Should I Transcode MXF Files before Ingesting??

[Jeremy36307606gbpn]

Hey everyone. I've just started to experiment with transcoding my files before ingesting into PP. 

I use Sony cameras which create .mxf files. Source clips are 25fps, UHD Progressive. Using one of the Adobe Media Encoder presets (Match Source - Adaptive High Bitrate) as in the attached screenshot it reduces the file size quite dramatically and outputs a .mp4 file.

So far, I can see the benefits of transcoding as:

1.  It produces smaller files that take up less space
2.  Seems to be less CPU and GPU intensive, allowing smoother editing on the timeline, especially for multicam editing
3.  On point 2, I can edit more smoothly on my lower spec laptop
4.  I have also seen some posts suggesting that mxf files might trigger PP crashes

I understand that the MXF format is effectively just a wrapper for an mp4 file so I can't really see the point of the wrapper when it seems to just create a larger file. 

My question then is: what, if any, are the potential pitfalls of transcoding?

The thing that comes to mind is would there be any noticeable loss in quality one I export? Mostly, I will be exporting an MP4 file around 12-14 kbps. 

Thanks in advance!

[T - Sal]

Hello, In my view, it's more advantageous to generate proxies rather than encode your original files directly. Proxies provide equivalent outcomes during the editing process, allowing you to work with the original files only during export.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi @Jeremy36307606gbpn,

Thanks for the question. For multicam, @T - Sal has a good idea about using the proxy workflow, which is advantageous in many cases. 

For long-form productions, in addition to smoother editing, transcoding to ProRes has some advantages, one of which is smart rendering. That workflow saves me a lot of time and frustration (especially for making small corrections). I love being able to make a correction, and then create a new export very quickly. It's much faster than waiting for another H.264 to encode. The only disadvantage I see is that you need large-capacity drives. Check out that article for instructions.

I hope the info helps.

Thanks,
Kevin