How to import AVCHD clips from HD camcorder?

How I can import AVCHD clips from Sony HDR-TG1 with best possible quality to iMovie '09?
Camera records clips as 1080i format but when I import them to iMovie '09 quality are cr*p. I have a same problem with iMovie '08. This has something to do with interlacing and single field processing but is there any workaround (other than using PC)?

tgynther wrote:
Camera records clips as 1080i format but when I import them to iMovie '09 quality are cr*p. I have a same problem with iMovie '08. This has something to do with interlacing and single field processing but is there any workaround (other than using PC)?
Preview playback may not be too good since QuickTime in general doesn't seem to deinterlace very well (when it deinterlaces at all).
Quality of exported footage varies greatly according to whether or not you select +just the right+ export settings. See this thread for details:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=8859971
If exporting to SD (particularly, to iDVD), see here:
http://pond.org.uk/misc/imovieandhd/workflow.html
I'm planning to update this guide soonish with information on how to end up with 720p60 output from 1080i60 input (i.e. in effect treat the input as 1920x540 at 60 frames/sec progressive, turning it into 1280x720 at 60 frames/set progressive).

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How do I import AVCHD clips from my hard-disk?

Has anybody been able to import AVCHD clips stored in a hard-disk? I save my clips onto my hard-disk after downloading from the media card from the camera however iMovie does not seem to recognize the folder structure.
S.r.

Yes, this worked. Ideally it would be nice not to have to do that as I don't fully trust the disk image format as a final archive format and hence end up duplicating the media. I would prefer to leave it as ordinary folder structure (which works with FCP 6.0.1).
I suppose this could be a .1 release feature.
Thanks,
S.r.

Huge HD file sizes in iMovie when importing AVCHD files from HD Camcorder

Although several answers have been given on different ways to import HD files from a AVCHD camcorder, in this case a Sony one, the issue is what to do with the HUGE files it creates. I recorded 2 hours of HD content in about 30GB on the camcorder. I can burn those native HVCHD files on DVD's, took 6 of them, and play them on a Blue Ray player in HD. To edit, I tested a sample 50MB file that was about 3 minutes in length. It convered to quicktime file in the same 1920x1080 quality resulted in a file that was about 800MB, looked great, but how do I store or play a 20 minute version of it? iMovie is inadequate to do anything other than produce smaller size files for an iPod or lower quality, unless it is going to be a very short HD movie if doing true HD quality. One of the reasons I took the MAC plunge was the better multimedia capabilities. In this case, Apple (iMove and Final Cut) is behind.
I ended up shifting my HD editing back to a PC with $100 Sony Vegas software that can edit the AVCHD files and author in it. I can produce a DVD with about 25 minutes of edited HD in AVCDH file format and play it. I can also store the finished product in a much smaller space using AVCHD files. I have a 1 TB drive on my Mac that would be consumed if I worked in iMovie with converting all these AVCDH files and kept them in HD quality since it looks like it needs to expand them 12-16 times the AVCHD file size.
Yes, I know I could lower the quality to better work with them in iMovie, but that makes no sense to me. I want to record and edit in the HD format. Seems like these AVCHD cameras are becoming a standard since they are so efficient at storing HD content, iMovie needs to figure out how to edit and store them the same way. Very disappointed in how iMovie handles HD, to me it is NOT very good at handling HD, no good way to store or distribute it.
Am I missing soomething here? I have spent hours looking for a different answer, but have not found one yet? Maybe the next version of iMovie will be better. I like using it for SD DVD authoring, but for HD, did not work at all for me.
Jon

Interesting you say it is not meant for editing, but there are about a half dozen editor's for windows that will work on these exact files. I know with Sony Vegas that I have the same level of control with frame precision as I do with iMovie so I think there must be more to the story why Apple has not been able to support it like other software manufacturers who support windows. Don't get me wrong, i would love to do the work in iMovie and not have to learn something new. I don't have the storage space to use the HD apple format, that 2 hr of HD in AVCHD would turn into about 500GB then what do I put it on to play it. If the BlueRay standard calls for 25 or 50G disc's and we can get full two hour movies on them today, then they must be using a file format similar to AVCHD to fit on a disc, they cannot be using anything close to what Apple uses for HD files, it is just simple logic and math. So why doesn't Apple finure it out before everyone who starts working in HD comes to the same conclusion that the Apple QT file formats for HD is going to be an issue with space, you can create content, but cannot afford the disc space to store it or play it.

Problems importing AVCHD clips from Panasonic GF1

I'm having problems importing clips from my new Panasonic Gf1. FCE (4.0.1) sees the device ok, and selecting and previewing the clips in the log and transfer window works fine, but once the clips are in FCE (converted to AIC) they play fast in the viewer or when placed in the sequence. Strange, because they play fine in the preview window before importing. Tried this in iMovie 08 and get the same effect.
I'm can convert them Toast to AIC and they work fine when imported to FCE but this is not my preferred workflow.

I tried using Toast Titanium 10 for conversion as suggested but there was a slight issue with synch of video and audio. So I downloaded and bought Voltaic HD as suggested elsewhere and the AVCHD files of the Panasonic GF-1 are now playing in Final Cut Express 4 without issues - I am editing with no problem. Given that I can use the Log&Transfer Window (Final Cut 4) for my Olympus EP1 and my Panasonic HD video cam, it's odd that the files of the Panasonic GF-1 don't work in Final Cut (yet), but at least I am back editing. Voltaic HD was $35, a doable expense.... it does work flawless (so far).

How to import movie clips from DVD?

Hi,
A really stupid question, and possibly this has been asked before, but I am at my wits end--is there a way I can import video clips to iMovie from a DVD disc that contains video files? When I try to select 'import movies' from the file menu, it won't import the clips because the video files contained within the dvd are VOB. IFO. and BUP. formats, and the iMovie will only read MPEG or mov. Is there a way I can somehow import these clips by changing the setting somewhere in the iMovie or am I to require some other type of application to convert these files before I can successfully import them?
I'm really only trying to make a simple short clip, nothing big. The longest it will probably be is at most 5 mins. Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Is there a way I can somehow import these clips by changing the setting somewhere in the iMovie or am I to require some other type of application to convert these files before I can successfully import them?
Not by changing a setting. Multiplexed MPEG-2 content is not iMovie '08 "edit" compatible. Either the content is recognized as being on a compatible camcorder and converts the content to an "edit" compatible compression format or you must manually convert the multiplexed MPEG-2 content yourself for import at the "Finder" file level.
Any suggestions?
If your VOB files are not encrypted (i.e., on a homemade DVD), then they can be copied to your hard drive. Once on your hard drive, you can use any of several applications to perform your conversion. Cost and work flow depend on the application you use. I normally recommend a new user try something like iSquint for their initial attempt. It is free and simple to use. Simply drop the copied VOB file containing the video you want to the application work area, set the "Optimize for TV" option, and press the "Start" button. This will produce an MPEG4/AAC file that can be edited. Other applications can produce alternative compression formats for editing but are either more difficult to use or are not totally free. My preference would by MPEG Streamclip here, but it requires a $20 QT MPEG-2 Playback component and s much more difficult to use since it has many more options and capabilities. Visual Hub (iSquint's "big brother") is as simple to use, but is a "pay-ware" application. In any case, the free application should allow you to do what you want and then you can decide if you need/want to invest more in the way of cost, time, and/or effort in a better application.
I use Quicktime pro as well to export any file to a version that iMovie will work with
Unfortunately, QT Pro will not work in this case since QT Pro is not conversion compatible with multiplexed MPEG-2 formats. Even if you add the $20 QT MPEG-2 Playback component, it will only convert the video portion of the file. Use an MPEG-based, third-party application like those mentioned above or FFmpegX (donation-ware/difficult to use) or MPEG2 Works (Pay-ware that also requires the $20 MPEG-2 component, etc.

How to import a clip from another Imovie movie ?

I have imported with Imovie HD in two distinct movies some clips that I wish to merge in one larger movie.
What is the simplest way to merge two movies ?
What is the simplest way to import just one clip from another movie ?
Thanks !!!
Luc

Well I found where those clips were trashed too. Its not the iMovie trash can as indicated by the help text! Its the user trash can. Here is how I found my clips in case this is useful for anyone else.
find . -name '*.dv' -exec ls -l {} \; | grep Trash
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 105600000 11 Dec 10:53 ./.Trash/Clip 251 copy.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 105600000 11 Dec 10:45 ./.Trash/Clip 251.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 88560000 11 Dec 10:44 ./.Trash/Clip 252.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 91560000 11 Dec 10:45 ./.Trash/Clip 253.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 53760000 11 Dec 10:45 ./.Trash/Clip 254.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 61320000 11 Dec 10:45 ./.Trash/Clip 255.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 179640000 11 Dec 10:46 ./.Trash/Clip 256.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 197880000 11 Dec 10:47 ./.Trash/Clip 257.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 69960000 11 Dec 10:47 ./.Trash/Clip 258.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 48720000 11 Dec 10:47 ./.Trash/Clip 259.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 146280000 11 Dec 10:42 ./.Trash/Clip 260.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 45120000 11 Dec 10:42 ./.Trash/Clip 261.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 78000000 11 Dec 10:42 ./.Trash/Clip 262.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 66960000 11 Dec 10:43 ./.Trash/Clip 263.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 311280000 11 Dec 10:44 ./.Trash/Clip 264.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 104160000 11 Dec 10:44 ./.Trash/Clip 265.dv
-rw-r--r-- 1 aspencer aspencer 40200000 11 Dec 10:44 ./.Trash/Clip 266.dv
To see the total space taken up by these files I did:
find . -name '*.dv' -exec ls -l {} \; | grep Trash | awk 'BEGIN { space = 0}; { space += $5}; END { print "total space",space}'
total space 1794600000
So I just have to empty the main trash in order to recover from my first copy/paste effort to move clips from one project to another. BTW is there a way to copy them to the clips pane and not the timeline?
Alex Spencer

How to Import AVCHD Lite From iMoves to Aperture

I am very new at this, but I have found that I can import my AVCHD Lite movies from my Panasonic camera into iMoves with no problem. Just plug in the camera card in the card reader and off we go. This is great, now I would like to move the AVCHD Lite movies from iMove to Aperture, please tell me in very simple terms how I can do this or if it is impossible

You can't import AVCHD to Aperture.
Think of it this way: Video files are huge and so folks who work with Video talk of Production Formats and Deliver Formats. So, they shoot in Production formats because they contain the most data, are less compressed and survive the editing process with minimal quality loss. They then export the finished product to Delivery formats. These are heavily compressed and not suited for further editing. But the smaller file size is ideal for delivering to the viewer.
AVCHD is a Production Format (not a pro-level one, obviously) and is designed for processing and exporting to a smaller sized deliver format. That's what Movie is for.
It's broadly analogous to shooting Raw and processing into a Jpeg.
Regards
TD

How to import AVCHD movies from Canon HR10 (mini DVD) to iMac / iMovie?

I have just bought an iMac (I am a PC user for a very long time and not yet familiar with the Mac software), and I am having troubles with some basic tasks: I want to transfer AVCHD movies from my Canon HR10 (mini DVDs) to my iMac / iMovie. However, the iMac / iMovie does not seem to recognize the camera when I connect it via the USB cable, i.e. nothing happens at all (the disc is finalized, and the camera is in "Play" mode). I have also tried to import the contents of the mini DVDs via a network harddisk, but iMovie does not seem to recognize the format?! I don't know what I am doing wrong?

I think iMovie will want to see the camera as a device before it will do the import.
Not sure you can import direct from the card, as your experiments have shown.
It may be due to the processing of the video as it comes off the camera.
Other people may have a solution though.

How to import selected clips from iPhotos?

When you open iMovie, it asks you to sync movies from your iPhotos. The problem is it takes every single clips from iPhotos and import them. Take too long and more difficult to work since there clips in there you don't want on the new project.
Is there a way to pick and choose which clip to import directly from iPhoto?
(Beside you have to copy the particular clip(s) to a folder and manually import it)

Ah but it does work!
Yes, emptying the trash in iMovie 6 does remove a Media file if NO REMAINING CLIP relies on that file. So if you imported some clips and discarded them, their Media files would be discarded when you emptied the trash, reducing the size of the project. That's because No OTHER clip needed those files.
But if you had split each of the clips in half that you imported, then discarded the second half of each, no reduction in size would have occurred when you emptied the trash.
Unlike iMovie 4, iMovie 6 never removes just a PORTION of a Media file (the source file for a clip, stored in the Media folder inside the project). So if a Media file contains 30 minutes of video that you split at 1 minute, then discard the remaining 29 minute clip, the entire 30 minutes is retained by iMovie. The 30 minute Media file is never reduced in size. That's so iMovie's non-destructive editing feature can restore your one minute clip to its original length.
So the rule is that a Media file is discarded only when you discard the LAST clip using that file.
Try it!
Karl

How do you "import" AVCHD 60P from Canon camcorder so it can be "converted" for iMovie?

Low-tech guy here. I don't know video formats and I don't edit video often. I used my new Canon VIXIA HF R400 camcorder to record high-quality video (AVCHD 60P) not realizing when I connected my camera to my MacBook Pro the video does not even appear for import onto the computer. I realize I have to convert the format to one iPhoto and iMovie will recognize, but my question is how do I even get my computer to see the video on my camera so I can drag it into a converter software? I see several chats about how to convert, which assumes the software can see the video on the camera - my problem is I can't even get my computer to see the video so I can then import and covert it. I've tried Bigasoft AVCHD converter software and the AVCHD Converter by iFunia, but neither software sees the video. (The Bigasoft doesn't even recognize my camcorder. iFunia recognizes the camera but doesn't see the video clips.)

Thank you for trying to help me. I may just be hopeless. As I mentioned I don't know my video formats (though I've tried to learn now). I just upgraded to Maverics (thank you!) and was pleased to see that now iMovie recognizes my Canon camcorder, but it does not "see" my individual video clips. The thumbnails are just blank and I'm not able to check mark any of them (see image). Maybe the format is just too high-quality for iMovie? It's AVCHD 60P (or 1080p?) I don't know what the difference is between the two. iMovie used to be so simple I didn't need to know that. I just wanted to put together a simple movie quickly. I'll have to let go of the dream and let go of iMovie! LOL Again, thanks for trying to help!

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If I open the chip has the structure of extension file. 1920x1080 MTS format (1080/60i), after using the program sony the extension of the file becomes as written previously tried to import the file. Dragged from MTS clip the desktop, and nomatter, I wonder if I use ClipWrap which settings should I use to lose nothing in image quality?

How doI Import HD clips from HTC Desire HD for use in Final Cut Express?

Before anyone says it I know it's dead easy with and iPhone but how difficult is it to import video from the HTC Desire HD to use with Final Cut Express? I am looking at purchasing this phone and would be interested in people's thoughts.

Hi Tom,
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Imovie freezes osx 10.9.3 & how to import AVCHD files?

Hi,
I have 2 questions:
1. imovie freezes:
Since a few days, imovie freezes when being launched.
I do not know the version I have and I do not think I can find out as ... imovie crashes before it even opens.
I have a macbook pro and got it in May 2014, so the imovie should be not older than whatever version was current back then.
I am not sure when it exactly started crashing, the first time I noticed it was last week when trying to import AVCHD clips from a camera. imovie would not launch so I used quicktime instead.
This brings me to my second question
2. how can I access AVCHD files to use in imovie?
Thanks

I do not have a time machine file available.
I believe the issue started after I imported AVCHD files from a camera by using quicktime since imovie did not let me do it.
After that, it has been crashing ever since.
I found the suggestion to delete all quicktime files in library-quicktime except AppleIntermediateCodec.component and AppleMPEG2Codec.component, but those were actually the only 2 files in there.
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reshs
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Removed features and unsupported file formats | Adobe Premiere Elements 13
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Windows
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Mac
iMovie
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ATR

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iMovie imports only about 75% of the lenght of clips from my camcorder, I can`t find out how to import entire clips. can anyone help please?

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How to import AVCHD clips from HD camcorder?

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