AVCHD Disappointed with FCE
I am having mixed information regarding Final Cut Express' support of AVCHD. If I understand correctly, ingesting video (from a Sony SR-12 AVCHD 1920x1080i) creates a "wrapper" using AIC since FCE can't edit the AVCHD files directly (that wrapper is supposed to retain quality-I thought). When I edit and export my footage using Quicktime (not conversion), and import into iDVD it looks bad -- blurry. It looks bad no matter what I do with it (excluding the interlacing of course).
I'm doing editing with a friend and he called Apple Support and they said that it's FCE's lack of proper AVCHD support that is causing the issue. What? I thought FCE 4 "supported" AVCHD??
I just purchased (and learned) FCE and don't want to have to switch to Premiere (if that even helps). I checked elsewhere and other people suggest using Sony Vegas to ingest/capture footage from a Sony camera (yeah, that doesn't work on a Mac and I don't want to have to go back to a PC just to edit video).
Does anyone else have these issues? I tried to find answers on the forums (and they are probably here but I am not seeing what I need)...
I previously posted regarding the quality issue, and people suggested video conversion programs such as Voltaic (or even iSkySoft), but when I try that, I don't see a setting that looks good or that FCE will accept without re-encoding.
I am going to take the camera to a friend's house tomorrow for him to test it out with Sony Vegas. I just figured I would post another message here in the discussion groups to see if anyone else has any thoughts.
Thanks.
I think we've gone through this and it's been discussed on the forum on various places pretty but I'd just like to comment on a few misconceptions.
The ingested material is not placed in a wrapper. The original material is in a wrapper that includes metadata in addition to the video and audio. The media is converted to a QuickTime file using the Apple Intermediate Codec.
How are you looking at the exported file? On your computer? Is the QuickTime Pro player set to high quality output? If you are monitoring it correctly the quality is excellent. What happens in iDVD after that is a different question for a different forum. The quality is going to be substantially impacted by reducing it to standard definition.
< Edited by Host >
Similar Messages
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In FCP-X is there a way to import AVCHD clips from an AVCHD file folder I have copied from my Canon hard disk camcorder to my iMac hard disk? With FCE I used log and transfer with no problem; but, FCP-X doesn't import them. It will import AIC files that have been created in FCE from the original AVCHD files. If FCP-X will not import these files directly from the copied AVCHD folder, is there a workaround using other software to convert the files? For example, Compressor? (Canon does not provide any AVCHD conversion software for OSX).
Hi jphil and Tom
I have exactly the same problem but the answer you (Tom) provided did not help in my case. Trying to "Import ->From Camera" and pointing to the AVCHD folder yields the error message: "(Folder) contains unsupported files or has invalid directory structure."
Folder structure is
AVCHD
BDMV
CLIPINF
.CPI files
Index.bdm
Movieobj.bdm
PLAYLIST
.MPL file
STREAM
.MTS files
AVF_INFO
3 files (.bnp, .inp, .int)
DCIM
101MSDCF
empty
MODELCFG.IND (file)
My question is: Is that not a "camera archive" of the type you talked about in the thread? Is it on principle not possible to import the files in that format/directory structure? If not, since the shots were not taken by myself, what should I ask the guy who shot the movies to give me to be able to work with them in FC?
I work with a brand new Final Cut Pro X 10.0.4 (still very clumsy with it) on an iMac 11,3 with MacOS 10.6.8.
I downloaded the latest version of codec updates from the Apple support site but no difference.
Thank you in advance
Giorgio
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Is there a preferred Video Camera in the forum for use with FCE?
I am on the hunt for a new HD camcorder in the 800 to 1200 US dollar range. Is there a preferred recording format or anything specific to look for that will help my camera work best with FCE or better yet are there things I should try to avoid?
I am looking for something compact so that I can carry it with me on trips easily, but still give a good quality HD image. ThanksThe main consideration is that AVCHD is a hard drive based format whereas HDV is tape based. The nature of tapes is that they're relatively inexpensive so it's not such a big deal to save your tapes as backups in case you ever need to restore your project from the original footage. For AVCHD on the other hand, you'd need to make a backup by copying the whole file directory to an external drive for safe keeping, and if the drive fails or gets corrupted then you are out of luck.
There are other less important things to keep in mind. AVCHD can reach a maximum resolution of 1920x1080, whereas HDV by comparison reaches its peak at 1440x1080. I've heard some say that AVCHD cameras generally work less well in low lighting conditions, but I personally haven't noticed too much of a difference. Finally, the market seems to generally be moving away from a tape based workflow. Not that AVCHD is exactly the format of the future (and you'll certainly be able to purchase DV tapes for a while to come), but it's something to keep in mind. FCE deals with the two formats differently as well, and it might be wise to skim over both the section in the User Manual about capturing and the one about the "Log and Transfer" process.
As far as bugginess is concerned, I wouldn't say that one format is prone to more problems than the other. As long as you read up on the capture or ingest process before attempting anything you should be fine.
Finally, keep in mind the fact that FCE transcodes both HDV and AVCHD into the Apple Intermediate Codec upon capture or ingest. AIC usually runs at about 41-50GB per hour, so you'll want to make sure that you have a fast external firewire drive to use as a scratch disk when editing to store your media.
Sasha -
Formats compatible with FCE......
Is theer a list of formats that are compatible with FCE?
Im after a small camcorder where the format is something like MOV or MP4 so that I can easily view the footage back on my system without having to mess about with other players etc.
Ive seen a couple of camcorders that output as MP4, but am wondering if I will be able to import this easily into FCE and iMovie?To supplement Tom's response, FCE can capture/ingest DV, HDV and AVCHD from camcorders or decks that have appropriate connectivity (FireWire in the case of DV/HDV or USB in the case of AVCHD).
However you can import almost any other video *provided you convert it to QuickTime first* using either *Apple DV/DVCPRO* (NTSC or PAL as necessary) or *Apple Intermediate Codec* compression. Most people in this forum use MPEG Streamclip to convert other & odd video to QuickTime for use in FCE. -
Formats .jpg .avi .mpeg are compatible with FCE?
What formats are in really compatible with FCE, I can't import nothing....
Then... how can I change the format to another?
Thank you very much!!The only compatible video formats are DV, HDV and in FCE4 you can also use AVCHD.
Any other video format will have to be converted to one of those before it will work in FCE.
To convert them you will have to download MPEG Streamclip which is free but you may have to buy the QuickTime MPEG2 Playback Component from Apple for $20.
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown
Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown -
I'm interested in upgrading from Imovie seeing as I know it like the back of my hand and feel limited by it at this point. I'm looking to get a new camera in the spring of this year, and I'm wondering what kind to get if I want a good one for a good price that would be great with FCE 4.
Does everybody use Mini Dv cameras with this software? I don't see these in stores, and it this point to me it seems like they are old, clunky, and outdated. I'm no expert, but that's just the impression I get from them, so why are those the primary cameras used with FCE?
So if anybody can answer these questions, and provide me a list of a few good cameras (Mini Dv or not) that would work with the program and not cost a fortune, I would be much obliged!FCE can work with DV, HDV and AVCHD camcorders.
Most consumer/prosumer camcorders on the market today are AVCHD camcorders or a variation of AVCHD. Be aware - if the camcorder doesn't have the *AVCHD logo* or doesn't *specifically state in the specs* that it's AVCHD, then it's probably not AVCHD. Even if it says it's H.264 or MPEG4/AVC that does not automatically make it AVCHD - a lot of people have been burned not watching out for this.
DV is, as you said, on the way out. 4:3 aspect ratio & standard def; however, decent DV camcorders can do anamorphic 16:9 and it turns out quite nice. So, you can do widescreen with many DV camcorders. HDV is still around and has a loyal following. There are some very nice HDV camcorders - Canon HV20/30/40 for example - and they're not too expensive.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though you shoot high def with HDV or AVCHD, when it comes time to burn a DVD of your video it will be standard def - because DVDs are by definition standard def. To burn hi-def optical disks, you have to get a BluRay burner, BluRay authoring software (DVD Studio Pro, Toast) and of course BD media. It's not cheap. -
Hello
I plan to buy a camcorder. According the support page of apple only AVCHD Cameras work with FCE.
I tend to buy a Canon camera. Does someone know if for instance a LEGRIA camera work with FCE ?
Please let me know what cameras work with FCE. Many thanks.The Canon Legria HF-R, HF-M and HF-S series camcorders are AVCHD. The Legria HV40 is HDV. All of them will work with FCE.
(Note: the Legria standard definition FS series will not work with FCE, although their videos may be converted to a format that will work with FCE.) -
What consumer camera are using that is compatible with FCE 4?
And using an external drive (that is key, have to have soemthing that works with FCE4 and ext drive)
Hi, I am reading through these forums and there seem to be so many compatibility issues in the HD area. It looks like some are just user
settings and then others the actual camcorder just doesn't work with
FCE 4.
I am trying to find a consumer type HD camcoprder that will work with a INTEl based MAC abnd an external drive
The type of camcorder that is $1200 or less
But after readingt hese forums, it seems like more people have nightmares than good experiences with HD and final cut 4 at this point
I don't know what to buy or think
Thank you, sorry, it's just seems consfusing yet I can handle the editing and operating a camcorder but it's compatibility that concerns me (especialyy with hrad earned money and a possiblity that you can't return an electronic item, like a camcorder in some stores without a re-stock fee
Thank you!
Message was edited by: Renne West
Message was edited by: Renne WestHi there,
I am using a Sony HDR-TG3 (TG1 in the USA) and FCE4.0.0 and now FCE4.0.1.
FCE4.0.1 will allow 1920x1080i work were are FCE4.0.0 is limited to 1440x1080i with this camera.
I have an external Maxtor One Touch FW400 200GB scratch disk. I recently upgraded this disk to a 1TB. I bought a seperate enclosure Macpower FW800 unit and Samsung Spinpoint 1TB, 32MB Cache, 7200RPM SATA disk. I really just needed to extra work space. But the Maxtor on the FW400 was also perfect for AVCHD importing and editing in FCE from my Sony HDR-TG3.
Hope this helps. -
Canon Vixia hf20 work with FCE
Dose anyone know if the Canon VIXIA HX20 works with FCE it's AVCHD but no firewire port only usb
Yes it does. There are posts here almost daily about this. You won't use the 'Capture' feature like with FireWire cams, instead you'll use the "Log and Transfer" feature...plenty of posts here about that.
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Best camera workflow with FCE???
I am in the market to buy a new camera. I really like the new Sony PMW EX3, but you need some sort of 3rd party software to trasnfer the files to Final Cut Express.
My question is this...what is the best camera that you've found to do workflow with FCE HD? I would like something that doesn't take long to download (captures on hard drive) and is HD with preferably 1080. Any suggestions???If you want to keep things simple and get reasonable quality you need an HDV or AVCHD camera.
Remember that if you want to make Hi-def DVDs you will need to buy a Blu-ray burner for hundreds of dollars and everyone who wants to view your DVDs will need a Blu-ray player or a PS3 (again hundreds of dollars) and an HDTV. Plus every disc will cost many dollars instead of a few cents.
All this extra stuff will cost as much as many cameras.
P.S. This was written over an hour ago before I knew what that camera was. (I couldn't send my reply then because my internet connection went down!)
Message was edited by: Ian R. Brown -
Choosing A Camorder to Use with FCE
I have the newest version of FCE and I've noticed that I've tried to use other harddrive camcorders, (sony + panasonic) but neither work well or at all with FCE, I'm looking to buy a Canon Vixia HG20 and I was wondering if anyone has used one with FCE yet? its a rather new camcorder btw
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Really depends what format you like to work with
AVCHD, HDV, DV etc. This is a good website to compare the various cams.
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/d/Reviews&levelb=Camcorder&levelc=HD.htm -
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