Sony PXW-FS5 and FCP Mac - Editing Sony FS5 4K XAVC in Final Cut Pro 7, FCP X

To learn how to import Sony PXW-FS5 4K XAVC files to FCP 7, FCP X, read the following pages in Final Cut Pro X/7/6 Help.

A handheld camera should be able to get you into tight places. To work in your lap. To move with the talent. To shoot high and low angles with equal agility. And a handheld camera should function beautifully against your chest, comfortably steadied by your right hand with all the controls at your fingertips. Sony’s extraordinary PXW-FS5 does all of this, and more.

Recording Format (Video)

XAVC QFHD : MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 4:2:0 Long profile

XAVC HD : MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 4:2:2 Long profile

AVCHD : MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 AVCHD 2.0 format compatible

The XAVC codec can be used for 4K and HD recording, while MPEG-2 ios limited to HD recording. However, Sony FS5 owners have been complaining about the lack of XAVC support in Final Cut Pro 7 and FCP X. Actually, Apple Final Cut Pro has added the ability to import XAVC files. But it's limited to Final Cut Pro X 10.0.x via the Sony PDZK-LT2 plugin (You need to install additional software to import Sony XAVC and XDCAM media.). Fortunately, there is an easy way to fix the problems. The easy workaround is to transcode FS7 XAVC footage to a more editing-friendly format, such a Final Cut Pro’s ProRes. Check out the solution here.



I recommended you to try Brorsoft Video Converter for Mac.

The program is an easy-to-use yet professional Sony XAVC Converter for Mac. With it, you can effortlessly encode/re-encode XAVC footage shot from Sony PXW-FS5 for smoothly importing and editing in various non-linear editing systems (NLE), including Final Cut Pro(6/7/X), Adobe Premiere Pro(CC/CS6/CS5), Avid Media Composer(7/6/5), iMovie, Final Cut Express and more. Don't hesitate to download the program and learn the step-by-step tutorial.

Download XAVC Converter Mac:

(Note: Click here for OS X 10.5)

Tutorial on converting Sony FS5 XAVC to Final Cut Pro 7 in simple steps

Step 1. Launch the XAVC to ProRes Converter on your Mac, then click the adding button to import your XAVC flies from HD drive or your camcorder directly.



Step 2. Click the Format bar to get the drop-down menu and you can get the Apple ProRes codecs, including ProRes 422 (HQ), ProRes 422, ProRes 422 (LT), ProRes 422 (Proxy) and ProRes 4444. Choose the proper one you want.



Step 3: Finally, hit "Convert" button to start XAVC to ProRes .mov conversion on Mac OS X. You can follow the conversion process from the pop-up windows.

Once the conversion finished, you can import the converted PXW-FS5 XAVC file to FCP X/7/6 smoothly with superior speed once the post production process begins.

Related Guides:

VLC 4K Video Playback
4K Downscaling to 1080p
4K workflow with Avid MC
4K workflow with Sony Vegas
Upload 4K Videos to YouTube
4K Workflow with After Effects
How can I play MTS video on my Mac?
Downscaling Canon XC10 4K footage to 1080p
Sony XAVC-Long GOP to FCP/Avid/Premiere workflow
DJI Phantom 3 Tutorial Downscaling 4k Footage to 1080P