Hello guys. I'm a Mac user and currently edit many forms of video using Final Cut Pro. I've just purchased an Everio JVC MC500 and have tested several ways to convert and edit the video produced by this camcorder.

Here's the scenario as I see it: the .mod files produced by the camera are muxed mpeg-2 files with the audio mixed in a non-standard Dolby Digital Stereo setup. This causes the video to be played (when renamed to .mpg) correctly in QT (and QT Pro) but no audio is played (although present.) The video has to be converted into a format FCP (or iMovie) can use natively. The ideal solution would be to edit the native mpeg-2 file without conversion- but this isn't possible with the present form of Quicktime (this may change in the future.)

I've used a very well lit clip with some sharp edges and subtle graduations to visually scrutinize the video clip and used the raw .mod renamed to .mpg clip as the "bar" conversions would be "up against."
Using Mpeg Streamclip (free download) I converted the .mod files to several presets and checked individual frames for variations to the original mod file. The absolute best quality with NO LOSS in video quality was produced by simply "demuxing" the clip into seperate video/audio files called .m2v and aiff (headed also works but doesn't change quality and is not needed) and these files can be imported into FCP but you'll need to create a custom sequence preset and when you get everything set just right- the clips will need rendering once imported into the sequence ~ FCP uses the QT engine and I haven't been able to produce a sequence preset that DIDN'T need rendering- if someone figures out the parameters- please post them here for us.
...after some variations in Mpeg Streamclip settings- I've found that using the DVCPRO codec produced the best image quality retaining about 97% of the original's quality- which is quite superb. The best part of using the DVCPRO codec is that you gain all the realtime effects and power FCP is capable of and both iMovie and FCP can use the files natively as normal DV! The downside is that the file sizes will be about 3X that of the original mod file. An hour of DV is about 13GB- so your 4GB Microdrive will end up producing 13GB of data on your Mac (no big deal considering todays cheap HD prices.)

Word of caution: some people have been using DropDV and I've tried this software. It produces a blurred conversion and isn't as good as the DV files Mpeg Streamclip produces (which are as sharp as the original mod files)....I urge users to try both free conversion utilities and check the results yourself. I am using an Apple 23" HD Cinema Display and was disappointed with the DropDV files. DropDV has the convenience of allowing "batch" processing by multiple file drop- but the quality isn't worthy in my opinion. If the program changes it's compression to DV- it would be worth a look.

Also note that when using Mpeg Streamclip, it's best to copy the .mod files to the computers HD and create another folder for the Dv conversions, as working from the Microdrive slows the entire conversion process a great deal...you can always delete the source .mod files after the conversion is done.

Another note worth considering is that there are a few variations to the DV codec and that DVCPRO 50 which has much higher data rates and 2X the file size of "normal" DV does indeed produce a 1%-3% better video. The penalty of a 2X file size maybe worth the effort for those trying to extract maximum quality from the original .mod files.

I was going to export stills and create a website showing just the results I've outlined here- but I don't think there are many Mac users using the MC500 and the relatively low postings on this forum led me to believe the effort might not be appreciated by many.

I hope this helps those that might be looking for a Mac solution to editing video from the Everio camcorders. If QT ever gains the ability to play the Dolby Digital Stereo portion of the muxed .mod file- we'll likely be able to edit the .mod files natively within FCP and iMovie.

If anyone cares to drop observations or comments- feel free to post them here.

Thanks everyone.

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Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

Here's a quick 3.7mb video shot with the 3CCD Everio MC500 in H.264 codec, quickly edited in FCP using the above procedure.

http://www.stevenunez.com/videos/omantis264.mov

__________________
Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

Hi Steve,

When I play this clip using the Quicktime player I only get sound. No video.

Worked fine for me. Using QT 7.0.3 with OS X 10.4.2 here.

It doesn't work in QuickTime 6.5.2 and QuickTime complains that the update needed is not on the server.

Get QT 7 then.

Easier said than done. I have upgraded quicktime two days in a row and I'm still at 6.5.2 and the updater says I'm current and up to date.

If I'm at 6.5.2 and QT 7.x is out there then why is the updater saying that I'm current?

Ok... I'm making progress. I skipped the updater and went directly to the quicktime web site and downloaded 7.

Now the clip plays with video and sound up to the half way point and the sound starts cutting in and out. Past about 3/4th the sound goes away completely.

The picture looks spectacular. Any ideas on why the sound is cutting out? (I've got a decent machine. Dell with Xeon processor and 500MB of RAM)

Obscura,

My guess is that the video isn't streaming fast enough- are you on a broadband connection?

Try right clicking the .mov link and save to your HD- then play it- it should play fine.

Let us know how it goes.

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Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

thanks. this is very useful information. i got my victor/jvc mc500 yesterday and was wondering about mac solutions. nice write up and thank you. i can't wait to test it out.

what settings on the camera did you use to film the example video? manual mode i assume, or was it automatic?? shutter speed?

I'm on a T1 circuit here at work so speed shouldn't be an issue.

I downloaded and ran it from the HD with the same results. Sound gets choppy about half way in and then cuts out completely at 3/4ths. The video continues to play smoothly to the end.

I shot in manual mode and shoot using the highest quality setting. I was using the Everio MC500.

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Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

thanks, i was curious about the shutter speed and aperature settings...
i've been messing with mine at the skate park today

btw, do you know how to set both the aperture and shutter speed settings for the same clip? when i goto "A" mode and change the f stop, hold play/pause to lock, then change to "S" mode to adjust shutter speed, lock that... go back to "A" and the settings aren't there. does that make sense?

...picked up promaster 37mm UV filter that fits perfect on the lens hood.. its a fun little camera, can't wait to get it out backcountry snowboarding

jp

I normally only adjust 1 parameter and let the camera select the appropriate other setting to give a properly exposed image. In your case you should select "shutter" priority and let the camera adjust the other settings. Use as high a setting as possible to avoid blurring in your skate videos.

I really recommed an ND8 filter for outdoor shooting- it calms the highlight blowouts quite a bit.

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Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

thanks for the advice.. i tried to picked up an ND at the local shop along with the UV filter but they were out. so i'm in the market for one of those and 3 or 4 extra batteries.

that makes sense about the camera adjusting the other settings
after choosing either aperture or shutter speed. i wonder if you
can control both at the same time, manually and use manual focus
as well. again, thanks for the mac write up.. i'm going to test it
out soon.. i'm still gathering the needed software/codecs/etc

btw, nice site!