I recently read this in the Customer Reviews section of the Sony HDR-SR7 being sold at Amazon.com. It should apply to any AVCHD camcorders.

Has anybody with a Mac tried this? All I have ever heard is people being angry at Sony for not making the software compatible with Mac. But it seems it is a non issue. Maybe this is already common knowledge, but it was news to me.

Just thought I'd share this info for those that didn't know like me.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Mac's will recognize it no problem as with other cameras as well- just plug and play!

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Steve Nunez (NYC)
www.stevenunez.com

I have both a PC and a MAC PRO. iMovie 08 ideed imports AVCHD files without effort and its analysis interface is the best I have seen. However iMovie 08 does not allow on its own or with iDVD or QuickTime to burn a an AVCHD Full HD DVD playable on a Bluray. I also find the editing function to be limited and cumbersome (clips have to be dragged one at the time). I have consulted the MAC forum and it seems we have to wait for better software and hopefully an Apple Bluray burner (some already available from 3rd parties however).

Louis

My Canon HG10 imports into iMovie '08 effortlessly. Just plug in the USB cable, turn on the HG10, put it into Playback mode, open iMovie '08 and an Import Video window pops up. From that window you can preview any video clips on the HG10, and you can import selected or all videos into iMovie '08. When you import them they are transcoded into AIC files which are huge, but are fast for editing. My workflow is to offload, produce and output my movies then delete the original footage. I'm saving a soft copy of my movies on my computer and offloading a higher res version to DVD for archival.

How do you do this? I have no problem importing and manipulating files with Movie 08 and exporting in SD or low resolution but I have not found a way to burn a disc in full HD (AVCHD 1920x1080 or at least 1440x1080).

Louis

The ability to burn with Mac software is not available yet. It will come now that the format war is over. If you want a better ability to edit than what is available in iMovie, then get Final Cut Express. The video is imported utilizing the transfer log in the software. You will have the ability to export in full HD for archival storage until the Blu-Ray burning function is released for consumers. A full rez blu-ray disk is better than an AVCHD format on a standard DVD, in my opinion.

The resolution and image quality is exactly the same on an AVCHD DVD as it is on a Blu-ray Disc. AVCHD is codec and is decoded by the Player. The files are exactly the same whether they are on the camcorder's HDD, memory card, DVD, or BD. The resolution comes from the player whether it be a BDP, PS3, or the camcorder itself. The only reason to burn your files to a Blu-ray Disc is to get longer play times since BD's have so much more capacity. If 35 or so minutes of HD video per 4.7 gig DVD isn't long enough, get a BD burner. But that is the only reason to get a BD burner with AVCHD. I think if more people realized this, there would be far less people obsessing over this whole Blu-ray burner issue. Unless of course you have a real need or want for more play time. For the average home video, 35 minutes is plenty. Sure, you can fit over 3 hours of AVCHD on a BD-R. And while that is really nice, for most of us the price of the media and the cost of the burner itself keeps it from being an attractive alternative. At least for me anyway. Everybody's needs are different though.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

I am looking to upgrade to a new Camcorder. Looking at the Canon HF10. Just do simple filming of my kids and sports - along with editing in iMovie. I also have FCE HD, but don't use it much.
Everything I read says you need a powerful computer to edit AVCHD. I have a new iMac - 2 GB Ram. Will this machine have the necessary performance for basic movie making? I don't want to spend $1000 on a new camcorder and not be able to work with the video on my iMac. I know tape based camcorders are easier and cheaper, but I want a flash based camcorder due to there small size. The smaller it is the more I will use it.

Thanks for helping a novice!

For AVCHD & Mac use Roxio Toast 9 Titanium is a must. The newest version.

Does RT9T allow you to burn AVCHD DVD's? That's really the big question here. Because what's the point of editing if you can't burn your work to a disc that's will play in HD on a Blu-ray plyer. Unless it's just to save your work for the day that option finally becomes available.
I don't have a Mac or know much about them, but I'm pretty sure if it came with 2 GB Ram that the processor is probably up to the task too. Maybe a little more information about it's processor type, speed, etc., or the model # of the iMac you have will help other Mac users to be able to say "yay or nay" to your question.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Hello,

I am an amateur videographer/editor. I have been using the following for the past 2 years:
* older iMac with older versions of iMovie and iDVD (2006)
* Final Cut Pro 5
* footage on mini-DV tapes shot on a Sony VX2000

I just purchased a Sony HDR-SR12 camcorder. I set the recording format to High Definition. My iMac successfully recognizes the harddrive and titles it "NO NAME", and it sees the MTS files. The problem is my version of iMovie and Final Cut Pro cannot read the MTS files. So, I reset the recording format to Standard Definition. Again, my iMac recognizes the harddrive, but it cannot read the MPG files.

I have read many forums about this problem. Some people advise to buy third-party software, to convert the files. Some people say iMovie 08 works - others say it doesn't. Some people say Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 works - others say it doesn't.

At this point, I don't know what the solution is. I have found a way to capture the footage off the camcorder, but with serious signal degradation. It looks like I shot the footage with the first video camera ever made - but it's all I got, for now.

If anyone finds the perfect solution, with no flaws, please tell me. Otherwise, I basically just bought a high def harddrive paperweight.

thanks - eric

I am totally new to the AVCHD thing. But it is obvioiusly getting more difficult to ignore, especially with new cams like HF10 etc.

Can you break this down for a newbie? Are you saying that we can quite easily edit AVCHD on the mac, and then burn it as an AVCHD file to a standard DVD, pop that into Playstation 3 and watch Full HD resolution on a HD TV with PS3, not worrying about "Blu Ray Burning?".

Again, newbie, just need it spelled out slowly, thanks!

If you have the latest iMac, rest assure, it will perfectly handle HD video editing. The only problem today is with MacBooks and MacMinis as they have an integrated video graphics. The others are just fine.

Your problem is the software; both are old in terms of AVCHD. Get iMovie 08 (part of iLife 08) if you don't need a lot of power editing or get Final Cut Express 4. They both work great with AVCHD, especially with Sony camcorders. I have a SR5E HD AVCHD and it works beautiful with both programs.

Yes, that is correct. You don't need a Blu-ray burner to burn AVCHD to to be able to watch it in full HD. Just burn it to a standard DVD and the exact same HD quality can be enjoyed when played on a PS3 or a AVCHD compatible Blu-ray Disc Player whether it is coming from a DVD or a Blu-ray Disc.

As far as easily editing AVCHD on a Mac, the Mac of course has to be fast enough to handle AVCHD. The only question I have about Mac's is whether or not they can burn AVCHD DVD's? I have heard that they can't yet. But that seems very strange to me. I don't own a Mac and I know very little about them. It seems to me though that the Mac's that can run Windows should be able to.

Perhaps someone reading this will have the answer.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User