TOPIC:

I have been using FCP fo many years and last year changed to the Mac Studio 2022 M1 Max. I'm running FCP 10.6.5. I noticed when I try to import video file from my small Sony CX160 cameras I get a failure "Import Failed" message. The files from my Sony NX5U come in with out any problems. I noticed that one of my NX5u cameras the files gave me the same error. When I checked the audio on that camera it was set to Dolby audio and the other NX5U cameras were set to Linear PCM. The video files with audio set to PCM imported fine.

I took the SD Cards I was having problems with and used my MacBook Pro with i9 processor and FCP imported the files with out a problem. So the files were fine but would not import using the Mac Studio with the M1 processor.

Also when I tried to open the files on the SD Card with the Mac Studio, the ones with Dolby audio, they will not open and give me an error message that QuickTime can not open the file.

Is there a problem with the Mac Studio reading video files with Dolby Audio?
Is there a solution to this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Make sure you are on the latest version of Apple Pro Video Formats. That should normally be installed as an extra item during a MacOS update, but sometimes it does not happen. The latest version is 2.2.4.

You can check that in System Settings (or System Preferences on Monterey and before)>System Report>Software>Installations, then scroll down the right pane to see "Apple Pro Video Formats".

You can also install it manually from here: support.apple.com/kb/DL2050?locale=en_US

If that doesn't work, let us know. In that case please state what versions of MacOS your Mac Studio and i9 MacBook Pro are running.

The above is just an initial suggestion; there are people on here who know much more about audio than me.

I checked the Apple Pro Video Format and it is up to date 2.2.4.
I checked the MacBook Pro and the versions for OS is the same as the Mac Studio 12.6.5 The same with FCP 10.6.5. I also checked the version of QuickTime and both computers are running the same versions 10.5 (1126.4.1)

The only difference Is the processor (MacBook Pro - i9) (Mac Studio - M1 Max). The MacBook Pro imports the files and the Mac Studio errors when trying to import video files with Dolby Audio.

Video files with LCP audio imports on Both systems. Video files with Dolby audio only imports on the MacBook Pro not the Mac Studio.

If you don't mind, you might consider posting a sample file that has Dolby audio to Dropbox (or similar). We could then verify things on our systems.

I would imagine that the Dolby audio recording option is mainly intended for clips that are to be played back on a TV, etc., and not necessarily for post/editing. You might want to consider using LPCM audio.

But, it would be good to know why it doesn't work with M* computers.

The Sony CX160 cameras do not allow the audio to be switched to LPCM. I always shoot in LCPM, but on some jobs the little Sony CX160 cameras work great for tight spots locked down. I don't use these cameras often, but for a few jobs. One of my Sony NX5U cameras got switched to Dolby and I did not catch it until I was in Post trying to import the footage. The work around was going to my MacBook Pro with the intel i9 and it brough the footage in. Then I tried the small cameras and found the footage on those cameras had the same issue.

As DaveM wrote Dolby Digital audio is oriented to be played on TV, DVD, games, etc The format is called AC-3 and usually incorporate 5.1, 6.1 surround tracks or stereo tracks. To play the AC-3 format a specific decoder is required. Some DAW ( ie. Nuendo) can import AC-3 tracks and transcode them to formats that FCP can handle for edition.

If the OS is the same, FCP version is the same, Pro Video is the same, then we need to narrow down what you've got on the laptop that isn't on the studio.

I have doubts that it's a platform issue, and strongly suspect additional software on the old machine that didn't make it to the new one.