Do I need to convert to ProRes 422 (from AVCHD .mov files, Sony NX5u)?

Question

Do I need to convert to ProRes 422 (from AVCHD .mov files, Sony NX5u)?

Hello.

My Sony NX5u cameras are still fairly new to me and I'm still in the midst of the SD/HD transition. I was just reading that it is best to convert the camera's AVCHD .mov files to Apple ProRes 422 for editing in FCP.

First off, how necessary is this?

What if I don't convert them and just log & transfer directly into FCP (which I've done a few times now already)?

Finally, if it really is crucial, what are the highest recommended programs? I've seen Foxreal Video Converter and a couple others here in the forum.

Thank you very much!
Eric

MacPro / PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.6.6), FCP 7.0.3

Posted on Feb 4, 2011 6:02 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 4, 2011 6:07 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

First off, how necessary is this?

Absolutely necessary.

What if I don't convert them and just log & transfer directly into FCP (which I've done a few times now already)?

That's fine.

Finally, if it really is crucial, what are the highest recommended programs? I've seen Foxreal Video Converter and a couple others here in the forum.

Why not just use Log and Transfer? It's built into the program.

Given the source, ProRes Standard or ProRes LT are the appropriate choices. No need for HQ - it is for film based source media.

x

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Answer 2

Feb 4, 2011 6:17 AM in response to Studio X

Thank you very much for your reply.

I didn't realize that the L&T could convert them too, I'm experimenting with that now.

From your reply though, I have to ask... you said that it is absolutely necessary, but then also siad "it's fine" if I don't. That just makes me wonder even more what the difference will be between converting and not. Any ideas?

Thanks again,
Eric

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Answer 3

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Feb 4, 2011 6:22 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

From your reply though, I have to ask... you said that it is absolutely necessary, but then also siad "it's fine" if I don't.

My mistake. I misread the original post and interpreted it as "what if I use log and transfer...."

If Log and Transfer doesn't work for your particular variation of AVCHD, MpegStreamClip (MSC) should work. It has the advantage of being free.

x

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Answer 4

Feb 4, 2011 6:34 AM in response to Studio X

So I just did a quick little test and imported the same :30 clip two times.

The first time I didn't do anything special, I just opened L&T and imported the clip.

The second time, in the preference of L&T I specifically selected the AVCHD as source format and ProRes 422 LT as Target format.

When looking at the clip info in the Browser they BOTH say Apple ProRes 422 for Compressor.

So does this mean that my L&T is automatically converting to ProRes 422 even when I didn't realize it? I'd say so.

Bottom line... do I need to do anything different than what I've been doing then, which, technically is nothing 🙂

Eric

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Answer 5

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Feb 4, 2011 7:02 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

I cannot reproduce this behavior. It may be specific to the media from this camera. It doesn't happen with other AVCHD media.

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Answer 6

Feb 4, 2011 7:09 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, you're saying that when you L&T footage into FCP the file created is NOT ProRes 422? What is it then?

Eric

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Answer 7

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Feb 4, 2011 7:27 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

If I have L&T preferences set to ProRes, the ingested media is ProRes. If I have L&T preferences set to ProRes LT, the ingested media is ProRes LT.

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Answer 8

Feb 4, 2011 7:41 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Oh ok, I think what I was getting at is that the default in my L&T must be to convert to ProRes 422 and I didn't even know it. So this morning when I was doing some research online and happened to come accross something that said to convert the footage to prores I got worried that I had been doing something wrong. Again, as it turns out, FCP IS converting it to ProRes 422 so I must be ok.

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Answer 9

Feb 4, 2011 7:43 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

Now that I think about it, just one other note here for those following this thread - when I did my little test as I noted a few posts up and the resulting file was identical (both converted to ProRes 422) the second time it should have been ProRes 422 LT. So I wonder why it didn't convert to LT?

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Answer 10

Mar 1, 2011 10:51 PM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

I am having a similar problem. Only, I am trying to transfer .mov files from a Canon 5D. I attempted to convert the files to Apple Prores using MSC, and it didn't show up. Apple prores doesn't appear on my version of FCE. I used L&T and it told me that it was unsupported media. What do I do to edit these files without having to rendeer all the clips?

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

150,980 points

Mar 1, 2011 10:58 PM in response to Logicmankic

This is not the Final Cut Express forum. ProRes is only available with Final Cut Pro not with FCE.

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Answer 12

Mar 2, 2011 9:48 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Ok. My sincere apologies.

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Answer 13

tidasaha

Level 1

5 points

Aug 1, 2012 10:40 PM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

I think Apple ProRes 422 Converter can help you. The software can convert camera's AVCHD .mov files to Apple ProRes 422 for editing in FCP easily.

http://www.appleprores422converter.com/

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Answer 14

Aug 3, 2012 10:59 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

I use PAVtube's Camcorder to FCP Converter. It allows me to view the .MTS clips on my Mac without converting them and then allows me to rename them and batch convert them to a number of different formats including all of the ProRes's. It is available at the APP store.

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Answer 15

Jul 28, 2014 1:13 AM in response to Eric Pensenstadler

We convert all our AVCHD files to ProRes. Or you need to download the ProRes codecs from Adobe so they will show up. Plus, for it to work you do need to have a registered ProRes application like FinalCut installed on the same machine to be able to use the ProRes.

Best Regards
Jeff

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