Log and Transfer Very slow

I am just curious if it always takes a VERY long time to log and transfer clips? I moved the files off of my SDHC cards and onto my hard drive. It's about 55GB of 1920x1080/60i footage. From a Sony HXR-NX5U/NX5N. And on average it will take a 5 minute clip about a half-hour to 45 minutes to transfer into FCP. Is this a normal thing?

Not normally, no. But the NXCam cameras employ yet ANOTHER flavor...non-standard flavor...of AVCHD. This makes importing slow and difficult. I had good luck with clips 5 min or less, but longer...and it would take from 2-5 hours!
The solution is to use a third party application...ClipWrap2. www.clipwrap.com
The good thing about that solution is that ClipWrap will import the timecode from the camera...because it does have timecode that it records. But FCP...AVID...they can't find it (Sony likes to hide things apparently). But ClipWrap found it.
Shane

Similar Messages

Very very slow import using LOG and Transfer

I am using a CANON VIXAIA HF10.and the clips are importing very very slow. The max time on each clip is only 5 min or so. Is there a way to speed this up? Thanks.

Log and transfer only supports AVCHD. It does not support AVCHD Lite, nor will it work with Motion JPEG media. You could use third party software to convert it, or iMovie and then export a QuickTime movie from there in the correct codec and format.

Log and transfer, my transfered files become very large...

When I use Log and transfer, my files become very large. For instance, The card that I'm transferring from only holds 32G and after I transfer the footage to an external drive it has become around 70G. I checked the codec on transfered files and its showing apple pro res 422 1920 x 1080. Is there an import setting I'm missing? This is all new to me...

This is normal.
Your camera likely shoots AVCHD, a highly compressed version of MPEG 4.
It is so compressed because it uses a "Long GOP" format where only every 15th frame is independent (i frame).
Those in between only contain the differences to the prior i frame and cannot exist without it.
(It's actually somewhat more complicated, but now you know what it is called, you can do more research)
You need the ability to edit on any frame, however. The footage is transcoded to make every frame independent so you can do just that. It takes more space.

Log and transfer not changing frame rate to slow motion on P2 cards...

Hello.
I swear I have done this before on final cut studio 2 and it came out correctly, but for some reason this time, either myself or the computer is making an error. (chances are it's me).
Basically, I'm logging and transferring footage that was shot on P2 at 50 fps, and my intention is to import it at 23.98 fps. I thought this is something that naturally happens in the log and transfer process, but i guess not?
My project was set up via easy set up at panasonic dvcproHD frame rate 23.98... and I'm logging an d transferring directly into my browser but the f frame rate stays at 50 fps. (footage was shot in England to be incorporated into a video already shot in America).

I thought this is something that naturally happens in the log and transfer process, but i guess not?
Your guess is right...it DOES NOT slow it down upon injest. ONLY if you set the camera up to shoot 720p25 and then choose the 50 frame rate (I hear this is what you do...I am not a camera guy, so...), then it will import slowed down. But you have to set the camera up CORRECTLY. The first time I imported slow mo, it was 60p...and I had to use the Frame Rate Converter to slow the clips. Then my camera guy figured out the setting in camera and BOOM...there it was.
So...I guess you are NOT wrong...actually. It just needs to be set up IN CAMERA in order to do what you want.
and I don't know if the Frame Rate Converter works for PAL footage...stupid, but...no...Stupid.
Shane

Log and Transfer slower in FCP 7?

Hi,
Here at my job, we often work with the RED camera. As a workflow, we use Log and Transfer to convert all red files into Apple Pro Res. We used to work with FCP 6.0.6 and when we did, 1 hour of footage took 2h (3h max!!) to convert. This week though, we upgraded to Final Cut Studio 3 (thus upgrading to FCP 7.0.1) and the conversion time increased dramatically!
It's not rare for Directors to use the full 4k resolution with that camera. But for that project, he only used the 2k and 3k resolutions. So I started to Log and Transfer and came back 3 hours after that and not even 1/3 of the batch was converted! What I didn't know with the new version, is that it automatically converts in Apple Pro Res 4444, instead of Apple Pro Res 4:2:2 (HQ), as it did before. So I did some tests. I took 10 minutes of footage and tried to convert them in:
Test #1 - Apple Pro Res 4444 *highest quality possible*
Test #2 - Apple Pro Res (proxy) *lowest quality possible, for offline*
Test #3 - Apple Pro Res (HQ) *2nd to best quality possible*
And to my surprise, those 3 tests gave me the same results. For 10 minutes of footage, the conversion took 1h08 (Actually, 1h08 for test #1, 1h06 for test #2 and 1h07 for test #3). That means that for 1 hour of footage, you'd need at least 6 hours of conversion time! This is crazy. And it's not because we have bad computers... we have Mac Pros, dual quad-cores with 8gb of ram in them. I mean, it takes less time to convert the red files into .mxf files for Avid (approx. 4h for 1 hour of footage)!
So my question is: Why the heck would it take longer to convert Red files with the Log and Transfer tool in the latest version of Final Cut Pro?
Thank you,
André
401

Yes, exactly like this one

Log and transfer viewer

Good Morning,
When in the log and transfer viewer my footage seems so sloppy, slow, and sluggish. Since I'm using this window to choose the best takes I would think my video would look better. Of course once it transfers and I drag it to the timeline or viewer it looks fine. Any ideas?
While I'm here, I've also noticed that once my footage is in the timeline, I don't always get a poster frame. Very often it's a white box with a plus sign. If I break for a few hours the white box is gone and the poster frame is visible. Is this regular behavior?
Thanks Adam

Hi(Bonjour)!
Help us to help you. What are:
-your mac model?
-RAM amount?
-Mac OS version ?
-Quicktime version?
-your camcorder model?
-the format it shoots?
-How (what mac's port)do you connect your camcorder?
-do you use external hard drive?
-how this drive is formatted?
-How is it connected?
-Dou you use filevault in system preferences?
-Does timemachine currently performs a backup?
-Is there any heavy process/application used in background?
Michel Boissonneault

Problem with Log and transfer using AVCHD

Hello,
I was wondering if I can get help. I use a Canon Vixia HF S200 and FCP Version 6.0.6
I have produced projects on my MacBook Pro 2.33 Ghz Intel Core 2 using this process before with no problems in the past. This problem just started and I dont know what has changed. When I open the Log and Transfer (LT) window I can see and hear all my video from the AVCHD folder in my harddrive just fine, I can scrub with no prob.... But when I add clip to Queue I get an red circle with exclamation on my status.
I have changed the settings on the preferences to Apple intermediate Codec and the audio to plain stereo.. no luck there, the video still will not transfer to my bin.
I have made sure that the toggle Queue state was the little arrow instead of the paused icon...no luck there either... i got a message that says clip queued transferring but nothing is happening.
I will appreciate your help!
Also I didn't mean to tread jack earlier, please accept my apologies, if anybody saw that...

OK!!!!! This seriously cost me 1 day of my life that I'll never get back!!! lol
So I was able to bring the footage in on to Imovie...Yes, I was that desperate...deadlines do that!
Edited the entire project there...kinda sucked...
Then I had the bright idea that if I was able to bring the videos in to Imovie, on my local HD...than something may be wrong with my scratch disk that I use on FC...its a USB disk, specs =slow.
So I changed the scratch disk and yes "Davi S" for good measure I also deleted the Pref files.
So it working again...here I go editing on FC after I edited the entire project on Imovie...
Thanks for all your help!

Working with AVCHD: Log and Transfer FAQs

Disclaimer: Apple does not necessarily endorse any suggestions, solutions, or third-party software products that may be mentioned in the topic below. Apple encourages you to first seek a solution at Apple Support. The following links are provided as is, with no guarantee of the effectiveness or reliability of the information. Apple does not guarantee that these links will be maintained or functional at any given time. Use the information below at your own discretion.
Working with AVCHD: Log and Transfer FAQs
Log and Transfer was introduced to the product chain in Final Cut Express 4, and is the program's process for ingesting files in the AVCHD format utilizing MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video coding and either Dolby AC-3 or uncompressed linear PCM audio coding. The most frequently observed problems relating to the Log and Transfer process are generally quite easily addressed.
What should I know before attempting to ingest my footage?
The following facts regarding the Log and Transfer process were adapted from the [Apple Knowledge Base article|http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24840?viewlocale=en_US] on transferring AVCHD in Final Cut Pro 6.0.1 but still hold true for the current version of FCE:
AVCHD support is available only on Intel-based Macintosh computers.
AVCHD camcorders typically connect to computers via USB 2.0, not FireWire.
DVD-based AVCHD camcorders are not supported in Mac OS X 10.4 or earlier.
Standard definition video recorded with AVCHD camcorders cannot be accessed in the Log and Transfer window. SD and HD clips should not be mixed on the same HDD.
Preview of AVCHD video in the Log and Transfer window is limited to 1x forward playback. Scrubbing the playhead does not update the video in the Preview area until you stop scrubbing.
When you choose to transfer AVCHD audio in the Logging area, audio is automatically mixed down to stereo.
AVCHD footage is not ingested natively but is transcoded to the Apple Intermediate Codec.
Apple Intermediate Codec files are significantly larger than the original AVCHD files. FCE does not estimate the size of a transcoded AVCHD file before ingesting, so it is possible to exceed the available space on your capture disk during transfer. Before ingesting, keep in mind that the disk space required is about ten times greater than the size of the native AVCHD file.
Which specific formats can be ingested by Log and Transfer?
Only AVCHD footage can be ingested through the Log and Transfer process. Other formats and variants such as AVCHD Lite are not supported. All video should be recorded in a frame size of either 1440x1080 or 1920x1080 and a frame rate of 25 or 29.97 frames per second. Audio recorded on AVCHD camcorders is generally at a rate of 48kHz. If your camera shoots in a format that does not comply with one of these setups then it is most likely not supported by the application and is not guaranteed to work correctly.
Which Easy Setup preset should I select before ingesting my footage?
It is extremely important to select the preset that matches your media before you attempt to ingest via Log and Transfer. There is only one Easy Setup preset that matches the frame size and rate of your footage. If you intend to ingest AVCHD clips through Log and Transfer you will first need to select one of the following presets:
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1440x1080i50
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1440x1080i60
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080i50
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080i60
If these four options do not appear under your Easy Setup list then you probably need to run Software Update and update to FCE 4.0.1. DO NOT cycle through the available presets until you find one that works - there is only one preset that matches your media and it should be evident which one to choose by the way it is named. Select the AVCHD preset that mentions your frame size and frame rate (i50 presets support both 50i and 25p frame rates; similarly, i60 presets support both 60i and 29.97p frame rates). If you do cycle through many options in the hope of selecting the correct one through guess-and-check you will probably have corrupted your preference file and need to [trash your preferences|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2611] before continuing.
Why don't my clips appear when I open the Log and Transfer window?
Make sure your camcorder records AVCHD in a format supported by FCE4. It should be connected to one of your computer's USB ports (never connect it to an external hard drive or other external device such as your keyboard or a USB hub), powered on, and set to video playback mode.
If the camcorder +does not+ mount on your Desktop your USB port or cable may be malfunctioning. Try plugging it in to another port or using a different USB cable to see if it makes a difference.
If the camcorder does mount on your Desktop but the clips do not appear in the Log and Transfer window you will need to point the program to the directory that contains your media.
First, click the Add Folder button in the upper left of the Log and Transfer window. The button looks like this:
Then, you will need to navigate to the root directory in which your media is stored. Most camcorders call this folder "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD" and it should be located at the very top level of the camcorder when mounted. If your camcorder records to a valid AVCHD directory structure then your clips should load after the Add Folder process is completed.
I would like to keep a working backup of my original clips so that I can delete them off the camcorder's internal memory. How should I do this?
There are two main ways to keep a backup of your clips. The first is to ingest every clip on your camcorder through the Log and Transfer process, and store the Apple Intermediate Codec files the application creates in an easily accessible place such as an external FireWire drive. The advantage of this method is that you have the ability to open back up old editing projects, reconnect the media as necessary, and keep going as if you'd never left. However, due to the large amount of space AIC takes up (usually somewhere in the vicinity of 41-50GB an hour when transcoded from AVCHD), this is not always feasible.
Another often preferable approach is to copy over the root directory in which your clips are stored (usually named "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD") from the camcorder to your computer or an external drive. As long as you maintain the original file structure, you will be able to ingest your clips again at a later date using the "Add Folder" process detailed above to navigate to their new location.
My clips appear, but when I attempt to ingest a red exclamation point appears and the window displays the message "Error: No Data"
This is one of the most common problems that users experience when trying to ingest their media through the Log and Transfer process. Luckily, it also has one of the easiest solutions.
In the Log and Transfer window, click on the gear icon in the top right and select "Preferences" in the contextual menu that appears.
Make sure the video is set to transcode to the Apple Intermediate Codec and the audio is set to Plain Stereo.
After doing so, hit OK and try to ingest again.
I am experiencing a problem that is not covered in this tip or the solutions here do not work.
The best thing to do at this point would be to trash your preferences and start a new topic in the [FCE Forum|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=936&start=0] with a detailed description of your problem. Check out the user tip on [Basic Troubleshooting in Final Cut Express|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2662419] for more information.
This is the 1st version of this tip. It was submitted on December 03, 2010 by skalicki`.
Do you want to provide feedback on this User Contributed Tip or contribute your own? If you have achieved Level 2 status, visit the User Tips Library Contributions forum for more information.

Disclaimer: Apple does not necessarily endorse any suggestions, solutions, or third-party software products that may be mentioned in the topic below. Apple encourages you to first seek a solution at Apple Support. The following links are provided as is, with no guarantee of the effectiveness or reliability of the information. Apple does not guarantee that these links will be maintained or functional at any given time. Use the information below at your own discretion.
Working with AVCHD: Log and Transfer FAQs
Log and Transfer was introduced to the product chain in Final Cut Express 4, and is the program's process for ingesting files in the AVCHD format utilizing MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video coding and either Dolby AC-3 or uncompressed linear PCM audio coding. The most frequently observed problems relating to the Log and Transfer process are generally quite easily addressed.
What should I know before attempting to ingest my footage?
The following facts regarding the Log and Transfer process were adapted from the [Apple Knowledge Base article|http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24840?viewlocale=en_US] on transferring AVCHD in Final Cut Pro 6.0.1 but still hold true for the current version of FCE:
AVCHD support is available only on Intel-based Macintosh computers.
AVCHD camcorders typically connect to computers via USB 2.0, not FireWire.
DVD-based AVCHD camcorders are not supported in Mac OS X 10.4 or earlier.
Standard definition video recorded with AVCHD camcorders cannot be accessed in the Log and Transfer window. SD and HD clips should not be mixed on the same HDD.
Preview of AVCHD video in the Log and Transfer window is limited to 1x forward playback. Scrubbing the playhead does not update the video in the Preview area until you stop scrubbing.
When you choose to transfer AVCHD audio in the Logging area, audio is automatically mixed down to stereo.
AVCHD footage is not ingested natively but is transcoded to the Apple Intermediate Codec.
Apple Intermediate Codec files are significantly larger than the original AVCHD files. FCE does not estimate the size of a transcoded AVCHD file before ingesting, so it is possible to exceed the available space on your capture disk during transfer. Before ingesting, keep in mind that the disk space required is about ten times greater than the size of the native AVCHD file.
Which specific formats can be ingested by Log and Transfer?
Only AVCHD footage can be ingested through the Log and Transfer process. Other formats and variants such as AVCHD Lite are not supported. All video should be recorded in a frame size of either 1440x1080 or 1920x1080 and a frame rate of 25 or 29.97 frames per second. Audio recorded on AVCHD camcorders is generally at a rate of 48kHz. If your camera shoots in a format that does not comply with one of these setups then it is most likely not supported by the application and is not guaranteed to work correctly.
Which Easy Setup preset should I select before ingesting my footage?
It is extremely important to select the preset that matches your media before you attempt to ingest via Log and Transfer. There is only one Easy Setup preset that matches the frame size and rate of your footage. If you intend to ingest AVCHD clips through Log and Transfer you will first need to select one of the following presets:
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1440x1080i50
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1440x1080i60
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080i50
AVCHD-Apple Intermediate Codec 1920x1080i60
If these four options do not appear under your Easy Setup list then you probably need to run Software Update and update to FCE 4.0.1. DO NOT cycle through the available presets until you find one that works - there is only one preset that matches your media and it should be evident which one to choose by the way it is named. Select the AVCHD preset that mentions your frame size and frame rate (i50 presets support both 50i and 25p frame rates; similarly, i60 presets support both 60i and 29.97p frame rates). If you do cycle through many options in the hope of selecting the correct one through guess-and-check you will probably have corrupted your preference file and need to [trash your preferences|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2611] before continuing.
Why don't my clips appear when I open the Log and Transfer window?
Make sure your camcorder records AVCHD in a format supported by FCE4. It should be connected to one of your computer's USB ports (never connect it to an external hard drive or other external device such as your keyboard or a USB hub), powered on, and set to video playback mode.
If the camcorder +does not+ mount on your Desktop your USB port or cable may be malfunctioning. Try plugging it in to another port or using a different USB cable to see if it makes a difference.
If the camcorder does mount on your Desktop but the clips do not appear in the Log and Transfer window you will need to point the program to the directory that contains your media.
First, click the Add Folder button in the upper left of the Log and Transfer window. The button looks like this:
Then, you will need to navigate to the root directory in which your media is stored. Most camcorders call this folder "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD" and it should be located at the very top level of the camcorder when mounted. If your camcorder records to a valid AVCHD directory structure then your clips should load after the Add Folder process is completed.
I would like to keep a working backup of my original clips so that I can delete them off the camcorder's internal memory. How should I do this?
There are two main ways to keep a backup of your clips. The first is to ingest every clip on your camcorder through the Log and Transfer process, and store the Apple Intermediate Codec files the application creates in an easily accessible place such as an external FireWire drive. The advantage of this method is that you have the ability to open back up old editing projects, reconnect the media as necessary, and keep going as if you'd never left. However, due to the large amount of space AIC takes up (usually somewhere in the vicinity of 41-50GB an hour when transcoded from AVCHD), this is not always feasible.
Another often preferable approach is to copy over the root directory in which your clips are stored (usually named "PRIVATE" or "AVCHD") from the camcorder to your computer or an external drive. As long as you maintain the original file structure, you will be able to ingest your clips again at a later date using the "Add Folder" process detailed above to navigate to their new location.
My clips appear, but when I attempt to ingest a red exclamation point appears and the window displays the message "Error: No Data"
This is one of the most common problems that users experience when trying to ingest their media through the Log and Transfer process. Luckily, it also has one of the easiest solutions.
In the Log and Transfer window, click on the gear icon in the top right and select "Preferences" in the contextual menu that appears.
Make sure the video is set to transcode to the Apple Intermediate Codec and the audio is set to Plain Stereo.
After doing so, hit OK and try to ingest again.
I am experiencing a problem that is not covered in this tip or the solutions here do not work.
The best thing to do at this point would be to trash your preferences and start a new topic in the [FCE Forum|http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=936&start=0] with a detailed description of your problem. Check out the user tip on [Basic Troubleshooting in Final Cut Express|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2662419] for more information.
This is the 1st version of this tip. It was submitted on December 03, 2010 by skalicki`.
Do you want to provide feedback on this User Contributed Tip or contribute your own? If you have achieved Level 2 status, visit the User Tips Library Contributions forum for more information.

I need to know best way to edit MXF files, with least rendering, is that converting the MXF or Log and Transfer? the end product is dvd, but I have lots and lots of these projects to do.

I am about to comence my Edit, and was told of Mpeg Streamclip, however this doesn't seem to work with my Canon XF305 Clips, the reason I was told to use it was so I wouldn't have to Render in Final Cut Pro all the time.. I do have the Canon Disc with the Plug in Utility and the update from their site.
Is it best to Convert these MXF files first and import them into FCP or use 'Log and Transfer', so far I am unable to do either!!
The projects on the timeline will have introduction .Movs already on it as a Template to re-use again and again with the new Footage ( MXF Files ) to be added and edited with transitions etc..This process is repeated again and again but with different MXF clips each time.
I am looking for the quickest and best way for workflow as there are 80 or more projects to do, each with 10 or so clips to be added to the timeline and Exported for DVD...Will I have to then Compress to fit onto DVD's??
I know Streamclip is an Mepeg 2 app but I thought the Canon XF305 Shot as mpeg2....
Is Log and Transfer my only Option?
Basically I need to know the quickest for Render purposes, and of course, the best way so the files aren't so huge etc etc.
Please, any suggestions would be greatly received....

We only work with PR422 files in FC7. We use Shane's workflow with all 5D & MXF footage.
Make your life easier and stick to the ProRes family for your footage and edit sequences. Avoid H264 & convert any you have to ProRes.
Unless you are considering Blu-Ray the only way to deliver video on a DVD is to convert it to SD.
Depending on the length of your show you can make a Blu-Ray in Compressor but you have very limited authoring options when compared to DVD Studio Pro.
Compressor can also convert your HD to SD mpg-2 & Ac3 files. The best results usually come from setting the frame controls in the mpg-2 setting of Compressor to best. Depending on the the length of the show and your Qmaster settings this can take quite a while.
I personally find Compressor's HD to SD DVD conversion varies. Sometimes it is wonderful and sometimes not so much. I prefer the following as it is usually is faster and very consistent.
Export a quicktime movie (not QT conversion) of your final sequence
Import the exported HD file back into FC.
Create a SD 16x9 sequence and then drop in the recently exported HD seq and render. Rendering the sequence basically has FC doing the HD to SD conversion. Export the SD sequence and then convert to mpg-2 & ac3 in Compressor. While this does take time I still find it faster than Compressor with Qmaster utilizing all cores.
Another option is using jobs in Compressor
http://pixelcorps.cachefly.net/macbreak-154-540p-h264.mov
In this workflow you would have Compressor convert the HD file to SD and then through jobs convert the SD file to mpg2 & Ac3.
In theory the jobs version could be faster (based on a number of variables- length, Qmaster, etc) but I haven't had time to compare the two.

A conclusion to ALL the AVCHD/.mts Log and Transfer Final Cut Pro 7 issues

Hey all! Happy 2011!
So this is my first post here and hopefully when this thread concludes with all your help we should be able to help a lot of people and save them the heartache that I have recently had to endure by stating these things in plain English. I have some questions at the end which I think could be answered very easily! Please, no gobbledygook!
It would be great if people in the know can confirm/deny or comment on my points so those that are in a similar position to me can save their time and just get on with it.
1) I have a Panasonic HDC-TM300 and it records in AVCHD/.mts files
2) FCP 7 can deal with AVCHD files via the Log and Transfer feature if you do it straight from the camera or memory card and can convert to ProRes 422 (LT)?
3) Log and Transfer _*DOES NOT WORK*_ if you move the AVCHD/.mts to an external drive without maintaining the folder structure?
4) What is required from the folder structure that makes FCP act this way?
5) Basically I have f*ed it by doing the part 3 above which I think is the most natural thing in the world to do! Im sure that many people have done the same thing as me please correct me if i’m wrong
After a lot of research on the internet I have come up with the following solutions and in brackets my thoughts on them. If anyone has any experience with them please please let me and other people know so I can get on with my life and editing these files.
a) Harass the people that make FCP 7.0 and make sure that the next update solves this stupid/idiotic/ridiculous oversight. (This could take a while but i think we should do it for the sake of future generations)
b) Someone could let us know about a workaround to this that may be the folder structure that FCP needs to be able to do L&T (needs to be simple so that everyone can do it. This would be the best short term solution until part a is completed)
c) Buy one of the converter programs such as ClipWrap, Toast Titanium or Aunsoft mts converter. If so which is the most/ least recommended and why? (Least desirable option due to requirement for extra program so extra faffing and extra cost).
Thanks y’all and keep up the awesome work!!
K*

2) FCP 7 can deal with AVCHD files via the Log and Transfer feature if you do it straight from the camera or memory card and can convert to ProRes 422 (LT)?
Yes.
3) Log and Transfer DOES NOT WORK if you move the AVCHD/.mts to an external drive without maintaining the folder structure?
This is true of ANY tapeless format.
4) What is required from the folder structure that makes FCP act this way?
This is due to the fact that most of them have files in those other folders in that structure that FCP needs to access in order to get all the proper components assembled properly. Sure, there are formats that have folders with nothing in them. Doesn't matter, FCP is designed to look at the full structure and work from that.
5) Basically I have f*ed it by doing the part 3 above which I think is the most natural thing in the world to do!
The most natural thing in the world is to NOT backup everything? Well, that might be the case, since this comes up so darn often. But, it is wrong. The full structure must be maintained. This is true of many tapeless formats and more than just FCP. Avid and Premiere need this for certain tapeless formats too.
a) Harass the people that make FCP 7.0 and make sure that the next update solves this stupid/idiotic/ridiculous oversight.
It isn't an oversight. It is designed like this on purpose. You need to learn how to do things right. You obviously know what that is now...keep the full card structure. So now it is up to you to continue to do things properly. Instead of insisting that an NLE conform the way it works to suit your needs.
b) Someone could let us know about a workaround to this that may be the folder structure that FCP needs to be able to do L&T (needs to be simple so that everyone can do it. This would be the best short term solution until part a is completed)
Easy. Shoot a small bit on another card. Look at the folder structure. Recreate that structure in your backed up footage. Often this will mean making folders with exact names, even if they are empty. But if they have files in them, even small ones, then the first backup you did might not work....because those might be some of the small files FCP needs in order to do the L&T process properly. Always worth trying though.
c) Buy one of the converter programs such as ClipWrap, Toast Titanium or Aunsoft mts converter. If so which is the most/ least recommended and why?
I highly recommend Clipwrap. Mainly because I haven't tried the others. But also because the author is always following the latest formats, and works hard to make sure his software works with them. It solved an importing issue I had with the Sony NXCam camera...within a week of me moaning about the issue.
Want a tutorial to walk you through the tapeless workflow in FCP? I have one. Tapeless Workflow for FCP 7 Tutorial You might know most of this, but watch it for other tips.
Shane

Unknown Error when I Logging and Transfer P2 Card files in FCP 6.0.6

I have been trying for the past two week to Log and Transfer P2 files to my external hardrive using FCP 6.0.6 unsuccessfully.
Originally I tried to Log and Transfer directly from the Panasonic HPX-170 in between my shooting. The first time it was a success but from then on I always get the same Unknown Error when attempting to transfer. When I encountered the Unknown Error during the second transfer I went on to create folders with the P2 contents on my external Hard Drive.
When I drag any of the P2 folder content on the Log and Transfer window I can see all the clips. I can successfully transfer small B-roll clips I have but any big size file (all my interviews) return an Unknown Error symbol at the end of the transfer. I believe this is probably why I didn't encounter any issues during my first time.
I tried deleting the preferences in FCP and then Logging and Transfer and it works if the systems settings are set for the Mac Pro but not for the external HD. The problem is I don't have enough space on my Mac. I have cleared 45GB of space but my P2 files total 54GB. I tried the same process with a Mac Power Book with FCP 5.1.4 and again in encounter the same problem.
The external HD is a 1TB Western Digital that I have used before with FCP for editing but never before with P2 files. Its in good working order and has 79GB free space remaining. Both the camera and the P2 cards (16GB and 4GB) are also performing as expected.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

#36 - One or More P2 files failed to import.
Shane's Stock Answer #36 - "One or more clips failed to import..."
Very often in the field with this camera the camera operator will delete clips from the P2 card that they just don't like. That is the beauty of this camera. But, the still for that video file (located in the CLIP folder in the CONTENTS folder)...the still that you see when you are in the P2 Import window...is not deleted. So you will see the image, and the name, but the video file would have been deleted.
What you can do it compare the file names in the VIDEO folder and CLIP folder and see if anything is missing. If something is, then you know what the problem is. You can then just import the rest a few at time, skipping that one.
ALSO...in the P2 Import window...in the P2 Browser, there is a little sprocket drop down menu. Click on that and choose PREFERENCES. Uncheck REMOVE PULLDOWN and then try importing again.
ALSO...make sure your file names aren't too long. Try shortening them and see if that works.
ALSO make sure that the folders that contain the CONTENTS folder doesn't have any odd characters like /!@#$%^&*()?.
Shane

Is there a way to import clips from AVCHD folders I have copied from my camcorder to my hard disk? With FCE I could import these clips using log and transfer.

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
Freiburg, Germany

FCP 7 crashes in log and transfer (NSMallocException)

FCP 7 crashes about 50 minutes or so into log and trasfering my AVCHD footage. It throws a "NSMallocException" error as follows:
Application Specific Information:
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSMallocException', reason: '*** -[NSConcreteMutableData appendBytes:length:]: unable to allocate memory for length (73874)'
*** Call stack at first throw:
Is there any way around this painful problem
Or are there alternative ways of transfering AVCHD clips into pro res without using FCP log and transfer?

The capture scratch is to an external Raid with about 2TB free.
Clip2Wrap2 looks great, I'll give it a try. My main concern is that it might be slower than FCP. I've got two weeks of filming to do, with 6 programs a day. I'm trying to the footage copied to the computer, then have it transfering into final cut while the next section is being filmed. So it needs to transfer fairly quickly. I've tried a few other AVCHD converters, but they're painfully slow.

Log and Transfer issues

I have a 2GHz Mac Book Pro with 2 GB or ram. I use this quite a lot when shooting and editing with my Panasonic P2 (HPX2000). Usually, I log and transfer DV, DVC Pro and DVC Pro 50 files with no issues. The other day, I shot a concert in 720P and when trying to log and transfer a 40 minute video, it would not finish. It would show the file transferring, but show the exclamation point at next to it, alerting me that it had problems. I was able to transfer over small chunks and edit them together in FCP, but I wonder if this is a ram issue or something like that. Any thoughts?

#36 - One or More P2 files failed to import.
Shane's Stock Answer #36 - "One or more clips failed to import..."
Very often in the field with this camera the camera operator will delete clips from the P2 card that they just don't like. That is the beauty of this camera. But, the still for that video file (located in the CLIP folder in the CONTENTS folder)...the still that you see when you are in the P2 Import window...is not deleted. So you will see the image, and the name, but the video file would have been deleted.
What you can do it compare the file names in the VIDEO folder and CLIP folder and see if anything is missing. If something is, then you know what the problem is. You can then just import the rest a few at time, skipping that one.
ALSO...in the P2 Import window...in the P2 Browser, there is a little sprocket drop down menu. Click on that and choose PREFERENCES. Uncheck REMOVE PULLDOWN and then try importing again.
ALSO...make sure your file names aren't too long. Try shortening them and see if that works.
ALSO make sure that the folders that contain the CONTENTS folder doesn't have any odd characters like /!@#$%^&*()?.

Log and Transfer: Red exclamation points are attacking our project!

We are shooting a documentary with a HVX and a Firestore in 720p/24p. Every shoot, we move the files from the Firestore to the hard drive. We then log and transfer off of the drive to a G-Raid scratch disk.
Up until the other day, we were having no problems "logging and transferring". For some reason, we are now able to play and label the clip, but when we go to "add clip to queue" a red exclamation point keeps coming up.
This is inclusive of old and new footage. I have tried to change the length of the file names as well as restart Final Cut as well as the drives.
I know you guys are much smarter than we are, so we are looking forward to your wisdom.

#36 - One or More P2 files failed to import.
Shane's Stock Answer #36 - "One or more clips failed to import..."
Very often in the field with this camera the camera operator will delete clips from the P2 card that they just don't like. That is the beauty of this camera. But, the still for that video file (located in the CLIP folder in the CONTENTS folder)...the still that you see when you are in the P2 Import window...is not deleted. So you will see the image, and the name, but the video file would have been deleted.
What you can do it compare the file names in the VIDEO folder and CLIP folder and see if anything is missing. If something is, then you know what the problem is. You can then just import the rest a few at time, skipping that one.
ALSO...in the P2 Import window...in the P2 Browser, there is a little sprocket drop down menu. Click on that and choose PREFERENCES. Uncheck REMOVE PULLDOWN and then try importing again.
ALSO...make sure your file names aren't too long. Try shortening them and see if that works.
Shane

Log and Transfer Very slow

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for