Importing HD Quicktime Footage

[John Rofrano]

[Mike Kujbida] “John, the thing I can’t wrap my head around is that Rex said “Because I can read the MTS files from their camera without any problem.”
Someone please correct me but I didn’t think a P2 camcorder would produce MTS f”

I’m going by Rex’s original statement:

Just received some footage from a Final Cut Pro user that was shot on Panasonic P2. Unfortunately he didn’t give me the camera’s files- instead I have a drive full of MOV files.

That looks to me like the FCP editor ingested them as ProRes and not the native format. If the P2 card was erased you are out of luck. This is why I still like TAPE! You can always go back to the tape and get the native format again.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Mike Kujbida]

I admit that I know nothing about the P2 format other than what I’ve read online so we really need Rex to clarity things.

“This is why I still like TAPE! You can always go back to the tape and get the native format again.”

I do too but unfortunately it seems to be going the way of the dinosaur 🙁

[John Rofrano]

[Mike Kujbida] “I do too but unfortunately it seems to be going the way of the dinosaur :-(“

I don’t know… you can still buy HDV cameras and if I had to replace my HDV Sony HVR-Z1U it would absolutely, positively, beyond a shadow of a doubt be replaced with another HDV camera. HDV is a dream to work with. Edits smoothly. Most new HDV cameras have both tape and memory card recording. IMHO, it’s the best of both worlds.

BTW, I use a Sony HVR-DR60 Hard Disc Recording Unit with my Z1U so the tapes are just for backup. When I get to the edit bay, I just copy the HDV footage off of the DR60 hard drive with the Vegas Device Explorer and start editing. I love this setup.

…but we have strayed far from the topic of P2 Quicktime footage from a Mac (sorry)

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Mike Kujbida]

[John Rofrano] “Most new HDV cameras have both tape and memory card recording. IMHO, it’s the best of both worlds.”

I Agree but sometimes you have no choice.
We’re going to be getting a JVC GY-HM700U soon and it records to SD card only – no tape option at all.
Interesting times indeed.

“…but we have strayed far from the topic of P2 Quicktime footage from a Mac (sorry)”

And now back to the original discussion.

Rex, where are you so that we can solve this issue?

[Rex Brown]

Hey guys, thanks for the effort.

First off, there are no original camera files to be had. These guys wipe them out as soon as they convert them to MOV files.

The camera files from there rig are M2T as I recall. My HMC40 produces MTS files that I edit using Vegas 9.0e.

And finally, no- I cannot play them in Quicktime. All I get is audio, just like in Vegas. The info just says DVCPRO HD and whatever resolution. It does not mention Pro Res or anything like that- but I believe that utility or another FCP user are required to make anything usable out of them.

[John Rofrano]

[Rex Brown] ” The info just says DVCPRO HD and whatever resolution. It does not mention Pro Res or anything like that- but I believe that utility or another FCP user are required to make anything usable out of them.”

You are absolutely correct. There is no DVCPRO HD codec for the PC so these files are totally useless to you without an FCP editor to convert them for you. Tell them to use the Avid DNxHD codec and then download the Avid DNxHD for your PC from Avid’s site.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Rex Brown]

So does this Raylight Ultra ($195.00) from DV Film allow me to view and/or edit these Quicktime files?

“The emptiest boxcar always makes the most noise.”

Maduko World Headquarters

[Mike Kujbida]

“So does this Raylight Ultra ($195.00) from DV Film allow me to view and/or edit these Quicktime files?”

They have a trial version so download it and see if it will solve your problem.

[Rex Brown]

Just a follow up to help any other poor slob who’s struggling with this problem…

The Raylight plug-in works. And the regular one too, the Ultra version is NOT required. I just downloaded the demo and I can pull the MOV file right into the timeline without any problems whatsoever.

I still think it sucks that Apple and Panasonic seem to have worked so hard to keep Windows machines from getting at this format… seems like the type of thing all the Mac guys tell me Microsoft does!

“The emptiest boxcar always makes the most noise.”

Maduko World Headquarters