AVCHD (HG10) and iMovie

Hello,
Some information about AVCHD and iMovie. I've been looking for this before buying my HG10, so ...
Macbook (Intel Core Duo 1.83/2GB 10.4.10)
Canon HG10
External HD (import destination) : LaCie 500GB connected thru Firewire 400
Total movie duration (7 clips) : 08:51 (8 min 51 sec)
AVCHD files size : 967 MB
Import duration (Full Quality) : 21:32
Imported files size (Full Quality) : 4374.1 MB
Import duration (Large) : 15:39
Imported files size (Large) : 1246.6 MB
AVCHD files copy (HG10 -> External HD) : 00:30
Facts :
- When I copy the entire content of the HG10 on the External HD (root), this drive is detected as a camcorder by iMovie and I can import the MTS files.
- The PS3 can play the AVCHD files stored on the HG10 when connected thru USB
- AVCHD files stored on the PS3 can also be played but I had to change the extension to .mp4 (files transferred thru the PS3 browser)
Of course, it is not a surprise that the macbook (intel core duo) does not perform very well with AVCHD. Can you guys post some similar information with higher setup (new iMac, ...). Also, do you know a way to split/merge AVCHD files on MAC OS X ? So frustrating to import 1h of video in iMovie when you need to edit 2 min of this video.
Regards.

I have the HG10 and here are some of my thoughts...
AVCHD is definitely a processor hungry codec, let's hope someday Apple or a third party will dedicate an add on processor much like the Turbo.264 but for IMPORTING AVCHD (to my knowledge the Elgato Turbo.264 only works when Quicktime exports)
As for artifacts, the only thing I have to compare is my older Sony Digital8 DV cam, and clearly the HG10 is a step up, I have become more realistic, there will be no sub $1000 camcorder that performs like a professional machine, in my research the "three chip" consumer cams have such small chips that any benefit from three chips is outweighed by the small amount of light these chips capture, but everyone will have their opinions my advice is to check out each, especially downloading example files and then playing them on the intended viewing screen, I can say the images from the HG10 look different when displayed on computer screen vs an HDTV via Apple tv and in all respects the quality is plenty for capturing the kids, and other memories. In the end it's about capturing the moment and no amount of resolution is going to change that. Aspiring film producers should probably save their cash and buy a professional camera, and consider it an investment in their career, for the rest of us we just want a decent camcorder that we don't have to mess around with tapes. The cost of not messing around with tapes is TIME and SPACE. these cameras generate a huge amount of data. Be realistic about what you intend on doing with the files
My experience with transferring files is the same as above, slow clip imports, depends on your CPU (mine a new late 2007 MacBook 2.0GHz) you can just copy the files from the drive which is quick, iMovie only recognizes if it's mounted as a drive, so either put it on an external, or better just make a disk image out of it. iMovie will recognize the mounted image as if you hooked up the camera, the whole file system needs to be there you can't just copy the stream file.
Overall I like the camera and will keep it, I chose the Canon because of the added benefits that I already own a digital rebel, same battery charger, batteries (you can use the small ones from the SLR on the HG10) so traveling for me will be lighter.
As is stated in the iMovie specs (you just have to look) AVCHD is NOT supported by PPC my Dual 2.0 GHz G5 won't recognize the camera (don't ask me the reasons I don't know, I assume they just didn't write the decoder software for the PPC, probably to encourage people to go out and get a new Mac. Something as a shareholder I'm entirely in favor of Once you import the files you can tranfer them to a PPC and iMovie will work just fine so for now I've been importing with my Macbook and then transferring the files to my G5, the MacBook shows some stuttering (probably dropped frames) compared editing on the G5, however my Macbook only has 1GB of RAM until the UPS guy comes today and then it will have 4GB
if anyone has other questions about this camera I'd be glad to share
couple clips at http://gallery.mac.com/mmelkonian
one shows how grainy the picture can get in low light, that was shot at night in a dimly lit room

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Hi
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Message was edited by: Billy McQueary

Welcome to the  Discussion Forums.
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Message was edited by: Karl Edgren

I have a Canon HG-10 as well. Let me explain, take a couple of minutes to read patiently:
AVCHD is a relatively new type of compression, based on MPEG 4 H.264 codec. It is probably the most efficient compression to date. It allows you to have GINORMOUS amounts of HD video in a little minuscule handheld device. That is what it was created for.
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Because the file inside 08 is quite large, go ahead and erase it if you do not need it anymore, and that is it, that way you recover your hard drive space.
Message was edited by: gusluz
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http://picasaweb.google.com/robanderi/CanonHF100AVCHD17mbpsIMovieComparison#
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