How to import and edit Sony PXW-Z100 XAVC in Final Cut Pro

The Sony XDCAM PXW-Z100 is a fantastic value for getting into the 4K workflow. It applies Sony’s new XAVC 4:2:2 10-bit intra frame recording format bring you superb video quality. While something frustrating, when importing Sony PXW-Z100 XAVC to FCP for post-workflow, there are always some issues. To help so many guys to get of the trouble, here I’d like to share some tips and tricks for Sony PXW-Z100 to Final Cut Pro workflow based on my own experience.

As far as I know, Sony’s XAVC recording format first employed in the PMW-F55 CineAlta 4K camera is still not supported well by Final Cut Pro so far, not only the 4K video. To edit Sony PXW-Z100 XAVC footage in Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7/6 smoothly, a suggestion is to use Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac to transcode “XAVC” to “ProRes”, which is an edit- friendly format supported by FCP.

With it, you can effortlessly encode/re-encode XAVC 4K footage shot from Sony PXW-Z100 for smoothly importing and editing in various non-linear editing systems (NLE), including Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, iMovie, Final Cut Express and more. Now just download it and follow the steps below to finish the Sony XAVC to ProRes MOV conversion.

Convert PXW-Z100 XAVC to ProRes for editing in Final Cut Pro

Step 1. Install the program on Mac and run it. Drag the XAVC files to the software. Or you can also click “Add” button on the top of the main interface to import video to the program. It supports batch conversion and joining multiple video clips into one file.

Step 2. Click the “Format” bar and select Final Cut Pro> Apple PreRes 422(*.mov) as output format. This format is specially designed for FCP, so that you can edit your original Sony PXW-Z100 video in Final Cut Pro perfectly.

Tip: 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. For editing Sony Z100 footage in FCP 7, you’d better downscale the video size from 4K to 1080p as FCP can’t deal with 4K video well.

Step 3. Finally, hit the “Convert” icon under the preview window, and the Mac video converter will start converting Sony PXW-Z100 XAVC to Prores MOV for FCP on Mac OS X.

After the conversion, click “Open” to locate the result videos and then launch Final Cut Pro, choose File > Import > Files…, and browse to where you save the converted XAVC clips to. Choose the videos that you’d like to add. Now you can start fun away with editing Sony PXW-Z100 video in Final Cut Pro X or FCP 7/6 without issues.

Additional Tips:

This XAVC to FCP Converter can also help you to encode XAVC video to iMovie, Adobe, FCE, Avid, etc. You just need to choose a proper video format like “iMovie and Final Cut Express -> Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) (*.mov)” in the second step. For Avid Media Composer, choose “Avid Media Composer > Avid DNxHD(*.mov)” as output; For Adobe Premiere Pro, choose Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas> MPEG-2(*.mpg) as output.

Related Guides:
Sony PXW-Z100 to Adobe Premiere Pro CC/CS6/CS5 workflow

Sony PXW-X160 XAVC to Premiere Pro/FCP/Avid MC Editing Tips

The Sony PXW-X160 is a new model in the XDCAM series of camcorders like Sony PXW-X70. It can record in XAVC Intra and Long GOP, enabling 10-bit sampling for HD recordings with a long tonal range, and also the MPEG HD422 at 50 Mbps format now used frequently in broadcast and production. While, if you want to edit the XAVC videos from Sony PXW-X160, you may find the high quality XAVC files are not recognized by most editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Avid Media Composer, etc. So, how to import Sony XAVC clips from Sony PXW-X160 to Premiere Pro, FCP, Avid MC correctly?

As far as I know, XAVC is an open recoding format that was introduced by Sony. It allows for a wide range of content production including intra frame recording and long group of pictures (GOP) recording. But XAVC is not the preferred format by Non-Linear Editing system(NLE) FCP, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer included. To avoid these problems or limit, it will be better to transcode Sony PXW-X160 footage to a more editing-friendly format, such a FCP’s Apple ProRes, Avid’s DNxHD codec. Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac is the solid tool to help users make the XAVC transcoding on Mac OS X.

With it, you can effortlessly encode/re-encode XAVC intra footage and XAVC Long GOP shot from Sony PXW-X160 for smoothly importing and editing in various non-linear editing systems (NLE), including Final Cut Pro 6/7, FCP X, iMovie, Final Cut Express, Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer and more. And there is no need to worry about the quality loss.

Below is the simple guide about how to convert Sony PXW-X160 XAVC footage into FCP, Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer

STEP 1: You need to download, install and run the smart XAVC Converter Mac and transfer your XAVC recordings to the program from the Sony PXW-X160. Join videos clips via checking the “Merge into one” box.

STEP 2: Click on the “Format” bar and choose a best editable format.

a. To edit Sony PXW-X160 XAVC in FCP X/7/6, please select Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov) as the output format.

b. To convert Sony XAVC to Avid Media Composer, choose Avid Media Composer -> Avid DNxHD (*.mov) as the target format.

c. Choose Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas –> MPEG-2(*.mpg) as output format for editing Sony PXW-X160 XAVC in Adobe with natively supported video codec.

PS: You also can click “Settings” to set video frame rate, video size and Video Bitrate as you want.

STEP 3: As soon as all things are finished, please click “Convert” button to start the Sony XAVC video conversion on Mac OS X.

Once the conversion is 100% completed, you can smoothly copy the converted Sony PWX-X160 XAVC files to FCP/Adobe Premiere/Avid MC.

Additional Tips:

This powerful XAVC Converter for Mac not only can help you to convert XAVC files, but also can help you convert AVCHD to Final Cut Pro, Adobe PP, Avid MC, iMovie compatible format that you recorded from Sony PXW-X160. In other words, this video app can aid you to resolve all the importing incompatible issues on Mac OS X.

Related Guides:

Workaround for editing XAVC (S) in Sony Vegas Pro
Sony 4K Raw XAVC/XAVC S into Adobe Premiere Pro
Import Sony PXW-X70 XAVC to Avid MC/Premiere Pro/FCP

Import video from Sony PXW-X70 to Avid MC/Premiere Pro/FCP

The new Sony PXW-X70 is an ultra-compact XDCAM with a 1″ sensor and the ability to shoot 4K footage with an upgrade. The camera records broadcast quality 1920 x 1080 HD video using a variety of codecs, at 4:2:2 10-bit in XAVC, AVCHD and DV format. Although the PXW-X70 offers us a wide choice for video recording format, it seems that the post-production is not as easy as we image. If you want to edit Sony PXW-X70 videos on Mac, you may find the high quality video files are not recognized by most editing software like Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Avid Media Composer, etc. In this article, I will give you an effective way to import Sony PXW-X70 raw footage to Avid MC/Premiere Pro/FCP flawlessly.

And as far as I know, the XAVC video included in PXW-X70 soon is not compatible with NELs just like from Sony F5/F55. So, how to convert/import Sony PXW-X70 raw footage to FCP/Avid/Premiere Pro? Is there software can do the job?

The answer is positive. To convert and import Sony PXW-X70 videos to iMovie, FCP, FCE, Avid MC, Premiere Pro, etc, you just need Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac to help you. It is the solid tool to help users make the XAVC/MTS/DV files transcoded under OS X Leopard (10.5), Snow Leopard (10.6), Lion (10.7), Mountain Lion (10.8), Mavericks(10.9). It offers the optimal preset profiles for Final Cut Pro 6/7 and FCP X, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, FCE and more. And there is no need to worry about the quality loss.

How to convert Sony PXW-X70 footage into Avid, Premiere, FCP

STEP 1: You need to download, install and run the smart XAVC Converter for Mac and transfer your recordings to the program from the Sony PXW-X70 camcorder.

STEP 2: Click on the “Format ”bar and choose a best editable format.

a. Select Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov) as the output format for Final Cut Pro.

b. To edit Sony PXW-X70 footage in Avid MC, choose Avid Media Composer->Avid DNxHD(*.mov).

c. For importing Sony PXW-X70 video to Premiere Pro, please select Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas > MPEG-2 (*.mpg).

Tip: You also can click “Settings” to set video frame rate, video size and Video Bitrate as you want.

STEP 3: As soon as all things are finished, please click “Convert” button to start the Sony PXW-X70 XAVC video conversion on Mac OS X.

Once the conversion is 100% completed, you can smoothly copy the converted files to FCP/Avid/Premiere with smooth editing.

Related Guides:
Importing Blackmagic 4K ProRes to FCP 7, Avid, Adobe Premiere
Import Panasonic FZ1000 4K video to Final Cut Pro
Import 4K MP4/MOV off Panasonic GH4 to Adobe Premiere Pro