Apple ProRes Converter

Sony’s HXR-NX5E NXCAM is their first professional AVCHD camcorder and is capable of recording stunning quality 1920 x 1080 images at 24 Mbps (50i or 25p), as well as supporting 720/50p and Standard Definition recording. The NX5E uses the AVCHD codec, which is an efficient long-GOP codec using the MPEG-4 H.264 compression algorithm (as used on Blu-ray HD DVDs and Sky HD broadcasts), albeit at a much higher maximum bit rate of 24 Mb/s (variable) with Linear PCM audio ensuring great images and sound.

Although AVCHD codec is compatible with Mac editing systems and can log and transfer to FCP, FCP, iMovie for editing, I still have difficulty in importing NX5E 1080/50i MTS files to FCP and make further process. And I knew that FCP actually can not edit raw AVCHD files, but transcode them to its own supported codec ProRes with no loss of quality, so if there is any program can help me convert my NX5E AVCHD files to ProRes for FCP?

After googling a Sony NX5E AVCHD to ProRes converter, I find Aunsoft MTS/M2TS Converter for Mac the preferred Sony HXR-NX5E to FCP ProRes converter on Mac OS X like Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard. It is a great choice to handle my family videos for FCP and then publish on web.

To help those who may face the same problem like me, or want to rewrap AVCHD to ProRre .mov on Mac for HD editing in Final Cut Pro, I here list a few steps with the fast prores video converter.

Step 1. Slap Sony HXR-NX5E Videos to Mac HDD and load to Aunsoft MTS Converter for Mac.

Connect camcorder to iMac/Macbook Pro, and then copy and slap AVCHD files from NX5E to Mac HDD for quick conversion. Then run Aunsoft MTS/M2TS Converter for Mac as the best Mac Sony AVCHD to FCP ProRes converter. Click the “Add” button to import AVCHD files from Apple computer hard drive disk.

Step 2. Choose ProRes 422 MOV format.

Click the “Format” option, and move the mouse cursor to Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov) as output format. Click the “Settings” button and choose 1920*1080 as output video size. The Mac Sony NX5E MTS to ProRes 422 converter will transcode and rewrap AVCHD files to ProRes MOV in 1920*1080.

Tip: Deinterlace Sony HXR-NX5E 1080/50i MTS files.

If your files were recorded in AVCHD FX (24Mbps) 1920×1080/50i recording option, you will find lots of lines on your videos which don’t look clearly. So if want a filter to remove all these interlacing artifacts from videos, just click “Edit” to enter editing window, find the Effect tab, and then make sure the checkbox of “Deinterlacing” is ticked.

Step 3. Deinterlace/Convert NX5E 1080/50i MTS video to ProRes 422 MOV for Final Cut Pro.

Click the convert button under the preview window, the Mac Sony video to ProRes converter will start converting Sony 1080/50i AVCHD files to ProRes 422.mov for Final Cut Pro 7, Final Cut Pro 6, Final Cut Studio.

Sony HDR-XR160 Handycam camcorder records stunning 1920 x 1080 Full HD videos. It features an “Exmor R” CMOS sensor for superior low-light performance and wide angle Sony G lens to take in more of the scene, plus 42x extended zoom for getting you closer to the action. Also equipped with a hard disk drive (HDD), you can record and store up to 54 hours of high-definition video footage (HD LP mode).

Talking about editing AVCHD video footage on Final Cut Pro, it’s not that perfect as we imagined. Final Cut Pro 6 claims to give full support for Sony AVCHD (*.mts, *.m2ts) format, but many people including our customers have experiencing enormous troubles about handling AVCHD clips on FCP. For easier and more convenient handling camcorder footage for Mac users, Aunsoft Studio has developed Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac.

How Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac help FCP users?

-Capture video footage AVCHD from camcorder

-Convert AVCHD MTS/M2TS to Apple ProRes for editing on FCP

This guide will tell you how to convert Sony XR160 AVCHD MTS to ProRes for smooth editing in Final Cut Pro without rendering.

Step 1. Capture/Import Sony XR160 AVCHD to the program

There are two ways to import videos to Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac: you can directly capture video recordings from camcorder to the program or you can browser videos from your computer.

-  Capture Sony XR160 AVCHD videos from camcorder.
Connect camcorder to computer via USB cable, and then launch Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac in Application folder. With built-in wizard, you can easily to capture mts video files from XR160 to the program. Select “Import” instead of Backup to quickly capture videos from camcorder. You can find imported videos under Camcorder tab in the main interface of Final Mate.

-  Import Sony XR160 mts videos from computer.
If you have already backup all your video recordings from XR160 to your computer, you can browse your video path and the software will automatically show your AVCHD clips in Resource tab.

Step 2. Merge XR160 MTS clips to one for conversion

Click the drop-down button of “Add Movie” icon and choose “For Conversion” to create a blank movie.

Once you’ve imported your video footage, drag and drop the video clips from Camcorder Tab (imported from your camcorder) or Resource Tab (imported from your computer) to the blank movie in Movies Tab. In this way, all video clips will be merged as one single movie for conversion.

Step 3. Convert merged AVCHD movie to Apple ProRes Codec

Click the Export button and choose “Export into Editor”. Follow Final Cut Pro> Apple ProRes 422 HQ (*.mov) to choose export format for further editing in Final Cut Pro. Or you can also choose QuickTime Movie Format > Apple Intermediate Codec (*.mov) for editing in FCE/iMovie. Click OK to start converting XR160 MTS files to ProRes MOV.

Click Ok to confirm your settings and start conversion. When the process is done, you can directly import the exported Sony XR160 ProRes MOV movie to FCP for editing without any rendering and make your great home movies. It’s that easy!

You may also want to know how to convert AVCHD to Apple Intermediate Codec for iMovie/FCE or merge AVCHD without re-encoding to preserve original quality.

Sony Handycam HDR-XR550V records your memories and snap 12.1-megapixel photos directly to the massive 240GB hard disk drive (HDD). The shooting quality of the HDR-XR550V is impressive and naturally lives up to its flagship status and price. In line with Blu-ray formats in the market, recording is supported up to 24Mbps. High definition videos are recorded at 1920 x 1080 resolutions primarily to the in-built HDD. Picture quality was sharp and crisp, a result which was equally pleasing when viewing on a HD monitor or TV.  

Many people say Sony HDR-XR550V is the best hard drive camcorder from Sony at the moment and its excellent performance has won hearts of many customers. A lot of our customers use Sony HDR-XR550V for recording family videos, such as holiday vacation at east coast beach, your children’s birthday party or your pet’s playing video. In most cases, they want to do some basic editing and make great home movies to preserve their memories with highest quality.

For windows users, it might be not such a problem as bundled software from Sony Picture Motion Browser is capable of basic editing and output videos to BD/DVD or upload to YouTube. But how do you edit AVCHD on Mac OSX?

Final Cut Pro 6.0.1 update adds AVCHD transfer capabilities but is everything ok now?

Apple’s own Final Cut Studio 2 suite had a minor update for Final Cut Pro to version 6.0.1 which added the capability to transfer the AVCHD footage. But is everything really so promising for Mac users? I guess not. We’ve been receiving complaints and problems from our customers about their frustrating experience with AVCHD on final cut pro 6 or 7.

Is there a simple and useful tool for Mac users to handle AVCHD for smooth editing in FCP without rendering?

Aunsoft Studio nearly released product on Mac OSX Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac is specifically designed for camcorder users to easy handle, convert, share, playback AVCHD, TOD & MOD high definition videos.

In the article, I will take Sony HDR-XR550V as an example to show how to convert AVCHD MTS/M2TS video footage to Apple ProRes for smooth editing in Final Cut Pro 6 & 7.

1. Capture/Import Sony XR550V AVCHD files to Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac.
There are two ways to import videos to Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac: you can directly capture video recordings from camcorder to the program or you can browser videos from your computer.
-  Capture Sony XR550V AVCHD videos from camcorder.
Connect camcorder to computer via USB cable, and then launch Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac in Application folder. With built-in wizard, you can easily to capture mts video files from XR550V to the program. Select “Import” instead of Backup to quickly capture videos from camcorder. You can find imported videos under Camcorder tab in the main interface of Final Mate.

- Import Sony XR550V mts videos from computer.
If you have already backup all your video recordings from XR550V to your computer, you can browse your video path and the software will automatically show your AVCHD clips in Resource tab.

2. Merge Sony DSC-XR550V AVCHD files into one movie for conversion.

Click the drop-down button of “Add Movie” icon and choose “For Conversion” to create a blank movie.

Once you’ve imported your video footage, drag and drop the video clips from Camcorder Tab (imported from your camcorder) or Resource Tab (imported from your computer) to the blank movie in Movies Tab. In this way, all video clips will be merged as one single movie for conversion.

3. Convert Sony XR550V MTS files to ProRes MOV.

Click the Export button and choose “Export into Editor”. Follow Final Cut Pro> Apple ProRes 422 HQ (*.mov) to choose export format for further editing in Final Cut Pro. Or you can also choose QuickTime Movie Format > Apple Intermediate Codec (*.mov) for editing in FCE/iMovie. Click OK to start converting XR550V MTS files to ProRes MOV.

When the conversion process is done, you can directly import the output ProRes MOV files to FCP for editing without rendering and make your great home movies.

The steps above are also applied to other AVCHD camcorders developed by Sony, Panasonic, Canon or JVC brands.

Featured product from Aunsoft Studio Aunsoft Final Mate for Mac is the ideal companion for camcorder users who also use Mac machine to easy convert AVCHD to Apple ProRes Codec.  

Tip: You may also be interested in converting AVCHD to Apple Intermediate Codec for editing in iMovie or Final Cut Express or merge AVCHD without re-encoding to preserve original quality.