Is Final Cut Pro the only software that can open video .MXF files for Macs?

Question

Hello,
Many thanks in advance for your attention.
Trying to find software that will edit .MXF Video Files to work with Mac.
As the edit is simple, prefer iMovie, but happy if the Conversion software only works with FCExpress (or even FCPro if that is the only alternative).
1. If it matters, .MXF (Material Exchange Format) Video files came from shooting on a Panasonic 500 P2. Originally downloaded onto a Windows system, using Adobe Premiere.
2. I just want to see and convert some of the shots I did for my Reel, etc., but I have a Mac.
3. I have iMovie HD, iMovie 09, and FCExpress (which I don't know how to use that well).
4. When I attach an External HD with backup files of all the footage shot, they show up named as .MXF files. They appear as VLC files (VLC icon), but the suffix is .MXF.
5. When I try to play them as VLC files, they won't play. It seems they start to play, but then the VLC software quits.
6. So I have tried downloading some software on the Internet that Google says converts .MXF files.
I tried: iSkysoft Video Converter, AVCWare Mac Video Converter, MPEG Streamclip, and a couple others. They all seem to have basically the same conversion setups, but when I click to pick one .MXF file, none of them recognize it. (The file in my Browse window is greyed out).
7. MoyaVideo Converter for Mac recognizes the .MXF file, but when I hit the "conversion" button - I tried a couple different settings, all it seems to convert is the first frame. Even if the .MXF file says a clip is 123MB or 43 seconds long, etc.
8. I can't even watch the clip in Preview. Press Play and it is just the first frame.
9. I have read elsewhere in these forums, some people touting conversion software from a company in Germany - mfxformac. I am fine with paying for conversion software, but $500?
10. And I have read elsewhere that only Final Cut Pro has a codec that will open .MXF files. If this is so, why do the above companies claim to have software that opens .MXF files for Mac?
11. Isn't there a further problem if I can't even see the video using VLC? Or is that because I am using Mac and need FCPro with the right codec?
Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

MXF files from P2 can only be imported using FCP. iMovie can't, nor FCE...if you are talking about APPLE software. Avid deals with MXF files natively. But FCP will ONLY import them if the entire P2 card structure is intact. Please tell me that you have the entire P2 card backups. If not, then it won't work. If you do...then here is the process for importing into FCP:
P2 Workflow with FCP 6
3. I have iMovie HD, iMovie 09, and FCExpress (which I don't know how to use that well).
Then you need someone to provide you with QT files of this footage. None of them work with P2.
NONE of the converters you listed will work... Sorry.
9. I have read elsewhere in these forums, some people touting conversion software from a company in Germany - mfxformac. I am fine with paying for conversion software, but $500?
That software is to get it to work with Final CUt Pro natively. What it doesn't do is convert the footage to QTs. There is also Raylight and Calibrated...but again, they are for FCP.
P2 is a professional format, and to use it you need professional software. iMovie won't work...nor will FCE. If you need to work with it in those formats, you need to have someone import the files and convert them to AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec).
HD Log might work...but not sure what QT format it converts to. A demo is available.
http://www.imagineproducts.com/index.php?mainpage=product_info&cPath=1&productsid=4&zenid=b2buo1aguk3cplmg23jn05aai7
Shane