The MXF format is a file extension developed by technical experts in Hollywood to reflect the growing use of digital technology in TV and movie production. It’s designed to ease interoperability between different applications and platforms.
Learn more about the MXF file below.
An MXF (Material eXchange Format) file is a type of video file extension known as a ‘container’. Much the same as a physical container at home, the MXF file stores things. But instead of physical items, an MXF file contains digital data, including:
Container files such as MXF work hand in hand with a technology called codecs, which compress the data to fit into the container file. The data/footage is then imported into video-editing or production software.
The MXF file format was developed in Hollywood by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Founded in the early days of cinema (1916), the SMPTE set the standards for moviemaking over the next few decades.
It developed initial guidelines on movie width and image format in the early 20th century and today maintains standards on everything from edge coding to digital sound. And it was the emergence of digital cinema which led the group to develop the MXF video file format.
The growing influence of digital technology in cinema and TV triggered a production revolution. Suddenly, multiple platforms and applications were being used to make and distribute content.
Increasingly, digital cameras captured footage and getting that footage from the camera to the video-editing software was problematic. Increasingly, ads were being made digitally, transferred to broadcasters as complete pieces of work, to insert into their schedules.
So, experts created the MXF format to counter the challenges raised by the technology to ensure interoperability of content between these different applications.
Compress large files for storing and sharing.
Digital video files can be large. This makes transferring them from one server or application to another time-consuming. Video compression technology is designed to make these files smaller.
There are three main types of file technology:
These three elements work together. MXF is a container file. So, it stores the data to transfer it to another application. To do this, it works with a codec, the technology that compresses the file. Many containers are restricted to specific codecs. But MXF is not, as it works with multiple codecs.
Transfer footage from digital cameras to production software.
Another common use of the MXF file is to transfer footage from professional digital video cameras to the video editing software. Adobe Premiere, for example, supports MXF from Sony XDCAM, Canon XF and others.
Television, advertising, and movies.
Digital technology has revolutionized the creative industries. And with new mediums, both online and offline, there’s a greater need to repurpose content. Say you have a TV clip, ready to upload onto social channels, that requires file transfer software to move the clips to the right production software.
The SMPTE designed the MXF file to simplify this process by making it possible to transfer files between different formats. Because it’s not restricted to a specific compression scheme, you can use it more freely, making it easy for directors, editors, producers and other industry professionals to work.
D-cinema distribution.
Digital cinema is a relatively recent development in the history of the movies. Traditionally, movies were shown using 35mm cinema reels and projectors. Today, most theaters use a digital cinema print or DCP, made up of thousands of video files, stored in a hard drive.
The SMPTE devised a set of standards and guidelines for this, called D-Cinema. They pioneered 3D, HFR, and immersive digital sound. The D-Cinema system relies on the MXF file, which is used for the distribution of these movies to theaters.
Like any technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to the MXF file type. We list the main pros and cons below:
Find out which container file types are supported by Adobe Premiere.
Generally, you’ll be exporting the file from the device or application you created it on, as the MXF file extension is a container rather than a file type.
Export an MXF file on Mac (Final Cut Pro).
To export an MXF file in Final Cut Pro on an Apple Mac, simply:
1. Select the project, clip, or range of clips in the browser or timeline.
2. Open in the timeline, then select View > select Optimized/Original.
3. Choose File > Share > Export File.
4. You’ll see a Share window. From here, you can view / modify its title or description.
5. Choose Settings in the centre of the Share window.
6. Choose Format > MXF, then choose a video codec.
7. Back to the Share window. Choose Roles > Roles as > pick an option.
8. Tap Next > choose location, the Save.
When you shoot footage on a digital camcorder from the likes of Sony or Canon, it may automatically save the data in the .mxf file extension. This uses one of many codecs to compress the footage, so you can transfer it to another application or device.
To edit an MXF file in Adobe Premiere, you’ll need to import the footage into the video editing suite following the steps below:
Import an MXF file in Adobe Premiere.
To import an MXF file into Premiere, on either Mac or Windows, you need to use the ImporterMXF software and the Adobe Media Encoder.
1. Transfer the files from your camera media card to your storage device, maintaining the folder structure
2. Then, open the Media Browser and drag and drop files into there.
Once you’ve imported the footage into Premiere, you can use the Timeline to edit your video clips.
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