How To Convert .MOD files for Final Cut Pro

I've mentioned .MOD files before but thought I'd just update a bit of my workflow when using them.

I'm getting ready for a multi-cam project that involves many, many small Cannon cameras (all synced) which create troublesome .MOD files.

Now a .MOD file is just an mpeg2 file with another name. Look at a .MOD file using the File command in the terminal and you'll see:

"MOV001.MOD: MPEG sequence, v2, program multiplex"

So, it really isn't anything special but Final Cut Pro won't ingest them.

What happens if you rename one to say .mpg? Quicktime will open it (not sure if Perian helps here or a default install will do) and will report that it's an "MPEG2 Muxed @ 29.97 fps.

After renaming it FCP will ingest it but, as it's a Muxed file, there will appear to be no audio tracks; the same goes or when it's opened in Quicktime.

You must convert -actually transcode- it and my transcoder of choice in this case would be MPEG Streamclip.

Open the .MOD file in MPEG Streamclip and hit Export. But make sure that you've set it to the correct aspect ratio because depending on the type of camera and what it's set to the image may be 4:3, 16:9 and /or Squeezed…or not. That's what the handy "Preview" button is for. Oh, you don't need to rename it in order to transcode it.

I like to transcode them to ProRes (especially for multi-clip editing) but the export format is up to you. I recommend testing a small file (or portion thereof) first for testing your export settings.