MTS files (and really, they're just MTS, not the entire folder structure)..

Question

OK, I see lotsa advice about dealing with MTS files...if they're in their proper folder structure.
Well, that'd be easy, and I'd be importing them now if they were in their proper folder structure. But they're not...I have 503 .mts files, in a folder, that a client copied "for me", and now expects me to import.
Any advice? Like I said, I only have the .mts files, not the supporting folder structure.

Answer 1

Greetings all from Jakarta - i have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy response and will only be of interest for those currently suffering from MTS file issues, but I do believe (while my solutions are not perfect) I have found some answers. What I have not found, unfortunately, are the hairs that I pulled out of my armpits in frustration over these MTS issues.
Background info: My office purchased the Panasonic HDC-TM700 to provide back-up to our Panasonic 170EN and we have been quite happy with the results. We have also been converting the MTS files to .MOV files on both Toast Titanium, and Final Cut Pro.
SITUATION #1
After a day of shooting I downloaded the TM700 files (full structure) to the hard disk. On day two after a full day of shooting I realized I forgot to format the camera's memory card so i had 50 MTS files that I already downloaded. Ever the smart guy, I highlighted file #51-#102 and dragged them into the STREAM file of the previous day's download. Then I formated the camera so i wouldnt forget the next day.
Well during log and transfer in FCP ONLY THE FIRST 50 FILES could be read, because that is what the metadata in the info supported ..... FCP couldnt even locate the other 50 files. I nearly fainted at the thought of getting fired. Thank goodness, when we dragged the MTS files into TOAST TITANIUM they could be read and converted!
SITUATION #2
The new guy (seriously, it was the new guy!) ONLY DOWNLOADED THE MTS files and since I wasn't there I wasn't there to see the havoc when neither FCP or TOAST could open the files. I was called in and my first idea was to take an old file structure, copy it, and slip the MTS files into the STREAM folder.
Well, it worked!! kind of.... The interesting thing is that the files could be converted in TOAST (FCP would not open the files) BUT ONLY TO THE TIME CODE THAT was equivalent to the original file. So if the original file was 1 minute and the file that I only had the MTS file for (and which corresponded to the file's number) was 5 minutes, only 1 minute was converted.)
So what I did was I took the TM700 and I shot five minutes of my foot. Then I downloaded the full file structure. Since I only took one shot of five minutes there was only one file in the STREAM folder, which was a 598mb file numbered 00000.MTS
I know I will regret it one day but i deleted the MTS file of my foot. Then I placed in one of the "homeless" MTS files into the (now empty) STREAM folder and changed the name to 0000.MTS -
When opened in FCP log and transfer - IT DID NOT WORK. However, in TOAST I am happy to say IT WORKED, yayyyy. And the file that was converted was the length of the clip. What I thought might happen is that if the clip was only 30 seconds long but the foster file was 5 minutes then there would be 30 seconds of footage and 4.5 minutes of black empty space on video. That wasn't the case.
THE SHORT TERM SOLUTION:
Over the years I have been very very very lucky with all the help I have gotten over the internet and in my own small way I hope the following helps out others. So here is what I have done, with instructions.
PLEASE NOTE I AM INDONESIAN LIVING IN INDONESIA SO WE USE PAL ..... 25 frames per second. .... Hopefully if someone in North America likes this idea and can help out, they will post a NTSC file structure.
OKAY INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Double click this link and download the file structure. The the file structure is only 68kb all your (and mine) frustrations for 68,000 bytes!!
www.klirkom.com/helpout/AVCHD
2. If you look inside the folder (AVCD->BDMV->STREAM) you will see AN EMPTY STREAM FOLDER. This is where you will place your "lost/not working" MTS files. Sorry, but this file structure only supports two files at a time. The first file is 5 minutes long, the second file is 33 minutes long (i was going to make it 10 minutes but I forgot about the camera being on and left it for 33 minutes ...)
3. Change your first file name (preferably an MTS file less than 600mb so that the 'foster' file can cover it) to 00000.MTS. Now change your second file (preferably less than 4GB, but unless you are filming the whole wedding this should be okay for most people.... the important thing to remember is that if you want your full file converted without missing any parts at the end, the files should be smaller in size than the foster files) to the name 00001.MTS
4. Now drag your newly named and newly placed MTS files into TOAST TITANIUM. Click convert. I have not tried this with other software but hopefully it works for you.
5. If you want you can now rename your original MTS files to their original names and continue with the next two files. I know with 500 MTS files this is a HUGE pain in the buttox .....
Okay, good luck all!!
Jakartaguy