AVCHD viewing and conversion to ProRes on OSX...

Rick Burnett

Rick Burnett

Section Moderator
So I've pre-ordered my AF100 long ago and since we are getting closer, I want to start looking at how I'm going to move to MTS files instead of MOV files I've been getting out of my 7D. I have 2 questions and I have searched the board, but didn't find specific answers to these questions that helped me. Others will probably have these questions as well.

(1) I love that when I upload my footage as MOV H.264 file I can use QuickTime to just look at the files. I also use the OSX quick view feature with the space bar when I am searching for things. When I put a GH2 MTS file (downloaded) onto my computer, Quicktime wont play it nor quick view. I searched for a codec for QT but I didn't find anything. I can of course use something like VLC to view it, what I am trying to retain is the ability to use quickview mainly as it is fast and efficient for me when searching through massive amounts of clips off the camera.

(2) Outside of the above issue, we typically use MpegStreamclip to batch convert all our MOV H.264 files into Prores 422. Again, MpegStreamclip is not working either.

It seems to come down to I need a codec for all this but I just can't find anything!

Thoughts?
 
mts files are not supported natively by QuickTime. They must be converted.

ClipWrap2 will unwrap the mts files and rewrap them very quickly to h.264 to facilitate a quick look at the files, but you'll need to convert them into an editing codec for use in FCP.

Premiere CS4/CS5 supports native import and editing of mts files, but again, the only way to see them is to import the files and play them in the CS5 Premiere interface.

Your codec for viewing them is h.264 with a quick unwrap using ClipWrap 2. The codec for editing is Pro Res or Pro Res LT, which both ClipWrap2 and FCP will facilitate.
 
http://www.divergentmedia.com/clipwrap

grimepoch said:
So I've pre-ordered my AF100 long ago and since we are getting closer, I want to start looking at how I'm going to move to MTS files instead of MOV files I've been getting out of my 7D. I have 2 questions and I have searched the board, but didn't find specific answers to these questions that helped me. Others will probably have these questions as well.

(1) I love that when I upload my footage as MOV H.264 file I can use QuickTime to just look at the files. I also use the OSX quick view feature with the space bar when I am searching for things. When I put a GH2 MTS file (downloaded) onto my computer, Quicktime wont play it nor quick view. I searched for a codec for QT but I didn't find anything. I can of course use something like VLC to view it, what I am trying to retain is the ability to use quickview mainly as it is fast and efficient for me when searching through massive amounts of clips off the camera.

(2) Outside of the above issue, we typically use MpegStreamclip to batch convert all our MOV H.264 files into Prores 422. Again, MpegStreamclip is not working either.

It seems to come down to I need a codec for all this but I just can't find anything!

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
So clipwrap just rewraps them into a different container, no conversion? What I am getting at is will the content internally be the same so that then I can just take the new file and run it through MpegStreamclip at that point?

I am REALLY surprised with how long AVCHD has been available that no one has created a quicktime codec for it. And I mean from the camera manufacturers.

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it!
 
grimepoch said:
So clipwrap just rewraps them into a different container, no conversion? What I am getting at is will the content internally be the same so that then I can just take the new file and run it through MpegStreamclip at that point?

I am REALLY surprised with how long AVCHD has been available that no one has created a quicktime codec for it. And I mean from the camera manufacturers.

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Yes. The reason they say "unwrap" is because the footage is placed in new packaging, not adjusted in anyway. After Clipwrap, you can use MPEGStreamclip to convert (or other softwares for that matter).
 
If you're using Final Cut Pro, you can simply use the Log & Transfer tool to batch convert your AVCHD files into Apple Pro Res files.
Also, I'm just learning about ClipWrap. The website says it doesn't support the GH1 flavor of AVCHD. This probably means it doesn't yet support the AF100 flavor of AVCHD, yes?
 
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Excellent. I just wanted to make sure I understood what it was doing. I'll download and try it out. I can probably make an AppleScript to even do all that I want batch wise.
 
dvbrother said:
If you're using Final Cut Pro, you can simply use the Log & Transfer tool to batch convert your AVCHD files into Apple Pro Res files.
Click to expand...

I will try that as well. The only nice thing about using the clipwrap is that I actually archive all the original footage off the camera and I'd rather archive an MOV version for quick looking. I don't archive the ProRes material once the project is completed. (Other than what is used, I mean more for the massive amounts of non used shots).
 
grimepoch said:
I am REALLY surprised with how long AVCHD has been available that no one has created a quicktime codec for it. And I mean from the camera manufacturers.
Click to expand...
The codec's already there! But Apple will refuses to play the files. Apple's corporate, philosophical mandate is: it must be a Quicktime file. They are trying to force everyone to convert to quicktime.

You can easily drag 'n' drop and play AVCHD files on Windows all day long, in any NLE, or even from Windows Media Player. It's not a camera manufacturer issue, it's an Apple corporate philosophy issue. If the file is recorded in anything other than a .MOV file format, they refuse to play it. Which is funny because years ago they used to allow .AVI files too, but now the new mantra is "nobody's file format but our own."

You can prove it to yourself -- take the MTS file and run it through ClipWrap, and ... voila. You can play it and edit it right away, in Quicktime or in Apple's NLE's. The codec is already there. They just absolutely refuse to support the footage in any format other than a Quicktime .MOV file.

If someone wanted to do a Raylight-style reference movie, they could probably establish instant plug 'n' play. I don't know if Raylight is working on that yet or if Calibrated or MXF4QT or one of those guys is doing it.
 
dvbrother said:
The website says it doesn't support the GH1 flavor of AVCHD. This probably means it doesn't yet support the AF100 flavor of AVCHD, yes?
Click to expand...
The AF100's AVCHD has zero resemblance to the GH1's. The GH1 is the weirdo hybrid new oddball version. The AF100 uses AVCCAM PH mode and regular AVCHD, same as has been used on camcorders since 2008, so ... it certainly should work. Even Apple's Log & Transfer works with the AF100's codec already, and that's with the extension they did to it to add uncompressed audio.
 
Barry_Green said:
The codec's already there! But Apple will refuses to play the files. Apple's corporate, philosophical mandate is: it must be a Quicktime file. They are trying to force everyone to convert to quicktime.

You can easily drag 'n' drop and play AVCHD files on Windows all day long, in any NLE, or even from Windows Media Player. It's not a camera manufacturer issue, it's an Apple corporate philosophy issue. If the file is recorded in anything other than a .MOV file format, they refuse to play it. Which is funny because years ago they used to allow .AVI files too, but now the new mantra is "nobody's file format but our own."

You can prove it to yourself -- take the MTS file and run it through ClipWrap, and ... voila. You can play it and edit it right away, in Quicktime or in Apple's NLE's. The codec is already there. They just absolutely refuse to support the footage in any format other than a Quicktime .MOV file.

If someone wanted to do a Raylight-style reference movie, they could probably establish instant plug 'n' play. I don't know if Raylight is working on that yet or if Calibrated or MXF4QT or one of those guys is doing it.
Click to expand...
It is a corporate thing as you say, however, they are sticking with compatibility for Quicktime which is old old old technology. The new update of Quicktime X, and Final Cut I truly expect them to be done away with all the old Quicktime limitations.
 
Barry_Green said:
The codec's already there! But Apple will refuses to play the files. Apple's corporate, philosophical mandate is: it must be a Quicktime file. They are trying to force everyone to convert to quicktime.

You can easily drag 'n' drop and play AVCHD files on Windows all day long, in any NLE, or even from Windows Media Player. It's not a camera manufacturer issue, it's an Apple corporate philosophy issue. If the file is recorded in anything other than a .MOV file format, they refuse to play it. Which is funny because years ago they used to allow .AVI files too, but now the new mantra is "nobody's file format but our own."

You can prove it to yourself -- take the MTS file and run it through ClipWrap, and ... voila. You can play it and edit it right away, in Quicktime or in Apple's NLE's. The codec is already there. They just absolutely refuse to support the footage in any format other than a Quicktime .MOV file.

If someone wanted to do a Raylight-style reference movie, they could probably establish instant plug 'n' play. I don't know if Raylight is working on that yet or if Calibrated or MXF4QT or one of those guys is doing it.
Click to expand...

Well I can tell you that this is not entirely true, because I have Perian installed on my computer and both quicktime and Quick view both play AVI, MPG and MKV files with no problem. Perian is supplying the codecs for some of the file formats, but QuickTime is reading a file with a different wrapper. Also, I've used a WMV codec before that would allow WMV files to play in QuickTime as well.

(And to be sure, I just tested a bunch of files to make sure I wasn't remembering something that wasn't true).

I just don't understand where that file wrapping code is. If it comes from Perian, then I am surprised support for something as simple as the wrapper hasn't been included yet. If it comes from Apple (which I am doubting as well) then why they've not added it yet. In any case, QuickTime should be able to support it since it is supporting other wrappers on my system through someone's code! :)
 
I use ClipWrap for a while and it works with:

1. Panasonic TM700
2. Sony VG10
3. Panasonic GH13 (hacked) in 24p mode

It has issues with GH1 native because they are 24p in an 60i wrapper.

You can play MTS files on the Mac with VLC (free) and Toast Titanium 10.

Please send me a link to a native AF100 file and I test ClipWrap.

You also can convert MTS files with NeoScene to Cineform of ProRes.
 
Anyone know if the clipwrap conversion thing works on a G5. I can playback h264 dslr files no prob, convert to prores or whatever, but so far avchd is a no go. I'm on 10.4.11, FCS 2. Yes rendering can be an overnight adventure but everything else works fine and I can get things done. Hoping to avoid a system upgrade until FCS 4 specs are announced and maybe the next mac pro revision.
 
Got a clip from Barry. ClipWrap works just fine.

ClipWrap can also transcode to ProRes and quite fast.
 
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Barry_Green said:
The AF100's AVCHD has zero resemblance to the GH1's. The GH1 is the weirdo hybrid new oddball version. The AF100 uses AVCCAM PH mode and regular AVCHD, same as has been used on camcorders since 2008, so ... it certainly should work. Even Apple's Log & Transfer works with the AF100's codec already, and that's with the extension they did to it to add uncompressed audio.
Click to expand...

How about the GH2 version of the codec? Will ClipWrap work with GH2 footage?
 
ClipWrap2, as others have indicated, is compatible with the AF-100.

If someone can point to a source of AVCHD mts files from the GH2, we can produce results.
 
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