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Nate, out of curiosity: Why the step with MPEG Streamclip?
Doesn't have ProRes? If you have it installed, any software on your system has access to it. That's a bit weird.
 
Nate, out of curiosity: Why the step with MPEG Streamclip?
Doesn't have ProRes? If you have it installed, any software on your system has access to it. That's a bit weird.

Yeah everyone tells me it should be there but its simply not :( I have FCP X AND Compressor and they obviously use ProRes so I don't know whats going on. The reason for the MPEG stream clip first is because I find FCP X to render a hell of allot slower..also its more organized for me dump files > transcode with MPEG stream clip > import to FCP X. Allot of the times my FCP X stops rendering half way through or just gets slow regardless. I mean I do have a bootleg version (don't hate I'm a student) that's probably a tad bit old but still.
 

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Yes, some people have understood what I was saying.

I have plenty of space on my HDD, over 200GB free actually, so space is not an issue at the moment.

Every video I take of my kids etc, I import into iMovie, so it turns 100mb into around 5-600MB. Now I like to have them all on one computer to be honest, because I have a main backup drive, I dont want to use another drive because I would have to make sure this was also backed up which would result in me having around £400 worth of backup devices, and where does it stop?

I use an iMac and MBP so this will get expensive, my only question was if people do something else to store and edit their files?

I can't just save the MTS files to the mac because these will not longer import into iMovie for editing, they have to come straight from the cameras folder structure, so I was wondering if people did something else? Considering even the very poor windows movie maker will take a MTS file and edit it.

Sadly for me it looks like I have to stay with the MP4 format until apple make a change in iMovie, it is the only way I can say my videos will be safe on the HDD for a couple of years at least, it is just a shame I can not use iMovie to its full potential.
 
I can't just save the MTS files to the mac because these will not longer import into iMovie for editing, they have to come straight from the cameras folder structure, so I was wondering if people did something else? Considering even the very poor windows movie maker will take a MTS file and edit it.
You can copy the full file structure to your computer and import it to iMovie from there, so where is the problem?
...and can't iMovie create camera archives?

After you're done editing, you can throw the AIC files away, but still have the originals.
I did the same with Final Cut Classic. I threw everything away besides the project files. Tapes were logged, so if I need to revise a project, I'd have to re-capture the tapes, which costs me time, but I save a lot on hard drive space (that trick doesn't seem to work with FCP X anymore).
 
You can copy the full file structure to your computer and import it to iMovie from there, so where is the problem?
...and can't iMovie create camera archives?

After you're done editing, you can throw the AIC files away, but still have the originals.
I did the same with Final Cut Classic. I threw everything away besides the project files. Tapes were logged, so if I need to revise a project, I'd have to re-capture the tapes, which costs me time, but I save a lot on hard drive space (that trick doesn't seem to work with FCP X anymore).

I haven't tried copying the whole file structure, but iMovie will not archive it correctly because it wont re import for some reason.

I just wanted to keep it as the norm by keeping movies in their respective folders etc, rather than having archives all over the place.
 
+1

Your problem is not that your transcoded video file is too large. Your problem is that you are way short of free space on your hard drive. You need to archive a lot of your unused files to an external hard drive and remove the originals from your boot drive.

Archiving is the best solution, I have a 2TB drive in my iMac, but projects only live on it when being worked on, they are then moved to a NAS on my home network, archived for future access.
 
Archiving is the best solution, I have a 2TB drive in my iMac, but projects only live on it when being worked on, they are then moved to a NAS on my home network, archived for future access.

I learned that lesson! I had a drive on an external USB hub, and somehow I missed the message that it ejected from bumping the cord or something. It could have been worse, I only lost an hour of work or so...

iMovie needs to alert us better when autosave fails.
 
I haven't tried copying the whole file structure, but iMovie will not archive it correctly because it wont re import for some reason.

I just wanted to keep it as the norm by keeping movies in their respective folders etc, rather than having archives all over the place.
Why all over the place? You have one folder or drive that contains all your camera cards, neatly sorted by whatever method you prefer, one drive as your working drive, and the folder for your finished movies... and don't forget a backup drive.

What do you mean you haven't tried copying the whole file structure? Do you import directly from camera into iMovie without copying the card to your archive drive first?
 
You didn't download the pro codecs. That's the reason your FCP X doesn't render correctly.
Happens when you bootleg :p

Ah I see! Well I figured that might be part of the reason haha...I'm very bad at figuring out bootleg software things :O.

EDIT: But ProRes files play fine in Quicktime which is not bootlegged? Weird..
 
Ah I see! Well I figured that might be part of the reason haha...I'm very bad at figuring out bootleg software things :O.

EDIT: But ProRes files play fine in Quicktime which is not bootlegged? Weird..
There's a slight difference between a decoder and an encoder ;)

It's Christmas soon. Maybe you'll get the dough together to BUY FCP X. Gives you a working system and some peace of mind.
 
There's a slight difference between a decoder and an encoder ;)

It's Christmas soon. Maybe you'll get the dough together to BUY FCP X. Gives you a working system and some peace of mind.

Yeah I actually plan on buying it. If I pirate things and fancy them I usually go out and buy them from either support for the company or frustration that the pirated version doesn't work..that or a combination of the above :D :D Apple probably doesn't need any more money, but none the less I will keep spending my money on them because they just work :cool:
 
If you had stopped your argumentation after the fancy thing, I'd been with you. That Apple doesn't need your money argument is more than weak (you might learn that somewhen when you are on the corporate ladder yourself).
 
Why all over the place? You have one folder or drive that contains all your camera cards, neatly sorted by whatever method you prefer, one drive as your working drive, and the folder for your finished movies... and don't forget a backup drive.

What do you mean you haven't tried copying the whole file structure? Do you import directly from camera into iMovie without copying the card to your archive drive first?

Yer, straight from camera to iMovie, just like with iPhoto. Then let time machine backup whenever it feels.
 
Just had a look at importing, even if all the files are copied to the HDD, iMovie will only import the films directly from the memory card. :(
 
If you had stopped your argumentation after the fancy thing, I'd been with you. That Apple doesn't need your money argument is more than weak (you might learn that somewhen when you are on the corporate ladder yourself).

Haha woah I didn't think we were arguing :O I sure wasn't :p
 
Just had a look at importing, even if all the files are copied to the HDD, iMovie will only import the films directly from the memory card. :(
As long as you copied your card into a folder completely and unchanged, you can direct the import app to that folder. iMovie picks out the video files automatically.
A camera or card connected via USB is seen as mass storage device, so it is the same for the system as an external hard drive or a flash stick.

Nate, I didn't see it as an argumentation either. Just wanted to add that I don't condone piracy, bit not having been a saint for all my life, I can't blame you.
 
As long as you copied your card into a folder completely and unchanged, you can direct the import app to that folder. iMovie picks out the video files automatically.
A camera or card connected via USB is seen as mass storage device, so it is the same for the system as an external hard drive or a flash stick.
Not sure if this is related but I'll shoot...timecodes for DSLRs in FCP X? From what I've heard the 7D works fine with it and I've had my 550D work from time to time but does Apple support direct import from a DSLR SD card? I did it once before a few months ago and I forget how it went :confused:

Nate, I didn't see it as an argumentation either. Just wanted to add that I don't condone piracy, bit not having been a saint for all my life, I can't blame you.
Ah ok. I don't condone it for the most part but like I said, I will most likely be buying it at some point. All the stuff in my signature I bought, my camera was supposed to be a gift but I paid for half since it was a "big gift" from my aunt so I really do understand the value of a dollar. Anyways I digress..I have to finish up this DVD. Definitely learning allot about the struggles of video editing :eek::D

..........
 
does Apple support direct import from a DSLR SD card?
Yes it does. You connect your camera/card reader and open the import window. Your clips should show automatically. You can import directly from the card then. It is wiser to copy the card to your drive first, though.

If it has to do with the cam, I can't help. My SLRs don't shoot video :eek:
 
Which Camcorder?

Which camcorders support AVCHD and MP4? Seems like most HD camcorders are either AVCHD (Canon, Sony, Panasonic, etc.) or MOV/MP4 (Sanyo, Samsung, flippy-types, DSLRs, etc.). I would like to know which camcorders out there allow you to record in both AVCHD and MP4 formats!
 
This thread highlights the highdef video issue for the average person. Just what are all the "non-techie" people doing with all the AVC-HD files they are taking with their camcorders? I've taken family videos for 13 years, first on miniDV tapes, more recently a Sanyo FH1a that records in H.264 mp4 format (and do I really understand exactly what that means? No, other than iMovie can edit it natively). I now have a new micro four thirds camera that does video in AVC HD, so I'm potentially in the same situation now.

And just what are people doing with editied high def video? YouTube? Apple TV? Certainly not outputting to BluRay. Guess we just keep buying bigger hard drives and moving our data along.

Almost makes you long for a return to film....
 
cz9h3d, I have the Sanyo FH1a too and it works great for me, editing in iMovie 11. And my intention actually is to burn Blu-ray video discs, once I get Toast. (I already have a BD-R drive.)

Reason I want to know which camcorders support AVCHD as well as MOV/MP4 is that my sister is looking at replacing her SD camcorder with an HD one and she asked for my recommendation. She uses iMovie too, but I can't recommend the Sanyo camera because I don't think it's available anymore. And I think she'd like to stick to a major brand like Canon, Sony, or Panasonic anyway, but they're all AVCHD. If one of them has the option of MP4 format though, that would be great.
 
Reason I want to know which camcorders support AVCHD as well as MOV/MP4 is that my sister is looking at replacing her SD camcorder with an HD one and she asked for my recommendation. She uses iMovie too, but I can't recommend the Sanyo camera because I don't think it's available anymore. And I think she'd like to stick to a major brand like Canon, Sony, or Panasonic anyway, but they're all AVCHD. If one of them has the option of MP4 format though, that would be great.

If editing isn't in her scope, I've always been impressed by the Sony burners that easily burn disks from their camcorders. I actually backed up my miniDV tapes using one via FireWire from my camcorder. The latest is actually a BluRay burner, and will burn high def onto both BluRay and DVD blanks. Supposedly will also take AVCHD direct from an SD card and burn it to disk too.

I plan to do all my editing in 20 years after I retire.....
 
If editing isn't in her scope, I've always been impressed by the Sony burners that easily burn disks from their camcorders. I actually backed up my miniDV tapes using one via FireWire from my camcorder. The latest is actually a BluRay burner, and will burn high def onto both BluRay and DVD blanks. Supposedly will also take AVCHD direct from an SD card and burn it to disk too.

I plan to do all my editing in 20 years after I retire.....

Are you expecting the DVD media to still be intact? You might want to rethink your strategy.

/Jim
 
Supposedly will also take AVCHD direct from an SD card and burn it to disk too.
That is actually what AVCHD was meant for.

20 years? Good luck! I doubt your disks will still be readable by then. I have problems already with 6 year old DVD.
 
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