Does iMovie not support HD video?

[WelshBloke]

I've got a panasonic HD video camera and have the video files from it on my computers hard drive. They are .m2ts files.

Can iMovie 9 not process these? and if not why the hell not?

What do you use to edit HD video on a Mac?



/flounces off back to his comfy old windows world

 

[mugs]

Edit2: Try importing directly into iMovie from the camera.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: mugs
Edit2: Try importing directly into iMovie from the camera.

The files arent on my camera anymore.

 

[mugs]

You may need to convert them to a format iMovie supports (I don't have a list of those formats). iMovie does support HD video, I just imported a video from my Flip Mino HD.

 

[WelshBloke]

This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

Generally i think they expect you to just pull the files off your camera, much like with iPhoto and point+shoots. Have you looked online to see if those file types are compatible with iMovie?

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

Generally i think they expect you to just pull the files off your camera, much like with iPhoto and point+shoots. Have you looked online to see if those file types are compatible with iMovie?

But what am I supposed to do with the large collection of files I've already got on my hard drive?

It would be a bit bizarre if Apple doesn't support those files, I think all HD digital video cameras use them.

What software would you guys use for video editing on the Mac then?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

Generally i think they expect you to just pull the files off your camera, much like with iPhoto and point+shoots. Have you looked online to see if those file types are compatible with iMovie?

But what am I supposed to do with the large collection of files I've already got on my hard drive?

It would be a bit bizarre if Apple doesn't support those files, I think all HD digital video cameras use them.

What software would you guys use for video editing on the Mac then?

The easiest explanation is this: it's not iMovie, it's the style of the file format. For a lot of cameras, it pulls data from the directory of the card or directly from a tape. If you pull it yourself, you lose that functionality. I use a little $35 app called Voltaic HD which handles file format conversion like a dream:

http://www.shedworx.com/voltaichd

I'm guessing your Panasonic HD camcorder uses the AVCHD format in an .M2TS container. Just pop the files into Voltaic and convert to a .MOV or something that iMovie can open natively. If you want to use a video editor for Windows instead, use an .AVI or .WMV or something.

The reason for this is that AVCHD is a good recording format, but not a good editing format - too much information - it would be slow to edit even on an 8-core machine. So you simply convert it to an "Editing" format like MOV, AVI, WMV, MP4, etc., do your editing, then export it to whatever playback format you want - DVD, iPod, Youtube, etc. It's annoying, but it's how the game works.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

Generally i think they expect you to just pull the files off your camera, much like with iPhoto and point+shoots. Have you looked online to see if those file types are compatible with iMovie?

But what am I supposed to do with the large collection of files I've already got on my hard drive?

It would be a bit bizarre if Apple doesn't support those files, I think all HD digital video cameras use them.

What software would you guys use for video editing on the Mac then?

The easiest explanation is this: it's not iMovie, it's the style of the file format. For a lot of cameras, it pulls data from the directory of the card or directly from a tape. If you pull it yourself, you lose that functionality. I use a little $35 app called Voltaic HD which handles file format conversion like a dream:

http://www.shedworx.com/voltaichd

I'm guessing your Panasonic HD camcorder uses the AVCHD format in an .M2TS container. Just pop the files into Voltaic and convert to a .MOV or something that iMovie can open natively. If you want to use a video editor for Windows instead, use an .AVI or .WMV or something.

The reason for this is that AVCHD is a good recording format, but not a good editing format - too much information - it would be slow to edit even on an 8-core machine. So you simply convert it to an "Editing" format like MOV, AVI, WMV, MP4, etc., do your editing, then export it to whatever playback format you want - DVD, iPod, Youtube, etc. It's annoying, but it's how the game works.

Cyberlink powerdirector in windows seems to import it all from hard drive or camera and edit it fine without needing to mess about.

I think ill stick with windows and fork out for powerdirector.

I was just assuming that it would be easier in OSx as I thought video editing and ease of use were apples forte.

Cheers anyway.

 

[mugs]

Yeah, it sounds like you should probably stick with Windows.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290

Yeah the camera is supported but for some weird reason imovie can only work with the files if it rips them off of the camera.
It wont work with the files if they are already on your hard drive.

Apparently final cut express is the same.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
This is not fitting in with the 'It just works' idea I had about Macs

Generally i think they expect you to just pull the files off your camera, much like with iPhoto and point+shoots. Have you looked online to see if those file types are compatible with iMovie?

But what am I supposed to do with the large collection of files I've already got on my hard drive?

It would be a bit bizarre if Apple doesn't support those files, I think all HD digital video cameras use them.

What software would you guys use for video editing on the Mac then?

The easiest explanation is this: it's not iMovie, it's the style of the file format. For a lot of cameras, it pulls data from the directory of the card or directly from a tape. If you pull it yourself, you lose that functionality. I use a little $35 app called Voltaic HD which handles file format conversion like a dream:

http://www.shedworx.com/voltaichd

I'm guessing your Panasonic HD camcorder uses the AVCHD format in an .M2TS container. Just pop the files into Voltaic and convert to a .MOV or something that iMovie can open natively. If you want to use a video editor for Windows instead, use an .AVI or .WMV or something.

The reason for this is that AVCHD is a good recording format, but not a good editing format - too much information - it would be slow to edit even on an 8-core machine. So you simply convert it to an "Editing" format like MOV, AVI, WMV, MP4, etc., do your editing, then export it to whatever playback format you want - DVD, iPod, Youtube, etc. It's annoying, but it's how the game works.

Cyberlink powerdirector in windows seems to import it all from hard drive or camera and edit it fine without needing to mess about.

I think ill stick with windows and fork out for powerdirector.

I was just assuming that it would be easier in OSx as I thought video editing and ease of use were apples forte.

Cheers anyway.

Yeah, support varies from program to program. Also, native AVCHD support varies from program to program. You'd think ALL apps would be up on this, since nearly all new consumer HD camcorder use this format, but I guess not. I'll stick with VoltaicHD, hehe.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Kaido


Yeah, support varies from program to program. Also, native AVCHD support varies from program to program. You'd think ALL apps would be up on this, since nearly all new consumer HD camcorder use this format, but I guess not. I'll stick with VoltaicHD, hehe.

Do you know of anything free that does the job?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Kaido


Yeah, support varies from program to program. Also, native AVCHD support varies from program to program. You'd think ALL apps would be up on this, since nearly all new consumer HD camcorder use this format, but I guess not. I'll stick with VoltaicHD, hehe.

Do you know of anything free that does the job?

For AVCHD? Not that I know of. VoltaicHD works on Windows & Mac though, so if you invest in that, you can output your footage to work in pretty much any application since you can transcode your footage into so many different kinds of formats. You can edit for free though, using something like Portable Movie Maker: (note that the Runonce installer is built using the same free installer as a lot of Trojans, so your antivirus will whine, but just let it run then you can delete it)

http://devrexster.googlepages.com/mmk

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Kaido


Yeah, support varies from program to program. Also, native AVCHD support varies from program to program. You'd think ALL apps would be up on this, since nearly all new consumer HD camcorder use this format, but I guess not. I'll stick with VoltaicHD, hehe.

Do you know of anything free that does the job?

For AVCHD? Not that I know of. VoltaicHD works on Windows & Mac though, so if you invest in that, you can output your footage to work in pretty much any application since you can transcode your footage into so many different kinds of formats. You can edit for free though, using something like Portable Movie Maker: (note that the Runonce installer is built using the same free installer as a lot of Trojans, so your antivirus will whine, but just let it run then you can delete it)

http://devrexster.googlepages.com/mmk

What I may do (if I can face it) is boot into windows, use panasonic software to put the files back on the camera then boot into OSx and see if it can pull files of the camera.

rinse repeat until all files are done. Shouldnt be too bad as my camera has a 60gig HD, it is a bit faffy though.

I'll let you know if it works.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke
What I may do (if I can face it) is boot into windows, use panasonic software to put the files back on the camera then boot into OSx and see if it can pull files of the camera.

rinse repeat until all files are done. Shouldnt be too bad as my camera has a 60gig HD, it is a bit faffy though.

I'll let you know if it works.

Sounds good!

Yeah, I prefer editing on a Mac. iMovie 09 is so dang easy to use and has way more options than Windows Movie Maker, and then there's Final Cut Pro, which is just beyond awesome. I use both, depending on the project I'm working on. Just gotta learn these silly little tricks, like how to get your footage in properly. Pretty much everything is like that, no matter what platform you use - it's just a matter of learning the workflow for what you want to do!

 

[WelshBloke]

No go.

Connect the camera and iPhoto pops up and grabs the photos but if i try to use iMovie to get anything it just shuts down.

If I try to manually grab the files and drop them into iMovie they just ping back to the folder.

 

[Need4Speed]

ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

they convert them also. they just do it behind the scenes. do the import camera archive, that will treat the files just as if the camera was plugged in. if that doesnt' work, tape a short sample and upload it to rapidshare or something where I can get my hands on it and I will try on this end to see what the issue is.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

they convert them also. they just do it behind the scenes. do the import camera archive, that will treat the files just as if the camera was plugged in. if that doesnt' work, tape a short sample and upload it to rapidshare or something where I can get my hands on it and I will try on this end to see what the issue is.

I dont really care what a program does behind the scenes as long as it does the job.

Import camera archive doesn't work for me. I'll have a look to see if I've got a small enough file to upload.

I may have to edit it in windows first

It'll be a while as I'm testing out powerdirector in win7 and am halfway through a burn.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

they convert them also. they just do it behind the scenes. do the import camera archive, that will treat the files just as if the camera was plugged in. if that doesnt' work, tape a short sample and upload it to rapidshare or something where I can get my hands on it and I will try on this end to see what the issue is.

YHPM

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

they convert them also. they just do it behind the scenes. do the import camera archive, that will treat the files just as if the camera was plugged in. if that doesnt' work, tape a short sample and upload it to rapidshare or something where I can get my hands on it and I will try on this end to see what the issue is.

Well, you CAN edit AVCHD, it's just very cumbersome. Hardly anyone I know does it. Even on 8-core rigs, it's VERY slow. It's just not practical to edit...it's a recording and playback format, not an editing format.

I think their marketing was...not very good for this format. They should include a tool like VoltaicHD for all platforms so that you can just convert to whatever, instead of having to buy something

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Need4Speed

Originally posted by: WelshBloke

Originally posted by: Need4Speed
ok .. i didn't read the whole thread as I got one foot out the door ...

AVCHD isn't a format that can be edited. It needs to be converted first. Doesn't matter if you are on mac or windows. The reason for this, is that it uses a compression algo that combines frames that have not changed in order to save space. In order to edit 'frame by frame' you need to expand the file. There's no way around that. My Canon shoots HD and stores them as MTS files. For archival purposes I copy them as is (in MTS format) to my mac and store them as such. In order for iMovie to see these files, you need to use "File -> Import -> Camera Archive" and point it to the folder you ripped from the camera .. that should do the trick ... I'll check back after I get the kid to bed later tonight.

Powerdirector, sony vegas and a few others can edit them.

I cant get iMovie to see mts or mt2s files.

they convert them also. they just do it behind the scenes. do the import camera archive, that will treat the files just as if the camera was plugged in. if that doesnt' work, tape a short sample and upload it to rapidshare or something where I can get my hands on it and I will try on this end to see what the issue is.

Well, you CAN edit AVCHD, it's just very cumbersome. Hardly anyone I know does it. Even on 8-core rigs, it's VERY slow. It's just not practical to edit...it's a recording and playback format, not an editing format.

I think their marketing was...not very good for this format. They should include a tool like VoltaicHD for all platforms so that you can just convert to whatever, instead of having to buy something

My computer is not that powerful, its a c2q but can handle editing AVCHD using powerdirector/sony vegas.

How long does it take for Voltaic to convert and iMovie to edit, compared to an all in one program?