How do I view "TOD. file format" on my Mac

Question

Hi,
My problem: How do I view "TOD. file format" on my MacPro Book?
I am a marine scientist, working on very small marine animals, my research methods is to record these animals swimming and then track their movement with image tracking software.
Equipment:
+ 3 x JVC GZ-HD7 Cameras which records in true 1920x1080i video, storing files in .TOD file format.
+ MacBook Pro + huge external hard-drive to handle these files.
+ Final Cut Express
The Hard-drive of the cameras is full and I need to download the footage, so I can record more experiments.
I’ve tried to backing up footage on the JVC DVD Burner, CU-VC40.
But when I try to view this on the Mac, there is the same problem with the .TOD file format.
I’ve tried installing the QuickTime component for Everio = no difference.
Any help would be great!!!!
I understand biology and computers & tech is starting to give me a headache.
Thanks!!

Answer 1

Hello everybody,
first of all I wanna thank the founders for that great forum. Found interesting information here.
Hopefully I'll help with some data and have some questions at the same time.
After researching several communities I use MPEG SC 1.9 to convert the TOD files. There was a little disturbance, either to convert to HDV or AIC. Hopefully my little test will display the difference:
TOD file 39.7 MB in 1920x1080
DV file 46.3 MB in roughly 1.5 min
adjustments within MSC...Format: DV Stream(PAL, Interlaced,16:9, Audio rate 48000khz), scale Interlaced, color re-interlace, upper pic first
-> FCP no render for Video necessary
-> hopefully I got all menue options halfway right. Apparently I'm not US and use a german version
MOV file 143.6 MB with Apple Intermediate Codec in exactly 1 min
adjustments within MSC...Format: Quicktime Export, Compression AIC, Audio uncompressed, 1920x1080, scale Interlaced, color re-interlace, upper pic first
-> FCP rencer for Video necessary
-> hopefully that's the codec everybody means, when talking AIC !?
General FCP question here:
I've set it to HDV 1080i 50 and then imported the files to the project. Apparently the movie in the canvas (100% size) should be huge, a lot of scrolling bars. But it isn't. It's a little bit bigger than the canvas or viewer window and the picture isn't that clear.
Same thing with the TOD file in Mpeg SC. It's not crystal clear, far away from expectations. Cars in city limits seem to have stripes while in motion. The frame size doesn't fit. It should be bigger than my smaller display can display.
Here's the info out of Mpeg SC:
Stream: MOV001.TOD
Pfad: ~/Movies/MOV001.TOD
Typ: MPEG transport stream
Dauer: 0:00:13
Datenmenge: 39.73 MB
Bit Rate: 24.66 Mbps
Video Spuren:
4113 MPEG-2, 1920 × 1080, 16:9, 29.97 fps, 28.00 Mbps, oberes Halbbild zuerst
Audio Spuren:
4129 MP2 stereo, 48 kHz, 384 kbps
Stream Dateien:
MOV001.TOD (39.73 MB)
Why is the 1920x1080 not the size it should be ? Honestly, if that s the quality from a daylight shot I will sell that camcorder right away and buy a PAL system mini DV for half the price. It's bad !
I've chosen Apple FCP unkompr. 8-Bit 4:2:2 in MSC.
At least I got a 1920x1080 picture/movie. But what does 8Bit 4:2:2 mean ?
Is that what all of you do ? Guess not.
22 sec of movie 78.7 MB big turn out to 2.55 GB !!!
Still the quality isn't that great. Would someone please help me with the parameters in MSC to convert ? That would be awesome.
Lowlight quality of the camcorder is really bad. One bulp and it's spooky dark. But that's not that bad, if at least perfect lid scenes would be great.
I still wait for those super color pics