MAGNETRON

Monotron

SpotMXF checker

Free

A dedicated QC app for checking whether an MXF file really matches the Spot-style delivery you intended to create.

SpotMXF Checker main window

Built for confident SpotMXF file checking

SpotMXF Checker is made for the moment right before delivery, handoff, or rejection: when you need to know whether an MXF file is merely readable, or whether it actually behaves like a proper Spot-style broadcast file.

Instead of dumping raw probe data on screen, it turns the file into a checklist of concrete pass/fail checks for container structure, video format, timecode, audio layout, loudness, and legal color behavior. That makes it much easier to spot what is wrong and decide whether the file is safe to send on.

SpotMXF Checker will be available as a free standalone download for focused MXF preflight work.

What it does

  • Checks whether the file is a readable MXF with the expected OP1a-style structure.
  • Validates core video rules such as XDCAM HD 422 Long GOP 50 profile, GOP size, bitrate, raster, HD 1080i50 format, and field order.
  • Checks timecode start and continuity, aspect handling, BT.709 metadata, and illegal color range behavior.
  • Verifies the expected 8-channel mono PCM audio structure at 48 kHz / 24-bit.
  • Runs stereo and surround loudness checks for the channel groups the delivery is expected to contain.

The result is a practical preflight view of the file. You do not have to interpret a wall of technical metadata first. You immediately see which parts of the file pass, which ones fail, and where the file drifts away from the expected delivery profile.

Screenshots

SpotMXF Checker main window
Main window

Why use the Monotron version

Use the Monotron version when you want one focused app for MXF preflight without opening the full Magnetron environment. It launches quickly, stays locked to one task, and is easy to hand to someone who only needs to validate delivery files instead of navigating a broader recipe toolkit.

That makes it especially useful for last-minute QC, handoff desks, operator stations, and situations where you want a simple yes-or-no checkpoint before a file leaves the building.

Current check areas

  • File readability and MXF container detection
  • Operational pattern OP1a
  • Video profile: XDCAM HD 422 Long GOP 50
  • GOP size, bitrate, raster, HD 1080i50, and top-field-first behavior
  • Timecode start, material continuity, and GOP timecode continuity
  • Aspect ratio, letterbox handling, BT.709 metadata, and illegal color levels
  • Duration multiple-of-5 validation
  • 8-channel mono PCM audio at 48 kHz / 24-bit
  • Audio layout checks plus stereo and surround loudness validation

In other words, SpotMXF Checker answers the question that matters most during delivery QC: not just “does this file open?” but “does this file actually look like the broadcast master we meant to export?”

Also available inside Magnetron

This standalone app comes directly from the Magnetron recipe library, so you can either run it by itself or use the same checker as part of a larger Magnetron delivery workflow alongside conversion, loudness, and export recipes.

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