Import 4K XAVC S from Sony a7R II to After Effects CC
So I’m starting to collect quite a lot of 4K XAVC S footage from my Sony a7R II and need to compile them a bit. I’m using After Effects CC and wouldn’t buy Final Cut Pro X since Steve Jobs already said in 2010 they are not going pro anymore. So, what’s the Sony a7R II XAVC S to After Effects CC best workflow.
The a7R II combines the world’s first back-illuminated 42.4 MP3 35 mm full-frame CMOS image sensor, Fast Hybrid AF, 5-axis image stabilization and advanced 4K movie recording, with sensitivity and speed to keep even fast-moving subjects looking sharp. An extended family of lenses and gear makes the most of its remarkable resolution even in tough field use. XAVC S format now supports 4K recording at maximum 100 Mbps bitrate as well as Full HD recording at 50 Mbps, so the α7R II can capture movies filled with finely detailed movement.
The fact of the matter is XAVC-S, or AVCHD, or any other similar format is very efficient for encoding video data into small file sizes. It is not however easy or quick to decode for high-quality finishing and post production processing. To edit Sony a7R II XAVC S in After Effects CC, a workaround is to convert XAVC S to MPEG-2, the most compatible codc for Adobe’s After Effects CC. Soured the internet, tried everything I could find and finally applied a utility- Acrok Video Converter Ultimate (Windows | Mac), an easy-to-use yet professional XAVC S video converter to solve the issue.
Free download Acrok 4K XAVC S Video Converter
This program features high efficiency and seamless conversion. With it, you can effortlessly convert Sony a7R II XAVC S footage to MPEG-2 encoded MPG files – ensuring maximum editing quality and efficiency when working with After Effects CC. In addition, the program can also help you transcode any video files to Apple ProRes, Apple Intermediate Codec, DNxHD for smoothly editing with Final Cut Pro (FCP X, FCP 7) iMovie, Avid Media Composer, etc.
How to convert and import Sony a7R II 4K XAVCS for to After Effects CC?
Step 1. Import 4K videos to the software
Once run Acrok Video Converter Ultimate as the Sony a7R II 4K XAVC S video converter, you can click “Add file” button to load source files.
Step 2. Select the output format
Click “Format” bar and choose “Editing Software -> Adobe Premiere MPEG-2 (*.mpg)” as After Effects CC compatible codec for editing XAVC S recordings smoothly. H.264 MP4, H.264 MOV are all the proper choice.
Tip: Tap “settings” to customize the output parameters- adjust the video size, bitrate, frame rate, audio sample rate, audio channel, etc to get a decent video for editing in After Effects CC. Usually 1080P is better choice for editing with After Effects CS5 – CC 2014.2.
Step 3. Start conversion
Click “Convert” button to start encoding 4K XAVC S to MPEG-2 MPG for After Effects CC. After short conversion, you can transfer your Sony a7R II footage into After Effects CC for editing smoothly.
