imovie 10.1.7 wont import avchd files

Hi,

Here same problem with iMovie 10.1.8 / MacOS High Sierra (10.13.2) in combination with a Sony HDR-PJ780VE HD-camcorder who's unfortunately only exports AVCHD-files. If I had known this from the start, I've never would have bought a Sony but another HD-camera who delivers a more Apple iMovie compatible video format.

Anyway, I've removed the A52 codec from the /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components at user level (how funny because of the comment which says on root-level) and now I can hear the voice which wasn't the case before.

However the generic problem hasn't been solved, because I still can't import the different movies from the AVCHD file!!! When I import one of the files from the 'NO NAME' volume from my Sony HDR-PJ780VE camera, the file on my iMac shows in iMovie a file with a camera icon which means that the file isn't really imported because when you disconnect the camera the file suddenly shows a 'questionmark' meaning the camera is missing.

So after hours of searching for a solution just one tiny step further since I now have sound ... 😟.

Apple isn't delivering sufficient support for this awefull bug I think and they - as a premium brand - should shame themselves.

BR,
Marco

I wanted to emphasise that I've removed the A52 codec as well as the Perian.prefPane, but unfortunately my problem with iMovie and importing AVCHD files isn't solved. The problem stays the same: although it seems that the files are imported, they are not really because you'll see a camera icon placed in the left corner below which is an indicator that the file still resides on the camera. As soon as you'll disconnect the USB-cable between the Mac and the (Sony HDR-PJ780VE) digital camcorder, the file can not be played anymore.

My guess that there is a serious bug in Apple's iMovie 10.1.8 and/or in combination with MacOS HighSierra 10.13.2 which needs to be solved by the development team for iMovie in cooperation with the development team of this MacOS version.

My last resort now is, to convert the AVCHD file from the Sony digital camcorder to MP4 HD-1080P and then try to import those files into iMovie.

I also want to report this bug at Apple ... does anyone know how to do this and if somebody knows, please share the specific URL for that.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts so far …

I had the import problem with the video clips from my Canon M41 showing the camera icon but not really being in the Mac also. I followed the advice of the poster who said remove Perian, which I did by clicking uninstall Perian in system preferences and then deleting the preference pane itself. I restarted iMovie and it worked like bang! Instant import of 4 GB. Just like normal. I did not find the A52 codec file in the OS at any level. Maybe it was deleted when I uninstalled Perian. I don't know but...perfect fix. Doesn't seem like a bug in iMovie...more like maybe I should never have left Perian in there for years for no good reason. 😁

This also fixed my problem. Moving the extra/redundant/obsolete A52codec to an external location outside of Library/Audio/Plug-ins and restarting my computer fixed no sound and iMovie imports from a Canon Vixia HF11.

Thanks to the team here who figured out the problem was Perian.

Like others, removing it and the Preferences pain has solved the pain. This is very much appreciated.

I too could not find the A52 codec, but removing Perian (using the remove Perian option within the program) and then deleting the preferences pane and a restart solved this.

Almost instantaneous transfers!!!

I am back to a happy world before this happened.

Apple should post this on their iMovie site or update the help menus in iMovie.

FYI I am in High Sierra 10.13.3, iMovie 10.1.18 on an iMac with my iMovie library on an external thunderbolt drive

It is quite crazy. It was opening my AVCHD files up to last year. I changed the iMac and now I have only problems, I would like to have my money back and trash this crap.

Two OS upgrades and 2 major issues blocking the mac, now this.....

I will try to convert in mp4 but this thing is crazy, it is supposed to give me a better service and not a sh*t like this.

Is it someone still thinking at Apple or everybody focusing at stock options?

Check to see if your camera is still supported by iMovie.

iMovie supported cameras - Apple Support

-- Rich

Was the SD card formatted in the camera? Have you tried connecting the camera to iMovie?

I am having the same problem. I cannot import from my Canon HF M30 to iMovie any longer. It's so frustrating!

Glad you found a work around. This is a strange issue and you have tried everything I can think of. Hopefully an OS update will fix this sooner rather than later.

Perhaps the problem is the importing of AVCHD files because when I import the video using my third-party program, which creates an MP4 file, iMovie imports those videos just fine.

That is a possibility. Historically, the way to import AVCHD files was to open the AVCHD package and convert the files in there to Mp4, that then imported easily.

-- Rich

It appears that iMovie 10.1.8 still exhibits this bug.

Experiencing the exact same problem with my Panasonic SD99. Also Photos is not recognizing the AVCHD format. Hope they fix soon.