Panasonic AG hmc40 with Imac and final cut express

[Michael Sacci]

FC Express only supports DV, HDV and Apple Intermediate codecs. acvhd needs to be converted to something else and you have a lot unless options with FCE over FCPro, Do yourself a favor spend the extra money and get FCP. You get compressor, Motion and DVDSP as well as a better workflow. If you can only get FCE I would recommend you looking for a HDV camera.

The system is a compromise but you can produce great stuff if you have the creative know-how. As far as a long term investment FCP is much better deal.

Do a search for iMac and FCP on this forums and you will see the short coming but once again you can do great work with that system.

Remember you have to have a 2nd drive for your media. NEVER capture and edit with media on the system drive. A FW800 will work fine.

[Zane Barker]

[Michael Sacci] “FC Express only supports DV, HDV and Apple Intermediate codecs”

Not quite. FCE can only edit in two codecs DV and AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec) when you capture HDV it acutely captures it as AIC.

[Michael Sacci] “acvhd needs to be converted to something else”

True but FCE can do that for you.
https://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/

Similar to how FCE captures HDV using AIC it converts AVCHD to AIC during the log and transfer process.

[Michael Sacci] “As far as a long term investment FCP is much better deal.”

Absolutely no debate there, I would recommend FCP over FCE any day.

Hindsight is always 1080p

[Kay Owens]

I have Final Cut Pro and a new Panasonic HMC40 camera. My iMac does not have an HDMI port. What is the best way to get video from the camera into FCP?
Thanks

[Ben Lorenzen]

I’ve done some research on the topic as well because I am using FCE as well and just purchase the hmc40 as well. Doing research if you are using FCE4 it will work because it converts avcam to apple intermediate codec so you will be able to edit it. I have yet to do it, so hopefully it will work out!