How do I view "TOD. file format" on my Mac

Connect the camera to your computer and fire up iMovie 7.
Your files are MPEG-2 and iMovie can read and import them from the camera. It can not read them if the files have been moved from the camera to a drive without additional steps.

Best way I found is running the install disk that came with the camera then using Quicktime to convert the TOD file to mpeg4 using export function on MAC.

I was thinking about writing a script to download and convert all the TOD files to mpeg 4. But JVCs windows application is so much better for converting all the files to MPEG that its just another example why windows is great and MAC ***** sometimes. For months people have been praying that the MAC gods would break down and try to support the JVC camcorder but they failed to act. To worried about getting into new markets and lost focus on the core base of MAC supporters.

I'm on that same boat with you larvaetrack. I have final cut studio and after installing that Everio Quicktime component, i still cannot get to import them TOD files. I'm gona google for some quick way around if any. And I really hope if you find an answer for the tod mystery, do let me know. I'll do likewise here for you and rest of mac users.

There is a solution. iMovie 08 is perfect for the HD7 as they are both Full HD. Go to eBay, choose BUY then enter "GZ-HD"7 and you'll find 2 pages of HD7 items. On the second page you'll find:
"JVC GZ-HD7 FullHD Harddisk Camcorder -- New eBook GUIDE"

This eBook has step-by-step instructions on using iMovie 08 with the HD7. Getting the two to work together isn't hard, but it sure isn't obvious, as you've found. 🙂

TOD is an odd container wrapping up mpeg2-TS encoded video and mpeg2 encoded audio. Hardly mac friendly.

Good news is there are free tools to convert them.

Try MPEG Streamclip 1.9 by Squared 5. http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
Or, try FFMPEGX, which is a Mac OS wrapper arround open source ffmeg video converison tools.

Convert to MPEG-4 1080i and you're in business with iMovie 08, Final Cut Pro, etc.

Hello everybody,

first of all I wanna thank the founders for that great forum. Found interesting information here.
Hopefully I'll help with some data and have some questions at the same time.

After researching several communities I use MPEG SC 1.9 to convert the TOD files. There was a little disturbance, either to convert to HDV or AIC. Hopefully my little test will display the difference:
TOD file 39.7 MB in 1920x1080

DV file 46.3 MB in roughly 1.5 min
adjustments within MSC...Format: DV Stream(PAL, Interlaced,16:9, Audio rate 48000khz), scale Interlaced, color re-interlace, upper pic first
-> FCP no render for Video necessary
-> hopefully I got all menue options halfway right. Apparently I'm not US and use a german version 🙂


MOV file 143.6 MB with Apple Intermediate Codec in exactly 1 min
adjustments within MSC...Format: Quicktime Export, Compression AIC, Audio uncompressed, 1920x1080, scale Interlaced, color re-interlace, upper pic first
-> FCP rencer for Video necessary
-> hopefully that's the codec everybody means, when talking AIC !?

General FCP question here:
I've set it to HDV 1080i 50 and then imported the files to the project. Apparently the movie in the canvas (100% size) should be huge, a lot of scrolling bars. But it isn't. It's a little bit bigger than the canvas or viewer window and the picture isn't that clear.
Same thing with the TOD file in Mpeg SC. It's not crystal clear, far away from expectations. Cars in city limits seem to have stripes while in motion. The frame size doesn't fit. It should be bigger than my smaller display can display.

Here's the info out of Mpeg SC:
Stream: MOV001.TOD
Pfad: ~/Movies/MOV001.TOD
Typ: MPEG transport stream

Dauer: 0:00:13
Datenmenge: 39.73 MB
Bit Rate: 24.66 Mbps

Video Spuren:
4113 MPEG-2, 1920 × 1080, 16:9, 29.97 fps, 28.00 Mbps, oberes Halbbild zuerst

Audio Spuren:
4129 MP2 stereo, 48 kHz, 384 kbps

Stream Dateien:
MOV001.TOD (39.73 MB)

Why is the 1920x1080 not the size it should be ? Honestly, if that s the quality from a daylight shot I will sell that camcorder right away and buy a PAL system mini DV for half the price. It's bad !

I've chosen Apple FCP unkompr. 8-Bit 4:2:2 in MSC.
At least I got a 1920x1080 picture/movie. But what does 8Bit 4:2:2 mean ?
Is that what all of you do ? Guess not.
22 sec of movie 78.7 MB big turn out to 2.55 GB !!!

Still the quality isn't that great. Would someone please help me with the parameters in MSC to convert ? That would be awesome.

Lowlight quality of the camcorder is really bad. One bulp and it's spooky dark. But that's not that bad, if at least perfect lid scenes would be great.
I still wait for those super color pics 😟