Thursday, August 8, 2013

Get an effective way to edit XAVC file with Avid Media Composer

If you fail to import Sony XAVC videos to Avid Media Composer, you can refer to the following guide to easily convert Sony XAVC to Avid DNxHD codec for native editing.

 

XAVC is an open format that will be licensed to companies that want to make XAVC products. XAVC uses level 5.2 of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC which is the highest level supported by that video standard. Sony developed XAVC to handle the higher data rates of high-speed and 4k. Thus, many experienced Avid users may wonder about the XAVC codec and Avid Media Composer workflow, and some will search for the best XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in for Avid. Here let's see what users discuss in the forum.

Q1: Hi, We've got some material from Sony's new XAVC codec and using MC 6.5.2 and the newest AMA plugin 2.31. We can AMA link and getting all the footage from the XDROOT directory and then transcode everything EXCEPT the clips that is 20 minutes and more, they cannot be transcoded...I do think this is a Sony_PDZK-MA2_v2.31 AMA plugin issue and used my contacts at Sony to get some feedback.

Q2: Hello, I've been researching possible workflows for a doc we'll be shooting soon. The team is interested in the Sony F55 and I am trying to find specifics about a workflow through AVID, as I will be the one working with the footage. My knowledge is mostly with FCP, and I know the camera and the codec have yet to be released, but I'm hoping to find out more about this camera and AVID workflows.Thank you in advance.

Now you can see many Sony F5/F55 users are talk about how to get XAVC files to work with Avid Media Composer. In fact, Avid Media Composer/Symphony 6/6.5 has native support of 2k XAVC and 4K Raw (not 4k XAVC). Requires the appropriate AMA plugin available from the Avid or Sony download site. Sony said in July 2013: "with the v7 release of Avid Media Composer we will release the updated plugin supporting 4K XAVC editing".

Since you will have problem for import Sony XAVC videos into Avid MC even with the XAVC/XDCAM Plug-in, to make things easier, you had better to transcode Sony F5/F55 XAVC footage to a more editing-friendly format, such a Avid Media Composer's DNxHD.

First all of, you need to get Sony XAVC Converter for Avid, a powerful Sony XAVC to Converter for Mac which can help you effortlessly transcode Sony's new XAVC codec to DNxHD encoded MOV files, which will create an Avid MC friendly file format keeping the XAVC orginal quality. Besides Avid, this software can also export Proes for FCP, AIC for iMovie and FCE, MOV for Adobe Premiere and more NLE systems for native editing. 

How to import and edit Sony XAVC file with Avid Media Composer

Step 1. Install and launch this Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac, click top left two icons to load individual videos or load the entire folder.


Step 2. Click Format and choose Avid Media Composer>Avid DNxHD (*.mov) as the best video format for editing in Avid Media Composer on Mac.


Click Settings to change the video bitrate, frame rate, size, etc. all according to your needs.

Step 3. Click the big red circle at the bottom right to start converting Sony XAVC footage to Avid Media Composer on mac. Wait for a while; you can load the fresh hot converted video to AMC now.

Read More:

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Convert Panasonic HC-V707 1080/50p MTS to iMovie in a correct way

Follow this guide below you will get to know the 50p MTS to iMovie solution. Now keep on reading the info about how to import Panasonic HC-V707 1080/50p AVCHD to iMovie for editing without rendering.

The Panasonic HC-V707 looks remarkably compact and shines in the test environment, especially with their manual functions. It offers the best manual control and Full HD recordings running at 50 progressive frames per second. 

  
I started the video project last year (with an old DV Camera that soon became defective) and since february this year I work with the Panasonic V707. I am working on a spiritual movie, that will be presented on my homepage only. After importing my 1080 50p/60p AVCHD films from V707 into iMovie, I get failed many times.

After a long search (google, forums) I understand the reason. For imovie editing workflow, the first clip you add to the project has a different frame rate from the project, iMovie prompts you to adjust the project frame rate to match. Therefore, the video clip from your Panasonic 1080 50p or 1080 60p camcorder doesn't match the project frame rate and as a result, imovie will not support my 1080/50p mts footage by my Panasonic V707. So the best workaround is to converPanasonic V707 50p Videos to iMovie in a correct way.

At first, I’ve been working with Xilisoft HD Video Converter, but my camera produces 1080/50p slow motion videos, which are not converted completely with Xilisoft. Fortunately, I find this professional Mac 1080/50p MTS Converter from Pavtube at last

With it, I have successfully converted 1080/50p AVCHD clips to compatible AIC .mov format with iMovie, and then I can import without rendering. In fact, I know this Pansonic AVCHD Converter for Mac still has a lot of functions, such as many optimized output formats for editing software or playable devices as well as its editing functions. In a word, I'm pleased with the software, very satisfied. 

If you have the same problem with importing Panasonic HC-V707 1080/50p AVCHD to iMovie, you can follow the step-by-step guide below to transcode 1080/50p Slow Motion Video from the  HC-V707 (MTS-File) to  MOV-File with AIC codec to use in iMovie.

1. Download Pavtube Panasonic AVCHD Converter for iMovie. Install and run to import your 1080/50p MTS footage from V707 to it.


2. Click format column to choose the output format for iMovie. Click and choose iMovie and Final Cut Express -> Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) (*.mov), it's the best format for editing 1080/50p mts in iMovie.




3. You can click settings button to adjust output parameters, such as resolution and bitrate.



4. Click convert button to start.

The Mac 50p mts to iMovie Converter will convert Panasonic HC-V707 1080/50p AVCHD to iMovie compatible format quickly. After conversion, you can edit the converted video in iMovie as you want.

Pavtube MTS/M2TS Converter for Mac works as the companion for your Panasonic HC-V707 camcorder to convert 1080/50p AVCHD videos to AIC for editing in iMovie flawlessly. It keeps better color than compressor. What’s more, it can keep 50fps and 60fps in MOV, now you can have a try.  

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Blackmagic drops Cinema Camera price to $1,995

Do you like the prospect of shooting 2.5K video with Blackmagic's Cinema Camera, but turn pale at spending $2,995 for the privilege? We have good news: Blackmagic just dropped the pro video camera's price to $1,995. While that isn't exactly impulse purchase territory, it's low enough to put the greater-than-HD shooter in the same price bracket as semi-pro DSLRs. Think of the discount as consolation for delays in launching the Production Camera 4K.


This Pocket Cinema Camera and is reducing the price of its original, larger Cinema Camera. It is built around a 'Super 16mm' sized sensor (12.5 x 7mm) and can shoot Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) or lossless compressed CinemaDNG 1080 footage at 23.99, 24, 25, 29.97 or 30p. Meanwhile the company has knocked $1,000 off the price of its original, 2.5K resolution Raw-shooting Cinema Camera model.

The original Blackmagic Cinema Camera is available in both Canon EF and passive (non-autofocus) Micro Four Thirds mounts. Both will now cost $1,995. The Pocket Cinema Camera, which uses a smaller sensor but still promises 13-stops of dynamic range, uses a full Micro Four Thirds mount, allowing autofocus in addition to peaking-assisted manual focus. The Pocket Cinema Camera sells for $995.

The company says the 4K-capable Production Camera, announced alongside the Pocket Cinema Camera should begin shipping in 3-4 weeks.

Blackmagic Related:

Make Blackmagic Production Camera 4K footage editable in FCP
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera to Begin Shipping in 3-4 Days
It's August 1st, Do You Know Where Your Blackmagic Cameras Are?
Import Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Shuttle 2 DNxHD files to FCP

Monday, August 5, 2013

How to convert XAVC video for editing Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze and Windows Movie Maker

In this article, you will know details about XAVC  format, and the best way to edit Sony 2K/4K XAVC on Windows editors like Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze, Windows Movie Maker, etc.



XAVC format ——
XAVC is a brand new recording format introduced by the famous Japanese camera manufacturer Sony on October 30, 2012. XAVC is usually a video format that was introduced by Sony and extensively exist in Sony PMW-F55 and Sony PMW-F5. XAVC will be used by more and more popular HD camcorders with features of level 5.2 of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC which is the highest level supported by that video standard. XAVC can support 4K resolution (4096 × 2160 and 3840 × 2160) at up to 60 frames per second (fps).

XAVC to Windows Editor Solution ——
Since XAVC is quite new a format that most of the editing application and programs such as Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze, Windows Movie Maker, and more, cannot run such footages. In this case, you need to transcode the the unfriendly 2K or 4K XAVC footages to other kind of popular video formats like MPEG-2, WMV, AVI, MOV, etc. for better compatibility by using the best XAVC Video Converter.

Pavtube HD Video Converer for Windows is particularly designed with future-proof technology to solve all the format compatibility issues of the new Sony XAVC files. It can help all Windows users losslessly convert the 2K/4K XAVC footages to most popular video formats as well as importing XAVC to Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze, Windows Movie Maker, etc. for editing. Besides, this smart converting program also provides users with useful editing functions and new features such as converting 2D videos to 3D, etc.

How to edit XAVC files smoothly in Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze and Windows Movie Maker

To use XAVC footages on Windows smoothly, the best way is to transcode Sony XAVC to Windows PC best supported codec. Now you can follow the easy steps below to convert XAVC to MPEG-2, WMV, AVI, MOV for editing with Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze and Windows Movie Maker.

1. Download Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate, follow the prompts to install the program. Click "Add" to load XAVC video files or directly drag the files into file list.


2. Click "Format" bar to determine output format. This software has many presets for editing software, you just need to choose in the profile column.

For editing with Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze and Windows Movie Maker, you can choose "WMV (VC-1) (*.wmv)" , "MPEG-2 HD Video (*.mpg)" or "MOV(AVC) (*.mov)" from "Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas" option.


3. If you would like to customize the video and audio parameters, you can click "settings", adjust the parameters as you want, like Video Codec, aspect ratio, bit rate, frame rate, Audio codec, sampling rate, bit rate, channels.

4. Click "Convert" to start to convert XAVC to Windows editing software.

With this Ultimate XAVC Video Converter, it becomes easy for you to convert Sony XAVC video to Windows editing software compatible file formats for editing in Pinnacle, Cyberlink, Sorenson Squeeze and Windows Movie Maker, so you are recommended to take a try.

For Mac software, like Final Cut Pro (X), FCE, iMovie and Avid Media Composer, you can convert XAVC to MOV for editing with the professional Mac XAVC Converter.

See also:

Tricks for editing Sony 4K XAVC Codec in Aodbe Premiere Pro

Follow the article below you can get the info on tips and tricks for importing Sony XAVC files into Adobe Premiere Pro on Mac (Mavericks included). 

With the successful sale of new CineAlta 4K cameras like Sony PMW-F55 and Sony PMW-F5, the XAVC format has been widely adopted in the marketplace. According to Wikipedia, XAVC is a recording format that was introduced by Sony on October 30, 2012. It is an open format that will be licensed to companies that want to make XAVC products. However, in order to edit or play in other media devices, you 'd better convert XAVC to other common formats, do you think so?

Although Adobe recently released update to its Premiere Pro for adding XAVC support, still some users meet issues about how to import Sony XAVC videos into Adobe Premiere:

I'm going into post-production in the next couple of weeks and I need to figure out my editing system and workflow. I'm going to try to avoid an offline edit workflow in Premiere and just stay in XAVC from beginning to end. Does anyone have any experience yet working in the XAVC codec in Premiere Pro and if so, do you have any advice on XAVC workflow on Premiere? Thanks for reading and any replies.

The new 4K XAVC format is not supported by many editing software, especially the older versions. As above, without install Plug-in, you can't directly import your Sony 4K XAVC or XAVC S footage to Adobe Premiere Pro CS3, CS4, CS5 or CS6 for further editing.

In the end, you may have to complete the job by XAVC to Adobe Premiere Conversion. And this can be done by an easy-to-use program XAVC Video Converter for Mac for Premiere Pro which adopts the latest encoding and decoding technologies to help you convert/transcode Sony 4K XAVC footage to MPEG-2AVI, WMV, Prores mov, etc which supported by Adobe Premiere Pro. Then you can easily import the generated XAVC to Adobe Premiere Pro for editing.

The windows version is XAVC Video Converter.

Now follow the steps below.

Step 1. Launch the Mac XAVC to Adobe Converter. Click “Add Video” and browse to a Sony XAVC clips from PMW-F5/PMW-F55 and the software will add it to file list. Or you may click the “Add Folder” button to import all the XAVC files in the file structure.


Step 2. Click on “Format” and choose “MPEG-2 (*.mpg)” from ” Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas> ” as the best codec for editing Sony XAVC file in Adobe Premiere Pro.



Step 3. Click on “Settings” to redefine output quality. You can also set a different video resolution, frame rate, bitrate, audio channels, etc. For users who would like to retain exactly the same settings (without any quality loss), set target settings the same to source video.

Step 4. Click “Convert” to start transcoding XAVC to MPEG-2 for Adobe Premiere Pro editing on Mac (Mavericks included). 

Once you get the converted ..MPG file, you can import it to Adobe Premiere Pro.

This XAVC Converter for Premiere will help you convert videos with best quality, and then you can edit  XAVC videos in Adobe Premiere Pro on Mac as you want with no codec problems.

Learn more:

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Easily import Sony XDCAM EX Footage to Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink, Windows Movie Maker

Summary: This article offers a brief guide about how to transcode and transfer Sony XDCAM EX footages to Windows editing programs like Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink, Windows Movie Maker for editing. 

Sony XDCAM EX series camcorders, like like PMW-EX3, PMW-200, PMW-EX1, PMW 150, etc, are high-end professional camcorders which can capture high definition shootings, they can offer very high quality HD recording at a data rate of up to 50Mbps wrapped with MP4 format. While enjoying the stunning videos recorded of HD image quality, many users are having problems when trying to edit Sony XDCAM EX videos on Windows editing software, like Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink and Windows Movie Maker,etc. 

Hot search: Sony XDCAM to MPEG-2 for Sony Vegas Pro | Sony XDCAM HD IMX Files on Mac NLEs | Sony XDCAM HD422 to Final Cut Pro X | Sony XDCAM in MOV on Mac Yosemite | Sony XDCAM EX for Avid, FCP, DaVinci Resolve, etc 
 

The reason that we can't successfully import Sony XDCAM EX MP4 recordings to Windows Platform for editing is because of the format compatibility. Since the XDCAM EX MP4 footage is a peripheral non-standard format which is not supported by editors on Windows PC. 

In order to import Sony XDCAM MP4 footage into Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink and Windows Movie Maker for smoothly editing, we can render to the third-party software to help convert XDCAM EX MP4 to AVI/MOV/WMV/MPG– native format for Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink and Windows Movie Maker. This is the best way to help XDCAM users to edit Sony XDCAM EX MP4 on Window PC smoothly..To achieve our goal, the quickest and easiest way is to use the easy-to-use yet professional software called Pavtube Video Converter , with which, we can effortlessly and flawlessly transcode Sony EX MP4 footage to AVI/MOV/WMV/MPG for Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink and Windows Movie Maker editing. It is safe to install and easy to use. And you can enjoy the powerful edit function, like trim, crop, watermark for text, image and video, 3D effect, subtitles and so on. Below will show you how to 

  

Other Download: 
- Pavtube old official address: http://www.pavtube.com/video_converter/ 
- Amazon Download: http://download.cnet.com/Pavtube-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-75734821.html 
- Cnet Download: http://download.cnet.com/Pavtube-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-75734821.html 



Free download and follow below step to convert Sony XDCAM EX MP4 for Windows . 

Step 1. Load Sony XDCAM EX MP4 files.You can choose "add video" directly to add the whole folder. 

 

Step 2. Select output format for video editing software. 

Click "Format" menu and choose "Adobe Premiere/Sony Vegas -> MPEG-2 HD Video (*.mpg)",or select WMV/MOV/MPEG-2, you can also choose "HD Video -> AVI HD Video (*.avi)". Finally, click the file icon beside output bar, and choose a destination folder for saving output files. 

 

Step 3. Edit loaded Sony XDCAM EX MP4 files. 

Click "Edit" button and you are allowed to trim, crop, add text/image/video watermark or some effect to your output video for making it perfect. Here the function of adding subtitles to output files will contribute to make your own videos. 

Tips: Click "Settings" on the interface and you can adjust the parameters including size, bitrate, frame rate, etc. to get a high quality of output files. And keep the settings the same as original video recordings will provide you the least loss of video quality. 

Step 4. Start conversion. 

Click the "Convert" button to start transcoding Sony XDCAM EX MP4 footage for editing in Avid, Premiere, Sony Vegas, Pinnacle, CyberLink and Windows Movie Maker. When it completed, click the "Open" button to get the generated videos for your editing software. 

More related tips: 

It's August 1st, Do You Know Where Your Blackmagic Cameras Are?

We have word straight from the company that a number of Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Cameras have left the factory and are apparently on their way to distributors around the world. What does this mean exactly? For one thing, you’re not getting your cameras by July (for obvious reasons). It also means we’re probably still a few days away from the first few getting in the hands of those who pre-ordered minutes after Blackmagic announced them. Read on for when we might actually see both the Pocket and the 4K camera in greater numbers.


Here’s Christine from Blackmagic on shipping:

Units already started shipping out from the factory, I believe. But it can take several days for them to travel to the distributors, to the resellers, and finally to the end customers. Longer in some regions than others due to different paperwork and processes that vary from country to country.

The promise of shipping in July is completely out the window for the 4K camera, as that one won’t actually be finished until sometime in August. The Pocket is only shipping in the strictest technical sense of the word, but I don’t believe I am alone in previously thinking that shipping meant “shipping to actual customers.”

Here is a little bit from an interview with the website Two Nerds Flip Out:

TNFO: Can you give us a progress report on the development of the cameras and Resolve 10?

BM: Yeah, so last week we had said the pocket cameras are shipping from the factory, we needed a few more days to get the last bits tightened up, and get a few more clearances before we let them go. We just got that yesterday afternoon so the first few cameras that we’ve kind of already been receiving actually left Blackmagic U.S. yesterday (Tuesday, July 30th), and I think the rest of the world will start shipping their cameras today (to retail outlets). So the pocket cameras are now shipping. We’re obviously running a limited run from the factory, but we’re getting new cameras everyday, so those will continue to ramp through the next couple weeks.

Not much progress on the 4k from last week. There’s still probably still 2 to 3 weeks more work to be done before those units start leaving from Blackmagic so we’re hoping to see those leaving in the 3rd week of August and shipping out from there. Again , that’ll be a limited production run, when we start doing the production on those. But we’ll continue to ramp those out as time goes on.

And Resolve 10 should be good. We’ve got some seeds out there that people have been playing with. We’ve kind of always said Q3, it’ll probably be on the back half of Q3. But we’re feeling really good about the product that’s being made on there.


If you’re starting to feel like this is last year all over again, you’re not alone. While technical issues kept the original BMCC from shipping in greater numbers at the beginning, it doesn’t seem like either the 4K or Pocket Cameras have hit any technical snags. The big question that everyone keeps asking is how many they are shipping and when we can expect serious volume. We’ve heard volume could happen in August for the Pocket, but this might be optimistic on BM’s part.

I think it’s worth noting here that it’s rare for there not to be delays or shortages for a new camera. There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, DSLRs and other cameras usually see some shortages (intentional or not) within their first few weeks or months of being on the market. If you’ve really been looking forward to having a Pocket camera sometime in August, and you didn’t pre-order, it’s unlikely there will be any on the shelves until at least September. For the 4K camera, that’s probably going to be October.

Here’s what Illya Friedman of Hot Rod Cameras has been saying to customers (this is from BMCUser):

As for the 4K Production Camera, the news isn’t as quite as “positive”. Based on what we were told, production is likely to begin in four to six weeks, with a final production model likely to be unveiled around the time of IBC in mid-September. Rumors swirling around the Internet about the 4K Production Camera shipping without true RAW capability look to be proving true, with ProRes 4K being the only option at launch. Blackmagic reps claim that 4K RAW recording will be available shortly after launch and likely come via a user firmware update.

What all this information means for you is rather straightforward. If you had your heart set on one of Blackmagic’s new Pocket Cinema Cameras your wait, while maybe slightly prolonged, is going to be coming to an end sooner than later -hopefully.

If you’ve been holding out for a 4K Production Camera, well, signs point to maybe a September (or later) release date.

It doesn’t seem like RAW will be working with either camera right away. We’ll have to wait and see how quickly this is resolved, but I’d talked to some people a few months back who didn’t think BM would be able to ship with RAW immediately (and that looks to be the case).

This info on shipping is what I’d heard previously before we were told that Pockets were shipping in July and 4Ks by August. While this may be technically true, it’s not very accurate for people looking to shoot with their shiny new cameras right now. If you pre-ordered the Pocket right away or shortly after, I’d expect you to see your camera in a month or two. The same should go for the 4K camera (except that timeline starts at the end of August). It’s unlikely we’d ever get an official word on how many units are shipping, but if it was in the thousands for either camera, you’d hear a lot more enthusiasm coming out of Blackmagic.

So while this isn’t good news, it certainly could have been worse. Before everyone loses it, let’s just point out once more that these are cameras — which are just a small part of any production. I think some people take these things as life and death, but if you’re already shooting with something, it probably makes sense to stick with that for at least another few months, and not expect any miracles.

I wouldn’t be planning any shoots around having a Production Camera 4K or Pocket Cinema Camera, as we just don’t know at this point, and even if we are given an answer, going by past experience, I would expect it later than any official word we’re given. I should mention once more, that if you want the original Blackmagic Cinema Camera, you can buy one right now from many places.

Source from: nofilmschool.com

Links:

Pocket Cinema Camera Status Update! (Interview) — Two Nerds Flip Out
Official statement from Blackmagic on new camera shipping — Blackmagic Forum
BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera Update!!!!! — BMCuser

Related posts:
Make Blackmagic Production Camera 4K footage editable in FCP
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera to Begin Shipping in 3-4 Days