[Peter Dearmond]

If you’re using a card reader to upload your file, in your Media 100 preferences, Video Input, try Source In>None. Then in the Media Standard options I pick 720p 29.97. But if you’re using firewire out of the camera, I don’t think this will work.

[Peter Dearmond]

Hi Doug,

I just got the HM700 (love it so far) and I use the Media 100 HD compression (Project Settings>Codecs>Media 100 HD). I haven’t tried using Apple ProRes. I’m just using a cheap card reader through the USB port, open the clip folder and drag and drop the .mov file onto my bin window. It imports fairly quickly, even on my old G5 PPC.

[Peter Dearmond]

This is great news, Floh, thanks!

Question: Does 1.6 also support AVCHD (the lower bit rate) as well as AVC-Intra?

[Peter Dearmond]

Media 100 Suite will run on a PPC Mac, but I strongly recommend upgrading to a new model. Let’s face it, the Macs that you and I have are at least 5 years old. As good and reliable as Macs are, 5 years is really old for video editing boxes. We can’t upgrade to Snow Leopard unless we get an Intel Mac, and forget about running the latest versions of After Effects and Photoshop; they’re Intel-only now. Gotta get the new box. And get as much RAM as you can afford — least 8 GB, preferably 16.

And… the newer Macs use PCIe, not the PCIx cards that we’re using now on our old G5s. You can get a good, affordable and fast one from https://www.MacGurus.com

[Peter Dearmond]

Bob,

I’ve ordered the HM700 and it should be arriving late this week. I downloaded some test footage shot with the HM700 — both 1080p and 720p — and imported it easily into the demo version of Media 100 1.5. I’ll be upgrading to that as soon as new Mac Pros come out. I do not have the HDe; currently on 12.1.3. Media 100 handles the HM700 video just as easily as FCP.

JVC promoted this camera and the HM100 as saving files in a format “native for Final Cut Pro,” but the truth is, they should have included Media 100 in that fanfare. The files are .mov files! Media 100 — like Final Cut Pro — is based on Quicktime. It would be really strange if Media 100 couldn’t open a .mov file.

I dearly wish someone from JVC would clarify this. Evidently they are either unaware that there is a significant Media 100 user base, or else Apple didn’t want them promoting anything but FCP when they licensed the use of Quicktime.

The fact that I can drag and drop files into Media 100 from the 700U without transcoding is one of the major reasons I decided to buy that camera.

[Peter Dearmond]

Well Kent, your post should stimulate a good discussion. My perspective:

Years ago, when Media 100 was under different ownership, the product was having problems (to put it diplomatically), and I think many customers switched out of desperation to FCP. They stayed with FCP as that product seemed to be developed more aggressively and had Apple’s resources behind it. Of course, we all know FCP today has a huge user support community, it’s big in Hollywood, etc.

However, ever since Boris took over Media 100, I’ve seen huge improvements and I’m glad I stayed with it all these years. I’m like you — I tried FCP and found that I much preferred Media 100 — but I was almost afraid to admit it because everyone I knew was jumping on the FCP bandwagon.

I think it all comes down to a combination of personal preference, workflow needs and productivity. Ironically, IMHO, I think Media 100 is more of a “Mac-like” product than FCP. By that I mean it’s more intuitive and far easier to learn, again, IMHO. If I switched to FCP, I know I would have to commit to some serious learning-curve time. It’s never been that way with Media 100. And yet… I know a lot of FCP users who did walk away from Media 100 and, as you say, never looked back. If they’re happy and productive with FCP, I would be the last to criticize their decision, just as I would not want them to knock me for using Media 100. I just wish they would take a look at Media 100 today, because they would be pleasantly surprised.

[Peter Dearmond]

I highly recommend “Simple Encoding Recipes” by Phillip Hodgetts. It’s a downloadable PDF file for only 5 bucks, but it’s been the best resource I’ve found so far. Here:

https://www.proappstips.com/EncodingRecipes/

[Peter Dearmond]

Bob,

Sorry I’m so late in responding to your post. I’ve been a Media 100 user for many years, and I will be getting the JVC HM700U within the next couple of weeks. You should know that JVC advertises the compatibility with Final Cut Pro for obvious reasons (FCP is better known than Media 100), but it’s really just a .mov (QuickTime) file format that they’re using to wrap the video files in. That means that your JVC files will be just as compatible with Media 100 as they will be with FCP.

To test this, I downloaded some sample 700U files that were shot in 1080p and 720p, and I just dragged and dropped them onto my Media 100 bin window. This ease of workflow is one of several reasons why I chose the 700U — I think Jon Leyse (above) listed some excellent reasons, too.

Ever since Boris bought Media 100, some wonderful improvements have been made to that product. It’s still by far the easiest to use NLE, (IMHO) and it does everything I need. Too bad it doesn’t get the attention that FCP gets.

I commend JVC for being the first company to work with Apple to provide .mov files right out of the camera. That’s one of the primary reasons they’re getting my business.

[Peter Dearmond]

Definitely, you need more RAM. Also, every other month you might want to Repair Permissions. Go to your Applications>Utilities folder and launch Disk Utility. Select the hard drive and click on Repair Permissions (not verify permissions).

[Peter Dearmond]

Thanks Michael!

Just curious: When you convert the file, do you convert to Media 100 HD, or something else?