bms-lou

Q: Importing Canon HF R300 video into EXT HD (not using imovie)..??

Good day folks.!!

 

Been playing with my new late 2012 - 27" imac lately and today finally bought a new camcorder. The Canon Vixia HF R300. The camera records in AVCHD and I have found many topics on how to import my video from the camera to my imac..."going through iMovie" BUT - here is my dilema.......

 

I just want my clips on my EXT HD.... and I dont want to have to go through imovie (or iphoto) to do that. The only way i have found to do this is by importing all my vid clips into iphoto and the exporting them all to my EXT HD.

 

Also, example here.....If I have 20 clips on my camera, I dont want to have to import all 20 clips into imovie (or iphoto) & then export them from there - just so I can get them to my EXT HD.

 

Is there a way to get the clips to my EXT HD, w/o needing or using imovie (imovie 11).  I have simply taken the SDHC card out of my camera and put it in my imac...and sure the vid files comes up.....but they are not drag and dropppable. It's basically like I can see them, but cant move them.

 

Any help? 

Posted on Jan 6, 2013 5:45 PM

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Q: Importing Canon HF R300 video into EXT HD (not using imovie)..??

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  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jan 7, 2013 7:26 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Jan 7, 2013 7:26 PM in response to bms-lou

    You really do not need any software to get footage off your SD card onto a Mac. None. You can use some, but unless it offers superb editing or other options you want to use, there is no need for it. So if you have something installed, can you drag it to the trash to test if it works better without it.

     

    Also, did you check all your preferences in various places as I had suggested earlier? I have mine set so the icon simply shows up on my desktop. At that point, I can decide where it should go next. In your case, you should be able to copy it to the external then.

  • by bms-lou,

    bms-lou bms-lou Jan 7, 2013 7:41 PM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 7:41 PM in response to babowa

    I didnt think i needed software to get clips off the sdhc....that why im just not following why this isnt working. I did remove all the canon stuff i downloaded for the mac an hour ago as that didnt help at all. Hoping to hear from someone who uses this exact camera and reads this thread to see how they get the files off the sdhc - "without using imovie or iphoto"..

     

    As my orig post....i know i can get them into imovie....but I dont want all my files to go into imovie....I just want them in my ext hd so I can back them up from there. Then what ever clips i chose to edit when ever ready....i can just import them into imovie from there.

     

    I did check a few preferences as you noted.... and when i insert the sdhc in my imac, it does go to my desktop...which is how i want it - so i too can decide how to proceed. The other preferences stuff....im not following exactly how to check.

     

    Thanks again for you and everyone sinput on this over the past day.  Much appreciated.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jan 7, 2013 7:48 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Jan 7, 2013 7:48 PM in response to bms-lou

    Every application has its own preference file accessible under its name in the menu bar. As I said earlier:

     

    What are your settings for external disks, importing of photos/videos, etc? Check preferences in all of these: iPhoto, iMovie, Finder/view, Image Capture, System Preferences>CDs&DVDs, and any other photo/graphics/video application you have.

     

    Check to see if you have any set to anything besides getting your icon on the desktop. Since it is showing up, try it now - without any software to interfere, you should be able to drag the filw to your external. Have you tried to drag either the entire folder and/or the individual clips?

     

    Your camera model shouldn't matter especially if you are using the SDHC card directly.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Jan 7, 2013 8:04 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 8:04 PM in response to bms-lou

    Just found this in the Apple site at OS X Mountain Lion: About AVCHD files and QuickTime Player

    QuickTime Player in Mountain Lion allows you to play back, inspect, trim, export, and share video from AVCHD media. The AVCHD format is used by high definition consumer devices such as hard disk-based camcorders and digital still cameras with video.

    AVCHD media is usually accessed by connecting your camcorder or camera to the Mac via a USB cable. Some devices, such as digital cameras, may also have removable memory cards that can be read using a USB card reader or the SD card slot included with some Macs.

    Important: Check the documentation that came with your device (or its online support information) for information about the recommended method of transferring AVCHD media to your Mac.

    Once you've transferred your AVCHD media to your Mac, it will appear as a folder on your drive. To access your clips in the media, open the folder and double-click the file named AVCHD, BDMV, or PRIVATE.

    So the way I read this is that the top level folder or the foler  named PRIVATE on your card is what you want to copy in. The clips are only accessible to the video software.

     

    Can you copy either the top level or  PRIVATE folder off the card?

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Jan 7, 2013 8:03 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 8:03 PM in response to bms-lou

    Also have you checked out the manual for the camera. Starting at page 131 is instructions for transferring AVCHD to a computer.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Jan 7, 2013 8:07 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 8:07 PM in response to bms-lou

    bms-lou wrote:

     

    Yea, I'm really confused. When i put in my sdhc card this time. I was able to drag the "avchd" file (that contained my 3 vis clips) over. But after i opened the avchd file, i get the 3 files inside a window like this. These are the 3 files that arent draggable and I cant even rename them. They do show that they are there...but I cant do anything with them.

     

    I do believe this is the correct behavior for this type of video. The clips are only accessible to a video program.

     

     

     

    I'll also, add....that after i got these vid files in my EXT HD, and when i go to imovie to import them....this entire folder is grayed out, as if I can't import them either.  Weird...I'm just not getting this. I thought it'd be a simple drag and drop after i put my sdhc card in back of my imac...but its just not drag and droppable. Heck....im not even sure why the file folder shows up like a quick time file....but the 3 files above dont show have entensions of .MOV either.??

    See the link I posted above,

  • by bms-lou,

    bms-lou bms-lou Jan 7, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 8:31 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

    Wow...nice find on the quicktime/apple link. Thats totally it.

     

    Sounds like I might need to go download that Canon Browser EX software again for OSX as I already removed it from my trash bin.  LOL. Looking like I'll need to do this tomorrow. I'll follow up once I get a chance to try it that way and follow the manul. I did see that in the manual originally....but like I mentione dearlier....the disc  (and the manual) said "windows only", so I kinda ignored it.

     

    Thanks again all.  I'll follow up in day-ish.

  • by Frank Caggiano,

    Frank Caggiano Frank Caggiano Jan 7, 2013 8:39 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (25,796 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 8:39 PM in response to bms-lou

    OK good luck. I'm pretty sure this is what is going on, there were also a few posts here  on ASC that seemed to address the same issue.

     

    One other thing that's been mentioned is that the AVCHD folder acts like a OS X bundle. That is an OS X app or an iPhoto library looks like single file but if  you right click on it and select Show Package Contents you see that is is really made up of multiple files in multiple directories.

     

    If that is the case you might be able to right click on the PRIVATE folder, select  Show Package Contents and get down to the clips.

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jan 7, 2013 9:16 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Jan 7, 2013 9:16 PM in response to bms-lou

    Not sure if the following might or might not have anything to do with it; decided to look at the specs of your camcorder; saw that it can shoot :

     

    NTSC:

    AVCHD: 60i/PF24/PF30

     

    I believe iMovie cannot process 60 frames per second (don't know about iPhoto since I don't use it) - are you shooting at 30 or 60 fps?

  • by Drew13,

    Drew13 Drew13 Jan 7, 2013 9:19 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 6 (12,335 points)
    Jan 7, 2013 9:19 PM in response to bms-lou

    I have not tried that camera, but I have had some cameras where a disk image is a good idea (depended on which version of iMovie/Final Cut etc, which camera, which codec. etc.)

     

    WIth Disk Utility, create a disc image (DMG) from the SD card, the entire card, to the external drive.

     

    Do not erase the SD card yet.

     

    Unmount the DMG.

     

    Then (just to be sure) create a duplicate of the DMG as you try things out.

     

    Mount the duplicate DMG (which is on the external HD) and import into iMovie/iPhoto as needed, see if that works.

     

    Also MiroVideoConverter (free App at App store) is one of the utilities to try with conversions.

     

    The above is a bit broad, but some tricks/workarounds that I have used.

  • by Alchroma,

    Alchroma Alchroma Jan 7, 2013 10:28 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 6 (19,036 points)
    Video
    Jan 7, 2013 10:28 PM in response to bms-lou

    Please check your external is formatted to MAC OS Extended.

    If it's not it's wise to do so for large video files.

     

    Note: Formatting removes all info, so backup important stuff if you decide to proceed.

     

    I would suggest making an image of the entire SD card as the complete card structure is required for ingesting to apps like iMovie or FCP X, otherwise you will be transcoding later on rather than simply ingesting.

     

    Al

  • by AppleMan1958,

    AppleMan1958 AppleMan1958 Jan 8, 2013 9:48 AM in response to Drew13
    Level 7 (27,439 points)
    Jan 8, 2013 9:48 AM in response to Drew13

    Drew13s advice is right on. You need to save the entire contents of the card to be able to use it in Apple apps.

    Creating a disk image will do this, but if you do a simple Disk Image on an 8GB card that only has used 4GB for the AVCHD, you lose 4GB of space on your disk. If you don't want to use iMovie, you can use the custom settings of Disk Utility, and create a custom size of 4.1 GB.

     

    If you don't mind using iMovie, just go to the Import Screen and click "Create Camera Archive". This will preserve everything you need. In essence it makes a mirror image of your card. Later, you can go back and decide which clips to import. It also wastes no space.

  • by bms-lou,

    bms-lou bms-lou Jan 11, 2013 2:38 PM in response to Frank Caggiano
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2013 2:38 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

    OK........been a few days, but had to report what I have came acorss so far.

     


    I went back and re-downloaded the software (ImageBrowserEX) on Canons site that is for OSX and this camera and tried it again. I couldnt get it to work at all. It never found my videos clips. The manual is confusing as it covers both windows and mac ...but to me dont seem very clear. I was all through that software....and nothing!

     

    To rehash - I just wanted to be able to get the video clips off my the camera and save them directly to my EXT HD (or Desktop) - rather than HAVE to use imovie 11. Well, I CAN do that.....but I was just hoping for an easier way. Mostly like being able to just drag them from the Canon window to my EXT HD - but they are not draggable at that point.  Weird....but anyway.

     

    In finally having time to sit down and play with the camera more and my imac.....I guess the way I have it  - is pretty easy anyway.

     

    Here's how I'm doing it:

     

    I'm just removing the SDHC card out of the camera, plugging it into my imac, and then dragging the entire "Canon" card from my desktop over to my iPhoto Events page. It loads the clips in and then I can easily drag back to my desktop or if I wish to my EXT HD. At first I thought I had to export them form imovie...but that isn't necessary. This might be stuff many know already......but I'm just covering it for anyone who might read this later and wonders as well.

     

    In closing....major thanks again for the help given to me in this thread. I really appreciate all your times in replying and any research you all might have done for me on this.  Have a great New Year. 

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Jan 11, 2013 2:53 PM in response to bms-lou
    Level 7 (32,117 points)
    iPad
    Jan 11, 2013 2:53 PM in response to bms-lou

    Glad to hear you got it working. Not sure if I had mentioned the fact that I always use my SD card directly rather than try to attach my camera - if nothing else, it saves the battery and it's easier to deal with.

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