If you have a Canon EOS C300 professional camcorder and attempt to bring the recorded file into Final Cut Pro 6 or FCP 7 for editing, you may meet some troubles, for example, the Log and Transfer window may tell you "The files are unsurpported". Why? Did Apple not say that L&G can import and transcode MXF recordings? Indeed, we can successfully transfer Canon C300 MXF footages to FCP 6/7 with L&G sometimes. But has some conditions about system, codec, settings, plugin, ect.
I also tried to import my C300 clips to FCP 7 with L&G and I met the same "The files are unsurpported" message in L&G window. I searched many information to look for the reason and solve the importing problem, but I failed. Mnay users said that it was likely to be the system. So I have to start to look for a third party converter to convert MXF. From Googling, I found people gave Brorsoft a good review. It is the best MXF to FCP Converter I have tried out in the past few months. Very simple, no headaches, no worries, no plugins and no need for any unnecessary steps. The most important is that the covnerted quality is perfect for viewing and editing. I am very happy to find it. Bellow are the simple steps on converting Canon C300 MXF clip to ProRes on Mac OS X.
Step 1. Import files
Download and install the MXF Converter on your Mac(it has the free trial version). Open the software and click "file" to add C300 clip or clips to it.
Step 2. Choose output format
Click "format" and find the "Final Cut Pro" category, you will see many video formats in it, choose the best one as the output format. Please remember that FCP's native format is ProRes MOV.
Tricks:
1) To get a high HD quality, please select "ProRes 422 (HQ)(*.mov)";
2) If you choose "ProRes 422 (LT)(*.mov)", you can get a smaller file size;
3) "ProRes 422(*.mov)" is the best format for playing.
Step 3. Best settings for ProRes 422
Step 4. Converting MXF to ProRes
Click the button in the low right corner, the app will start to reformat Canon C300 MXF to FCP compatible format ProRes 422. Click "Open" to get the converted video file to when the conversion ends.
Tip: I found the great MXF Converter for FCP also can deinterlace 1080i MXF files via checking off the “Deinterlacing” box in the Video Editor before the conversion.
Related Guides:
Canon C300/Canon C300 PL Reviews
Transfer Canon C300/C500 MXF clips to FCP X
Canon EOS C500 EF/PL Camcorders with 4K Technology
Solve Canon XF100/XF105/XF300/XF305 MXF files to Avid MC importing problems
