FCP and AVCHD by Sony

HI, I hope someone can help me. I got a FCP 7. I shot video with a Sony CX550v HD. I am not an expert in setting the FCP in order to get full HD videos after editing. There is anyone can help me in setting the FCP? Easy set-up and video-sound settings are quite confusing to me. Many Thanks

The best thing to do is to copy the entire card to a hard drive and give it a name. That will be your reel name. It will also be your first Back-up.
Open your new FCP project.
Select Log & Transfer from the file menu.
Navigate to the media by clicking on the folder icon in the upper left hand corner of L&T window.
Select the ROOT level of that new directory. You do NOT have to drill down to the mts files.
At this point you can either select in & out points in each clip before transferring or you can select All the clips and just walk away while everything is transcoded.
When you drag your first clip into a sequence FCP will ask you if you want to match the sequence setting to the clip. Select YES. If your sequence already matches your media you may not see that dialogue.
If you only have only one camera you're done.
If you have multiple cameras it gets a little more complicated due to the limited file naming protocol for AVCHD.

Similar Messages

I'm having a problem importing AVCHD from Sony HDR-SR1 (into FCP)

I've gone through all of the posts, on this site, but I can't seem to find a solution.
I have one of the new Intel based mac pro boxes
The files are in a .mt2s format and they are currently sitting on my hard disk.
- I can't import from the camera, directly, because it doesn't support firewire
- FCP and iMovie both grey out files, with this extension, when trying to import them (as does MPEG Streamclip)
- The log and transfer utility also shows the files greyed out (and nothing happens if I try to drag and drop them onto the utility)
any assistance would be appreciated
Thanks in advance
John

My understanding was that you have to maintain the directory structure from the AVCHD source. Is the HDR-SR1 a supported camera?
Patrick

This new 1080p tv sets and my 1080i Sony camera-output from FCP

I use a Sony FX1. My best capture is at 1080i or 720p.
I've recently been recording at a higher shutter speed and am getting improved footage.
I note that FCP has an output option of 1080p - 30. Is this only half as good as the new monitors can show? If I eventually want to create highest quality for playback on 1080p-60 will I need an updated camera and will FCP have to offer 1080p-60?
Since I've never viewed 1080p-60 is the - 30 vs - 60 a big issue?
Using the 1080p-30 makes for a much improved view than H264 720x480 or HDV 1080i any other settings up to this one. H264 is a GREAT file size saver but does not use near the bit rate of 1080p-30.
One other thing. When the new OS comes out with 64-bit processing, is FCP and DVDPro already ready. I have not found any specs on FCP 5.1.4 indicating it is 64-bit ready.

ensure the following are set
View>Video Playback>Firewire Apple 720x480 (NTSC or PAL - whatever is appropriate)
View>Audio Playback>Audio follows video
View>External Video>All Frames
If this isn't what you are set to do, you won't be sending video out to your recorder.
x

Is there a way to live capture in FCP X? I use a SONY NX 70U. It only has usb 2, HDMI and the weirdo sony protocol.

Is there a way to live capture in FCP X? I use a SONY NX 70U. It only has usb 2, HDMI and the weirdo sony protocol. If not with THIS camera as I have described, is it possible with any other cameras?
Thanks.

Is there a way to live capture in FCP X? I use a SONY NX 70U. It only has usb 2, HDMI and the weirdo sony protocol. If not with THIS camera as I have described, is it possible with any other cameras?
Thanks.

FCP and Sony HVR-V1U

Does FCP support this new camera?
What about older versions like Final Cut Studio?
Message was edited by: ProImagesPa

Depending on the quality of the product to be delivered to the customer, I've found that shooting in HDV, editing in ProRes 422, then using Compressor to downconvert to MPEG2 for DVD with frame controls on (resize = better) produced MUCH better looking video than starting with DV; fewer moire patterns, less mosquito noise. less primary color banding on diagonal edges, etc.
As for low light, the Z5/Z7 are supposed to have improved the situation with larger sensors, new in camera processing, etc. I don't have one, so I can't address that directly, but I suspect there are expert reviews around somewhere. Once should also consider the Canon XH-A1 series. It has been well reviewed and performs better in low light than the Sony V1U according to those reviews.
But if you iintend to use the camera professionally (I don't), you should go to a pro store with a tape (or memory card as the case may be) in hand and shoot some footage; shoot into some dark corners, view "busy" scenes (chain link fence, anyone?), difficult autofocus situations (for example, with the V1U, where the focus point is NOT in the center: watch is search about for focus), etc.
Then take the tape, etc. and get it ingested to FCP and look at it carefully. A camera is your biggest pro tool, and you should get one that suits your needs and expectations. It is worth the time to test it out and not just rely on reviews here or elsewhere, though they are good starting points for what to look out for.
Eddie O

Playstation 3 compressor settings for h.264/mp4 and avchd and 5.1 audio

Hello this is my first post on this forum. I am a cameraman by trade, but do a lot of editing. I am pretty good on an Avid and with color correction software, but since I sold my sony f900 and picked up a couple or RED cameras - I was forced to hop on the FCP studio2 wagon. So I apologize for the newbie questions.
I have a PS3 and not a PSP. I find more and more clients have a PS3 for their media and blu-ray... etc. So my question is what are the settings for compressor to encode for the PS3 and there ever so nit picky and poorly documented parameters.
There are plenty of non-pro answers, but I have searched high and low for what they need specifically. I see lots of questions but now answers.
So how can I take my final cut footage or any video file for that matter, and put it into something that my PS3 can chew? What are the H.264 (mpeg4) settings?
Can I also (but not exclusively) encode in AVCHD from compressor?
Lastly is there a way to put on the 5.1 or surround info into these files for PS3 playback? if I want to take one of my work DVD's (reel, projects, etc) and put it on the PS3 or bring in surround encoded (5.1, 6.1, 7.1) tracks into FCP and put it with my footage?
Thanks for any and all help...
the only vaguely technical info I have found was on the PS3 forum, here is what it says:
from:
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3media&mess age.id=22987&query.id=96226#M22987
For those of you who want to put .MP4 videos on a PS3 with a Macintosh, this is how you do it with ffmpegx.
VIDEO
- X264 Encoding
- framesize can be any
- framerate can be any
AUDIO
- any MP3 or AAC track
OPTIONS
- Use CABAC on
- Constant bitrate on
- Trellis on
- Decode with Quicktime (not always necessary but if your picture is out of sync with audio, try this)
- AVC level 3.0
This produces a good .MP4 file that the PS3 will happily play.
Can anyone help or point me in the right direction? if not can we figure it out on this thread? there are a lot of questions I find when I google this subject out there - so a lot of people would be happy to find the answer.
Olias Sunhillow

I have created files to play on PS3, and the secret is to use MPEG Streamclip. You can encode to whatever you want in MPEG2 or MPEG4, then open that bad boy in MPEG Streamclip:
If it's MPEG2, File > convert to TS
If it's MPEG4: File > Save As MP4
That's it. MPEG Streamclip doesn't re-encode so no quality loss. All it does is change the container. And PS3 is very picky about containers.
As for 5.1 audio, you can do this by encoding separate MPEG2 video and AC3 audio files like you normally would for a DVD. For hi-def MPEG2, use one of the Compressor presets for HD-DVD. Make sure they both have the same name ("xxx.m2v" and "xxx.ac3", for instance) and are in the same folder. Then open the video in MPEG Streamclip and it will automatically mux the streams together, which can then be converted to TS.
Note that this is only possible encoding video to MPEG2. I don't know of any way to create an MP4 with 5.1 audio.
PS3 is a great way to deliver HD video onto your TV without the frustration of trying to author Blu-Ray or even burning discs.

Premiere Pro CS6 and AVCHD - Should I upgrade or wait?

Hi All
I currently use Premiere Pro 5.5.2 on a Mac Pro and OS 10.7.3. Most of my footage now is AVCHD, from various camcorders, including Sony FS100 as well as several Panasonic and Canon at 24P, 30P and 60P at 17mb/s to 28mp/s bitrates and LPCM and AVCHD audio. I also do use XDCAM EX and Canon DSLR H.264 footage.
I'm really wanting to upgrade to CS6, it looks fantastic, however I have heard reports of various bugs that make it work less efficiently or not at all with AVCHD footage. Maybe the latest upgrades fix these issues, but I'd like to get some input from people who have actually used CS6 with Mac OS 10.7 and AVCHD files. I don't want to transcode first, this was my primary reason to switch from FCP to Premiere Pro a couple of years ago, don't want to go back!
Thanks much for any and all advice you can give me.
-Keith

The Adobe GodHead (CEO) sleeps very well at night. takes home a wonderful
salary. and takes many a vacation thanks to all of us suckers that buy into
Adobe's buggy software.
A forum is a place to let it out not hold it in. This doesn't mean foul
language, but it does mean telling it like it is.
I've heard that the AVCHD fix is due 17 June of this year; only in the CC
version.
This means that there will be a constant fire under your but to make that
monthly payment; if not. you're out; and if you had any files in the cloud,
you'll have to re-up to get em out. Ouch!
I went through all of this with Avid for a decade and in the end I was the
loser and the CEO was the winner.
Don't buy anything until you see it work.
Mike

Choppy video in FCP and upon export to QT

I have been working with DV for years and recently upgraded to the Panasonic HMC150 (AVCHD). Whenever I worked with DV in FCP, there were little stutters in the video when playing a panning shot at normal speed, and I always assumed this was just a limitation of working with DV. Once I exported this footage to DVD or DV Tape, everything was smooth. The problem persisted whenever I would make a web video (either with Flash or MP4).
You can see some samples here of what I mean:
http://lastcuthomes.com/videos/3242MeadowlandsLane/
and
http://lastcuthomes.com/videos/1030HamiltonAve/
Now that I have my AVCHD cam, the same problem remains. Keep in mind that, I, as a camera operator am not doing these stutters and don't have Parkinsons! All of these videos appear just fine on DVD or on tape. The issue is with FCP and it's exporting.
The current method of exporting I have now is making the final video into a full QuickTime file from FCP. Then I will either encode with On2's Flix Pro or with QuickTime Pro into an mp4 file.
Has anyone been able to solve this issue? Has anyone else had this issue?
Thanks!
Ted

Bump- anyone?

Error MessageDuring Creation of Blu-ray Disc in FCP and Compressor 3.5

Yesterday I spent more than 7 hours trying to create and burn a Blu-ray disc (actually an AVCHD disc on DVD-5 media) in both FCP 7 and Compressor 3.5. In every case, disc creation would go to completion of the encoding of the video and audio files, but when I was asked to insert a disk, I would do so and the disc would spin for about 30 seconds and then I would get the following error message: "There was an error burning your disc. The bit rate exceeded the maximum allowable." This message cannot be a correct description of the problem because I used the Blu-ray template that Apple provides in FCP 7 and Compressor 3.5 to create my disc. This template limits the bit rate to a maximum of 15 mbs and my video was only 15 minutes in length.
Additional information as follows: I am using an Early 2008 Mac Pro 8-core. I have Final Cut Studio 3 installed with all of the latest updates. I am running Snow Leopard 10.6.4 (latest updates all installed),and I have experienced no other problems with FCP 7 or Compressor 3.5. My Mac Pro's internal superdrive is functioning fine, and in fact, I eventually took my FCP7 project and rendered it to a QT reference movie and used that in Adobe's Encore CS5 to burn and AVCHD disc using the same internal DVD burner on my Mac Pro and it worked perfectly.
I am seeking any suggestions for how to address the problem (whatever it is) that gives this error message. Would you recommend a reinstall of the applications in Final Cut Studio 3? Other suggestions? Has anyone seen this error message when trying to burn Blu-ray or AVCHD discs from FCP 7 or Compressor 3.5?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Tom

Guys,
I am deeply appreciative of all of the suggestions and help received on this issue. I apologize for not responding sooner, but i have been looking at the problem described in this thread from numerous perspectives.
Jeremy, you may well have hit upon the solution, and I am trying your suggestion now. I did not realize that when you selected the Blu-ray template and directed it to a DVD burner that would make an AVCHD that you could alter the bit rate settings. I looked at the default bit rate that Apple sets when you select this template and I found that it allowed a maximum of slightly over 17 MBs and an average of 15 MBs. That is too high for an AVCHD disk, and thus the error message that I am getting may well be correct and not in error as I previously thought.
I have found that I prepared Blu-ray AVCHD disk as recently as late April with no problems so I don't know why I have not run into this problem of too high a bit rate before, but I had not. It may be that I used a Custom Present that I prepared and set my own bit rate for those disks.
In any case, I am trying a run now where I have set the bit rate to a maximum of 15 and an average of 13. We shall see if that still produces the error message. I shall post my results when I know them.
Again, thanks to all of you for your fine help.
Tom

Is there a deus ex maquina for the hashed over HDV- DV conversion issues in the temples of FCP and Compressor??

I want to create a good quality SD DVD from 1080i/60 footage (20 minutes duration) from a Sony ZiU camera (mini DV tape) using FCP and Compressor. I can't do it. My hair has fallen out, but I don't want to throw in the towel.
I have imported the same footage with different FCP presets. The video quality in FCP is excellent.
But once I send the footage to Compressor. I end up with video exhibiting gradations of the following: blurry, jagged edges, jerky movement, darker color. Poor quality especially if a subject (kids playing football) runs fast.
The QT conversion process in Ken Stone’s article (May, 2008/updated in Jan, 2011) provides the most helpful information in getting a quality SD DVD. (Quality means looking as good as SD video DVDs). Except for the fact that the DVD is widescreen, the better quality alternative may just be to stick with the old 4:3 shooting, editing, burning methods that I’ve used for years. Unless of course, I am missing something. Hence my appeal to the knowledgable.
FYI Equipment/software: MAC Pro (OS 10.6.8); ATI Radeon HD 4870; terabytes to spare on 2 internal hard drives; FCS - FCP 7.0.3, Compressor 3.5.3, DVDSP 4.2.2. All applications are on Drive 1. FCP project files, scratch and other setups are on drive 2.
My current settings in FCP appear below. What's wrong here? Better alternative? Or it just may be HDV should not go to a SD DVD.
CAPTURE PRESET: HDV - APPLE PRORES 422
DEVICE CONTROL PRESET: Sony HDV FireWire
VIDEO PROCESSING Render 10-bit material in high precion YUV
I now send the Sequence to Compressor I've tried various settings, and the split screen preview in Compressor reveals on the right side the jaggy, blurred, darker video. Same shows up after submitting; and of course if I try to burn a DVD in DVDSP. I've followed Stone's Aug 31, 2009 article on Compressor 3.5. I experiemented with changes here and there without success (like changing field dominance of even selecting DV NTSC, etc).
If you got this far, thank you. And I really could use the help.
Sorry.Presets: Apple Pro Res 422 1440x1080 60i 48 kHz, HDV- Apple ProRes 422, Sony HDV FireWire. Capture Preset: HDV-Apple ProRes 422; Device control Sony HDV FireWire. Sequence Settings: 1440x1080 HD (1440X1080) (16:9), PIixel HD(1440x1080), Upper/Odd, 29.97, Compressor Apple ProRes 422. Message was edited by: Richard Fera

Michael,
Thanks for the helpful comments. Two tactics today helped. Where ever field dominance was indicated I made sure "upper/top" was the same everywhere throughout FCP and Compressor. That almost eliminated the jagged edges. Also, in the easy setup, I selected Apple ProRes 422 as the format, using HDV to ProRes HQ - Sony -1080i60. Sending direct to Compressor rather than through QuickTime conversion also help produce a clearer, less dark picture.
I'll try your suggesstions especially adding compression markers. I'll check back with you on results.
Thanks

Help with FCP and long project editing - Thanks!

I have posted several questions in this discussion group and in the iMovie group to no avail. I get a lot of answers, but not from anyone who has actually done any of the editing I am seeking. So if anyone has actually done the editing I am describing below -- I appreciate your help. Yes, I have searched the archives -- but again, I see a lot of confusing feedback. I have been working on this for three days now and it's driving me crazy! I have discovered that iMoive is $#@% -- and does not work with a long project, (40 minutes) so I am thinking about switching to FCP-HD. Thanks.
Here goes:
1: I need to transfer original master footage, 1080i HDV from a Sony HDR-FX1 to an editing program, edit the tapes (over 5 hours total) into a 50 minute "program". I then need to "share" or export the footage back to a new tape, using the Sony HDR-FX1 as the receiving camera. Simple enough.
2: I need to make sure the outgoing footage is of equal quality as the original footage taken from the camera. I am guessing here, that the footage can be edited in FCP-5 as "native" -- then transferred back to the Sony?
3: I am assuming that the native footage is just that -- and will not require the long process of converting to another format, e.g., ASI that takes hours to
render. (as in iMovie).
4: I am assuming I can edit and view HDV as native footage in FCP in real time, like iMovie, via firewire from the camera?
I really appreciate any assistance.
Chance

Welcome to the family, you'll be joining us soon.
The FCP product page says: > It features powerful new multicamera editing, native HDV support, ... edit everything from DV and SD to DVCPRO HD and fully uncompressed 10-bit high-definition video. Or work with new formats like native HDV (long-GOP MPEG2) and 50Mbps IMX... HD editing requires a 1GHz or faster PowerPC G4 or G5 and 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended).<
You seem to have the hardware including the Flux-o-pator, but, really, you want to talk to an Apple reseller who handles FCP and understands HDV via Sony. I don't like the way you're using "I am assuming..." You can't assume anything. Give them a chance to sell you FCP or Studio and go demo your camera on their system. You will have concrete evidence of the minimum machine specs and how well you can get your files in and out of the application.
Call you local Mac user group and try to locate other FCP users.
Try also the creativecow.net forums for Sony HD products.
Google your camera model for support groups.
bogiesan

MXF and AVCHD files with Final Cut

I am looking into buying a new camera and there are 2 file formats that I have never used. MXF and AVCHD. AVCHD I know is not native to final cut. So this would need transcoded to Apple Pro Res. All fine and dandy there. But where I am unsure, is MXF. Can I just import them directly into final cut as if it were a .mov file? Do they need transcoded? Any special plug ins needed?

Canon's web site says...
The XF100 utilizes Canon's XF Codec – a file-based MPEG-2 compression with an MXF File Wrapper that ensures the widest compatibility with existing industry infrastructure, metadata and non-linear editing (NLE) systems. The codec's 4:2:2 color sampling provides ultra-fine transitions in tone and color for maintaining the highest image quality needed for advanced post production processing.
Since it is not out I guess no one can say how well it will work with FCP although apparently it will ship with something to enable FCP compatibility.
http://www.google.com/search?q=xf100final+cutpro

AfterEffects CS4 and AVCHD/.m2ts

I have Premiere Pro CS4 and downloaded the trial version of AfterEffects CS4. I have a Sony HDR-SR12 camcorder that I uses the video source and it produces AVCHD .m2ts files.
While Premiere Pro CS4 imports this file format just fine, and it's on the list of importable file formats for AfterEffects CS4, when I try to import one of these files into AfterEffects, it says "Unsupported File Format".
Is this because I'm using the trial version, or is the spec sheet wrong? I tried calling Adobe Support, but they won't talk to me until after I buy.
Secondary question, probably obvious to experts: if I can't import .m2ts into AfterEffects, what is the least lossy way to get video from Premiere Pro CS4 (which I do own) into AfterEffects CS4?
Thanks in advance...

Ahhh, thanks! I did see this, not on the download page, but via a link from that page:
The trial versions of Adobe After Effects® CS4, Flash CS4 Professional, Adobe Premiere® Pro CS4, and Soundbooth® CS4 software do not include some features that depend on software licensed from parties other than Adobe. For example, some codecs for encoding MPEG formats are available only with the full version of these products.
But it says "encoding" (I'm trying to import) and AVCHD isn't on the list of exportable formats. The confusing thing is that it just doesn't recognize the extension at all. It would be better if the trial version would say "not supported in trial version" when one attempts to open a .m2ts file. I do have Premiere Pro CS4 already and it has no trouble with these files -- it would be nice if the AfterEffects trial would just use the already-licensed installed Codecs.
Thanks again for clearing this up.

FCP and a stuck force quit

hello
i have the final cut studio 5.1. it has been working ok on smaller projects. now however ti won´t work properly giving me beach balls at least 4 times a day which results in the only way out to force quit. Which works.
however - it will keep its little triangle icon in the dock and thus won´t allow for me to reopen the app.. the only thing i can do is to reboot the whole machine - which is really annoying... trying to force quit again won´t help - and even apple alt esc will find fcp and will take it out of its list if i press force quit there - but the app keeps coming back to the list...
this problem has been bugging me for days.. .is there any other way of killing it so that it is truly dead? via terminal? maybe? if so, how??
thanks for all help!
enno

> i have 1.5 sure i could stack it up but it should work
with just 1.5 as well...
Oh - I see . . .
So Apple are just kidding when they say 2 GB minimum?
(I don't think so)
It may not be the actual cause of your problem but it certainly isn't enough RAM - and RAM problems can cause many faults.
Are you running two external HDs at once?
I think your System is under powered for what you are trying to do.
You don't have enough free space and you're just asking too much of it.
Remove all Firewire and external devices, and try running something easy, like word for an hour or so. If all goes well, try a different App (but just one App at a time) gradually building up to FCP last.
If all seems to be OK, reconnect some hardware one at a time. If you hit trouble, you know what to suspect - so re-start the test, but this time, using the suspect App or Hardware first. If the problem re-occurs you should be able to prove what's causing it.
Andy
G5 Quad 8GB. 250+500 GB HDs. G-Raid 1TB. FCP 5.1.1. Shake 4.1. Sony HVR Z1E Mac OS X (10.4.7)
"I've taught you all I know, and still you know nothing".

I have problem in FCP while playback in Sony TV, it only shows freedge frame, Video can play smoothly in FCP but in TV it shows only Freedge frame.

i have problem in FCP while playback in Sony TV, it only shows freedge frame, Video can play smoothly in FCP but in TV it shows only Freedge frame.

Come on gents and gentesses...... I'm really sweating on this one. Can't properly display my combined audio and pic when showing the Timeline contents of FCP in the MacPr's TV monitor Only the pic is appearing without any proper sound, as reported above. Just a mono row.
Does nobody have any idea on the problem or am I too far up to date with the MacPro and FCP 5.1.4 for even Apple to let me in on the way to rectilfy. Bloomin' upgrades...... !
Ron.

FCP and AVCHD by Sony

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for