Trimming MTS footage

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Level 2

151 points

Trimming MTS footage

I accumulate too much footage from my AVCHD camera (MTS, 1080/60p, 28Mbps), but I will not have time until Christmas for editing my project. Because these clips take too much space and I'm sure that I will only use a small percentage of that footage, I want to get rid of all parts which I will certainly not need.

After sifting through the files I want to keep as little as possible but as much as necessary. For example: I have a clip of 15 minutes, but am sure that I will only need 30 seconds of it (if at all).

Importing the clips into a Final Cut event is no good idea, because then the whole clip would still stay on the hard disk.

Hence I need a way to trim the MTS file from 15 minutes to those interesting 30 seconds LOSSLESSLY.

I guess this is not possible with Final Cut -- how can I do this?

Can someone recommend an app for trimming MTS files (1080/60p) losslessly?

(If that trimming would re-wrap the resulting clip in MOV format, that would be fine but not necessary.)

Thanks.

Posted on Sep 14, 2011 8:04 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 15, 2011 9:46 AM in response to coxorange

Hi.

Don't think you can trim MTS file easily.

Anyway, I would personally not recommend changing the MTS files in any way. If you move the backup of your camcorder footage, or change the folder structure of the SD card backup, FCPX will not be able to import the footage using the 'Import from Camera' option. You would then be forced to use another programme like Clipwrap to convert the MTS files which are left into a Quicktime wrapper or a ProRes file. If the files are longer than 2GB they will be split up into 2GB chunks, and even Clipwrap will only join them back together automatically if you have not altered the SD card structure.

I personally would keep all your MTS files as they are, in their original folder structure. If they are still on SD cards, backup each SD card in its entirety. Hard drives are cheap no so you could buy an external 1TB drive, and happilly store 100hours approx of HD footage in its original structure. Then you are ready to edit, just import the cards you are working on,

Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

Sep 15, 2011 10:29 AM in response to coxorange

Actually, if you connect your camera via the usb cable, etc to your computer with FCP X running. The Import from Camera window should open. If it does not open simply open it from the File menu. When your clips appear in this window, you can select and set the in and out points of each clip to import only the section that you want. The unused parts remain on your camera. Only what you selected gets imported. Just go to the clip and scan till you see where you want to start. A yellow frame appears when you are on the clip. Press i to set in, scan more, press o to set out. Best wishes.

stephen

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Answer 3

Sep 16, 2011 3:16 AM in response to still_learning

Thanks still_learning, I didn't know you could import selected portions of individual clips. That sounds useful in some scenarios.

I still stand by what I said, that I think it is always best practice still to backup every SD card from the camera. If you ever want to edit in another program in the future, it's best to keep the originals in their entirety. It gives you many more options. You also cannot import individual MTS files into FCPX. You can only import the files as still_learning says, if they are part of the original structure on the camera. Once you break the structure, you will only be able to import using a third party to convert them first (like Clipwrap).

Hope that clears things up.

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Answer 4

Sep 16, 2011 7:44 AM in response to alexgrainger

Alex,

I agree with you. I always copy my MTS files from SD card to my own location on my disk to preserve the original files. I may only import a fraction of them. Sometimes I use ClipWrap. Other times I just use FCP X to create a Camera Archive before the import. Either way, I have the original material. It is important as you said.

Best wishes.

stephen

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Answer 5

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 17, 2011 2:38 PM in response to coxorange

Thanks for your answers!

I don't need the Original AVCHD folder structure in this case. Anyway, I have no other choice than via MTS files because I have 60p footage to import (see https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3324565).

I don't want to buy additional TB drives just to backup 90% unusable footage, because I already backup twofold to TB drives - just want to keep them as empty as possible.

I already have many MTS files (without the original AVCHD folder structure) and would like to trim them losslessly so that I could later rewrap and use them in FCP X.

I've tested ClipWrap but the rewrapped 1080/60p MOV clip could not be played/trimmed with QT X - it just looked black (though the sound seems to be fine). (QT 7, VLC and Movist played it fine.)

I've also tried remux and that Rewrap2M4V script here from the forum for rewrapping. The resulting m4v files played fine in QT X -- but only with damaged audio!

I learned that Aunsoft iMedia Converter or Aunsoft Final Mate can trim 60p MTS clips losslessly. Has anyone here used one of these apps before? Can they be recommended?

Thanks again.

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Answer 6

Sep 17, 2011 4:45 PM in response to coxorange

Just a quick side note. If your camera is a Sony (a lot of Sonys are now 60P), you should be able to use the version of Picture Motion Browser (PMB) they ship with the camera. It can edit the in and out points of your clips so you don't have to keep all of it. Best wishes.

stephen

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Answer 7

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 17, 2011 4:53 PM in response to coxorange

coxorange wrote:

I've tested ClipWrap but the rewrapped 1080/60p MOV clip could not be played/trimmed with QT X - it just looked black (though the sound seems to be fine). (QT 7, VLC and Movist played it fine.)

The latest version of ClipWrap works fine! Sorry.

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Answer 8

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 17, 2011 4:55 PM in response to still_learning

still_learning wrote:

If your camera is a Sony (a lot of Sonys are now 60P), you should be able to use the version of Picture Motion Browser (PMB) they ship with the camera. It can edit the in and out points of your clips so you don't have to keep all of it.

Thanks, it's a SONY, I will try it.

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Answer 9

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 18, 2011 4:10 AM in response to still_learning

@still_learning: I just checked the disc which came with my SONY DSC-HX9V/B (AVCHD camera, 1080/60p, 28Mbps). In the root directory I found:

In the MAC folder I found:

In the Resource folder:

Where can I find that Picture Motion Browser (PMB)? Thanks again.

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Answer 10

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 18, 2011 4:24 AM in response to still_learning

Still_learning, I'm afraid Picture Motion Browser (PMB) is only available for Windows. Can this be...?

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Answer 11

Sep 18, 2011 7:21 AM in response to coxorange

wow ... okay, I googled something to trim them on Mac ... here is a link, but I do not know anything about this program. It seems safe, but always need to be cautious with downloaded stuff you know. It says it works with Lion and can trim them. That's my disclaimer 🙂 Best wishes.

stephen

http://www.mts-converter-mac.com/trim-mts-video-files-with-mac-mts-trimmer.html

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Answer 12

coxorange Author

Level 2

151 points

Sep 18, 2011 8:11 AM in response to still_learning

Thanks for searching, still_learning!

http://www.mts-converter-mac.com/trim-mts-video-files-with-mac-mts-trimmer.html

I don't know what to feel about this site...

I guess I'll buy an Aunsoft product (unless I'll get another tip). They definitively work with 60p footage (I saw a sample movie) and are available via App Store (my little peace of mind).

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Answer 13

Sep 18, 2011 8:28 AM in response to coxorange

Yep ... that's probably the best move. Best wishes.

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