Found a great price on a Canon HD camcorder, VIXIA HF R300, only draw back is that it output format is AVCHD and it will not directly import into iMovie with first converting to another format with even more software for the conversion. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the AVCHD format. I have Final Cut Express 4, and it accepts the AVCHD file but not directly, it goes through its own conversion process but it does work.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, Tickhill
I have a lot of experience with AVCHD Tickhill....but not Mac's.
It's easy enough to add another wrapper using freeware like MPEG Streamclip, I just don't know the work flow for a Mac.
It appears the problem is with 60p.
Imovie will handle 1080I so you should be OK if you shoot in that mode.
There is talk of an Imovie upgrade to handle it but no time frame.
Thanks p, I tried using Handbrake on my xp box but I will look at the MPEG Streamclip. Most of the reviews for iMovie 11 did not look too promising, I may have to wait on the new iteration,
MPEG Streamclip is the way we do it. We edit with Final Cut, and even though you can work with the compressed footage it won't play back without rendering constantly, so converting to an edit-friendly format like 'Apple Intermediate Codec' will make your life much easier. We just set up a batch process every time we import, only takes a minute to get going and when you come back in an hour it's ready to edit.
Thanks ETB for the information. I am helping my son get their church services to dvd for broadcast on a local station. We returned the Canon's and found a Sony HDR-CX260V that has says on the box, "Works with iMovie". I guess we will see.
Thanks again for the valuable info, Tickhill
It's getting worse all the time Earnest!
I got rid of the 7D and started using GH2's as B&C cameras as well as the detail footage.
Some of those patches are running 140mb and I'm doing the final Grading in 32 bit float After Effects and Color GHears, after I cut them in with the Camcorders in Premier Pro.
Some of the renders are taking 24 hours. The results are unbelievable but tax the computer something awful.
I finished a Promotional for a cruise ship yesterday and it's still cooking with about 11 hours to go. :-\