There are a huge variety of MXF types and directory styles. This article goes through some of the most common types, and describes how they are used in Net-X-Code (Multi Software Server System), videoQC (HD-SDI/VGA media player, with analysis, reports, scopes and more), and MediaReactor Workstation (Adobe/Apple/Avid/SCRATCH plugins) software.
MXF File Overview
There are a couple of major MXF types (operational pattern, vendor specific, extended specification) that give a basic description of a clip's layout. In reality, there are many variations on them that are quite different and mostly incompatible. Drastic's MXF reader attempts to read all the subtypes by detecting the file flavor on initial read. If you run into a file we cannot read, please contact
- SMPTE 390M: OP-Atom (a very simple and highly constrained layout for simple MXF file
- SMPTE 378M: OP-1a (Single item, single package)
- SMPTE 379M: MXF Generic Container
- SMPTE 391M: OP-1b
- SMPTE 392M: OP-2a
- SMPTE 393M: OP-2b
- SMPTE 407M: OP-3a, OP-3b
- SMPTE 408M: OP-1c, OP-2c, OP-3c
- Digital Cinema: DCI/DCP
- AMWA: AS-02, AS-03
- SMPTE 336, SMPTE 381M, SMPTE 382M, SMPGE 422M, SMPGE 429, ISO 26429, SMPTE 434, P2 Spec
AJA KiPro (Avid mode)
See: Avid MediaFiles MXF
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Alexa DNxHD MXF
See: Avid MediaFiles MXF
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AS-02
Supports most standard essences and up to 32 channels of audio
The AS-02 standard uses an OP1b file to point at a series of essence MXF files in a media directory and XML to store extended metadata. To load these files, simply select the sign post file in the directory above the video directory, or the video file in the media directory which will be the MXF file that ends with a '_0':
- Directory
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs.mxf
- extra
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs.xml
- media
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs_0.mxf
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs_1.mxf
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs_2.mxf
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs_3.mxf
- MXF_AS02_MPEG2_CBR_1920x1080_25Mbs_4.mxf
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Avid MediaFiles MXF
Supports DNxHD, MPEG-2, DVHD, DV50, DV25, AVCi, Uncompressed
This is the native MXF format Avid editors use to edit with. Each video and mono audio track is contained in its own MXF file, with pointers between the files to identify the group. Drastic products can read and write these as can Avid editors, but Avid cannot 'import' them. To use them in an Avid editor, simply copy them into the MediaFiles directory and they will be added to the database. To load these in Drastic software, select the video MXF files whose name will contain the V:
- Tele0009_v1_4CEF0F7E.MXF
- Tele0009_a1_4CEF0F7E.mxf
- Tele0009_a2_4CEF0F7E.mxf
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Avid OP1a Transfer Manager
Supports DNxHD
Avid transfers DNxHD by exporting and importing this flavor of OP1a. All the audio, video and metadata is contained in the one file.
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Blackmagic HyperDeck
See: Avid MediaFiles MXF
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Canon C300/XF
Supports MPEG-2
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CinemaDNG MXF
Supports internal DNG frames, not currently supported
Convergent Designs
See: Sony XDCam
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DCI Digital Cinema Files
Supports JPEG-2000 with multichannel audio
The DCI specification describes the structure of this directory of files. These are one or more JPEG-2000 video files,with matching multichannel audio files, an asset map, volume index and playlist. To load these files in Drastic software, select the desired video MXF and the other files will be loaded automatically. Please note, the software can only load unencrypted files, per the DCI specification.
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DiviCom OP1a
Supports MPEG-2
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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EditCam
Supports DV25, DV50, DV100, AVCi
Each audio and video channel is recorded as its own MXF file. Drastic software will automatically combine them into a single clip whenever the video file, whose file name ends in V, is selected:
- IX8BG4GV.MXF
- IX8BG4GA.MXF
- IX8BG4GB.MXF
- IX8BG4GT.MXF
NOTE: The older EditCam OMF files are also supported by most Drastic software
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EVS
Supports IMX, MPEG-2, DV25, DV50, DV100
The EVS will export in OP1a or OP-Atom containers, as well as AVI or MOV. These are fully supported by Drastic. To open the OP-Atom files, select the video file which will contain a _V01 at the end of its name.
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Front Porch Digital
Supports XDCam, AVCi-100, JPEG-2000
Front Porch Digital's asset management system SAMMA/DIVA produce a variety of MXF files including YCbCr JPEG-2000 MXF files that are supported by Drastic readers in native YCbCr.
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Grass Valley Infinity
Supports JPEG-2000
Each shot from the GV Infinity is contained in a directory. The directory includes the MXF file, BMP icon, XML clip information and XML/XMP metadata information. To read these clips, simply load the MXF file and the rest will be read automatically.
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Grass Valley iCR
Supports MPEG-2
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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Omneon OP1a
Supports AVCi, DV25, DV50, DV100/HD, MPEG-2, Uncompressed 8 bit video and up to 16 channels of 24 bit audio
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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Panasonic P2
Supports AVCi, DV25, DV50, DV100/HD and up to 16 channels of 16 or 24 bit audio
The P2 MXF format includes one or more MXF files for each audio and video channel. The MXF files themselves are limited to 2 or 4 gigabytes, depending on the writer. They are written into a standardized directory structure with XML metadata and file pointers organizing multiple shots in the same directory as independent streams of audio and video.
Drastic products automatically find and connect the audio and video as well as any segments into a single shot. To load a shot, simply select one of the shot's video files in the video directory. The P2 directory structure looks like this:
- CONTENTS
- AUDIO
- 0001FY00.MXF
- 0001FY01.MXF
- 0001FY02.MXF
- 0001FY03.MXF
- CLIP
- 0001FY.XML
- 0001FY.XMP
- ICON
- 0001FY.BMP
- METADATA
- 0001FY.XML
- PROXY
- VIDEO
- 0001FY.MXF
- VOICE
- AUDIO
- LASTCLIP.TXT
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Pinnacle
Supports MPEG-2
Pinnacle uses an early form of AS-02. A sign post file inc clip.dir points to the individual media tracks in media.dir. To load these, select the video file from the group (denoted by a '_1' at the end of its name) and the rest will be picked up automatically
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Quantel
Supports MPEG-2 IMX, MPEG-2
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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Snell & Wilcox
Supports MPEG-2 IMX, MPEG-2
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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Sony F5/F55
Supports XAVC HD, XAVC 4K
This is an OP1a MXF file with XAVC 1920x1080 or 4096x2160 video and multichannel audio.
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Sony F65/F55/F700
Supports F65 raw bayer
This is an OP1a MXF file that normally has a second XML file for metadata.
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Sony HDCam
Supports HDCam SR SQ, Lite, 4:4:4 SQ
This is an OP1a, so the audio, video and metadata all exist in the same file.
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Sony XDCam
Supports MPEG-2 4:2:2 and 4:2:0, IMX MPEG, DVSD, DV25
Each clip is a single OP1a MXF file containing audio, video and metadata. To load a clip, simply select it from the Clip directory. The recorded media contains a directory structure that holds the clips and editing information:
- Root
- Clip
- C0002.MXF
- C0002M01.XML
- C0003.MXF
- C0003M01.XML
- Edit
- E0001E01.SMI
- E0001M01.XML
- General
- Sub
- C0002S01.MXF
- C0003S01.MXF
- Clip
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Trademarks, Registered Trademarks, and CopyrightsTrademarks, Registered Trademarks, and Copyrights
AJA Video Systems, Inc. - AJA® is a registered trademark of AJA Video Systems, Inc. AJA™ is a trademark of AJA Video Systems, Inc. Corvid Ultra®, KONA®, IO®, U-Tap®, and T-Tap® are registered trademarks of AJA Video Systems, Inc.
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ASSIMILATE® Inc. - Assimilate SCRATCH and Assimilate SCRATCH Lab are either trademarks or registered trademarks of ASSIMILATE® Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
Avid Technology, Inc. - Avid Media Composer®, Avid MediaCentral®, Avid Interplay®, and Avid NewsCutter® are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
Blackmagic Design Pty. Ltd. - DaVinci Resolve, DaVinci Fusion, UltraStudio, DeckLink, Intensity Pro 4K, UltraScope, and RED are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blackmagic Design Pty. Ltd. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA - CANON is a trademark of CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Corel Corporation - WinZip, the WinZip vise and file logo, and Pinnacle are registered trademarks of Corel Corporation
Drastic Technologies, Ltd. – trademarks specified here.
EVS Broadcast Equipment - EVS is a registered trademark of EVS Broadcast Equipment
Grass Valley - Grass Valley®, GV®, the Grass Valley logo, and EDIUS® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Grass Valley USA, LLC, or its affiliated companies in the United States and other jurisdictions.
Ikegami Electronics (USA) Inc. - EditCam is a registered trademark of Ikegami Electronics (USA) Inc.
Oracle Corporation - Oracle®, Java, Front Porch Digital, and MySQL are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.
Panasonic Holdings Co., Ltd - Panasonic, and Varicam are trademarks of Panasonic Holdings Co., Ltd
Snell & Wilcox Limited - SNELL & WILCOX, and Quantel are trademarks owned by Snell & Wilcox Limited
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Sony Corporation – Sony, Sony DVD Architect, DVD, Catalyst, and Vegas are trademarks of Sony Corporation and/or its affiliates.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
