CNaf

Q: Why the duplicated clip when importing from Panasonic AG-AC160AP?

I just finished video recording a two-hour training session on a Panasonic AG-AC160AP. I ended up doing it with three clips. The first is about 2 minutes long and was someone doing an intro. The second is about one hour long, and the third is also about one hour long. Here's the problem:

 

When I take the SD card and insert it into the iMac, then open FCPX and select "Import Media," the second and third clips (the long ones) appear to be identical...sort of. Here's what appears to be the same: The clip previews (both video and audio), the start time, end time, and duration. However, the clip names are different (Clip #2 and Clip #3) and the Content Created information is different (both show the accurate start date and times).

 

In FCPX, it appears as though the second clip has been duplicated and the third clip is missing.

 

But when I play back the video clips on the camera, everything is fine. Clip 2 and 3 are just as they should be. Also, if I preview the clips on the iMac without using FCPX, by double-clicking on the AVCHD file in the "Private" folder, all three original clips are there, and clips 2 and 3 are different and play back just as they ought to.

 

All recording settings were identical on all three clips.

 

So it seems as though the trouble must be with FCPX.

 

Have you seen this happen before? Ideas for troubleshooting or a solution?

Final Cut Pro X, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 3, 2014 11:16 AM

Close

Q: Why the duplicated clip when importing from Panasonic AG-AC160AP?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next
  • by Phc936,

    Phc936 Phc936 Nov 3, 2014 3:03 PM in response to CNaf
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2014 3:03 PM in response to CNaf

    I have the panasonic Ac-130 and I have had the exact same problem. It has happened three times in the last two months but never in the six months prior.

    The first two times I was able to open private up on the card and import files on to my mac and move them to fcpx and they showed up. This last time they did not show up when I opened the card but did show up in camera they were fairly large files about 2 hr. I was able to import the files on a windows machine it broke the two hour file into two one hour segments but it imported fine I did use clip wrap to import the last one i was having problems with and it took care of it But this is extremely frustrating to be having this problem Panasonic says it's not us and Apple says the same thing

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Nov 3, 2014 3:10 PM in response to Phc936
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 3, 2014 3:10 PM in response to Phc936

    You shouldn't be opening up the card or doing anything to it or inside it. The standard procedure is to make a duplicate of the complete card, the entire structure, which remains as the archive for your production. You can do this manually; you can do this by making a disk image, or you do this by making an FCP camera archive. This is your camera backup. You then import from the archive to your media drive to work on your production. You can either import into the library itself, or you can import into a separate location assigned in the application. You cannot leave the media in the archive, however you decided to create it up. That's the basic operational procedure for professional video production. Some companies use more complex archival procedures beginning on location and proceeding through production and post until everything for the production is stored and backed up digitally on disk or tape or both.

  • by Domenic63,

    Domenic63 Domenic63 Nov 3, 2014 3:57 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2014 3:57 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Tom,

     

       Thanks for your reply but I am not seeing the answer to my question. Maybe you can clarify.  I go to FCPX to import the SD card. There are 2 clips, numbered 1 and 2.  Final Cut is showing  that there is 2 clips but they are duplicated. Same start time same end time same length. This has never happened to me before. I do this professionally and over the last 2 years never had a problem.  The camera shows that there are 2 different clips in the private folder I am able to see 2 different clips. FCPX sees 2 clips BUT they show up as being duplicate and final cut will not import the 2nd clip because it thinks it is already imported. I was using the panasonic 160 A.  I recorded on 2 sd cards at the same time. Both cards have the same issue.

     

    Thanks

    Domenic

     

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Nov 3, 2014 4:08 PM in response to Domenic63
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Nov 3, 2014 4:08 PM in response to Domenic63

    You see two separate clips that you can preview in the import window? And if you select them both and click import, you get only one clip?

     

    Any chance you could copy the contents of one of the cards, zip it and send it to me using WeTransfer or Dropbox or something?

     

    Thanks.

  • by Mark Whalen,

    Mark Whalen Mark Whalen Nov 7, 2014 6:18 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 6:18 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    I've recently seen this same problem with long AC130 clips in FCPX. The AC130 is the pared down sibling of the AC160. Has the actual problem been identified yet?

  • by Domenic63,

    Domenic63 Domenic63 Nov 7, 2014 8:22 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 8:22 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Tom,

     

         The footage was shot for a medical client. I have to see if it is ok to release the footage. If I cannot do that, maybe I can recreate it again with test footage.

     

    -Dom

  • by Domenic63,

    Domenic63 Domenic63 Nov 7, 2014 8:24 AM in response to Mark Whalen
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 8:24 AM in response to Mark Whalen

    Mark,

     

        I haven't been able to find a solution. I do not own Premiere to see if it does it on non-Mac based programs. I do know it does it in iMovie as well but I don't think that will surprise anyone.

     

    -Dom

  • by Domenic63,

    Domenic63 Domenic63 Nov 7, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 8:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    The preview shows 2 clips however they show up as identical clips with different names ex: Clip #1, Clip #2.  When you select them to import, it will only import the first one because FCPX believes they are the same file.

     

    -Dom

  • by Mark Whalen,

    Mark Whalen Mark Whalen Nov 7, 2014 1:48 PM in response to Domenic63
    Level 1 (55 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 1:48 PM in response to Domenic63

    That's the same thing I encountered with FCPX and iMovie, Dom. Clipwrap seems to recover the files, though.  I'm just wondering what's causing the issue.  Interestingly enough this issue has yet to happen on spanned clips with any of my other Panasonic AVCHD cameras.

  • by WDI,

    WDI WDI Jan 5, 2015 12:42 PM in response to CNaf
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Audio
    Jan 5, 2015 12:42 PM in response to CNaf

    Same problem with Panasonic AGAC160AP and FCPX 10.1.4 on Yosemite 10.10.1.

     

    Panasonic technical support left it as software issue so they are not looking into it.

     

    Apple really tried to help find a solution. The best one we came up with was opening the avchd file from the SD chip directly in QuickTime  and converting the particular clip. My only concern was it about halved the file size and there were no options for export in QuickTime other than selecting the 1080 vs 720 etc. But I don't think that I can tell a difference in quality from the other files imported directly into FCPX. Still not that happy with the work around but it will have to do. I suppose Clipwrap mentioned above may be a better solution. Since this is the first time I've come across this problem I'm not really willing to spend $50 on Clipwrap.

     

    I tend to think this is an issue with something the Panasonic AGAC160AP is writing the metadata in the AVCHD file though. I'm guessing of course. But my reasoning stems from the fact that though Adobe CS6 Prelude does recognize the file but it lists it as clip 14 with no 13. Same with opening the AVCHD file directly in Quicktime.

     

    So several different softwares treat this particular clip differently all having some sort of issue makes me think it's something Panasonic is doing with the metadata for the AVCHD file it creates. Total guess of course. I have no idea. A little frustrating Panasonic didn't seem interested in researching the issue though were as Apple made a big effort to try to find a solution.

     

    One thing to note, I do have the Panasonic AGAC160AP set up for dual recording on the SD chips. However, this is the first time I have come across this issue.

  • by Domenic63,

    Domenic63 Domenic63 Jan 5, 2015 2:01 PM in response to WDI
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 5, 2015 2:01 PM in response to WDI

    It's definitely an issue with FCPX. I have been using the panasonic longer than I have been using X. I started out on 7 and then moved to X and have been working on X with the same panasonic camera without and issue. Than after an update with X I started to have an issue. I have never upgraded the firmware on the Panasonic. Therefore the only logical conclusion is that it is an issue with FCPX.

  • by Alchroma,

    Alchroma Alchroma Jan 5, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Domenic63
    Level 6 (18,926 points)
    Video
    Jan 5, 2015 4:19 PM in response to Domenic63

    Personally I have not seen the issue on my equipment.

    However since FCP X v10.1.3 I noticed a curiosity:

     

    After re-visiting an AVCHD project (no Optimised files) I noticed some straight cuts with small glitches that (as far as I recall) were not there in previous versions of FCP X.

    My theory is that in newer versions of FCP X some subtilty has changed creating issues to extrapolate I, B and P frames from the codec causing a "hiccup".

    This could well transfer to the doubling up or confused clip issues reported.

     

    Note: This is my theory, so don't quote me or get overly exited.

    The idea is to start the right people looking for a solution.

     

    Al

  • by WDI,

    WDI WDI Jan 6, 2015 7:59 AM in response to Domenic63
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Audio
    Jan 6, 2015 7:59 AM in response to Domenic63

    Well, Adobe Prelude shows the clips as "Clip #12" and "Clip #14" with no "Clip #13" but is able to import the 2 clips correctly. However, it creates an AVCHD wrapper file. Premier is able to read this file but FCPX is not.

     

    I'm not really sure what's causing the problem. The only way this would be fixed is if Apple know about it. Have you contacted Apple to let them know? That would be great if any of you guys having this issue let both Apple and Panasonic about the issue. At least use the Feedback link in FCPX so this gets documented. I really don't want to have to use a re-wrapper to get these files into FCPX correctly.

  • by Bm2amb,

    Bm2amb Bm2amb Jul 12, 2015 5:16 AM in response to WDI
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 12, 2015 5:16 AM in response to WDI

    It is very annoying.

     

    Any one got the solutions yet?

     

    Problem still remained in 11 July 2015 build.

  • by Bm2amb,

    Bm2amb Bm2amb Jul 23, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Bm2amb
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 23, 2015 6:06 AM in response to Bm2amb

    I guess none of FCPX team member care Panasonic users!?

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next