AVCHD workflow for MC

[Andrew Mckee]

I believe that the ability to import .mts files in AVCHD format was added in V5. You simply create a project which matches the footage and File -> Import. Now, the important thing to know about Avid, is that an import is not an import in the traditional sense. On import, Avid will recreate media in one of its own codecs (transcode), to the Avid Media Files folder on your selected media drive in the MXF format. You will have to choose, which Avid codec to transcode to. For HD footage like this I would recommend DNxHD (would be 120 for a 25p project, not sure of the data rate for other framerates).

Native access to footage is done through AMA in Avid. At the minute it supports XDCAM, AVCIntra, DVCProHD, REDCODE any quicktime file that you can open in quicktime player (although different codecs will give varying results). It may be worth a try using one of the 3rd party software application that can rewrap .mts into .mov to see if this will allow you to link via AMA and edit natively.

Andrew McKee
Editor/Colourist
Avid Certified Trainer – MC5.5
Apple Certified Trainer – FCP7
Pixelwizard.net

[Ben Wilson]

I recently shot and edited a wedding for some friends using a Sony AVCHD camera and MC5. I used the Sony PMB software that came with the camera to transfer, log and create new clips from the bits I wanted from the camera. The Sony stored the video in chunks due to the file system on the internal hard drive, so the PMB software was actually necessary to marry the file pieces into whole clips for import into the AVID. Very much the way Panasonic handles P2 media.

There is no AMA plugin for AVCHD at the current moment. I don’t know if AVID has any plans to implement AMA for AVCHD. The import/transcdode to DNxHD worked very well for me.

I tried PPRo, which does link directly to the file, but playback was very ugly. Not smooth and pixelated to beat the band.

I edited the AVID DNxHD over a 1GB ethernet connection without much trouble. Since I was using a 1080i/59.94 project it was DNxHD145.

I haven’t gotten around to addressing the archive issue. I have both the raw footage folders as well as the AVID imported footage to consider.

Ben Wilson
Engineering Project Manager
SCETV

[Ray Stark]

Thanks for all the info. But wow…this is all Greek to me. Coming from FCP it’s as simple as backing up the SD card on the hd and then using FCP Log & Transfer to pre-edit the clips and transcode them into its ProRes422 codec for simple editing. DNx this and AMA that…sounds like a hefty workaround just to edit.

Why doesn’t Avid support such a popular format?

[Michael Hancock]

It’s not really that hard. Make a backup of the raw footage. Set it on a shelf.

Import the footage into Avid at the resolution you want (DNxHD 145, 220, etc…). If you’re going to offline/online, import it at a low resolution (DNxHD36, for example). Cut. Decompose, batch import at a higher resolution (DNxHD145, 220 for example).

When you do the initial import it will transcode the footage to Avid media on the way in.

Simply put:

Import at low resolution.
Cut.
Batch Import at high resolution.

—————-
Michael Hancock
Editor

[Ray Stark]

Last time I was on an Avid, it was tape-based, so I’m just trying to get up to speed with tapeless acquisition.

I’d hoped that Media Composer would transcode the footage automatically, but I’ve heard in other forums that it doesn’t (3rd party software is needed). When attempting a basic import this error message appears: “The file format for ‘xxxx’ is not supported for import.” I contacted both Panasonic and Avid and customer service reps at both companies were shaky on their knowledge of whether or not AVCHD works in Avid. The Panasonic rep said there had been downloadable transcoding software for Avid on their site but it has been removed (hmmmm). Also, a search in the Avid Knowledge Base for the simple acronym ‘AVCHD’ comes up with nothing. This doesn’t convince me that AVCHD is a supported format in Avid.

Can anybody point me in the direction of a simple tutorial, similar to something like this:
ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/panasonic/Drivers/PBTS/papers/Editing%20AVCHD%20with%20Final%20Cut%20Pro%207.pdf

Thank you!

[Ben Wilson]

Hi Ray,

I imported AVCHD files from a Sony camera with no trouble using Media Composer 5. I experimented with importing the .mts files from the camera direct and using the clip management software that came with the camera to extract the clips and place them in a folder to work with. It work without a problem both ways.

Ben Wilson
Engineering Project Manager
SCETV

[Kristinn Sturluson]

Hi Michael,

Do you know if it is possible to import footage at low res (DNxHD 36), Edit.
Then have Avid import only the footage used in DNxHD 120 for online and grading?

Kristinn

[Chris King]

I have recorded many 1080P video when I travel via Panasonic GH3 camera, the recordings are in .MTS video format, now I would like to import these projects to Avid media composer 5.5 for editing. What I want is to edit MTS files natively in AMC 6 on Macbook, but I always encounter importing problems due to the video codec. So how to import and convert GH3 MTS to Avid MC natively? In that case, I chose to convert AVCHD .mts files to DNxHD codec without quality loss before transferring GH3 60p/50p AVCHD to Avid MC for editing. I think the workflow is available here.

 

Source from: https://forum.urbanlyrics.com/read.php?1,13286,13286,quote=1

https://video-playback-tips.com/

[Molly Gandour]

bump.

Trying to cut AVCHD on Avid MC6.5 on a Mac. 1080/30p. Best method I’ve found so far is transcoding everything and then importing. AMA is not working for me. Import is not working (“This type of mpeg file is not supported.”) I downloaded the AVCHD AMA Plug-In for Avid. Still nothing.

Thanks for any suggestions.