How to open MXF files from a professional camera
MXF is the file professional Sony, Canon and Panasonic cameras record. Why ordinary players refuse it, and how to convert it to MP4 for review or sharing.
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In short: MXF is the broadcast container used by Sony XDCAM and XAVC, Canon XF and Panasonic P2 cameras. Editing software opens it; ordinary players mostly do not. Converting the MXF to MP4 gives a file anyone can watch.
What is inside
Depending on the camera: MPEG-2 at 50 Mbps (Canon XF, XDCAM HD), H.264 in XAVC (Sony), or AVC-Intra and DVCPRO (Panasonic). The sound is often stored as several mono tracks, one per microphone channel, rather than one stereo track.
Panasonic P2 cards
P2 cameras write the picture and each audio channel as separate MXF files in the VIDEO and AUDIO folders. Converting the video MXF on its own gives a silent result. Add the sound afterwards with Replace Audio, using the matching file from the AUDIO folder.
Converting to MP4
The MXF to MP4 converter writes H.264 with AAC sound, around a tenth of the original size, which suits review copies, client previews and uploads. Keep the MXF originals for editing: the MP4 is a delivery copy, not a master.
Where the sound is split across channels, the first audio track is used. Check the result if the recording had separate microphones on different channels.
Interlaced footage
Broadcast formats are often recorded interlaced (1080i). Restore Old Video removes the interlacing if the MP4 shows combing on movement.
Questions
What program opens MXF files?
Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro and Avid open MXF. VLC plays many of them. For everyone else, convert to MP4.