Import MXF container with H.265

[Christopher6206]

Checking in to see if anyone has experienced this and what the work around might be. Today I upgraded to Bogart 12. 2 days ago, I received a new camera, the Cannon XF-750. Apologies if I don't get all this jargon just right. The codec for it's highest resolution 3840X2160 (4K) is in an MXF container with the XF-HEVC codec, which to my understanding is an .MP4 using H.265. I checked with several colleagues before ordering the camera to make sure Bogart would import the footage. After confirming, and getting some faster SD cards, I took the camera out for a test. Camera settings are as stated, 3840X2160 30p (29.97) I'm using the XF-HEVC setting. Bit rate is 160mbps. So in my project my settings are UHD, 3840x2160, 30P. When I try to import a clip I get this message. "The format of the first selected file (---) does not match the current project settings. Shall the project format be changed to fit the first scene?" If I select "yes", (I've tried this a few times) it changes the project settings to various different ones. One time it was SD PAL 720x480 (this happened twice), one time it changed to NTSC UHD 4096x2160, and a third time it changed to NTSC HD 1280x720. But it would never import the clip. If I click "no" it still imports nothing. VLC media player according to on line research, is supposed to be able to play .mxf files and files using H.265 compression. But VLC says it doesn't have the codec to play the files. Additionally, when I try to look at the properties of the .MXF files with windows, I get size, location, type of file, date created etc. But under details, I get size: zero bytes and no bit rate.

It seems I have nothing on my computer that will play or import these files. I have confirmed the files work by playing them off the camera and outputting it to a monitor. Also, this camera is used, 2 years old but looks to be in really good shape. It can switch between NTSC and PAL. When I first set it up it appeared to be set up for PAL, but I changed the frequency from 50hrz to 59.94 and the frame rate to 29.97 to switch back to NTSC. Any ideas??? Thanks.

[Christopher6206]

The clips I was trying to import, were 4:2:2 10 bit files, in 4K. I went down to XFC codec which is 4:2:0 8 bit files (110 Mbps) and they played with VLC and imported into Bogart just fine. There is an FHD codec that has 4:2:2 10 bit color. I'll try that next. After all, no one is asking for 4K around here. So it's nice to know that the camera is future proof. My main reason, thinking ahead, for using 4K is the ability to zoom in digitally and not lose HD quality. But also, so I know I have a camera I think is good enough to shoot that movie I wrote 10 years ago and then threw in the back of the filing cabinet. It is my hope that I share this experience with the majority of this forum.

I'm confident a future version of Bogart will accommodate. Cheers!

[mhuebmer]

Has the Canon XF-HEVC Decoder 1.0 for Windows been installed

[Christopher6206]

No. There is a bunch of software on Cannon's website but I wasn't sure what to try / what would be compatible with Bogart. That would be your recommendation?

[mhuebmer]

Click THIS or the above link and install the needed Canon software Feedback if that was all would be nice.

[Christopher6206]

Thanks for the suggestion. I installed the Cannon decoder but it seems to have not had an effect. I re started my computer after install. Also not mentioned before is that 1080p FHD files shot using XF-HEVC in 4:2:2 10 bit will also not import. So something about that color profile, 4k or FHD doesn't work. Still with the 4k 4;2;0 8 bit I'm getting 110 Mbps as opposed to my old camera which maxed out at about 22 Mbps. Big improvement. Any other suggestions anyone might have I'm certainly open to it. Thanks.

[mhuebmer]

Feel free to send a few second recording by WeTransfer(.com), GDrive, OneDrive, DropBox,.... to forum@macrosystem.at

Then I can analyze that codec and pass the information to the development of the MacroMotion GmbH.

[Christopher6206]

I shared 3 clips in One folder via Dropbox. Please share results. Thanks.

[mhuebmer]

So far so good - thanks

My main system could playback and import the files right away. But the second did not.

So I updated my codec pack with these two on my Casablanca-4 StudioPro:

• https://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1600_Mega.exe (Main installation)
• https://files2.codecguide.com/klcp_update_1601_20210210.exe (latest update)

Then the import was also working on the StudioPro (tried the Canon codec first, but that did not do anything).

But like many cameras, the audio is only taken from the first mono track. Multiple mono-tracks are a constant pain.

And I will submit the videos to the MacroMotion development, so they can get the format out of the clip when importing. You need to set 3840x2160p30 manually and ignore the question for a format change

[Christopher6206]

Thanks,, very helpful!

Please elaborate on the mono track comment. I seem to be getting L&R

After installing what you sent me, the clips import and play just fine. However, trying to import more than 2 clips at a time and sometimes only one, Bogart would crash. All were short clips. 20 sec or less. Eventually I got 8 clips to import.

This seems to work for now. I don't have plans to shoot 4k 10 bit for long periods of time. But do look forward to when I can. Thanks again.