ThinningPatience

Q: Converting MTS To Apple ProRes 422 HQ In Compressor

Hi,

 

I started using Final Cut a couple of days ago.

 

I am considering buying Compressor in order to batch-export outside of Final Cut Pro X, but I was wondering if Compressor can also be used to convert MTS files to Apple ProRes 422HQ PRIOR to importing them into FCP for editing, or is it an export tool only?

 

If the encoding can't be done with Compressor, which conversion programme are all the cool kids using these days?

 

I've been working with the native MTS files in FCP. It's not as awful as I expected, considering that it was nigh-on impossible to work with MTS files a few years back in my Premiere Pro days. However, If I can speed up my workflow AND reduce file size a little, that would be great.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on May 26, 2016 5:31 PM

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Q: Converting MTS To Apple ProRes 422 HQ In Compressor

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky May 26, 2016 5:40 PM in response to ThinningPatience
    Level 10 (118,096 points)
    Apple TV
    May 26, 2016 5:40 PM in response to ThinningPatience

    CCompressor can't open .mts files.

     

    IF you have some .mts files to test you should try EditReady.

     

    I don't think you can reduce file sizes more than your .mts files probably are, but I guess it depends where they came from.

  • by Mike Sastre,Helpful

    Mike Sastre Mike Sastre May 27, 2016 3:13 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (19 points)
    May 27, 2016 3:13 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    I've used ClipWrap to convert .mts files to ProRes 422 before.

  • by Tom Wolsky,Helpful

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky May 27, 2016 3:14 AM in response to Mike Sastre
    Level 10 (118,096 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 3:14 AM in response to Mike Sastre

    CLipWrap became EditReady.

  • by ThinningPatience,

    ThinningPatience ThinningPatience May 27, 2016 3:21 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    May 27, 2016 3:21 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Thanks again, Tom.

     

    I downloaded the trial of EditReady and was impressed. Since the trial version only allows you to convert the first minute of each video, I bought a licence. I was shocked to find that converting a 2 GB MTS to ProRes 422 HQ increased the file size to a staggering 17GB, with standard ProRes 422 weighing in at around 12GB.

     

    However, I tried converting the MTS file to a standard H.264 mov file and it looks great. The files size is a little smaller than the raw MTS file, but that's exactly what I need, since I have over a thousand clips with which to make 300 videos of around 10 minutes each in duration. Hopefully using this file type to edit with will save drive space and prevent me from using proxy media.

     

    Thanks again.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky May 27, 2016 6:35 AM in response to ThinningPatience
    Level 10 (118,096 points)
    Apple TV
    May 27, 2016 6:35 AM in response to ThinningPatience

    If you're going to H.264 from .mts probably your best option in EditReady is to rewrap rather than recompress. Rewrap passes through the video, processes the audio, and makes it QuickTime.

  • by ThinningPatience,

    ThinningPatience ThinningPatience May 27, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    May 27, 2016 7:14 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Thanks, Tom.

  • by josephedwin,

    josephedwin josephedwin May 30, 2016 5:54 AM in response to ThinningPatience
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Video
    May 30, 2016 5:54 AM in response to ThinningPatience

    you can use without any conversion in fcpx or convert with toast go to avchd/click right button in it/show content package/bdmv/show content package/stream/get mts/select all or multiple drag it toast....

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 May 30, 2016 6:40 AM in response to ThinningPatience
    Level 6 (11,819 points)
    May 30, 2016 6:40 AM in response to ThinningPatience

    I believe you are overthinking all this. Instead of all the converting, just bring the mts files directly into FCP X.

    Better still, don't work with isolated mts files, keep the full card structure - either using the card or making a copy on your drive - and import with the benefit of the full metadata present in the card.

     

    FWIW: it is no surprise that ProRes files are much larger. ProRes is an intra-frame codec, suitable for production, not delivery.

    Speedy, effective editing, not heavy compression, is what it is made for.