AVCHD Essentials: get, play, edit and convert AVCHD video on Mac

AVCHD is a high definition (HD) digital video camera recorder format recording 1080i and 720p signals onto MiniDVD discs, MiniDV tape, Hard Drive, and digital camera Memory Cards. AVCHD recordings made on MiniDVD discs can be played back on some Blu-ray disc players, however, AVCHD with a .M2TS and .MTS file extension can not be played back on standard DVD players and most portable players. This tutorial will explain how to get AVCHD video off HD camcorder to Mac, how to play, edit and convert AVCHD video on Mac, including Snow Leopard.

Contents
Part I. Get AVCHD files off HD camcorder to Mac
Part II. Play AVCHD video on Mac
Part III. Edit AVCHD footage on Mac
Part IV. Convert AVCHD video on Mac

Part I. Get AVCHD files off HD camcorder to Mac
To play AVCHD video files on your Mac, first you need get them off HD Camcorder to your Mac desktop or laptop. It’s easy with iMovie:
1. Connect camcorder to your Mac computer with cable (USB/WiFi).
2. Select mode of camcorder such as PC/Computer mode.
3. iMovie will automatic open import window.
4. If DVD Player automatic open, just quit DVD Player first.
5. So Now, you can review your video or select “Import All”(make sure your switch is set to “Automatic”).
6. If you select “Manual”, you can import some clip to iMovie.
7. If you import from Tape based device (DV/HDV), iMovie will automatic revise tape & import all.
8. iMovie automatic create thumbnail video after complete import.

iMovie will automatically detect when you have a FireWire camcorder connected. If you see the message No Camera Attached, make sure your camera is turned on and properly plugged in to your computer via a FireWire cable and that your camcorder is set to VCR, VTR, or Play mode.

Part II. Play AVCHD video on Mac
VLC player is a totally free program that you should already have on your Mac that plays oodles of different video and audio formats, far more than QuickTime and DVD player. Simply run this application, choose FILE>OPEN FILE, select you VIDEO_TS folder, and that is OK! Grab some popcorn and watch your AVCHD video now.

Part III. Edit AVCHD footage on Mac
AVCHD camcorders had been out since mid 2006 the first fully capable software for editing the footage only became available with the recent release of Sony’s Vegas 9 editing software for Windows. Ok, so which software you can use to edit AVCHD on Mac, including Snow Leopard?

If your budget allows, make iMovie for your AVCHD video editing, but there are two core requirements. First, you need to make sure you have iMovie ’09 or newer software. The other limiting factor to using iMovie is hardware. You need a Mac with an Intel-based Core Duo processor or better to edit AVCHD in iMovie ’09. Power PC G5 Macs or older will not work for editing high definition AVCHD with iMovie.

Final Cut Pro is the premium choice for any Mac video editing. The Final Cut Pro 7 is the most up-to-date support for AVCHD available, with 6.0.1 being the first version of FCP with AVCHD support. Making sure you have Final Cut Pro 7 installed is your best bet to making sure you have a great editing experience with AVCHD and FCP.

Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 is another choice. Although it has now returned to the Mac platform neither the Mac nor Windows versions supports the AVCHD format, there were quite a few rumours indicated AVCHD smooth playback and video editing totally depends on your systems performance. Most Laptops will work just fine with AVCHD editing but don’t have as smooth a playback as a highend desktop.

So which is best, iMovie, FCP, Adobe Premiere? Well, I personally prefer Final Cut Pro to iMovie for editing AVCHD on a Mac. It makes editing easier and helps bring out your more creativity!

Part IV. Convert AVCHD video on Mac
AVCHD camcorders save HD video in M2TS and TS formats, which cause problems down the road – for example if you find that YouTube™ doesn’t support the file format of the AVCHD video you want to upload, and most portable players as well. There are some 3rd programs available, but if you’re looking for the easiest solution to handle the job on Mac(including Snow Leopard), with better output quality, iFunia HD Video Converter comes as a good choice. Here are easy steps.

Step 1. Source Setup
Download and run iFunia HD Video Converter for Mac, add your AVCHD video by clicking ‘Add’ or drag-n-drop. Here you can also preview AVCHD video files and take snapshots.

Step 2. Destination Setup
After you finishing video source setup, you can now select an output profile in the drop-down box, take iPhone MPEG-4 video example. Remember to specify a directory on your computer for saving the output files.

There are various format/bit rate/screen resolution options in the Setting window. Different file formats result in different video compression rates. Bit rate refers to the number of bits processed per unit of time, the larger the number, the more bits processed and the better the quality. Resolution refers to the number of pixels handled by the device display.

Step 3. Start Conversion
Finally, click the ‘Start’ button. The Progress bar shows the status of the converting task. The program will prompt you when the converting task is completed, then click OK.

Enjoy your AVCHD video!

About the Author

Sony Vegas Pro 8 Tutorial #4 Digital Signage – Gary Kleiner

Roxio Creator Pro 2012 $49.99 ROXIO CREATOR 2012 PRO (WIN XPVISTAWIN 7)…

Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (Black Gloss with Maroon Accents) $199.99 See it, shoot it, and share it–all in high definition. With the Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Cam Second Generation, you can capture life’s amazing moments in 720p high-definition quality, all with a touch of a button. The Vado HD has a compact, stylish glossy black design and features 8 GB of memory to store your videos. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, the Vado is the fir…

Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black) OLD MODEL $130.00 See it, shoot it, share it – capture life’s unforgettable moments in high-definition clarity and share them online with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and easily captures video in 720p high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. The Creative Vado HD is the only pocket video camera t…

Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 Production Suite $47.00 Video editing audio mastering & disc authoringVegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 Production Suite takes HD video and audio production to the next level with tools for professional-level sound design and more video effects and transitions. Edit video in nearly any format including high-definition HDV and AVCHD and create a 3D project using the innovative stereoscopic 3D tools. Use the included Sound…

Sony Creative Software Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 $42.00 Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11 Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition software has everything needed to produce spectacular HD movies. You can edit video in nearly any format including HDV and AVCHD. Included are innovative stereoscopic 3D tools, powerful features for video compositing, color correction, and soundtrack creation for feature-film results in your home studio. Use the surround sound …

The Art and Technique of Digital Color Correction $26.64 Provides direct access to the skills, insights and techniques of some of the postproduction industry’s most prominent digital video colorists, delivering practical skills to the postproduction pro seeking to improve their color grading craft. The author interviews and observes 8 professional colorists as they grade a series of real world video images, describing the methods and techniques each art…

Vegas Pro 8 Editing Workshop (DV Expert Series) $34.91 Master the Vegas Pro 8 toolset, including its industry-leading HD and audio capabilities. This comprehensive guide delivers the nuts and bolts of the essential tasks, from installing the application to outputting, together with practical editing techniques and real-world examples for working more efficiently.Packed with all the necessary materials, including video footage, sequences, and detailed …

New-Vegas Pro 10 – SNYCD83830WI The Vegas Pro 10 collection offers an efficient and intuitive environment for professional audio and video production, as well as DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring. This comprehensive suite offers the most robust and progressive platform available for content creation and production. Vegas Pro 10 is the ultimate all-in-one software suite for any creative professional. Whether you need powerful digita…