
MXF file type has an unusual data structure and is not compatible with the native media player QuickTime. In order to open it, Mac users need to use different MXF file converter tools or specialized MXF players. In this article, we will provide you with simple solutions on how to play MXF files on Mac.
Elmedia Player is a specialized MXF Mac player with a straightforward interface that would be a go-to choice for both savvy users and newbies. With its help, the question of how to play MXF files on Mac won’t bother you anymore, as the player can easily open MXF file from different camcorders, including Panasonic P2, Canon XF, and Sony XDCAM.
Besides that, Elmedia Player supports flawless playback for a wide list of macOS native and non-native media formats. You can find support for FLV, MKV, MP4, AVI, MP3, OGG, M4A, AAC, F4V, and many more formats on the list. What’s more, the player also offers wireless streaming using different technologies such as AirPlay 2, DLNA, and Chromecast.
Among the rest of the advantages of this MXF Mac player, it is worth noting the ability to adjust the video characteristics, support for screenshots, ability to export and import bookmarks, support for Picture-in-Picture mode, built-in equalizer, create your own playlists and way more. The app comes with full subtitle support for both internal and external subtitles. Another important factor of this video player is that it is under constant development.
Add your MXF files. Launch the app and choose one out of three ways to add the file, namely:
There are plenty of MXF converter Mac apps available but most will result in a reduction of quality, long conversion times, and even incompatible format conversion. You want to be aware of these important features when you choose an MXF converter for Mac.
You have to ensure that the MXF file converter can convert files to the most recent format standards. The most converter may be incredibly limited with the files they can convert to and some may offer a few varieties but you want to choose one that can offer conversion to HD formats, 3D, 4K, and output with H.265 and can be truly called the best MXF converter.
Having all these criteria in mind, we can recommend you Movavi Video Converter – with this multi-functional, easy-to-use program, converting MXF files is as simple as it can be. Just download the appropriate version of the program for Windows or Mac and follow the short guide below.
Download Movavi Video Converter to your Mac.
Once downloaded, launch the MXF file converter and follow the on-screen instructions to install.
Add files to the app you want to convert to.
Open the Movavi converter and click Add Media. After that select the MXF files, you wish to convert to. You can choose one or several files at once.
Select the format of your choice.
Go to the Video Tab and select the desired format. It could be either MP4 or any other supported and desired format. If you need to kame the file viewable on mobile devices, go to the Device Tab. Here you need to select the corresponding preset according to your device type. To facilitate the issue with presets, connect your device to Mac and select the Cell Phone icon.
Convert your videos.
The final step is to proceed with the conversion process. For this, you need to click the Save to button and choose the path for the converted file. Once the save folder is selected, click the Convert button to start the process.
Material Exchange Format, since that’s the full name of this video format became more popular by the day with the release of a lot of 4K cameras. But the concept of MXF exists for quite some time, being defined as a "wrapper" format that supports multiple streams of coded "essence". These streams can be coded with many different codecs and include a metadata wrapper.
The MXF file type brings together audio, video, and programming data and puts them together in a wrapper. Thanks to its complexity, MXF can hold an extended range of video frames, filled with audio and data essence, as well as frame-based metadata. The frame-based metadata is mostly about file format and timecode information for each video frame, also known as interleaved media files.
Being primarily used in TV productions and movies, the MFX file type can handle a lot of Advanced Authoring Formats all under a policy called Zero Divergence Directive. This should enable mixed MXF and AAF workflows between non-linear editing, making it perfect for high-quality TV productions.
The key distinction between MXF and MP4 is their intended purpose of use. MXF, short for Material Exchange Format, was conceived for professional television, and some cameras nowadays record videos in this format. MP4, also known as MPEG-4 Part 14, was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group for day-to-day use. That’s the main reason why MP4 files are so common and easy to work with. For a more advanced comparison between MXF and MP4 files, you can check out the table below:
Comparison Parameter | MXF | MP4 |
---|---|---|
Developer | Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers | Moving Picture Experts Group |
File extension | .mxf | .mp4 |
Video codecs | MPEG-1,2,4, H.264, DV, uncompressed, others | H.263, H.264, H.265, MPEG‑4, others |
Audio codecs | AAC, MP3, AC‑3, PCM, others | AAC, MP3, AC‑3, ALAC, ALS, SLS, others |
Usage | Advertisements and broadcasting programs on TV, storing video recordings from Sony and Canon cameras | Storing video files and streaming videos from the Internet |
MXF isn’t really designed for user-friendliness. It’s a bulky format with a lot of overhead, poorly suited for personal use. Camcorders use MXF to avoid obsolescence - newer models tend to come with newer, faster codecs. That’s not the case on PC and Mac, where codecs tend to stick around for decades. All in all, you won’t see MXF replacing MP4 or MKV anytime soon.
As camera vendors start adapting to Ultra HD, MXF becomes more and more necessary. Major manufacturers have adopted it as the standard for their recording hardware. Here is a list of camcorders that support MXF 4K:
Sony PMW-160, PMW-300K1, PMW-100, PMW-F55, PMW-320K, PMW-200, PMW-F5, PMW-F3, PDW-530, PMW-F3K, PDW-510, PMW-EX30, PMW-400L, PMW-500, PMW-F3L, PMW-400K, P, PMW-50, PMW-1000, MW-TD300, PXW-Z100, XDCAM HD422.
Frequently Asked Questions:
To convert MXF to MP4 Mac users need to follow these steps: