Hey folks.

I've been given some footage that was digitised on a mac (I think using Final Cut Pro, but I'm not 100% sure)

It's a .mxf format.

My problem is I'm running a Windows computer and can't import this footage into Vegas 12. It just keeps throwing up an error code. I tried importing it to Media Encoder to change it to something else, but it wouldn't import there either (Encoder has the mxf codec, I can see it in the dropdown list) I tried using Xilisoft to convert the footage, but that just refuses to even start the process.

I don't know what to do with this. I could really do with some help, I'm at my wits end!

Just tried using Brorsoft MXF Converter, that doesn't work either.

.mxf is a container format, there are several codecs that might be inside.

I'd suggest downloading MediaInfo and using it to figure out what codec is being used. Be sure to select one of the advanced views in MediaInfo.

VLC Player is a very handy player for almost anything. It can also do conversions, but I find it difficult for that purpose.

As was mentioned the .mxf is just a container. If it came off of a Mac there is a good chance that it's an AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec). If that is the case the only way you'll be able to use it is to either edit on a Mac or use a Mac to convert the file to a codec that is available to you. Apple hasn't allowed the AIC codec on a PC.

Good luck.

You won't be able to use AIC natively on your PC, but it's easy enough to convert to whatever you like - ffmpeg or any ffmpeg based gui encoder will do it (e.g ffmpeggui), you don't need a mac (assuming AIC is the problem).

I tried it in Final Cut on a friend's Mac, but it didn't work either.

A friend suggested that it could be an Avid based .mxf, which is why it doesn't work in anything else.

There are any number of weird codecs, but it's a bit unusual to find them in an .mxf wrapper. Did you follow Seth's advice above? What happened?