I really would like to purchase Final Cut Pro X but I would like to check one thing. I need to know if Final Cut Pro X will import .MTS AVCHD files. These were recorded on a Panasonic 1080p Camcorder. I also have 1080i footage. I understand the methods of importing into Final Cut but I don't know if FC will work with these files. I would like to import then edit and then output to bluray.
Many thanks in advance.
Steven
Mac OS X (10.6.7)
Hi,again.
To sum it up:
When working with AVCHD you have two options.
1. You can import directly from the SD Card — go to import from camera for that.
2. You can copy the full — with all folders, exactly everything that is on the card — contents of the SD card to a folder on your hard drive an archive it that way. If you want to import an archived SD card later on you can go to import from camera and then go for the open archive button, then point to the folder where you keep the back up of that specific card.
It is not possible to import .mts files on their own.
AVCHD on Final Cut needs camera data that is included in the other folders of the SD card.
That's why it's called "Import from camera", even if you only insert the card directly.
If you only backed up the .mts files and that's all you have you will have to convert them outside of Final Cut beforehand. I recommend to make the best of the situation and just download the free tool called "Handbrake".
With Handbrake simply convert the .mts files to mp4 with the same bitrate. You won't lose that much quality. It's really no big deal.
So, if your camera records with AVCHD 17 Mbit for example, convert to mp4 with 17 Mbits. And then import to Final Cut.
In the future be more careful of what you do: read the documentation before you delete something and try to keep a full backup of your cards. I always have a card backup in the project folder, because AVCHD doesn't need that much space anyway.
Hope that helps.
Because three months of the same whining is boring and waste of everyone's time. If you have something new to contribute great.
I don't work for Apple and have nothing to do with the creation of the software.
Some people just seem to come here to say how bad the software us and how good someone else's software is. Maybe they work for Adobe or Avid. Either way that's a troll.
Tom
I have great respect for your insight and commitment - I own several of your books etc. But on this one I have to disagree with you.
Apple makes awesome products, but sometimes they miss the ball. They over-hyped and underdelivered on Final Cut Pro X. During the three months since the product was issued, not a word acknowledging its deficiencies and no indication whether/how these would be remedied.
Perhaps great software engineers are now beavering away and working on a new release that will silence the critics - but we don't know. A little bit of communication by Apple would go a long way in creating a more receptive climate.
No trolling, no adobe employee, actually I'm just an enthusiast. However, even I have an expectation that software should:
a) work
b) do what's advertised (i.e. support avchd 60p natively)
c) be updated if it doesn't do "a" in a timely manner
d) be fast (rendering on the fly? ha!)
Let's face the facts about Apple. Great hardware company! Software? Meh.
Tom...this is NOT about you!
I feel like I have been taken advantage by Apple over many pieces of garbage software. Again. I love the OS and the hardware, but here's software that I find that *****:
1) imovie 11 - really? do we need to talk about this? Again Gamma Bug issue!!! Why has this not been fixed?
2) iPhoto? Sorry, not for serious photographers
3) Aperture (see above)
4) FCPX (see above).
5) iWork 09
No I use: Lightroom, Premiere, Office 2011 and guess what??? All quality pieces of software!
Even if so, it is still fully Apple-controlled hardware and software. My findings were independently confirmed by ClipWrap people on their hardware. I don't understand the point you are trying to make here.
There would be much less confusion if Apple stated (fine print is ok) that AVCHD was supported only up to level 4.1. (widescreen 60p starts at level 4.2)
Thanks to all. I will be looking into all your suggestions and I've read your cross references.
But Tom and Casho3, what I don't understand is that the camera is touted as 1080p. So doesn't it shoot in "p"? I only see "p" and "i" in the framerate setting, with "50i" and "PF25" options. But since I'm not so clever with these things, I didn't want to change the "50i" setting which states it is "Standard". In the first place, aren't "p" and "i" formats rather than framerates? If it is an interlacing issue and FC just doesn't recognise which is progressive and which is interlaced, would simply changing to "PF25" solve it? So FC can read it? As I understand it, "p" is better anyway. My output is for the family to watch together, so it is a full HDTV. It should be happy with interlacing or progressive. I export my movies to an external hard drive formatted for apple and it goes through a new full HD media player. See? I thought I got everything set up.
Photo Ninja and Michkhol, Premiere is an option if it will really make life that much easier. I hope the offer is still open by the time I get to the bottom of this. I shall get back to you on my drop box as soon as I find out what it is lol.
Meanwhile, the "Recording Mode" is 24 Mbps. Not sure if that's relevant information.
Another tricky thing. Before I actually made a movie of a holiday (major project), I tried very short projects and exported them on a thumb drive to see if I get the desired results. Plugged in directly into the TV, the short movies looked perfect!
Yup, Casho3, I will be switching to PF25 thanks. Either I will ignore the awful transitions or switch to Premiere something. I'm not sure if Elements will have features which will make simple editing home videos much easier than Pro. I don't mind spending on Pro if it does the job better than Elements. Btw, they say that the trial is not available yet. Next question is, is there anything I can do to salvage an already exported movie project with all the horizontal lines. Would converting that cure it? I'm guessing not ha.
Thanks everyone for your help again. Photo Ninja, will revert. Thanks.
Hi Photo Ninja,
I greatly appreciate your offer of your time to look at my video. But I will try save your time and see if I can try it myself. I downloaded a trial. I haven't got started yet on it but I think it might be the most practical solution to my problem. Hence I tried to click on buy. But when I clicked the "Full" version (I don't have an old version to "Upgrade" from), it says its $800. Is the half price offer over? Or do I not get it in my country.
P/S I will still be checking out drop box though ha.
http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/switch.html
The code is switch.
I bought a retail copy of adobe production premium from Adorama. It was the least expensive anywhere. Most retailers have cut the prices on retail copies as well.
Regarding drop box. Gary at MacMost.com talks about it in his video blog.
Hi Photo Ninja,
Was reading your link when I realised that the "SWITCH" is from FC, which I don't have. I was considering whether I should be switching from iMovie to FC when I found that the better suggestion by the community may be Premiere Pro instead. I suppose I get it at $800 ha. Proably won't then. Would you think Elements will do a good enough job? I only enjoy home video with family and have been using iMovie so far. I did find it crammed my style a little but it did the job.
Couple of problems. I'm outside of the US and they only have a "Production Premiere" and its over USD2,000. They also don't have a "SWITCH". Anyway, I read the switch thing and it says that I must have FInal Cut in the first place. Which I don't. Like I was saying, was wondering if Final Cut would solve my problem. Looks like no half price Premiere Pro for me. Will have to check out Elements I suppose.
Hi Casho3, the "960x540" is greyed out in the "Project". Do you mean to do it from the "Event"? I remember reading somewhere that we should always "Archive" so that we save the original import. I remember seeing such an option too, but don't seem to be able to find where it is anymore. Even when I "spotlight" the word. Know where I can find it? So if I select 960x540 does it mean that my movie is forever downgraded? Assuming I do not archive the original download. There is now a "HD 1080" logo at the bottom of the icons in the Project, something which was never there. I thought Apple had done something to it, but alas, the horizontal lines still appear.
Hi The Photo Ninja, I managed to get a trial of Premiere Pro downloaded and imported my material. Thanks again for your offer to try it out for me. Glad I managed to save your time there ha. Anyway, yes, it imports fine with my .mts AVCHD files from my Canon M31 and the horizontal lines do not appear. Seems fine, but somehow, the quality seems to be rather poor. More like an old overused regular DV tape. Also, I've tried saving it in several formats to try and the .mov and .mpeg can be played on my TV but not on my MacBook Pro on Quicktime. Versions that work on Quicktime cannot be played on my TV. Would be handicapped if I subsequently need to re-edit and/or export another version in another format. However, I suppose that's a problem for the Premiere Pro forum ha.
Any thoughts on whether Elements would work as well? Still can't download a trial.
Glad PP worked for you. Premiere Elements isn't as good. It's ok if you were a consumer shooting with an iPhone or 60i. For hardcore stuff, spend the money. I know, I had Premiere Elements 9 and was looking for something with more power and 60p support which is what led me to where I am today.
Regarding the video quality, that could be so many things: lighting, white balance, etc. If you are comparing what's on your screen to that of the camcorder, the camcorder will ALWAYS look better. If you want a second opinion, upload the original footage to a dropbox and post the link. I'll see what I can do.
As far as exporting your footage. I only export in H.264 MP4 files. MOV files are distinctly apple, but MP4 files are universal. No issues, and the quality is great.
I'm afraid I have to wait for a discount for PP in this part of the world coz it costs about $2k here. I'm comparing the video output into the TV from PP versus the camera plugged into the same TV. The same footage. It really doesn't look HD to me when it comes out of PP and through my media player. Anyway, its strange that it works differently for me. The one I exported in .264 MP4 files looked even jerky and lousy. The regular mpeg didn't look that bad. Ok thanks, will try to do the drop box thing.
Import of AVCHD .MTS files
