Summary: One of my friend has ask me a problem about how to import and edit xdcam footage in FCP 7, and on Quora I also met the similar question, so here I decide to write down the solution for all of the user who has the same issue.
The problem can likely description like this:
“I’m editing a documentary series shot on three cams, including an EX3. Due to time constraints, the EX3 isn’t going to be transcoded into ProRes. What’s the step-by-step way I can edit natively with the EX3 without transcoding? I heard rewrapping the EX3 using XDcam Transfer. How do I rewrap it/import without transcoding? Or is there another way? Lastly, what should I watch out for editing on EX3 natively? There is no time to transcode into ProRes. Thanks!”
You should be able to edit in XDCAM just fine. Just make sure to specify that your timelines be set to XDCAM (in Easy Setup) when you create your new project. There are tons of plugins on the Sony site that will allow you to mount a Sony camera directly to FCP 7, using the “Log and Transfer” feature. You should not have to go through some other crazy process to convert files over from XDCAM. I’ve edited a few projects in XDCAM recently (and would prefer not to, but sometimes you have to deal with it), and I think the problems you’ll encounter might be later when you need to conform your timelines for color correction, or if you’re building graphics in Motion or After Effects. You’ll just need to be aware of your codecs.
The reason why you are failed to import or cannot edit XDcam footage in FCP 7 smoothly is that the mp4 format is not a friendly editing format but a container format. For FCP 7, the best compatible format is Apple ProRes, if you want to edit the XDcam footage in FCP 7 smoothly, you just need to change the original video format into Apple ProRes.
Hot Search: H.265/HEVC to FCP | DJI Phantom 3 4K Video with FCP | 4K MXF to FCP
Pavtube Video Converter for Mac(read the review) are highly recommended here, which helps to output Final Cut Pro native editable Apple ProRes MOV codec from XDcam for further professional editing on Mac OS X. If your computer is old or slow, or you just want to do some rough editing, you can select to output “Apple Prores Proxy)(*.mov)”or “Apple Prores (LT)(*.mov)”format to save more space and bandwidth. However, if your computer are powerful enough to handle multicam and high-resolution video and you are going to do many effects editing work with FCP X, you’d better choose to output “Apple Prores 422(*.mov)”or “Apple Prores 422(HQ)(*.mov)”for better performance.
By the way, if your are a one hundred percent Windows user, please turn to Pavtube Video Converter. It has the same ability as Mac version. 
Other Download:
- Pavtube old official address: http://www.pavtube.com/video-converter-mac/
- Amazon Store Download: http://www.amazon.com/Pavtube-Video-Converter-Mac-Download/dp/B00QIBK0TQ
- Cnet Download: http://download.cnet.com/Pavtube-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-76179460.html
Steps for changing the original video format into Apple ProRes for FCP X
Step 1: Add XDcam footage to the program.
Launch the software on your Mac computer, click “File” menu, select “Add Video/Audio” or “Add from folder” to import XDcam footage to the program.
Step 2: Choose output format.
Click “Format” bar, from its drop-down options, move your mouse to “Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)” to select it as the output file format.
Step 3: Customize output ProRes parameters.
Open “Profile Settings” window to adjust the output video codec, size, bit rate, frame rate, audio codec, sample rate, bit rate and channels.
Step 4: Convert Parrot Bebop Drone Video to FCP 7.
Hit the convert button under the preview windows, the program will start XDcam footage to Apple ProRes MOV conversion for Final Cut Pro 7.
When the conversion is completed, run FCP 7 and import the ProRes codec footage for post production workflow.
Related program:
Pavtube Media Magician / Mac Version: A nice camcorder assistant manager, lossless camcorder video joiner, MTS/ M2TS/ MXF/ MOV/ MKV/ TiVo/ WMV/ AVI/ MPG converter and editor. Meamwhile it supported upload edited video to YouTube directly.
- Video Pedia
- Importing XDcam footage into FCP 7 no transcoding
