Hey all, hope someone out there is watching this forum and can help me out. I thought about huntung down Rob over Christmas vacation and standing outside his window but thought that might scare him.
Someone email me with a question about using the mpeg2 files from a Sony Handycam HHD 30 gb model DCR-sr40 in Final Cut Express (on a Mac w/OSX - Tiger). Apparently, he can't directly import them to iMovie or Final Cut Express for editing. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there someone who would be willing to contact the person and help him out?
Thanks,
John Wilkerson
http://www.jesusgeek.info
Yeah, sometimes I feel like
Yeah, sometimes I feel like a tech-tard. Forgot to login...
-John
http://www.jesusgeek.info
MPEG-2 and Editing
Hey John....
This is an issue that isn't talked about much but is frustrating ALOT of users who don't read and educate themseles before they buy a camera.....
Right now, the video camera folks are trying to make life 'easy' for consumers that are buying video cams. And, in theory, they are. The problem is, they assume that people don't actually want to EDIT video...they just want to shoot it and watch it. Basically, they're able to allow cheap cams shoot "higher quality" video, by putting that video into a format that can't be edited very easily...
I got this exact question the other day from someone who bought one of those Sony DVD video cams, and then said "My Mac sucks..it won't edit the video from my camera!". Come to find out, he had the DVD based cam, which NO editing systems can accept video from natively.
The problem with this, and the model you suggest, is the MPEG2 format. It's not a format that can be edited natively very easily. It's kinda hard to explain, but basically, these type of video files can't just be cut wherever you want them to be....they don't actually record full frames of video (they record one frame, then record changes to that frame over the next few seconds)...therefore, you don' thave full frames to cut on when editing. This is also a problem with folks who are editing HDV...the computer has to do a TON of work to figure out how to edit the files, because it's not a straightforward process....so unless your program is built to edit MPEG2 (like how iMovie and Final Cut is built to edit the HDV flavor) you're outta luck.
Basically, the answer is "don't buy a camera that records MPEG2 files if you want to edit". Unfortunately, that's not a great answer...but that's the way it is.
Now, you can import your files, convert them to another format and then edit them, but who wants to go thru all that. The simple and expensive answer is to buy a cam that shoots a format that can be edited.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Thanks for the question....
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
Thanks, man
Rob,
Thanks for the awesome response. I will pass it along. I knew I'd get an answer here. I searched "teh internets" and found that, yeah, it had to be converted first but thought there might be a trick that someone might know. Thanks for the detailed explanation.
-John
Streamclip
To my knowledge, the best conversion tool, once the mpeg-2 files are on the mac is MPEG Streamclip. This is the swiss army knife of converters, and will do the job.
It's only available on Mac, though...so windoze folks are outta luck.
conversion
Yes, the conversion and importing for editing can be a royal pain depending on what camera you use. A note on the conversion process. If you are converting to a superior format, the quality will be just as good as the source if you have your settings correct on your converter. Some people think they can get a better file by converting to a superior format, but that's silly if you think about it. I use Sony's Vegas (same guys who make Sound Forge and Acid), and it has great converters, just like you would find in Premier, Avid's Liquid, or Final Cut Pro (also great programs, I just prefer Vegas). If you are using a good editing program (at least a 3 digit cost), then use those converters, and not another tool. I'm not totally up on Premier or Liquid anymore, but Vegas will import off of the mini DVD discs from a camcorder (it better since Sony is pushing those cameras on us).
Chordinator
www.calvarycolorado.org
MPEG Streamclip on Windows
I've been using it on Windows with the footage from my Panasonic DVD camera. It seems to work just fine. So Windows users are in luck. The only annoyance is having to install a "QuickTime alternative".
-Mike Goodwin
Elston Family Church
http://www.elstonfamily.org
whoops
I guess that I should have kept reading Chordinator's reply. Sorry.
-Mike Goodwin
Elston Family Church
http://www.elstonfamily.org
mpeg streamclip
you can use mpeg steamclip on a pc www.squared5.com
MPEG 2 editing
I've been coming up against the same issue as my church just purchased a Sony HDR SR1 Hard drive camcorder. I've only shot in Standard Def (MPEG 2) and not in HD yet, and I tried to convert the clips using MPEG StreamClip to bring them into iMovie, but was told I needed to purchase this from Apple:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime...
It is $19.95, but MPEGStreamClip won't convert the files without it.
If you have Final Cut Pro, not Express, according to Apple's website, you have this component already.
Also MPEGStreamClip is available for the PC. The website is here: www.squared5.com
Indeed
Yes, indeed...
MPEG-2 is an add-on for Quicktime because most people don't need it. It comes free and installs itself when you have Final Cut Pro, otherwise you have to buy it separately in order to work with Quicktime and any MPEG-2 files. (MPEGStreamclip is actually just a front end for Quicktime)
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
Sony Handycam importing to a Mac
I just picked up a Handycam on the advice of the salesman who said that I should be able to import the MPEG-2 files using Pixela to my Mac. I'm wondering if there is an alternative. I'm looking for a cheaper alternative. I have final cut but just got it so I don't know much about it. How do I get the Handycam sr-300 files onto my mac? Please forgive my ignorance but I really need to know.
Thanks
Which Camera?
Hello!
Which camera did you get? Again, as mentioned in the comments of this post, if it's a cam that's recording MPEG-2 to anything other than a MiniDV tape, you're gonna be out of luck.
There's alot of salesmen, apparently, who just want to sell cameras, and don't care that you can't edit the footage you shoot on them....
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
no audio
Hi,
I am using a dcr-sr40 for making some small web movies. I have shot them and can edit them but the mpg files won't import into final cut pro with audio... is there any way to fix this?
HardDrive Camcorder
This is one of those HardDrive based camcorders. These cameras are really not made to have their footage edited easily (they're made for consumers that are just going to point and shoot, and not really do any editing).
So, since this isn't made to have it's footage imported into final cut, there could be any number of problems going on...it's most likely one of incompatibility, unfortunately.
If this is a camera that FCP actually supports (which, maybe it does, i donno) I'd tell you to double check your import settings. make sure you have it set to import audio as well as video.
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
No Audio
1. Make a MPEG-2 file of your film and demux to M2V with aiff using MPEG Streamclip (free from http://www.squared5.com).
2. Now you should be able to watch the clips and hear the sound.
3. Create an iMovie HD project and export the film to web
4. Now your film is compressed with picture and sound for use on the web
Peter
dcr-trv260
What do I need to do to import my movie into final cut express?
It is currently on digital Hi 8 film. my camera is a sony DCR-RV260.
My computer is a Mac G5.
Please Help!!
Kevin
kevincarla1@comcast.net
Link?
Hey Kevin...
I searched google for that model number and it came up totally blank. Do you have a link to a place with the specs? I would imagine if it's a digital cam, it should have a firewire interface on it...does it not?
If it's not directly compatible with Final Cut Ex. you may have to capture using thirdpary software and import. I don't know how FCE works with Digital Hi-8 since not many people use it. Is it not compatible?
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
sony and mac
Hey Rob,
The camera is USB not Firewire... I do have a cable that conects the
two together, however it still will not read it. What type of 3rd party
software would you suggest? I imported the movie on to my dell lap
top just fine, however i don't have a good editing progam on it.
Ant help is much appreciated.
Kevin
dcr trv260
here is a link for info
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/c...
sony and mac dcr trv260
Hey Rob,
Sorry for the piecemail... here is a link to the cable i am using.
http://cgi.ebay.com/DV-iLINK-C...
Kevin
dcr trv260
Hey Rob,
I hope you saw the other info i sent.
I really need your help with this.
Be Blessed
>O>
Don't really know enough...
Hey Kevin,
since I've never used a usb cam to capture video to a mac, I'm totally guessing on this one. I guess I assumed that hte camera would come with some capture software and you could use that to capture to the computer, then transfer it to FCE...
You may also want to try using quicktime pro (or do some research to see if this would work). Beyond that, I really don't have many ideas for this....
sorry!
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
you can get an interface
you can get an interface made by Canapus for around 300usd's that will take any video signal and convert it to a firewire output that the macs read. all hardware, no software. you can even capture your old vhs tapes and dvds. the comments about the DVD video cameras not being editing friendly are also mostly solved with this little gadget, but only for SD resolution.
Not the best plan
Yeah, this will work...but it may no be the best idea. As far as I know, you're talking about the analog/digital conversion boxes that plug in firewire. If so, the problem is you're converting your digital recordings to analog and the having the box re-encode them digitally. This means a pretty big loss in signal quality that would be best to avoid.
Or, are you talking about another box that will convert USB or incompatible firewire to a compatible firewire signal? If so, that would truly be magic.
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.bobchristenson.com
Importing MPG Final Cut Pro 4.5 - No sound tracks!!!
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the forum, it helps a lot.
Im facing the same problem with a MPG file. It was filmed in a JVC digital camera and it seemed to work well using Adobe Premiere in my interniship but I decided to have a go with Final Cut Pro but the footage, which i brought home on CD, do not appear with the sound track and even can be opened with Quicktime. Ive opened it with VLC and the sound is there... so I will go for this converter...
The funny thing is my Final Cut is Pro... but is 4.5 version.
ffmpegx
Like people have said, your best bet is to get a camera that definitely exports via Firewire in a format that your editing suite is compatible with (for FCE/FCP this is DV or HDV).
If you have some other footage I can recommend a piece of conversion software called ffmpegX (ffmpegX website).
It will take just about any video/audio format and convert it to jst about any other video format. The format that Final Cut and iMovie play nicely with is ".dv", which ffmpegx converts to well.
I have used it to convert MPEG4 files as well as DVD source files into a FCE-friendly format,
It will allow you to convert from MPEG2, MPEG4, VOB (video files on a DVD) and many others. And it will convert them to .dv, which Final cut should recognise. This solved most of my video-format headaches.
Installation can be a little complicated. It's shareware, so it's free to download and use, but should pay the $15 if you like it.
I just noticed that the brand-new iMovie '08 says it will edit from MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.
disclaimer
Just a little disclaimer... don't do anything illegal with this technology. It is definitely powerful and useful. But, it's also easy to do illegal things and we as Christians and the church need to keep things on the up and up even if it's harder for us.
And yeah, this program is pretty cool and powerful.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mattfarina.com
this worked great. ffmpeg
this worked great. ffmpeg converted my mpeg 2 files from my sony handycam dvd to DV and i was able to open them in FCE and FCP.
Good to hear!
That's good to know. Some other solutions involve DVD to MPEG4 then MPEG4 to DV, which loses more quality.
I've also heard further that iMovie 08 will recognise and import Handycam DVDs ridiculously easily.
Totally agree that we as Christian tecnology people certainly should be setting a strong example when it comes to using these programmes apropriately.
Sony compatible with iMac?
Thanks for the info. What Sony do you have? Is it a hard drive storage, like my Handycam DCR-SR100? Does it lose quality in converting? Is there any distortion?
Thanks again.
firewire vs USB 2.0
Most notebooks don't have firewire, as far as I know. I am doing everything through my notebook. (yeah, yeah, I know... it's not a mac, it's a toshiba)
Anyhow. Currently I record on to Hi-8 then run the video through a plextor Convert X to get it into a digital format, then I edit using the software that came with the Convert X... Ulead Video Studio 8.
If I upgrade my camera, to digital 8, do I have to have firewire?
Ps WHY DONT 'THEY IMPROVE WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER TO BURN DVDs?
USB2 on the camera?
Hey Steve...
You put up an interesting point that I haven't ever looked into (since I am a Mac guy).
Every digital camera that I've seen only has Firewire output. I've never seen one with USB 2 (granted I don't usually look at consumer level cams, but even my consumer grade HDV doesn't have USB). If I'm not mistaken, Firewire is the output format that camera manufacturers have decided on.
Now that's not to say there's NO cameras that have USB 2 output. I'm sure there are...to me I'd wonder what the quality of them is since they're not following the standard convention.
I guess my point is, the problem is gonna be on the camera connector end. I'm sure there must be a solution to this. Firewire-USB 2.0 converter? I donno. Anyone else?
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mustardseedmedia.com
some DV cams have USB2, newer MS systems have FW
I started seeing some consumer level cams with this a couple years back. Not sure if it ever caught on....
I think these days most laptops are coming with a mini Firewire port. I know our church bought a economy Lenovo at start of the year, and it came with one.... I've got a four year old midrange Gateway that also came with one. All our economy business PC's (~$550) purchased a year ago also came with firewire. I think it's mainly the pre 2005 stuff that required you to spend extra bucks for Firewire...
Windows Vista
I have not tried it yet but Windows Viastas movie editing program is supposed to be able to burn dvds. I've not tried it just herd and read about this. That is where the upgrade is. You just have to upgrade to Vista :-)
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
Sony DCR-SR35
Hi,
I am searching for a solution to a similar problem, but most of this string is not quite there, or my technical skills arent quite up to scratch! I have just been bought as a gift the Sony Handycam DCR-SR35. I have recorded a holiday onto its hard drive, and have used the USB provided to copy them to my pc. They copy as mpeg (movie files). From this point, everything goes wrong. I cant view them with WMP 11. Even attempting to look into their properties sends a bug through windows explorer and it shuts down. I try viewing them through Div X player and still nothing. I really want to edit them into a holiday DVD.
I tried loading them onto my girlfriends mac, and it wont even recognise the files so will not upload them into iPhoto.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
sony handycam and Final Cut Express
I have some Hi 8 tapes shot several years ago on a Sony Handycam Video Hi 8
XR. I am now plugged into my intel Mac (firewire) and Final Cut Express
with my Sony DCR-TRV 520 and the old tape loaded. I can play it thru
Final Cut (no audio) but cannot capture the video. It will not let me set
"in" and "out" points or will not let me capture "now". I can capture
video shot originally with the DCR-TRV 520.