How to transcode Nikon D810 footage to Apple ProRes for FCP X

Summary: If you have troubles while working Nikon D810 60p files with FCP X, you can consider transcoding Nikon D810 MOV to Apple ProRes, the best suited editing codec of FCP X.

Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of the D810, a Nikon FX-format digital SLR camera. The D810 is a digital SLR camera that boasts incredibly superior definition and image quality made possible with a new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, adoption of the latest EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, an effective pixel count of 36.3-million pixels, and a standard range of sensitivities from ISO 64 to ISO 12800. Not only does it offer extremely accurate AF, but vibrations generated inside the camera have been reduced to maximize the resolution of its 36.3-million pixels for sharp and clear images. The camera also supports recording of smooth, extremely sharp 60p full-HD (1920 x 1080) movies.

You probably already import Nikon D810 movie files to FCP X with create your home video, but it seems that FCP X doesn’t recognize the Nikon D810 MOV files well, This is because the H.264 is not a codec or format that is suitable for editing within FCP X or some other editing program, like iMovie, FCE, FCP and Avid. To make Nikon D810 H.264 footage work smoothly with FCP X, you can try the Nikon Video Converter for Mac and convert Nikon D810 60p H.264 MOV video to Apple ProRes for FCP X.

Download Nikon Video Converter for Mac



Step 1. Install and run Nikon HD Video Converter for Mac, run the app and click “Add Video” or “Add from folder” button to browse to Nikon D810 MOV footage either from cam HDD or SD card.



Step 2. Choose Apple ProRes format for FCP X
Click on “Format” bar set an Apple ProRes format. You are advised to Follow “Final Cut Pro” template and choose “Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)”. The ingested Nikon D810 files could be significantly larger than the original files, which has a much higher compression ratio than Apple ProRes. If you prefer smaller file size, choose “Apple ProRes 422 (LT) (*.mov)” instead. The “Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy) (*.mov)” format offers file size at SD levels and is recommended for 480i/p and 576i/p shootings.

Step 3. Click the “Settings” button and customize proper video/ audio parameters if necessary. E.g. Set video size to 1920*1080 or set smaller bitrate to further cut down export file size. You may skip this step as well.



Tips: If you don’t want to wait around in front of your computer for the converting process, you can tick off ‘Shut down computer after conversion’ and go away to do other things.

Step 4. Start conversion
When ready, click ‘Convert’ button to convert Nikon D810 video files to Apple ProRes for editing with FCP X, After conversion just click the “Open” button to locate converted Nikon D810 files for FCP X post-production.

More tips:

How to Import Nikon D810 60p H.264 MOV to Windows Movie Maker

Workflow guide for editing Nikon D800/D810/D800E video to iMovie

How to Transcode Nikon D800/D810/D800E video to ProRes 422 for FCP