Importing AVCHD clips from Sony NX5U into Final Cut Pro X latest build

[David Eaks]

Hi Gary,

Please post the actual version number instead of “latest build”.

I work with NX5U clips all the time and am currently running FCPX 10.0.9 on OS X 10.8.4. I highly recommend that instead of importing from the camera, you remove the SD Card from the camera and copy it to its very own folder on your media drive. Nothing else is ever to be put into or taken out of this folder, it is dedicated to this one camera card backup. Then in FCPX, import clips from that backup.

Or you can use FCPXs built in camera card archive function. Either way you really need to have a backup of the original camera card, with its file structure perfectly intact.

I’m not sure if that will solve your problem, but it’s important nonetheless. Do your video clips playback fine in-camera using the visual index?

[Gary Lockhart]

Thanks for the reply.

I am running OS X 10.8.5 and FCP X 10.0.9.

I did copy the entire folder to another folder on the hard drive. The AVCHD folder has an icon with a Q on it, and the description says, “AVCHD contents.” Again, that folder is grayed out and is inaccessible in Final Cut Pro X.

I clicked on the AVCHD folder and chose SHOW PACKAGE CONTENTS until I could see the MTS files. I even copied those files to the folder that the files structure from the card is in. They are also greyed out in FCP. When I try to play those files, the Quicktime player is grayed out, too.

Gary Lockhart

[Gary Lockhart]

OK, after having googled some more and not having found a solution, I bit the bullet and purchased ClipWap 2. Resulting clips import with no problems.

Thanks for the assistance.

Gary Lockhart

[Dave Gage]

Gary,

I bit the bullet about 1 and a half years ago and bought ClipWrap for Canon AVCHD and have not regretted it. I still back up all the original files and it’s card structure, but I prefer the convenience of wrapping the files, tossing the junk, and viewing them before I begin the edit. Works great for me.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, I also re-name all my files to something that makes sense to me before the edit.

Also, at least for my size AVCHD files and Projects, I never use Proxy files, but you may need to for your Sony files if editing slows down.

Dave