Importing .mp4 files into Avid MC 5

[barrylay]

I am having the an issue with .mp4 files sent to me that were recorded on a Sony EX3. Avid won't import them directly. So far, trying to convert the files to .mov files I have tried MPEG Streamclip, it simply refuses to transcode the files, and WinFXVideoConverter, which did encode to .mov, but it is inferior quality with aliasing everywhere.

From VLC Media Player here's the Stream 0 and Stream 1 info:
Stream 0
Type: Video
Codec: mpgv
Language: English
Resolution: 1920 x 1088
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Stream 1
Type: Audio
Codec: twos
Language: English
Channels: stereo
Sample Rate: 48,000 Hz
Bits per sample: 16

I haven't come across the mpgv video codec before and don't know if that's the problem.

Ultimately I need to get the .mp4 files into Avid MC 5 on a PC. Any clues anyone?

Thanks
Barry

[poisondeathray]

Doesn't AMA supports mp4 wrapped xdcam ex ?

You might be able to re-wrap into mxf with ffmpeg

[barrylay]

Thanks poisondeathray. I'll try to re-wrap it with ffmpeg. In the meantime I downloaded Sony's program, XDCAM_to_Avid, which is supposed to do the job, and the first time I used it it did produce a file when I choose the DNxHD 175 option (the highest), but Avid still would not import that file. Now the Sony program does not even produce a file any more. Very weird. Don't know what I am doing wrong, but this is frustrating. I will also post this note on the Avid Forum.

Thanks again

Barry

[poisondeathray]

you can definitely re-wrap into mov and mxf with ffmpeg that other programs accept, but I don't know if MC5 will accept it. It's supposed to be very picky

you can re-encode into dnxhd 8-bit with ffmpeg as well, and MC5 should definitely be able to accept that

[barrylay]

Wow. I do not know how to use ffmpeg. Sorry, not much of a programmer. ffmpeg is part of the Sony program too - just can't figure out why it didn't work.

[poisondeathray]

it's a command line application

you have to open a command line prompt

the basic syntax to re-wrap:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec copy output.mxf

or if you wanted mov, just replace "mxf" with "mov"

dnxhd encoding is described here. You need to specify the -b for the specific frame size & frame rates
http://www.itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com/ffmpeg_howto.html#Encoding_VC-3

If you have a bunch of files you can make a .bat file to batch process all the files in a directory , but I would try a little test to see if mxf or mov works first , or dnxhd



The avid website says mp4 xdcam-ex is supported by AMA . Maybe your files are corrupted ?

[barrylay]

OK, I have finally had a small breakthrough. I have four separate folders with the EX3 files in them. I finally went back to trying to link to the folders with AMA from Avid. Lo and behold some files actually show up in Avid. But all of the files in the folder I have been doggedly working from for the past week come up "Media Offline", every single one!!! In the three other folders only some of the files show, the rest are also "Media Offline". What the .... is going on? Is it file corruption? The files were sent to me on a HD, so obviously they were copied. Are the offline files lost or can they be restored somehow? If I have them re-sent to me what should I do to have the cameraman guarantee they are good before they get to me from overseas?

Thanks

Barry

[poisondeathray]

Sorry I don't know the specifics of the MC workflow - asking at the Avid forums is probably your best bet

Offline files should be able to be relinked or at least with another asset

If the clips play fine in a media player, then it's unlikely (but not certain) that they are corrupted

When you said earlier "Now the Sony program does not even produce a file any more. " , can you test files you've already run successfully through the program? or is it only certain files that don't work ? That might give you clues that some files might be corrupted

[barrylay]

No, that was my boo boo. The Sony program was producing files, but when I imported them into Avid they were just a white screen. I will test importing one of the good files that now appears via AMA and see if it does come up online. Still need to know the rest of the story. I already did post on the Avid group. Thanks fo all your help. The MC workflow is a breeze when it works - I guess we all have these moments though.

[barrylay]

Finally. I was able to export MXF files using Sony's Clip Browser program.