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Need a Video Converter:
Hi, I have an enormous amount of m2t formated video’s. I want to convert them to .mov for FCPX. I have looked at wondershare video converter ultimate and MacX Video Converter Pro which both seem to be great converters. If you have used these and/or other converters I would like your thoughts and/or suggestions. Your help would be most appreciated. Thanks, Ray
Need a Video Converter:
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26 Replies
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First, professionally speaking, no one should be handing you m2t files without the complete container but, unfortunately there are people who do that.
I believe the products you describe are mostly front ends to ffmpeg encoders. They might be OK for sharing files but I wouldn’t use them in a serious post workflow where, if sources needed transcoding, I’d transcode to a flavor of Apple ProRes (some might use DNxHD on Windows). Or, if you want to avoid the transcode, rewrap the file in a .mov container.You’d be better off using something like Divergent Media’s Edit Ready.
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EditReady is definitely the way to go. I use it all the time. Worth every penny.
You want to re-wrap your m2t files into a QuickTime mov container so that there is no quality loss. EditReady is great at this. It can also transcode them to Apple ProRes 422 if you want but re-wrapping them should be fine.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
Thanks goes out to all of you for your help! I will definately take a look at EditReady. I’m sure it’s the way to go since all of you are recommending it highly. Thanks again, you’ve been a great help. Ray
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Hi,
Just wanted to let everyone know that I’m going with EditReady as you suggested. A BIG PLUS for (Today Only) is that it’s 33% off due to their 10’th anniversary. It’s $33.49 instead of $49.99. Use this code 10years for the discount. https://www.divergentmedia.com/editready
I’d like to add, EditReady also had a new update on February 14’th as well….. ver. 1.4.7
I do have a couple questions;
1) Does anyone know if EditReady can be downloaded to more than one computer?
2) Are there free updates?
Thanks again for your help………. Ray -
[Ray Sherman] “1) Does anyone know if EditReady can be downloaded to more than one computer?”
Yes, I have it running on my Mac Pro and MacBook Pro without any issues.
[Ray Sherman] “2) Are there free updates?”
So far, minor updates (e.g., 1.3 to 1.4) have been free. I assume that a major update (say from 1.x to 2.x) would be paid for just like any other software but they have been very good at keeping 1.x up to date.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
Thanks John! I was playing around with EditReady yesterday and was amazed at how well it converts on my maxed out 2016 15″ MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, I received all the files I mentioned in .m2t clips only. I now see that a lot of storage is needed when I convert them to ProRes 422.
1 minute: Native m2t = 209MB
Converted to ProRes 422 = 976MB
I also converted a (1 minute 25 second) 4K MXF (H.264) clip:
Native = 1.06GB
ProRes and 422 = 6.06GB……WoW!!
At least FCPX will handle the 4K natively without conversion………
As a newbie, I need to learn about the presets along with how it affects final output in FCPX. I’d like to add, I do have Ripple’s Core training, Media Mgt. and Color correction training in which I am now getting started. I did come from Sony Vegas Pro and DVDA which should help me with the general basics. You, along with many others here have been a tremendous help to me and I sincerely appreciate it. Thanks, Ray -
[Ray Sherman] “….playing around with EditReady…all the files I mentioned in .m2t clips only. I now see that a lot of storage is needed when I convert them to ProRes 422….At least FCPX will handle the 4K natively without conversion…”
You are apparently using EditReady to transcode, not rewrap. This is NOT necessary and will take a lot of time and space. In EditReady, simply set the preset to “Rewrap”. This will rapidly produce .MOV files which can be almost instantly imported to FCPX using “leave files in place”.
Do NOT import AVCHD bare files to FCPX — whether .m2t or .mts. The import phase takes a long time and it does NOT handle them well after import. It may cause significant performance problems down the line.
IF you need higher editing performance you can have FCPX create proxy (not optimized media) when importing the rewrapped files or afterward.
To review:
(1) Use EditReady to rewrap (not transcode) the .m2t or .mts files.
(2) Import the rewrapped .mov files using “leave files in place”. This will be very quick.
(3) IF you need better editing performance, create proxy files — but not optimized media. You can do this during import or afterward.Optimized media is a lot bigger and not generally necessary when dealing with 4k. Proxy 4k is still HD resolution so the viewer resolution will be good even in proxy mode.
To change to proxy mode, at the upper-right corner of the viewer set it to proxy. After you are finished editing, remember to set this back to “Optimized/Original”, otherwise your export will be at proxy resolution.
If you want to edit in 4k but have no need for 4k export, you can put the 4k material on a 1080p timeline. This will retain the ability to crop/zoom into the frame, using all 4k resolution, but the temporary render files will be 1080p so it will help performance.
You create a 1080p timeline (aka project) by doing File>New>Project, select “Use Custom Settings”, and select (typically) 1080p and 29.97p. If you don’t do this, by default the project properties will be whatever the 1st clip is — 4k in your case.
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I do have a question in regards to the Presets in EditReady……… If I convert the m2t media to ProRes 422 LT and/or ProRes 422 Proxy, will I be able to to optimize the media in FCPX to ProRes 422? Please correct me if I’m wrong but, wouldn’t I be degrading the media upon the conversion therefore, making it impossible to bring it back to it’s native quality in FCPX? I tried researching this but, I couldn’t find any definitive answers. Thanks, Ray
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Awesome Joe!! I was typing the previous reply at the same time you were replying. You answered a lot of questions in my mind and for that I am very greatful! I did plan on “Leave Files in Place” simply due to being a solo offline editer. Once in FCPX, I will try Optimized along with ProRes 422. Also, I just started shooting in 4K about a year ago, mainly for the very answer you gave along with being able to zoom up to 200% without quality loss in a 1080p timeline. I also plan on exporting native 4K when not in a mixed format envirement. My 4K media is MXF H.264. With that being said, do you feel that I should rewrap my 4K as well or just use it native in FCPX? Again, thanks for your help. Ray
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