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Panasonic HDC-SD9 and iMovie 08 - summary of current issues

There are a few posts here, but I thought I'd summarise my experiences so far (I have a PAL model):

The camera is detected fine by iMovie 08 and everything was recorded at HA1920 (the highest quality).

1. 1080/25p with 5.1 sound - imports to iMovie but video plays back at the wrong speed
2. 1080i with 5.1 sound - import attempts crash iMovie
3. 1080/25p with 2.0 sound - imports to iMovie but video plays back at the wrong speed
4. 1080i with 2.0 sound - import attempts crash iMovie

I would have thought scenario 4 would be effectively the same as a HDC-SD5 (supported by iMovie 08) but clearly there are some issues here to iron out.

For now, I'm using Voltaic to convert to MOV files but lose the 5.1 sound (although I can workflow it back in again).

I'm still extremely pleased with the camera!

CD MacBook, 24" C2D iMac, CD Mac Mini, DP G4 Powermac, AppleTV, iPhone, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Feb 25, 2008 2:42 AM

112 replies

yortega

Level 1

0 points

May 4, 2008 5:24 AM in response to Michael Butler2

Hi all,

I bought Panasonic HDC-SD9 in France (i'm french) a few days ago. I've got the same problems as detailled by you.

Michael, have you tried to use Toast 9 Titanium to convert the files on your own? I tried different compressions but, if .mov generated seem to be ok (videoplayback is right), i can't import them into i'Movie! (you can't select the (grey) file).

Can you explain which settings would be best and ok?
If not, i'm afraid Toast isn't the solution 😟

Thank you.

May 6, 2008 11:57 AM in response to yortega

someone mentioned it would be a good idea to get a wide angle lense? these seem really cheap, are they any good? :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=110248734919&Category=64325 &_trksid=p3907.m29

geoban

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2008 1:24 PM in response to Michael Butler2

No - you have to convert the .MTS files with VoltaicHD.

It's a pain, but it works.

May 6, 2008 1:35 PM in response to yortega

You're right. I've moved onto Final Cut Pro which can import the HDV MOV files Toast is generating but iMovie does not. I've tried high bitrate Quicktime, H264 and AppleTV profiles but these can't be read by iMovie either. Looks like VoltaicHD is the only solution for iMovie at the moment (and only for files less than 2GB as I found out last week).

yortega

Level 1

0 points

May 6, 2008 11:09 PM in response to Michael Butler2

Well... no, maybe Voltaic isn't the unique solution 😉
After converting my .mts file with the toast converter (HDV 1080i or p, 25ips, AIC compression, 1920x1080 HD), i opened the .mov file in Quicktime Pro, then export it again using the same parameters with "sequence to quicktime sequence" (i hope this is the right translation in english!).

Then the .mov is ok to import into I'Movie. The video is a bit darker but compression seems similar. Of course and unfortunatly, you loose 5.1 sound and get stereo sound only (like Voltaic indeed).

Try it and tell me what you think of it.

Kikoz

Level 1

0 points

May 7, 2008 8:51 PM in response to Michael Butler2

So, this thread started on Feb 25. It's May 7 now. Any ........ news at all? 2.5 months on some format issue? I'm a programmer, I can tell that you can build a lot in 2.5 month having Apple's resources.
I got my SD9 today, like it but going to return it in a couple of days and get canon HF10 if I don't see anything meaningful by then.
Soooo much for "it just works"...

May 7, 2008 11:12 PM in response to Kikoz

I hear the Cannon has better picture quality? Just wondering, is it smaller?

Panasonic HDC-SD9 and iMovie 08 - summary of current issues