Final Cut Pro X - Import AVCHD?

factualfilms wrote:

But can you replicate the "old" workflow of just transcoding the clips you have used in the timeline/project rather than everything in the Event? Kind of offline/online scenario?

Thanks for the replies by the way.

I guess the best way, is to set a Keyword on the clips used int he timeline, then you can always select that keyword in the event, select all those clips and right-click -> Transcode Media...

Right now, FCPX does not have a automatic keyword set on 'used in timeline' clips, but maybe Tom or others have some input on this..?

Could you use Consolidate Media "Copy used clips only" to achieve the same result as duplicating the project?

I don't quite get the keyword solution...

Jakob Peterhänsel wrote:

A.Y. wrote:

factualfilms wrote:

why not just import direct into FCPX and optimise Media in the usual way...this all seems so complicated what's the point I don't understand. if you want to back up frst create an archive and then import. I think it's all there in the sotware this all sounds like incredibly hard and convoluted work to me.

Jakob Peterhänsel wrote:

And yeah, I don't understand why people go all this way to use it in FCPX, unless they messed up the SDcard structure!

FCPX, during import, copy (if you so chooce) the original media and transcode to ProRes[Proxy] that is Much faster to work with.

Reason one:

Many new Mac users have years of AVCHD .m2ts files on their PC hard drives that iMovie, FCP, and QuickTime player won't touch.

Option 1: They can use ClipWrap or Media Converter to quickly rewrap the AVCHD files into .mov container and the process takes about as long as copying the files over to another drive. Also, the file sizes stay pretty much the same. The rewrapped files now can be used for iMovie and FCP projects and QT will play them smooth on Mac with i3 or better processors.

Option 2: They can reimport all of their .m2ts files back to the camcorders to recrete the original SD/drive structure, providing that they have all of the .modd files that stored the info needed, so that iMovie or FCP can transcode all of them to AIC or ProRes the NORMAL way. This process is extremely time consuming and file sizes balloon 6 (AIC) to 8 (ProRes) folds at the end.

Which option will you or most people choose?

Reason two:

A 60-minute event covered by three cameras means only 1/3 of the footage will ever be used in the documentary timeline. Importing the NORMAL way takes a long time and you end up with 250GB of transcoded files vs. rewrapping 38GB. The rewrapping method means at the end only the footage used will be rendered not all of the clips. Backing up several copies of 38GB footage is a lot cheaper than 250GB in labor and drive costs.

Time is money, whatever method that help cut down on the overall time spent on the project is good business.

Reason two is wrong!

1: Import to FCPX only takes the time it takes to import(copy!) the original files! As fast, or faster than rewrapping, since you do not need to spend time importing to FCPX after..!

2: FCPX transcodes to Optimized and/or Proxy in th background, and the user can then choose to use that when it's available. Yes, it takes op storage while it's there, but:

3: You can always simply delete the Proxy or Optimized files in the Finder when you are done with editing! You can always ask FCPX to regenerate them, as long as you have the Original files in the Event!

If you choose not to copy the original files to the Event, you will need to make sure you have backups of the SD card(s), as FCPX then simply makes Aliases to those - but then it only takes seconds to have the media in the Event..

So, the 'wrap up': 😉

1: Import directly to FCPX as long as you have the SDcard structure!

2: Us ClipWrap etc if you for some reason only have the MTS files, and need to go that way.

That would be the most eficient workflow!

Proclaiming something wrong without understanding all of the advantages is not helpful when many Mac owners use both OSX and Windows on a regular basis and can benifit from such tips.

Importing 3 hours of 1080 60p or 60i footage to BootCamp/Sony Picture Motion Browser takes minutes and it allows immediate examination of all of the clips at 1080 resolution at silky smooth 60 frames/fields per second without waiting a second on transcoding.

If the same 3-hour footage is imported to FCPX, it'll take my 27" iMac 3 hours to background render before all of the 1080 60p will play smooth within FCPX- I've been through this many times! By the way neighter FCPX, iMovie, nor QuickTime player can playback 1080 60i at 60 fields per second, resulting in choppy appearance, but no such limitations with BootCamp/Windows/PMB.

After examining all of the clips, only the .m2ts clips needed for the project will be rewrapped to .mov, imported to FCPX, and rendered to ProRes. This save time and disk space.

FCPX also import .mts files by rewrapping them to .mov if the "Create Optimized Media" option is not checked so there's nothing unusual about rewrapping. Just right click and "Render" the rewrapped files anytime.

PLEASE HELP

I am new to both FCPX and the Gh2, hoepfully someone can give me a hand...

Right now in 10.0.7, I simply CANNOT import .mts files successfully. It will get one or two random files of the batch, but on literally every other clip it is saying IMPORT FAILED. I have tried both importing directly from the card, and improting from an archived copy on my HD, both to no avail. ClipWrap seemed like a viable solution until all my clips had no audio! I need help – I am completely lost and feel like I have wasted a ton of money on this camera. I know it is possible to import AVCHD into FCPX, so what the heck is going on!?

Yes but you can work on the footage right away as the background rendering take splace so what's the big deal.

Plus I assume you'll be spending some time viewin and logging and chcking sync between reels before you tart the cut.

A lot of people seem to be finding comlicated solutions for things - if it's all set up ight in the frst place it just works.

Just import eveything and then throw away what you don't want later.

A.Y. you seem to be a windows/PC user and I think yuo re bringsing some of your workflows into a environment that simply odes not ned them.

FCPX and QuickTime playback all frame rates fine for me. You say you have a problem with 60 fields a second. 30FPS. I don't...fine on my machine. Sorry.

THis doesn't work, does it? I've just tried it out with FCP X and PRIVATE is greyed out.

Any other suggestions?

Cheers

Chris

What exactly are you doing? Post screen shots. FCP reads the AVCHD card not individual containers on it.

Hi Tom, thanks for responding.

I was responding to Jono's post much earlier in this thread:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3131540?start=0&tstart=0

where he said to drag the PRIVATE folder from the SD card to the Desktop, then import mts files from there. It should work in a logical world, but it doesn't.

Since moving from taped HD Cams to SD cams, I have been saving the mts files on an external HD so that I can continue to use the SD cards, and to preserve the films. This seems to be a most frustrating and backward technology on so many levels it leaves me cold. Saving the mts files on an ext hard drive wipes the time and date rendering them useless as a memento, and FCP X seems to want to turn users off video editing by making AVCHD importing almost impossible unless you keep your film on an SD card.

I was just trying to import externally saved mts files into FCPX so I could edit them. Not too much to ask, or is it?

Sorry I can't find the Jono post. I'm sure it's somewhere in the thread. It's probably obsolete, with the current version of the OS.

What you say is incorrect. Apple does not require you import from a card, not at all. It does require that you import from a properly saved folder structure or camera archive. This isn't very difficult. You Simply make a folder where you want to save the material. Name is something useful and drag the contents of the card into the folder. That's it. Do not go inside the folder structure to extract anything. There is no reason to do that, and in fact doesn't work in the current OS. Extract Private worked in older OS, but again some completely unnecessary. The whole folder structure is what you need and is fractionally larger than the just the Private folder.

Well you hould import evrything from the card in the way Tom says which is super easy. And then when it is done select the card in the Event Browser and "Create Archive" which backs up the card to an external hard drive with all the stuff FCPX needs and bingo.

It rally could not be simpler. A lot of people seem to insist upon trying to make this difficult.

Anyway that is what the "Create Archive" is all about.

Go to FCP X Help (Does anybody use this?) and search "create and manage camera archive". It's all there.

Are you a PC user because PC users often seem to want to do things manually?

Just imagine you're driving an automatic.

Get in. Start her up. Rooftop down. Hit the pedal. Away you go.

Have a nice drive!

Thanks Tom, I'm copying all 3 SD card folders (DCIM, MISC, and PRIVATE) onto my desktop. IN ML 10.8.3 the Private folder doesn't appear as a folder (why, I haven't a clue) but I am hoping this will work. Will report back the instant I get a result.....

Sorry the command is in the Media Import window.

ChrisRR wrote:

Thanks Tom, I'm copying all 3 SD card folders (DCIM, MISC, and PRIVATE) onto my desktop. IN ML 10.8.3 the Private folder doesn't appear as a folder (why, I haven't a clue) but I am hoping this will work. Will report back the instant I get a result.....

Copy the Entire Card, or make a Folder and copy those folders there!

The point to that folder, and FCPX will also see it as a 'Media Folder' in the Import window. You have to tip down the triangle on the folder, sometimes. before FCPX show it as a Media Folder.

It is actually far simpler to use FCPX 'Create Camera Archive'...it's built into th application to do exactly what you want and help you!!