOV for FCE 4 by using U2USoft Video Converter Ultimate for Mac. As for FCE 4, Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) is the best format to read. If not, Final Cut Express will refuse reading the files or spending much time on the rendering process.
Here comes a guide talking about how to convert P2 MXF to Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) MOV on Mac for Final Cut Express.
Download MXF Video Converter for Windows:
Download MXF Converter for Mac:
While importing MXF clips to U2USoft MXF to AIC converter for conversion, please make sure you have the entire MXF file structure as it saved on your camcorder’s P2 card. If you only have some loose .MXF clips, your files will have image only without audio. See MXF file structure on Panasonic’s P2 card as below.
MXF file structure on Panasonic’s P2 card
The above screenshot clearly shows .MXF clips are all saved in ‘VIDEO’ folder, while audio files are all stored in ‘AUDIO’ folder. When you importing .MXF clips from the correct file structure, U2USoft MXF to FCE Converter is able to recognize audio tracks from ‘AUDIO’ folder automatically, which ensures the generated Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) MOV files have both image and sound correctly.
Step 1: Click “Add Video” button to import P2 .mxf files
Step 2: Choose “iMovie and Final Cut Express’ > ‘Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) MOV” as output (U2USoft MXF Converter for Mac has a preset option to choose a format specific to the Final Cut Express)
Step 3: Click “Convert” button to convert P2 MXF on Mac
As soon as the conversion is finished, click “Open” button to get the generated Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) MOV files to FCE 4 for extending editing