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Converting AVCHD .mts footage for Media Composer v3
So I need to take footage shot on a Panasonic AVCCAM (AVCHD .mts files) and convert it to edit in MC v3. If you’ve tried to do this, you know what a pain in the a#% it is.
I’ve tried using Clipwrap and Aunsoft MTS converter. both have big problems.
Clipwrap makes .mov files that are 10 times the file size as the original. ( a .mts file that is 3gb ends up as a 30gb .mov file)
Aunsoft keeps crashing, so I can’t leave it running and walk away.
both programs take a VERY long time to convert and neither bring the timecode from the camera with it.
thoughts? Suggestions?
thanks in advance
– Steve
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9 Replies
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HMR-10? I just had a nightmare of a time bring that into MC4. What I did was, I imported the files into Final Cut Pro using Log and Transfer. This converted the files to Pro Res 422 Quicktimes. I then downloaded the Avid Codecs LE and created a custom preset in Compressor to convert the Pro Res files to DNxHD 115 files. It took a very long to convert, but it did work and I was able to fast import the files into Avid and they had original source timecode.
You should be able to do the same process with quicktimes created from clip wrap. The files are going to be much larger (like you mentioned) since AVCHD is a highly compressed Mpeg-4 derivative.
Richard Sanchez
North Hollywood, CA“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks
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First of all, thumbs up for the Bill Hicks quote. He’s one of my favs.
i was wondering if there was a way to use FCP for this. do you have a rough idea of how long the total conversion process took you? Using clipwrap, 1 hr of footage took 3.24 hrs to convert and that’s not including import into avid time. I have 12 hrs of footage to convert and there’s some time pressure.
– Steve
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Do you mean you want to cut the program in Final Cut? The process is very straightfoward in FCP, just use log in transfer, point to the folders were you copied your cards, and it will pull up a list of the clips that you drag into a queue. It converted a little faster than real time (and I was using a first generation Mac Pro)
Richard Sanchez
North Hollywood, CA“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks
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no sorry for the confusion. The editor for this project is on MC v3. I was wondering if there was a way to use FCP to import and then transfer the footage to avid. Just like you mentioned. I’m just trying to get an idea of how long that whole process would take.
clipwrap takes 3x real time to convert and then more time to import into avid.
how long do you think it would take to bring it in to FCP and convert it with Compressor.
thanks
Steve
P.S. the footage is coming from the Panasonic 3CCD AVCCAM.
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AVS Video Converter 6 worked best for us.
Ricky
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Honestly, I queued up the footage to import into FCP one night. Left the conversion going all day the next day, and then let all import into the Avid all the next night (because even with fast import, since the file sizes are large, they took quite a while). So I don’t really have an accurate timing on the process, but it certainly took a long while.
Richard Sanchez
North Hollywood, CA“We are the facilitators of our own creative evolution.” – Bill Hicks
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I’ll check it out. Thanks Ricky
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Take a look at MPEG Streamclip. I use it quite a bit for AVCHD video. It is free and easy to use.
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Voltaic is another good program. Costs $40. But it handles all the AVC-HD for our clients.
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