Importing AVCHD Lite into FCE

[John Clark]

I also have a red exclamation mark when attempting to log and transfer from a FT1.

When I navigate to the camera folder containing the clips via “add custom path” dialogue I get the message “”STREAM” contains unsupported media or has an invalid directory structure. Please choose a folder whose directory structure matches supported media.”

Can someone maybe email me the AVCHD.RADPlug from iMovie 09 as I’m only running iMovie 08 (I have no need to upgrade)?????

[Andrew Reinstein]

John
just saw your post. I am using iMovie 09, and if u read my post I tried this work around with AVCHD.RADPlug and it didn’t work for me. I’m hoping the guys who made it work, can give some guidance. Also, as I mentioned, there was an update to FCE 4.0.1 two days ago and maybe this was a game changer ???
l see AVCHD.RADPlug in the contents of the update.
Also I see P2 AVCHD.RADPlug as well. Now I’m not sure if they are both supposed to be in there ?

[Andrew Reinstein]

John
just saw your post. I am using iMovie 09, and if u read my post I tried this work around with AVCHD.RADPlug and it didn’t work for me. I’m hoping the guys who made it work, can give some guidance. Also, as I mentioned, there was an update to FCE 4.0.1 two days ago and maybe this was a game changer ???
l see AVCHD.RADPlug in the contents of the update.
Also I see P2 AVCHD.RADPlug as well. Now I’m not sure if they are both supposed to be there ?

[Mirco Tripoczky]

I have FCE 4.0.1 here too and still no problem using Log & Transfer in FCE with my TZ7 (just imported a bunch of clips I made in Paris :o)).

Little checklist:

1. iMovie version should be 8.0.6
2. name of the “folder” inside iMovie I took the “AVCHD.RADPlug” from is “RADPlugins”
3. name of the “folder” inside FCE I copied the “AVCHD.RADPlug” to is “Plugins” and not “Plug-ins” and it relaces the default “AVCHD.RADPlug” folder in there
4. inside my “Plugins” folder of FCE are 3 folders: “AVCHD.RADPlug”, “P2.RADPlug” and “VDU.RADPlug”, not more, not less

And when you use Log & Transfer in FCE just nagivate to the “PRIVATE” folder of your camera and not further to “AVCHD” or deeper. Log & Transfer recognizes the structure by itself. It also works if you copy the PRIVATE folder to your harddisc and navigate to it when you want to use a costum path. Just don’t change the structure of that folder. The name you can change, it doesn’t matter it seems.

Hope that helps, else I have no more ideas of what could go wrong.

[Andrew Reinstein]

Mirco
Thanks so much for your checklist. I had followed your instructions, and noticed
that inside the FCE Plugins folder was a “DVCPROHD Frame Rate Converter.bundle.
I copied it and then removed it fm the folder as your list stated only the 3 items
should be in the Plugins folder. It’s on my desktop – what should I do with it ?
When I go to Log and Transfer, the clip shows up in viewer, and plays, but if I try to do anything else with it, other than saving it to desktop, I get the red exclamation mark.
Maybe I’m missing something obvious.
If I try to navigate inside the TZ7 I see the private folder, but then have to drill down further, and then the specific clip is grey’d out.
As I said, I see the clip in Log and Transfer, but am not sure what to do next,
as all I seem to be able to to is play it.
Sorry if I’m missing the obvious.
Thank you so much for your help and patience.
andy

[John Clark]

In the end, I used a clunky method of converting all my clips to MP4’s in Handbrake, then importing into MPEG Streamclip, exporting to MOV’s and then importing into FCE.

The final product is https://www.vimeo.com/12014420

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[Andrew Reinstein]

@John – French Kitsch is my screen name on your video comments.Excellent job ! Being a noob at editing I’m just wondering why you would jump thru all those hoops to use AVCHD in FCE rather than JPEG ? (Other than file size considerations.)
Also being a cyclist, what kind of boat was that you were pedaling ?
Thanks
andy

[John Clark]

Hey andy, not sure what you mean by JPEG… I use Final Cut Express to edit the footage, but because FCE doesn’t accept AVCHD Lite, I had to get the MTS files into something that FCE would import… Hence the Handbrake/MPEG Streamclip solution.

I was using a Hobie Kayak. They’re brilliant – foot powered and rudder control makes them deadly for fishing.

[Mirco Tripoczky]

The way through Handbreak and/or MPEGStreamclip works too. I just try to have my material as less as possible be converted.. it’s always a little loss of quality through all the steps. That why I prefer the direct way from AVCHD Lite to AIC (which is used for realtime in FCE and FCP).

@Angrew: You’re right there is a “DVCPROHD Frame Rate Converter.bundle” inside the PlugIns aswell.. forgot to mention it. Leave it where it is inside the PlugIns.. sorry for the confusion.

I just did another test with my setup. Selected “Log & Transfer”, navigated to the PRIVATE folder on my desktop, selected it, clicked the “Open” button in the dialog and the clips appeared in my list at FCE. I selected the wanted clips, clicked the button below and it is imported and appears at project browser in FCE a few moments later. Sorry, no idea why it doesn’t work for you.

[Andrew Reinstein]

John, thanks for the tip on the Hobie Kayak, looks like a great system. I’ll have to see if I can find them here in France.

I didn’t read your previous post carefully, and assumed you were using the Panasonic TZ7, which has a choice of filming in AVCHD or JPEG. Mirco has the same as I, so sorry for the confusion.

I’d be happy to send you the plugin, just tell me where.

Also what country were you fishing in?

andy