Movie Tips on Mac

As Apple Inc.’s desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers, OS X Mountain Lion (version 10.8) is the ninth major release of OS X. It’s quick, familiar, cheap, and drenched in iOS goodness. However, after updated and installed Mountain Lion on Mac, many Final Cut Pro (mainly FCP X and FCP 7) users found they could not import any AVCHD files into FCP anymore – only getting “no compatible file” message, below is what some folks said:

•  I use FCP 7 and my AVCHD file is shown as a package, not a folder. I tried to log and transfer the AVCHD file to FCP but it did not work. I think FCP does not find the files. I also tryed to click myself to the files by right clicking the file and then opening the package with “show package contents”. Once I clicked myself to the actual .mts file I tried to drag it into the log and transfer window in FCP. But this did not work – I’m using OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion.

• I could not import any avchd files anymore into fcp on my mac after I installed mountain lion. continue reading…

As the clear successor to the Sony NEX-FS100, the Sony NEX-FS700 truly ups the ante. The new model has a lot of things going for it. It initially offers 1080p video, switchable between 50Hz and 60Hz frame rates (including 60p, 50p, 60i and 24p). You can use the camcorder to record slow-motion Full HD video at 120 or 240fps, or record up to 960fps at lower resolutions. With every new camera, comes many new questions about workflow. The term “workflow” can be fairly broad, but today I am looking at importing Sony NEX-FS100 (50p/60p) footage into Final Cut Pro X (also including FCP 6/7) for smoothly editing on Mac.

For all of its faults, Final Cut Pro X offers much better native file compatibility than its predecessor. However, all files aren’t equal when working in Final Cut Pro X. Some files, like the 50p/60p .MTS files produced from AVCHD video capture (like the Sony NEX-FS700), require you to take a couple of extra steps to get them into FCP X.

Here is a piece of simple tip to make it editing Sony NEX-FS700 AVCHD footage in Final Cut Pro X smoother to get those 50/60p .MTS files off of a memory card or hard drive – and without the need to connect the camera to your Mac. As far as I know, to achieve the goal smoothly, the AVCHD compression format requires that files be transcoded into a format better suited to editing, effects, and color grading; this would usually be Apple ProRes. continue reading…

With every new Camera, comes many new questions about workflow. The term ‘workflow’ can be fairly broad, but today I am looking at importing Canon Rebel T4i (EOS 650D) footage into Final Cut Pro. The Canon T4i uses the same workflow as the Canon EOS series of cameras which includes the 550D (T2i), 600D (T3i), and 1000D (XS), because it records in the same H.264 MOV format. Although the tools for importing the footage have been updated by Canon, it seems not working well when ingesting T4i footage to Final Cut Pro. Below, I will throw a quick tutorial up on how to import videos from Canon T4i/650D into Final Cut Pro (FCP 6/7 and FCP X) without the EOS Movie Plugin-E1.

The impressive video image quality of Canon’s EOS digital SLRs is their use of the sophisticated H.264/MPEG-4 compression method for recording video files to the camera’s memory card. The same with the new-brand Rebel T4i (65D) recording videos in H.264 MOV formats. The H.264 compression format requires that files be transcoded into a format better suited to editing, effects, and color grading; this would usually be Apple ProRes. So, to bring your Canon T4i footage into Final Cut Pro for smoothly editing on Mac, you’re suggested to transcode Canon T4i mov to Apple ProRes, the native editing codec of FCP in advance. Along with some help from a third-party software.

That’s where Pavtube HD Video Converter for Mac (currently on sale) comes in: it is good at encoding camera shootings in different formats (H.264 MOV, MTS/M2TS, MXF, etc.) to video editing software compatible file types, i.e. ProRes for FCP, AIC for iMoive, and DNxHD for Avid Media Composer, making the experience of editing Canon T4i HD Video footage with Final Cut Pro as fast and seamless as possible. Just download a free trial here and follow the guide below to convert Canon T4i/650D MOV to Apple ProRes for Final Cut Pro 6/7 or FCP X further editing. continue reading…

Many video-sharing websites like YouTube, Google Video, metacafe, Yahoo! Video, Reuters.com, etc. always provide people with original videos about meaningful, interesting, or important events that happened all over the world in real time, and nearly all of them use FLV (Flash Video) format to save these video files. You may have some funny YouTube videos that make everyone burst into laughters or some other useful tutorials stored on your Mac. In order to make these videos more stylish, you might have tried to open these FLV videos in Final Cut Pro, but only to find that they just gray out. Below, I will introduce an easy way to download and import FLV videos to Final Cut Pro (FCP X included) for editing smoothly.

Apple claims that FCP supports most commonly-used video codecs, including DV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, AVCHD and AIC and ProRes. Unfortunately, FLV format is not here. If you want to add FLV videos to Final Cut Pro without troubles, you should convert FLV to FCP acceptable formats like Apple ProRes encoded MOV first. Along with some help from a 3rd-party software (e.g. Pavtube’s HD Video Converter for Mac which can be used as a top FLV Converter for Mac), you can easily achieve your goal smoothly. For this purpose, this article will show you how to convert FLV to ProRes 422 for Final Cut Pro 6/7 and FCP X further editing. continue reading…

Nowadays more and more cameras and camcorders enable true 1080p60 (Full HD 1920*1080 @60fps) video recording. Like the Panasonic HDC-TM700 introduced in early 2010 and its successor HDC-TM900 are both able to shoot 1080p 60fps AVCHD MTS files. Sony’s A77, NEX-5N, NEX-7, A57 and A65 also offers the same fantastic video performance, particularly with their widely-praised 1080/60p mode. It is good to tell that we can shoot full HD videos, but the bad news is currently the 1080p 60fps AVCHD format is nearly impossible to be edited. Even with the latest update of Final Cut Pro X(version 10.0.4), we have not seen the expected support for 60p AVCHD MTS.

Why can’t we import/edit recorded 1080p60 AVCHD MTS footages in Final Cut Pro (X)

As you see, it does show up in Log and Transfer and will properly transfer all of the videos captured on your camera- except for anything recorded on the highest setting the camera has to offer. The reason that you can’t successfully import those recorded AVCHD footages on 1080p60 format to Final Cut Pro is limited by the FCP itself. Currently 1080p60 is a very non-standard format and it’s unsupported in Final Cut Pro 6 or 7, and even the new FCP X. If you want to edit AVCHD 60p MTS files in FCP flawlessly, you will have to use third party options, for instance, Pavtube’s MTS/M2TS Converter for Mac to transcode them to Apple ProRes 422, which is only lightly compressed and plays back beautifully even when effects and extra tracks are added. It’s also far better for colour correction. continue reading…

By all accounts, Nikon has a great year in 2011, topping both the DSLR and compact camera charts. After launching two new models at the very top of its line-up already this year, Nikon has now refreshed its beginner offering with the D3200. There’s lots of interesting technology crammed into the relatively small body of the D3200, including things which have trickled down from its more expensive bodies. Those include features such as the Expeed 3 processing engine, which promises to deliver quicker processing times, low noise and different frame rates for the full HD video recording.

As yous see, the Nikon D3200 is great for us to take high quality images and record full HD videos. it can help us record vivid high-definition videos in H.264 .mov format. MOV files is widely used in Nikon (Nikon D7000, Nikon D800), Panasonic and Canon (like the Canon 5D Mark series) high-end DSLR cameras, it is good to record videos, but MOV files are not easy to use because many editing software and devices can’t read MOV videos, such as Apple Final Cut Pro X, iMovie, etc. continue reading…

Ostensibly designed to appeal to first-time DSLR buyers and enthusiasts, the Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital) offers a lot more technology. Central to the impressive specification of the EOS 550D is a high-spec movie mode which offers full HD capture at up to 30 fps, manual control over exposure, and the option to use an external stereo microphone. Video is an absolute highlight of the EOS 550D / T2i and it’s wonderful to have this degree of control in a camera.

All of these are great, till you find it is a problem importing the recorded H.264 MOV footages to Final Cut Pro for editing. Even the raw video could be successfully loaded to FCP, the film will looks quite jumpy. Generally the H.264 is a delivery codec rather than editing code. To get those Canon 550D/T2i videos work flawlessly in Final Cut Pro without rendering time, you need to transcode the video to a format more friendly for FCP, for instance, Apple ProRes 422 codec.

If you have used your Canon 550D / T2i recorded many MOV videos and wanna transfer them into Final Cut Pro for editing smoothly on Mac, it’s good to convert the H.264 to QuickTime MOV, but the best choice is to encode Canon Canon 550D / T2i video to Apple ProRes format, beacause Apple ProRes codec is best supported by Final Cut Pro on Mac. If you’re looking for ease of use yet professional tool, I’ve had success using Pavtube’s Video Converter for Mac to convert Canon T2i mov to FCP native format – Apple ProRes 422. If you’re interested in doing likewise, check out the Mac MOV to ProRes Transcoder for Final Cut Pro. continue reading…

The more I use the new Sony NEX-5n, the more I like it. One thing that really makes the NEX-5n stand out among competitors is the ability to capture HD video at 1080/60p. This makes for smooth motion. With the recent update of Final Cut Pro X, I was hoping that Apple would add support for 60P/50P AVCHD; however, seems it did not. As a result, working with video from cameras shooting 60p AVCHD 2.0 footage (like the Sony NEX-5n) brings a bit of a problem when importing the files from your camera.

The quick workaround is to rewrap the Sony NEX-5n AVCHD 1080/60p file to Quicktime files. As to keep the HD video quality and avoid rendering, I prefer the Apple ProRes codec instead of H.264. The ProRes file is not only works well with FCP X, but also works for FCP 7 and 6. So how to convert and transcode Sony NEX-5n AVCHD MTS/M2TS video files to Apple RroRes format on mac?

So to make FCP compatible with Sony NEX 5n videos, a third party converting tool is needed. If you’re interested in doing likewise, check out Pavtube’s Video Converter for Mac, a top Mac AVCHD to Final Cut Pro Converter for mac which is the good choice for you to convert 1080 60p and 50p AVCHD file to Final Cut Pro 6/7 Apple ProRes. continue reading…

Below are several disscussions about looking for the way importing MXF files to the Final Cut Pro X:

Q1: MXF files into FCP X
I’m interested in the new Canon XF300 camera, but I’m still working on an Apple G5 with FCP X. Is there an application, plug-in, etc. for the new FCP X to take in MXF files? [G5, Mac OS X (10.4.11)]

Q2: importing .MXF files to Final Cut Pro X
What plug-in do I need to install so i can import and edit .MXF video files in Final Cut. The suggestion of doing Log and Transfer doesn’t work (the .MXF files are gray out not allowing me to select it.) [Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.5.8)]

Q3: Support for Canon MXF from xf100 in FCP X?
How do I import .mxf files into Final Cut Pro X? This is the latests and greatests software right? There must be a way. Help Please.

Here many folks are talking about how to import MXF files into Final Cut Pro X for editing without rendering time. Well, don’t blame to the Final Cut Pro X, the “Import from Camera…” option works just like “Log and Transfer”. The thing is, even FCP X does not work with the Canon or Panasonic P2 MXF files. As far as i know, to solve those problems, the most important piece of the equation is that transcoding MXF files to Final Cut Pro X native formats(e.g. Apple ProRes encoded mov format) along with some help from the third-party software. To help those who wanna import/edit MXF files in Final Cut Pro X flawlessly, I’m sharing my experience to convert MXF files to Apple ProRes Codec for Final Cut Pro X

Required Software:

Pavtube MXF to FCP X Converter for Mac (Download a free trial here) continue reading…