MXF: No longer OT?

vitalforce wrote on 9/12/2006, 3:54 PM

From what I have read about MXF, it is AAF on steriods. Does this mean I can output a DV timeline containing many distinct clips, and cuts, from V7 into what would be an EDL or AAF file, but in an MXF form that can be opened on, say, an Avid DV or Media Composer timeline?

And as they say on exams, if so, how?

Comments

farss wrote on 9/12/2006, 4:44 PM

I really, really hope I'm giving you the wrong answer here :)

Unfortunately the MXF support is limited to Sony's XDCAM variant, as Avid do support that you might well be able to get interchange that way.

Full SMPTE MXF support would mean one could use the Pannies P2 cards and many others MXF wrappers in Vegas.

Like I said, would be overjoyed to be told I'm wrong.

Bob.

vitalforce wrote on 9/12/2006, 6:30 PM

Well--even so, it sounds like the glass is half full.

Maybe we can start a movement for a letter update--as in, give us SMPTE we can use....

Fred

GlennChan wrote on 9/12/2006, 8:55 PM

Hmm I thought that MXF was a wrapper for media files (like Quicktime or AVI or Ogg), whereas AAF is for holding project files.

There are many variations on the MXF format, which is in the process of being worked out I believe. The July/August 2006 issue of SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal has some information on MXF. "MPEG-2-Long GOP Mapping for MXF File Storage Applications"

I *think* it is at proposal stage.
http://www.smpte.org/smpte_store/standards/index.cfm?stdtype=rd&scope=1

My knowledge is extremely shallow here.

2- Support for the other MXF flavours would definitely be nice!! In particular, Panasonic P2's and Avid's.

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/12/2006, 9:01 PM

That's exactly the question. *Whose" mxf? Sonys? Panasonic? Avid?
Glenn is correct, the mxf format is a wrapper. Would be nice to support them all, however. Particularly now that XDCAM's flavor is supported, having Grass Valley support would be very nice indeed.