Canon Legria HF20 - iMovie 09 Compatibility

[Casho]

This is my first post on this Forum so thanks in advance for your help.

I have just ordered a Canon Legria HF20 camcorder. However, I have a concern.

I just checked Apple's offical list of iMovie compatible camcorders, and the PAL version isn't listed as a compatible camcorder. However, the NTSC version is, which is called the Cannon Vixia HF20. I am not sure if the reason why the PAL version isn't listed is just because they haven't got around to testing it.

Can anyone confirm whether the HF20 works with iMovie? Am I safe to assume that if the NTSC version is compatible than the PAL version will also be compatible? Are there any known issues with using the HF20 with iMovie?

[cgbier]

If NTSC works, then PAL should work also. There is no difference in the codec itself.

[pblucero]

I can say I've been in a rut for a month or more trying to get Apple software to read CANON's video file output! So far no work can be done using iMovie OR iLife 08 due to the type of file .mts.

Also, blogs say that FinalCut 6.0 and above can recognize this type of file but costs are prohibitive. I've found no converting software MAC compatible for this specific issue yet - HELP!

Finally, if your machine does not have an INTEL processor (like my newly purchased USED G5, forget about burning the HD DVDs you may have wanted to (according to packaging and blogs)

Hopeless

[xseshawn]

I too am having trouble, i have about 40 raw .mts files that i cant directly import into imovie it just wont recognize it. If there is anyone that can help me get imovie to take the .mts files i would be so thankful.

[cgbier]

You guys tried MPEG Streamclip already?

[pblucero]

No, but I will 2morrow...!

[ejolson]

You guys tried MPEG Streamclip already?

Does streamclip read AVCHD files? If not, you can first convert the mts files to m2t files using a recent version of ffmpeg and the command

$ ffmpeg -i 00045.mts -r 30000/1001 -acodec mp2 -vcodec mpeg2video \
    -flags +ildct+ilme -ab 384k -b 24000k -f mpegts -y 00045.m2t

http://ffmpeg.org/

[Janke]

Does streamclip read AVCHD files? If not, you can first convert the mts files to m2t files using a recent version of ffmpeg and the command

$ ffmpeg -i 00045.mts -r 30000/1001 -acodec mp2 -vcodec mpeg2video \
    -flags +ildct+ilme -ab 384k -b 24000k -f mpegts -y 00045.m2t

http://ffmpeg.org/

Streamclip (at least v. 1.9.2) doesn't read MTS files.

Can you elaborate on that ffmpg code - how do you use it? (Looks like a code to be run on Terminal? Is that right?)

[cgbier]

FFMPEG is an Open Source version of MPEG
It sits under the hood of many programs (VLC is the best known).

I have converted AVCHD from a Sony cam just last week with no issue in Streamclip.

[Janke]

I have converted AVCHD from a Sony cam just last week with no issue in Streamclip.

Just how did you do that? I have a bunch of Sony MTS files that Streamclip 1.9.2 refuses to open, I get "File open error: unsupported file type".

Trying to convert these files in ffmpegX does create a mov file, but it's only a gray screen with some flashing, vertical color lines.

[cgbier]

Do you have Perian installed on your machine?

That might have been the reason why I could simply open and recode the files....

[Janke]

Yes, latest version 1.1.4.

I did get around the problem (this time only) by getting hold of the camera itself (not mine), connecting it via USB, and log&capture into FCE.

But the plain (and huge) MTS files on my own HDD appear to be useless...

[cgbier]

I just copied the files from the cam to my desktop via USB, then Streamclip and FCS6

[Janke]

For some reason, it doesn't work for me. OSX 10.5.6, Perian 1.1.4, Streamclip 1.9.2, gives "File open error: unsupported file type" when I try to open a MTS file copied to the desktop.

If I click "Open anyway" I get "File open error: can't find video or audio tracks"...

[ejolson]

Can you elaborate on that ffmpg code - how do you use it?

A recent version of ffmpeg is required for AVCHD. It is run in the terminal and transcodes H264 to a mpeg2 transport stream which can be opened in Streamclip. I neglected to notice the original post was converting 25fps AVCHD video. In this case the framerate should be -r 25.

Transcode directly to Quicktime with a command such as

ffmpeg -i 00045.mts -r 25 -acodec pcm_s16le -vcodec mjpeg \
    -flags +ildct -b 148Mb -f mov -y 00045.mov

Note that you can choose any audio and video codecs supported by Quicktime.

[ejolson]

Finally, if your machine does not have an INTEL processor (like my newly purchased USED G5), forget about burning the HD DVDs you may have wanted to.

I think you can burn AVCHD DVDs using open source software on a G5.

1. Export the movie as Quicktime mjpeg.
2. Encode to AVCHD compliant h264 using ffmpeg and x264.
3. Author using tsremux.
4. Follow

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic350375.html#1886703

to create a UDF 2.5 filesystem image.

5. Burn the resulting image on a regular DVD.

Ffmpeg, x264 and tsremux are open source programs that can be installed on any Unix based operating system including Mac OS X. Note that tsremux requires the Mono C# environment which is also open source.

[Janke]

Transcode directly to Quicktime with a command such as

Doing that in Terminal, substituting the correct filenames (and, presumably, the file size), I get

"-bash: ffmpeg: command not found"

I do have ffmpeg installed, even with its GUI..

I give up...

[cgbier]

X11 and Xcode installed?

[Janke]

Yes - FFmpegX does work, but not on MTS files. GRRRR...

[cgbier]

Did you ever try just to rename the file ending?
I remember reading something to this regard on a JVC forum.

[Janke]

Did you ever try just to rename the file ending?
I remember reading something to this regard on a JVC forum.

Oh yes, that's the very first thing I tried - .mov .m2t and so on. None of them worked.

[cgbier]

m2v?

[Janke]

m2v?

Have tried that, too. FFmpeg crunches it for a while, and does generate a file, but it's only a few kilobytes in size, and won't open in any video player...

[ejolson]

Have tried that, too. FFmpeg crunches it for a while, and does generate a file, but it's only a few kilobytes in size, and won't open in any video player

Ffmpeg only recently supports AVCHD. You should be okay with a new version that is less than 3 months old. This rules out ffmpegX and many of the precompiled binaries on the network. Which version of Mac OS X are you running?

[Janke]

Leopard 10.5.6 - and I don't plan to upgrade to Snow...

Can I just add some new stuff to the FFmpegX folder, or would I have to work through Terminal? (I'd prefer not to, you know about old dogs and new tricks...)