Level 1

16 points

How to import video clips/media?(AVCHD ) Final Cut Pro X 10.3.2

I am having trouble importing video clips into FCPX 10.3.2 I have my folder containing the avchd, m4root, and xdroot contents. when i click on the avchd i get a new window with a bunch of clips but for some reason media importer on FCPX does not recognize these clips. It tells me It cannot import the media because i don't have any files. I have attached pictures with descriptions explaining my situation. I appreciate any type of help.

Thanks.

NOTE: **Please ignore the screen shot picture files that appear in my images beacause I took a screen shot at each step to show you.**

I have a folder contain 3 components, AVCHD, M4ROOT, and XDROOT, i double click on the AVCHD and quick time opens up with the clips, ok awesome.

Now i want to add it to FCP, in the Media Import window the clips do not appear(check the down arrow as i clicked it so it can display its contents- but apparently there is nothing inside this folder,)

NOTE-> the screen shot picture(not inside of folder "from camera" is from me taking screen shots to show you)

now i double click on this folder to check if there are any clips, but as you can see there are no clips.

i even go ahead and click on import but it i get this message.

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.3), null

Posted on Mar 7, 2017 8:57 PM

42 replies

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Mar 7, 2017 9:37 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

What you should do is either copy the WHOLE card and is file structure to your Mac.

Or use an appropriate card reader to import to FCP X.

Or connect the camera with the card in it and set the camera to connect to a computer.

Grabbing the files in the way you have shown is not best practice.

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 7, 2017 9:56 PM in response to Alchroma

Thanks for the response, I am not grabbing the files the way I show above, as I wanted to provide as much information as possible. I grab my media through FCPX using media importer. but in this case the media does not appear

This folder contains the entire file structure. I am using an SD card(Sony) in my Sony x70. I take the SD card out of my camera and put it in my IMAC. Regardless of copying the folder I still cannot import the video clips(clips do not show in media importer). The folder name is originally called PRIVATE , in this case i changed the name to from camera.

doesn't FCPX recognize these type of files natively? why would the card reader in my IMAC work?

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 7, 2017 11:50 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

"Regardless of copying the folder I still cannot import the video clips(clips do not show in media importer). The folder name is originally called PRIVATE , in this case i changed the name to from camera."

DO not do anything at the Finder level with the card. You don't need to open it or copy anything off it. Simply mount the card and open the FCP import window. In normal circumstances the card will appear listed as a camera in the upper left.

Mar 8, 2017 2:31 AM in response to rawrdinorawr

rawrdinorawr wrote:

Yes , I do in fact put the SD card in my IMAC and it does appear in the media import window but the clips do not show up. What can I do?

It looks like the contents of the SD card have already been altered.

For future reference, never make any changes to the contents of a camera card in the Finder. As you were already told, simply insert the card as is, and it should work.

For the present situation, the only way out that I can see is to manually copy the actual video files out of the AVCHD package and into a regular folder, and try importing from there. Control-click, Show Package Contents, and navigate to the actual files, and copy them elsewhere - say, to a folder called "Stuff" on your desktop.

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 8, 2017 11:40 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I did not alter any files i am just showing you what is inside on the file , and what contents it contains. The sd card came directly from the camera.

When i click on the AVCHD file , quick time opens up a window of clips but doesnt let me export them all to a single folder. It looks like i have to open each clip and save it. repeating this process over 300 times? is there a script or something i can do to automate this?

What can i do to import this media in this current situation

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 8, 2017 11:52 AM in response to rawrdinorawr

Can you mount the card on the computer and show what's in the import window. Don't select anything inside any folder. Don't open anything. Need to see how the card mounts in FCP.

Do you have multiple formats recorded on the card? Or content from multiple devices.

joevid

Level 1

4 points

Mar 9, 2017 3:02 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

Got FCP10.3.2 yesterday. Plugged camera in and it mounts, clicked the Untitled folder to open. Inside is the AVCHD Collection folder, opens with control click, choose Show Package Contents.

it opened to another BDMV (AVCHD collection) folder and control click. Choose Show Package Contents

this opens up the file structure within the AVDHD content...

You look for the STREAM or PRIVATE folder depending on your camera and the file names are 00000.MTS. I copy those to a hard drive and import them into FCP10.3.2

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 9, 2017 11:33 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

So i have another SD card and tried what you suggested. for some reason formatting the SD card in my camera does not help me. The clips do not pop up. but If i format on the IMAC, record some footage, plug it in the IMAC the clips pop up and all is well. 🙂 So I will just format on the IMAC for the future.

***BUT unfortunately for this specific case. I don't know how to get the clips from the original SD card like I have stated above.😟

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Mar 10, 2017 7:28 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

I would think the card is not useable in it's current state.

Drag out the individual files and use a third party app like Streamclip to convert the files to ProRes, then connect the converted files to FCP X.

That's better than trashing the whole thing if you have valuable footage.

Alchroma

Level 7

23,912 points

Mar 10, 2017 12:55 AM in response to rawrdinorawr

Try using Image Capture or Photos to import then link the files if it works:

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Apr 4, 2017 9:12 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Ok so this is what I have, What can I do to make sure FCPX can read this media because it cannot at the moment. I can use EditReady. IS there anything Better? a different approach ?

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 8, 2017 1:09 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yes , I do in fact put the SD card in my IMAC and it does appear in the media import window but the clips do not show up. What can I do?

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,780 points

Mar 9, 2017 3:07 PM in response to joevid

Do NOT do this. This is NOT the way you work with AVCHD media in FCP. Please look at some basic instruction about using the application.

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 9, 2017 9:37 PM in response to joevid

That is another method of importing thighs media , I guess. Some users do use this method but i have to agree with Tom Wolsky, that this not the correct way to work with AVCHD media in FCP

rawrdinorawr Author

Level 1

16 points

Mar 9, 2017 9:39 PM in response to rawrdinorawr

I will even screen record my IMAC to show you video proof of my situation but the pictures are clear. Can anyone please help me import this type of media into my mac?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

How to import video clips/media?(AVCHD ) Final Cut Pro X 10.3.2