Problem importing .mts files into FCP 6.0.4

[Bill Reber]

Genius.
I was going crazy with these greyed-out MTS files all morning. L&T wouldn’t recognize them, and I knew that all the file and folder structures were correct.
Unplugged the cam, deleted all the “question mark” corrupted videos, reconnected, and boom! Right into FCP.
Thanks Jake.

[Leah Crockett]

Hi Bill,

So will this still work if the clips that am I wanting to import ARE the ‘question mark’ clips?
Won’t they be deleted forever if I delete them from the camera?

Leah

[Bill Reber]

No experience with that. For me the question marks were files that had been renamed or otherwise tampered with and then placed back on the card (not by me!).
I wouldn’t delete those question mark files if they are the ones you need to import. Use Toast or something similar to convert the .mts to .mov, then import into FCP.
Could also be that you have duplicates – your desired file and a corrupted duplicate – maybe check for that first.
Hope it works!

[Barrett Ross]

Thanks Jake! You saved me!!! I had a 16 gig card with footage I had to get to a client, and when nothing else seemed to work (I had scoured forums, blogs, etc. and compared file structures to see where something went awry – but to no avail)… you came through with a hint of gold.

I had a few clips with question marks and it’s been so long since I shot it that I have no idea what those 4 minutes or so contain, and neither will my clients 🙂

Thanks for sharing your solution with us!

[Tom O’neill]

Remember that FCP doesn’t like H264 for editing – it prefers Apple Pro res as a codec within the .mov wrapper.