Working with Sony Handycam AVCHD files in FCP 7/X


Handycam is a Sony brand used to market its camcorder range. If you are having issues importing Sony Handycam AVCHD files to FCP 7/X for further editing, you may have interest in this post. It displays a way of converting Sony Handycam AVCHD files to ProRes codec for use in Final Cut flawlessly.
issues importing Sony Handycam AVCHD files to FCP 7/X
Problems importing M2TS clips from a Sony handycam to FCP X
“Hi, there, I received a number of M2TS clips shot on a Sony handycam (not sure the model). The bad thing is the cameraman forgot keeping the AVCHD folder structure. I needed to import the individual M2TS files to FCP X for editing. Unfortunately, FCP X doesn’t recognize them as import. Is there a way to go through this? Please suggest a solution. Thanks a lot.”

Final Cut Pro X fully supports AVCHD. But it is not possible to import single .MTS/.M2TS files. To be able to work with Sony handycam AVCHD footage in FCP X, you will have back up the full contents of your SD card, with all directories and files and the use the import from camera and then go to archive. That is necessary, because AVCDH is a stream and there’s additional info saved on the card.

Speaking of FCP 7, it does not have native editing support for AVCHD footage. You can use the Log and Transfer window to transcode AVCHD footage to an Apple ProRes codec or the Apple Intermediate Codec during transfer. After you have transferred your footage, you can edit using Apple ProRes or the Apple Intermediate Codec and output to the format of your choice.
Anyway: if you backup AVCHD, back up the full card with all directories.  

If you’ve already thrown everything away and only kept the .mts/.m2ts files, maybe you could convert them with HD Video Converter for Mac to ProRes to be able to use them. Read on to find a quick guide on how to convert Sony .m2ts clips to ProRes for use in FCP X/7.

Here’s what you need
HD Video Converter for Mac
converting Sony Handycam AVCHD files to ProRes

[Guide] How to encode Sony Handycam AVCHD files to ProRes 422 for FCP editing?

Download, install and run HD Video Converter for Mac, then follow these steps:
Step 1: Run HD Video Converter for Mac as a professional Sony AVCHD MTS to ProRes Converter. When its main interface comes up, click ‘Add File’ to load source video to it.
importing M2TS clips from a Sony handycam to FCP X

Step 2: Select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as output format for opening with FCP 7/X
From the ‘Profile’ list, move to ‘Final Cut Pro’ catalogue, and select ‘Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)’ as target format. Apple ProRes is the best suited editing codec for FCP 7 and its most recent version FCP X. When loading them into Final Cut, you needn’t wait for a long time for rendering.
convert Sony .m2ts clips to ProRes for use in FCP X/7
Important: If you’ve loaded a number of video clips to do batch conversion, please do remember ticking off ‘Apply to All’ option before you start.

Step 3: Adjust video and audio settings (for advanced users)
If necessary, you can click ‘Settings’ button and go to ‘Profiles Settings’ panel to modify video and audio settings like video encoder, resolution, video bit rate, frame rate, aspect ratio, audio encoder, sample rate, audio bit rate, and audio channels. 3D settings are also available.

Step 4: Click ‘Convert’ to start Sony Handycam AVCHD files to ProRes conversion.

Step 5: Click ‘Open Folder’ to get generated ProRes 422 QuickTime files for transferring and editing in Final Cut Pro 7/X with optimum performance.

To import the transcoded files into Final Cut Pro 7, simply navigate to File > Import > Files and select the converted clips. Alternately you can simply drag and drop the files into your “Bin.”

To import the transcoded files into Final Cut Pro X. navigate to File > Import > Media. In the window that comes up select your transcoded ProRes clips. DO NOT check “Create Optimized Media” OR “Create Proxy Media”. Both of these check boxes are unnecessary because we already converted the media to ProRes which means Final Cut Pro X can use the footage without “optimizing” it. Checking this box would create a redundant and time consuming second transcode of your footage.

You’re now ready to edit!

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