Importing to FCP from sony HDR-SR12

I refuse to believe that Sony produced a camera and knew full well that it would not be compatible with Final Cut.

Then you're living in denial my friend.
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/resources/supportdevices.php

{quote:title=Dean_Innit wrote:} Neither Intel Macs, nor PPC Macs will import, transcode or otherwise recognise AVCHD from the Sony SR12 using Apple software.{quote}

This is incorrect. For months now, I have been using FCP6 to Log and Transfer footage from the Sony SR12 on an Intel Mac Mini without any difficuly.

Frank

Frank Hand wrote:
{quote:title=Dean_Innit wrote:} Neither Intel Macs, nor PPC Macs will import, transcode or otherwise recognise AVCHD from the Sony SR12 using Apple software.{quote}

This is incorrect. For months now, I have been using FCP6 to Log and Transfer footage from the Sony SR12 on an Intel Mac Mini without any difficuly.

Frank

If that's so, then perhaps we can establish exactly how, because no software I have on either Intel or PPC will achieve that.

1. I am working with maximum HD quality on the SONY SR12. Are you importing max quality files via USB? I know it shouldn't make any difference, but it just might.

2. I have the same FCP 6.0.4 software as you, but not on an Intel machine with 10.5. Again, a different OS, 10.4.11, running same version software should not behave any differently, but it might.

Unwilling though I am to spend hours installing FCP and 10.5 on my Intel MacMini - and bearing in mind I already have Express on the Intel MBP and it doesn't recognise the camera - I will do this if it means I can compress my workflow and save time as I work with this camera in future.

Although, converting with glitch-free, speedy Toast, bless its cotton socks, means I can at least now start my edit!

Cheers

Dean.

Hi Dean,

Yes. I have transferred 1080 footage via USB as either ProRes or AIC without a problem. This is only supported on Intel Macs. There is some info at Apple Support which may help you get to the root of your problems:-

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24840?viewlocale=en_US
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2949
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2134
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2948
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25088

Frank

So what Camera would you guys suggest??? I don't have the HDR-SR12 yet, but I love the fact that it does full quality HD with the built in hardrive. If you guys had to do it all over, would you not get the HDR-SR12 or would you opt for another camera. It seems to me that the Cannon's and Sony's both use the .MTS format. Would there be a Panasonic equivalent you would prefer.

So knowing what you know now with all the problems, do you still love the camera, or would you opt for something different?

What's your budget?
What material do you want to record?
What's your shooting methodology?
What's your archiving attitude?

x

1. Budget: $1,000
2. I record instrctuional DVD's: http://www.vimeo.com/2100652
3. Most of my footage will be on the overhead keys and fixed. I want the video to be as clear as possible.
4. I backup all of my material on Iomega Rev 120 removable hardrive cartridges.

Put it this way..The HDR-SR12 would be perfect if it had Firewire!

Frank, thanks for that. I double-checked all settings on my Intel-powered MBP but

using FCE 4.0.1 (which is supposed to work with AVCHD) using QT 7.5.5 (the software tweaked as per http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2134 )I get this error message:

Warning

"ANY FOLDER_I_SELECT_ON_THE_SR12DRIVE" contains unsupported media or has an invalid directory structure. Please choose a folder whose directory structure matches supported media.

???

D.

Sorry, I don't know much about cameras in that price range.

fwiw - You could record in DV given the delivery size of the images.

Good luck,

x

Is it possible that you have recorded both HD (AVCHD) and SD (MPEG-2) content onto the SR12?

To import HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel-based Mac using iMovie, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera. Perhaps this is also the case with FCE?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1793?viewlocale=en_US

Frank Hand wrote:
Is it possible that you have recorded both HD (AVCHD) and SD (MPEG-2) content onto the SR12?

To import HD (AVCHD) content to an Intel-based Mac using iMovie, you must first erase the SD (MPEG-2) content on the camera. Perhaps this is also the case with FCE?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1793?viewlocale=en_US

Frank, you may be onto something. I will erase all the media on the camera and start from scratch. Report to follow.

FYI: Interesting difference between Toast and Voltaic is conversion from 5.1 audio to stereo - sounds quite dissimilar on playback. My advice is if you don't intend to use 5.1, don't record it!

{quote:title=Frank Hand wrote:}
Is it possible that you have recorded both HD (AVCHD) and SD (MPEG-2) content onto the SR12?{quote}

Frank - thanks a lot for your help with this. Once I deleted the SD files I had on my camera, it is straight away being found by Final Cut Express, the USB connection mounts the drive, and import works very well.

Later on I will install FCP on my Mac Mini and check that, just for thoroughness.

So, SR12 owners, this is a *BIG ALERT* which you won't find prominently written anywhere:

*You must only have either HD or SD on your camera's hard drive for it to import directly into Final Cut.*



FWIW if you have Final Cut on a non-Intel machine, or a version of iMovie other than iMovie '08 (7.1.4) (which also imports fine if the video formats are not mixed), then your best bet is definitely Toast which is fast and stable, and I've found, also mounts the camera direct.

I love it when internet people solve each others problems. Thanks once again and apologies for the frustrated posts!

Dean.

I have not checked this recently, but certainly in the past I have had *no trouble whatsoever* importing AVCHD clips from the HDD of a Sony SR8E into FCP 6 including when the camera's disc contained both HD and SD clips

A different camera from but from the same product line, so I just thought I would throw that out there lest folks construed your issues as being universal.

I have the HDR-CX12. It uses Memory Sticks instead of an internal hard drive. I've used the following workflow with no issues:

Shoot HD best quality video.
Remove memory stick from camera.
Use a card reader and copy files from memory stick to Mac Pro hard drive.
Back up original files onto an external drive.
Use FCP to log and transfer video from files on my hard drive.
Edit as usual.
Erase original files on memory stick and re-use for new video.

* Here is the key to this problem *

I have been struggling to find the answer....

Follow the steps outlined (FRANK HAND) in the second post...

My problem was that I was not using the cradle that came with the camera... I was just plugging it in via the USB.... YOU MUST USE THE CRADEL.... This is the key... it works great now!!!

THANKS FRANK!!!