Mac not importing AVCHD files

Any idea what the issue could be?

Is your MacBook Pro operating under High Sierra with Perian or a third-party AC3 codec installed on your system? If so, try "hiding" (temporarily turning off or moving) the codec/codec package and rebooting the system to clear the QTX/QL codec support list before attempting to import the MTS (AVCHD/AC3) content. There appears to be a conflict between High Sierra's built-in AC3 codec and third-party AC3 codec support that prevents any file containing 2-channel/stereo AC3 audio from opening/loading under High Sierra.

I am having the same problem...

I used my XA 10 Canon camera with Lion, then Sierra - with NO problems. The moment I upgraded to High Sierra, boom...no ability to connect, with with the internal storage or the SD card. I have had to work around this by using another computer at my office (loaded with Sierra), downloading onto it, then copying over the video files onto a thumb drive. What a hassle!

I spent a couple of hours on the phone with an Apple tech - and he agreed that it is a problem in the new High Sierra OSX. He thought it would be corrected with an update. That was at least 2 months ago - just tried to load some new video onto my MacBook Pro-still a no-go.

How would I do this fix dealing with the codec? Where do I go to find these files?

Thanks for any help.

How would I do this fix dealing with the codec? Where do I go to find these files?

It depends on the specific nature of your issue. For instance, many users have the Perian codec package installed on their systems. This package allows legacy apps like QT7, QT7 Pro, MPEG Streamclip, etc. to play and/or convert popular third-party audio and video compression formats not otherwise supported supported by a standard Mac operating system. Since the release of Mavericks and its use of independent QTX and QT7 structure embeds, this same codec package allows the QTX Player app to convert third-party compression formats which aren't "natively" playback compatible with QTX. For this reason many Mac users installed Perian many years ago and left it installed on their systems through several major macOS updates—basically having forgotten it was ever installed. However, changes to High Sierra appear to have created a conflict between the AC3 support found in Perian and High Sierra's own built-in AC3 codec support.

In this case, the normal procedure would be to open the "System Preferences" window and check to see if you, in fact, have Perian installed as depicted below:

In my case, I have left Perian installed on my system in case I need to use it, but normally leave it in an "Uninstalled" (turned off) state. If I mouse click-the Perian icon in the window above, the Perian "Preference Panel" opens and can be used to "Install" or "Uninstall" (turn on/off) the codec package. If you do have this codec package installed on your system, then all you have to do is mouse-click the "Uninstall" button to toggle the software status and reboot the system to regenerate an updated QT/QL codec support list.

Perian Codec Package "Turned Off"

In other cases, a Mac user may have installed an independent AC3 audio codec manually or have installed video editing or conversion software that automatically installed such additional AC3 codec support. In these cases you would have to manually examine all global/local user account codec storage locations in order to remove any such installed codecs before rebooting the system and clearing the QT/QL codec support lists of their conflicted entries.

Jon,

I followed your steps - and it worked! You solved what the Apple Support specialist couldn't, and I appreciate it so much.

I was able to import my video clips with no problems - just like before! Again, many thanks.

Mike

I am using iMovie. I used to use Final Cut Express (but when we got the Canon XA10, it wasn't strong enough and didn't handle HD.)

Thanks.

Mike