Rewrap or transcode

Question

KDK1969 Author

Level 1

9 points

Rewrap or transcode

I am new to FCPx and also to HD video editing so please excuse my ignorance.

I am trying to import media from my cameras - m2ts and mts files. I do not have the original file structure so after looking through the discussions I concluded that I need to convert them to Apple ProRes format (mov) and import them.

I have basically narrowed down my options to either re-wrapping them using Clipwrap or converting them using iSkysoft. Which is preferable ?

I note that the files produced by iSkysoft are HUGE. About 8times bigger than the original camera files (although they play perfectly in FCPx). Are the files produced by rewrapping silimar in size ? And why when I import directly from the camera are the mov files similar in size to the camera files ?

Your input would be much appreciated in order to start my journey into the HDV world correctly 🙂

Final Cut Pro X, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 16, 2013 12:48 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 16, 2013 3:14 AM in response to KDK1969

Rewrap the files - which is a very quick process and does not recompress your media.

Import. You may always create optimized media (which is just a version of your media recompressed as ProRes) later inside FCP X if necessary. (Optimized media is so called because, well, it is "optimized" for editing - one inevitable side effect is that it will be huge).

Avoid external converters if possible. If you need to recompress outside FCP X, I recommend you use MPEG Streamclip - it should be in any mac that works with video, imho.

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Answer 2

Jul 16, 2013 8:37 AM in response to KDK1969

KDK1969 wrote:

… I do not have the original file structure …

give Panasonics AVCCAM Restorer a try

https://eww.pass.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/dload/avccam_restorer/agree_e.ht m

re-establishes AVCHD structures ...

can not do magic with some meta-info (that's gone finally), but would allow, after using it, to follow the usual FCPX routines .....

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Answer 3

KDK1969 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2013 11:42 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

Thanks,

I have tried AVCCAM and did not work 😟. It seems rewrapping is the best way forward for all my past files.

I am a bit puzzled though as to why when I import the file directly from the camera its size is about the same as the original m2ts file and when I convert it to to ProRes422 it grows to 8x ! Does this mean that FCPx when it imports it effectivelly rewraps ? Is there any benefit in editing by using a ProRes422 encoded file vs a rewrapped file ?

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Answer 4

Jul 16, 2013 12:05 PM in response to KDK1969

There is nothing surprising, once you understand what is happening: the original AVCHD is much more heavily compressed than the optimized ProRes. ProRes creates much larger files, but they are much easier for the software to compress and decompress.

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Answer 5

KDK1969 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2013 1:23 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Ok I start to understand and now.

I tested a 48second 1920x1080 95.5MB MTS file and used the Clipwrap demo software.

When the output format is "rewrap and optimize for FCPx" I get a 130MB file. When the output format is "Apple ProRes 422" the file grows to 755MB !!!!!! BUT

the small rewrapped ile is very choppy when I skim in FCPx wherase the huge file is smooth as butter and an pleasure to edit. Of course file size is crazy and at 1Gb per minute the hdd requirements are crazy !!

I will try the other ProRes conversion options (LT / Proxy) and will try to find the best balance between file size requirements and ease of editing use.

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Answer 6

KDK1969 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 16, 2013 1:35 PM in response to KDK1969

Well, proxy seems fine - the file size is a reasonable 266Mb and it is still very smooth to edit.

Any disadvantages with proxy ? ?

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Answer 7

Jul 16, 2013 2:07 PM in response to KDK1969

Don't convert to proxy outside FCP X. Rewrap, import to FCP X and create a proxy file there.

Proxy files are more compressed and lower frame size.

FCP X has an excellent proxy workflow: just select proxy in the preferences to edit quickly, then revert to original media to export in full quality. If the media you import into FCP X is already lower quality, the final result will suffer.

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