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Import AVCHD or .MP4 problems
I’m trying to import video footage from a Samsung HMX-H100 camcorder. It records to a flash memory card, SDHC. If I try to import the footage directly from the camera, I get an error message from Final Cut saying it’s an invalid directory and won’t import. But, if I copy the files from the flash memory card to the computer, they are in .mp4 format, which is not a good format to try and edit in. Any type of export to Compressor or with Quick Time takes forever. 10 seconds of video takes 10 to 12 minutes to export, no matter what the sequence settings are.
Anyone have any ideas?
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5 Replies
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Use the log and transfer tool in FCP to import the footage – under the options, select to transcode to ProRes – it’s quick and easy…
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That’s what I have been doing. Every time I do select the “Log & Transfer” option, when I try to load the camera, I get the error message.
I can select the ProRes option, but the video won’t show up in order to import. The error message shows up.
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Hey Thomas,
I just bought the same camera and I’m having the same problem. Did you ever find an easy solution to use this with FCP? It’s going to be a real pain if I have to export the clips first seeing a 1 minute clip took me about 15 minutes with MPEG Streamclip -
Actually, I found a really easy solution. I didn’t even expect it to work. I tried it as a last resort.
I used iMovie ’09 to import the files. I did try this at first, but in an effort to save file space, I had the wrong settings and it didn’t produce good video.
After you connect the camera to the computer via USB, start iMovie ’09. If the camera automatically loads by means of the “import from camera” option, meaning that window pops up and you can manually select which clips to import, don’t use that window. Close the import from camera window, and instead select “Import >Movies”. You’ll then need to select the files from the mounted camera, just like selecting any video file on your computer.
Here’s where the next option is really important. Make sure before you being importing the footage, you select “Optimize Video” and the option for “Full-Original Size” is selected. This keeps your video footage in HD resolution and encodes to work natively on the Mac.
Then I simply open Final Cut and I can edit the video files with ease. I don’t even need to render them after adding them to the timeline.
Hope this helps. Let me know if it didn’t work or you need something else.
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I usually just do a batch list with MPEG Streamclip -> Apple Intermediate Codec, 100% Quality, 29.97 & unscaled and let it go all night so when I get up in the morning I have something ready to edit. I usually shoot everything in 1280x720p @ 60fps, which looks great for DVD’s and HD youtube. . .
I’m trying your iMovie idea just for kicks. . .
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