GH13 Footage into FCP, lowers bitrate after log + transfer?

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bronxjragon

Well-known member
So I have footage from the GH13 that averages around 40 mbs (I view the rate with MediaInfo Mac). However, when I log and transfer the footage straight into FCP the average bitrate says usually between 16mb-17mb. This is without pulldown yet but I just wanted to skip that first and see what FCP does.

Any suggestions how to edit my footage with full bitrate?
 
bronxjragon said:
So I have footage from the GH13 that averages around 40 mbs (I view the rate with MediaInfo Mac). However, when I log and transfer the footage straight into FCP the average bitrate says usually between 16mb-17mb. This is without pulldown yet but I just wanted to skip that first and see what FCP does.

Any suggestions how to edit my footage with full bitrate?
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it it's still the same quality if you're converting to ProRes.
 
Blackout said:
IS there any way to edit avchd natively on the mac? or even see it?
Click to expand...


If you log and transfer with FCP you can preview the footage and set in and outs for loging. VLC plays AVCHD files. also Toast video player plays avchd files. Still think its best to go with an intermediate codec for editing.
 
What about someone who does not have final cut pro? There is a huge market of people who have macs, who want me to SHOOT something for them that isn't a movie nor has that budget, but then THEY want to edit it on their mac. Like I just had a gig for $100/hr for a few hours (half day) just to shoot, but the guy insists he wants to edit it in imovie....

What to tell him?

I know it's not going to work as it stands. What is a cheap / freebie option for newbs on the mac to edit / convert this footage that is not neoscene and is not final cut pro.
 
I think the latest version of iMovie can import AVCHD as it transcodes it to AIC, I do know that iMovie will not support native 24p. Maybe you should shoot a short clip for them and see if they can import the file.
 
iMovie does require the whole file structure and will not import just the MTS files. So usually the camera needs to be present to download footage. Unless you make a disc image and then I believe it will work.

This is all with 720 by the way.
 
There's no need to make a disc image if you want GH1 AVCHD footage to import into either FCP or iMovie. My workflow is very simple. I have a USB SDHC card reader. I pop the card out of the GH1, put into the card reader and attach to my Mac. You don't need to have a card reader as you can do this through the camera but it's a simpler and easier option in my opinion. By default iPhoto is set to open when you attach cameras and card readers, but just hide it when it comes up. You can set a preference in iPhoto for this not to happen.

OK here's the workflow:

Make a simple folder on the Mac where you want to store your footage. Name it with the job name and date. Then open the card reader with your card in it. Copy everything into your new folder. Don't rename or change the contents of the card. Just a simple drag and drop will do. There are 3 folders. Once this has finished copying, eject the card by dragging to the trash, or right clicking and chose eject. Then open iMovie. In the File menu choose Import/Camera Archive. Navigate to the folder where you saved your footage and then click import. At this point you will then be able to see all your footage and make selections. iMovie will transcode your footage to intermediate codec at either full res or smaller depending on the power of your system. Sometimes I take the card out of the camera when on a job, put it into the card reader, and open the camera archive within iMovie to look at shots. This is so simple and it can be a way to ascertain any problems like focus, and performance that you may have missed looking on the small LCD screen. This is why I use the card reader as it means I don't need to disturb the camera setup.

This workflow is the same for FCP except you use log and transfer. You can also choose how FCP re-encodes the footage to about 5 or 6 different flavours of Pro Res.

I usually make a backup of the camera archive as well. Disc space is cheap.

Hope this helps

Richard
 
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