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Import AVCHD to iMovie

AVCHD whose full name is Advanced Video Codec High Definition is a format for recording and

playback high definition video. This format is jointly developed by Sony and Panasonic that utilizes

MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (AVC) video compression codec and either Dolby AC-3 (Dolby Digital) or linear

PCM audio compression codec. AVCHD videos are usually saved with a MTS or M2TS file extension.

iMovieas a excellent video editing software is widely used by Mac users for allowing them to edit their

own home movies. It is a part of iLife suite of software product that comes free with every iMac who is

originally released by Apple in 1999. During the last ten years, Apple has released 8 versions of iMovie,

including the latest two versions iMovie 08 and iMovie 09 who are supposed to add support for tapeless

AVCHD camcorder.

As I have mentioned, most versions of iMovie can't import AVCHD files directly, and iMovie 08 and

iMovie 09 although promised to do it may fail sometimes for some reasons or for no reason. According to

my research, there are still many problems need to be solved regarding importing AVCHD files to iMovie

which I'd like to make them public and willing to try to give my own suggestion.

Importing failures review:

Basically we can classify the failures into two categories: iMovie 08, 09 importing failures and

non-iMovie 08, 09 failures

iMovie 08, 09 failures

Situation 1: "I simply don't know how to import AVCHD into iMovie 08 after I have copied it into the

Mac. It doesn't seen to recognize the files"

Note: The user could be new to iMovie and iMac, as to how to import video to iMovie, there are video

tutorials online or browse our knowledge center for a clue.

Situation 2: "I am still on the Tiger operating system and just bought the Cannon HG20 camcorder and

when I tried to edit the film onto my computer in iMovie 08, nothing happens?"

Note: Maybe the user still use PowerPC on her/his Mac, iMovie 08 promised to work with AVCHD

camcorder, but can only work with an Intel-based Core Duo processor or better.

Situation 3: "I tried to put the videos (m2ts) from my AVCHD camcorder in iMovie 08, it only recognizes

the photos that have been taken, not the video."

Note: Due to the wide range of media types, and different ways manufactures store video on these media

types, not all tapeless camcorder are compatible with iMovie 08. Also, some of camcorders may only be

used in a specific region, for example, Panasonic HDC-SD3 is only available in Japan.

Situation 4: "I have iMovie 08 on my Mac and it handles AVCHD format, but it doesn't have any special

effects! The older versions have effects, but can't handle the quality of my AVCHD camera."

Note: iMovie 08 drops many features which origianlly existed in the previous versions of iMovie, such as

some special effects, this could be really a pity.

Non-iMovie 08, 09 problems

Situation 1: "I got Panasonic HDC-SD5 and I tried to edit the video in iMovie 06 on my Mac, it won't

allow the feed to go through, is there any way I can make it without having to buy iMovie 08?

Note: Actually 100% you can't, and there is one way indeed can make you what you can't do in iMovie

06, just read this article to find the answer.

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Import AVCHD to iMovie

Situation 2: "I have a Mac and would like to edit AVCHD files (mts), I don't need a tons of special effect

like Final Cut offers, but just slightly more than iMovie (unless 09 can handle the HD quality, I have

iMovie HD but it couldn't do it)."

Note: iMovie HD will handle AVCHD files directly if miracle happens, you need to turn to another way.

How to handle AVCHD files?

As to how to play AVCHD files, there are few if not many, I just name one for your reference, Cyberlink

PowerDVD Ultra, it supports playback of the AVCHD files and a whole host of other high definition

formats.

As to how to edit AVCHD files, VoltaicHD could be a choice, but I also see someone talking about video

and audio sync problem with this application, so try with care.

If you still desperately try to import your AVCHD files to iMovie, you may try this movie converter

which is 100% clean and powerful and it is specially designed to solve this problem professionally.

Have a look at Movie Converter for MacMovie converter for Mac is a versatile 2-in-1 application that

integrates DVD ripper and video converter into a single interface. With DVD ripper you can rip and

convert DVD content to various video formats smoothly. And with video convert you can convert

between almost all video formats include SD formats like AVI, WMV, MPEG-4 (MP4), MPEG-2, DV,

MOV, VOB, MKV, FLV, 3GP, RM etc and HD formats like AVCHD (mts, m2ts etc), MOD, HDV, HD

MP4, HD AVI, HD WMV, HD MOV etc so you can import into iMovie (no need to consider iMovie

version) or put on various portable devices and applications.

Mac movie converter is also an excellent editing tool that has been enhanced to run on both PowerPC and

Intel (Snow Leopard included). With it, you can edit your AVCHD (mts, m2ts etc) files freely. If you

want to cut your videos to a certain length, no problem, by dragging the first slider to set the start time

and the second to set the end time, you can easily achieve it by Trim function, adjust the aspect ratio by

Crop function, or apply special effect to your files by Effect function. Besides, the merge function and

built-in batch processing function are also available.

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