ACVHD Files

Hi,

I have a large quantity of AVCHD files shot on a Sony ( a whole 2TB hard drive full!) which I want to go through and edit using FCP.

If I click 'optimise media' on import, the files will load on the program, however this import process is very slow (I'm guessing FC is converting the files or something), and when I go to import >~10 video files at a time, the program essentially freezes up.

What's the best (most efficient) way for me to go through and edit all these files with FC?

..or am I best off using another program?

Thanks a lot.

AVCHD doesn't necessarily need to be optimized. It edits pretty efficiently directly in FCPX. You can also attach your external drive and import using the selection to "Leave files in place", in which case the import process will be very fast because the clips that will appear in your browser will be links to the actual media on the drive instead of being copied to your library. In order to re-edit any future projects using this method you can consolidate the library at the end of editing to a new location and FCPX will take just those used clips in your project and package them together for you. Alternatively, you can just keep the original media on that external drive and attach it again for future editing projects.

In any case, if the footage is important, you should make a complete backup of it somewhere else.

Okay thanks. The files are .mts

If I import more than about 10 files it seems to get stuck on 'validating files for import'. How long should this take?

Is there any way to speed up that process?

Out of old habit, I always import AVCHD directly from the cards to FCPX. Never drag them to hard drive first. That used to always cause problems. However, it seems like they fixed it now. What version of FCPX do you use?

stefandive wrote: ...I have a large quantity of AVCHD files shot on a Sony ( a whole 2TB hard drive full!) which I want to go through and edit using FCP. If I click 'optimise media' on import, the files will load on the program, however this import process is very slow...What's the best (most efficient) way for me to go through and edit all these files with FC?

On a decent machine (newish higher end iMac, MBP or above) you normally can just import the AVCHD files without using proxies or optimize media. Don't pick any other evaluate or analyze options.

I personally always copy the entire AVCHD structure to a hard drive, mainly because when shooting in the field we must backup and duplicate all data each day. Note FCP X will still not allow the "leave files in place" option for AVCHD -- they will be copied to the library or a place you designate in library properties.

Importing without analysis, proxies or optimization is normally very fast. On my 2013 iMac 27, it took 3 min 48 sec. to import 16 GB of AVCHD material from a Canon HF-G10. After importing I could quickly scrub through the media and select ranges, keyword it, etc.

For documentary-type projects where you have a huge shooting ratio it does raise the issue of how best to handle that. Traditionally you'd cull out selects using something like VLC, etc. to scan through the material, then import those.

However: It's hard to do that on a Mac since AVCHD is presented as a monolithic package, and Quicktime is clunky and handling that at the Finder level. You can drop the entire package on VLC and it will let you step through each file but how would you pull the selects out?

The options are re-wrap the AVCHD package with ClipWrap and scan through it externally or just import the whole thing into FCP X. The media organization tools are so excellent on FCP X, why not just do all the evaluation and selects there? If necessary you could later consolidate that to another library to reduce the size.

After the select phase is done you can always create optimize media on your chosen clips within FCP X (should that be necessary). Just select those in the media browser, CTRL-click, pick "Transcode Media".

The bottom line is importing AVCHD should be very fast, provided you don't create optimized media, proxies or do any other import analysis. A contemporary machine can usually edit camera native AVCHD files OK, at least sufficient to create selects.

I have previously re-wrapped AVCHD with ClipWrap but I think it's generally better to just import the entire package and do everything within FCP X.