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iMovie Processing AVCHD Files

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It appears I have to convert AVCHD files before I can import and edit them with iMovie. If this is the case, what program/process is recommended to convert these files. What format should the AVCHD files be converted to?
 
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Thank you. I have no problem importing the AVCHD file and opening/watching the clips on Quicktime. But from there I am stuck. It appears that iMovie is not compatible with that format. So, what do I use to convert them to a compatible format? And what process do I use to do it?
 
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It appears that iMovie is not compatible with that format. So, what do I use to convert them to a compatible format? And what process do I use to do it?


Maybe have a look here:
http://www.vector15.com/2014/01/25/organizing-and-viewing-avchd-and-mts-videos-on-mac-osx/

and here:
https://www.iskysoft.com/topic-avchd/edit-avchd-mac.html

If you need other software, try searching for 'AVCHD video' here:
https://www.macupdate.com/

And see what options they show, and some various user comments may provide more info and hints.

PS: I'm sorry I don't have much experience with the various Mac video stuff and associated applications. And some of it was just too pricey for me and just didn't need it.




- Patrick
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IWT


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It appears I have to convert AVCHD files before I can import and edit them with iMovie. If this is the case, what program/process is recommended to convert these files. What format should the AVCHD files be converted to?

I have never had any problem importing AVCHD movie files into iMovie and this article from Apple confirms this and lists all the cameras and their formats, including AVCHD, which are compatible with iMovie.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/ht204202

Ian
 
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I have never had any problem importing AVCHD movie files into iMovie and this article from Apple confirms this


Nice find Ian. That should help the OP and maybe there's something not aligned with the stars and their Mac and applications.

Thanks.




- Patrick
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My go to program for this kind of thing is Handrake but the interface can be daunting at first. It converts from almost anything to almost anything. There are a number of apps in the App Store that do this. I use Camcorder Video Converter and Free MTS M2TS Cpnverter. All of these are free. There are others both free and paid in the App Store (search for AVCHD)

I use all three programs and have several similar programs on my hhard drive. Why have so many similar programs on my hard drive?
1. I am a digital oack rate and there is probably no support group for that.
2. 2. Sometimes a file will refuse to open in one program when it will open in others.
 
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My go to program for this kind of thing is Handrake but the interface can be daunting at first.

I didn't know that HandBrake could actually do all that and isn't it a bit pathetic that so much hassles is involved now when not long ago Apple was screaming from the rooftops what a fantastic multi-media platform that Macs and their OS were.

And Quicktime Pro had so many available options to make things even easier with addition stuff and options.




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Slydude

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QuickTime Pro, which pre-dates QuickTime Player X, was a paid upgrade to QuickTime 7. I think it was available for version 6 as well. It unlocked several editing and saving features all for the cost of about $20.00 US if I remember correctly. The problem is, I don't think that option is still available.

One of the reasons older versions of QuickTime handled so many files was due to the addition of plug-in packs such as Perian. I don't remember it ever handling AVCHD natively but I could be wrong about that. Many of the formats handled by those external codecs are now routinely handled with QuickTime Player X. See Here.
 
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One of the reasons older versions of QuickTime handled so many files was due to the addition of plug-in packs such as Perian. I don't remember it ever handling AVCHD natively but I could be wrong about that.


Here's a list of supported formats from the last Perian release, just for the info:
About
Perian aims to provide a single package for all your playback needs. It is a collection of QuickTime components incorporating several libraries:
• libavcodec, from the ffmpeg project, along with code from the old FFusion component:
• MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2
• DivX
• 3ivx
• H.264
• Flash Video
• Flash Screen Video
• On2 VP3, VP6, VP8
• H263I
• HuffYUV and ffvhuff
• Indeo 2, 3, 4 & 5
• MPEG-1, 2 & 4 Video (in supported formats)
• Fraps (up to v4)
• Windows Media Audio v1 & v2
• Flash ADPCM
• Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska)
• MPEG Layer I and II audio
• DTS Coherent Acoustics audio
• Snow wavelet video
• DosBox video
• Nellymoser ASAO audio
• libavformat, from the ffmpeg project. along with AVIImporter.component:
• AVI file format
• FLV file format
• NUV file format
• libmatroska, along with matroska-qt.component:
• MKV file format
• Subtitles:
• (Advanced) SubStation Alpha
• SRT
• SAMI
• VobSub
• liba52, via A52Codec:
• AC3 audio




- Patrick
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Slydude

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Thanks for that reminder. I really hated to see the Perian pack go away because of the large number of formats supported. Before they came along getting similar functionality often required installing several codec packs.

QuicKTime Player X supports most / all of the formats I need. I do miss Perian and MPEG Streamclip though.
 
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Thanks for that reminder. I really hated to see the Perian pack go away because of the large number of formats supported.


I guess the Perian installed stuff still works if everything else is all in place and supported as well, however one figures out what's involved to do that!!!

Just because it's not supported or being developed further doesn't really mean it quits working I don't think.

Heck, there will no doubt be some new codec standard released next week or so to replace some of the other "new standards", some of which never even worked properly for many. I think they call it "New and Improved"!!! :Evil:





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I have never had any problem importing AVCHD movie files into iMovie and this article from Apple confirms this and lists all the cameras and their formats, including AVCHD, which are compatible with iMovie.
I've just bought an AVCHD camcorder and iMovie imports without any problems.
 

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