Videographer gave us xmf files

[CLL]

Hello - we had a friend of a friend shoot video of our family reunion and a 50th anniversary get together. He gave us the files on an external hard drive and suggested we get Adobe Premier Elements if we wanted to make it into a nice presentation to give our family. So we bought Adobe Premier Elements 7. The problem is when I try to import the video files the system says it doesn't support xmf files. So short of returning the software is there any way to import these files? We hate to lose these family memories, but also don't have the money to buy a more expensive software. Ideas?

[Jeff Perry]

The XMF file format appears to be a music/midi file, called Extensible Music Format, not a conventional video file format. Talk to your friend and see what program he/she used to generate/convert the video.

Jeff

[CLL]

Sorry - I typed it wrong. They are MXF files and video

[Jeff Perry]

The MXF format appears to be a new format, not supported by Premiere Elements, and as far as I can tell not supported by most of the video converter applications. The videographer may be able to output the file into a different format for yoo, one that Premeiere Elements supports.

Jeff

[ATR]

CLL

By any chance were you told to use Premiere Pro CS4, not Premiere Elements 7, for those .mfx video files? Do you know what camera was used to record them?

contrast Premiere Pro CS4 Supported Import File Formats
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405978.html
with Premiere Elements 7 Supported Import File Formats
Premiere Pro is the higher (more expensive) video editor.

some reading material on the topic:
http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/PremierePro/3.0/help.html?content=WS55AC98C1-D132-486c-AB6D-A937E5EC64A4.html

My only suggestion would be to download the free 30 day tryout of Premiere Pro CS4 from Adobe to determine if that will work for you and those .mfx videos. Those tryouts usually yield video with watermarks until you purchase.

If you do get the .mfx files converted for you into .mov, please make sure that you have the latest version of QuickTime installed on the computer with Premiere Elements 7.

http://www.focusinfo.com/dynassets/documents/downloads/Firestore_DVFCP.pdf


ATR
(have not been involved with .mfx; comments are based on online findings)

[Jeff Perry]

ATR, good call, not being involved in video work, I wasn't even aware of a Premiere Pro CS4 version. Sounds like a reasonable explanation and work around approach. It would also salvage the investment in Elements Premiere.

Jeff

[CLL]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I tried the free trial of Premier Pro and the trial doesn't include the mxf file option. I spoke to the camera guy and he has already cleaned off his P2 cards so can't download in another file. I would love to convert these to another file so I can use the software I have and not spend $700. Does anyone know how to convert mxf files to a file I can use on Permier Elements?

[ATR]

CLL

Did you download Premiere Pro CS4 from Adobe:
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?loc=en&product=premiere%5Fpro&promoid=EBYEY
and
Does it specifically say that the tryout does not come with a means to import/export .mfx video?

I would contact Adobe Customer Service and check that detail unless it specifically says that.
http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/

Another thought is, does this videographer who gave you the .mfx video have the non tryout version Premiere Pro CS4 or Final Cut Pro? If so, maybe he could convert the .mfx to .mov from the .mfx file that he sent you???

With any tryout of Adobe products that I have used, Adobe usually downloads the intact version. So, first I would check with Adobe to see what the situation is with your tryout of Premiere Pro CS4.

ATR