Final Cut Pro: Importing/Editing AVCHD footage in MTS, M2T, M2TS file format smoothly

Summary: Facing issues when importing and editing AVCHD MTS, M2T, M2TS files Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X? Get the best Mac MTS to ProRes Converter to achieve your goal smoothly.

AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition), often with the file extension of mts, m2ts or mt2, is a professional digital recording format for Sony, Panasonic, Canon and more camcorders and cameras. Though Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X announced to support AVCHD video files, some AVCHD files still can not imported to Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X: AVCHD support is available only on Intel-based Macintosh computers; FCP only supports AVCHD camcorders typically connect to computers via USB 2.0, not FireWire; DVD-based AVCHD camcorders are not currently supported by Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X; Standard definition video recorded with AVCHD camcorders cannot be accessed in Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X.

In order to import all kinds of AVCHD to Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X successfully, it is better to convert AVCHD in MTS, M2T, M2TS to Apple ProRes 422 which works well with Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X.

The following guide just aims to provide your a step by step guide on how to convert AVCHD in MTS, M2T, M2TS to ProRes with almost no loss of video and audio quality.

Transcoding AVCHD in MTS, M2T, M2TS to ProRes MOV for Final Cut Pro

The quick workaround is to use the easy-to-use yet professional app called Brorosft MTS/M2TS Converter for Mac which is compatible with OS X Leopard (10.5), Snow Leopard (10.6), Lion (10.7), Mountain Lion (10.8). It is free, clean and safe to install and use. With it, you can effortlessly transcode AVCHD MTS, M2TS, M2T to ProRes MOV for Final Cut Pro HD/6/7/X, and it works well and converts flawlessly. Below is how.

Step 1: Load AVCHD footage to the Mac ProRes Converter[b]

Use a card reader to copy and transfer the .mts, m2ts files to iMac hard drive disk, run Mac MTS Converter as the fast Mac MTS to ProRes Converter, and click the “Add” button to load the .mts videos. You can also use the drag-and-drop method to load the 1080p .mts files to the application UI.



[b]Step 2. Choose outout format

Press “Format” option and navigate the mouse cursor to choose “Format > Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (*.mov)” as the best codec for FCP 6/7 and FCP X on Mac.

Step 3. You can click “settings” button in the main interface to customize the output video’s parameters, such as resolution, frame rate, etc.



Step 4. You can edit the MTS video before you convert AVCHD MTS/M2TS/M2T to ProRes MOV.

By clicking “Edit” button, you can trim, crop the video, or add watermark and adjust effect to the videos which you will convert.



Trim – Choose to reserve the part you need. Just choose the chapter which you need to trim, to set “start time” or “end time”, type the portion which you want to save.

Crop – Remove black edges of your video or just get the scale of this video you want.

Effect – Adjust the effects by adjusting the parameters, such as:

1) Deinterlacing – If there are some stripes on the picture, you can check this option to make a better picture effect. (Checked by default)

2) If you want to get 3D effect, just enable this fuction and do settings:

Step 5. Start the conversion

Click the “Convert” icon under the preview window, and the Mac MTS to ProRes Converter will start transcode AVCHD in MTS, M2T, M2TS to Prores MOV for FCP on Mac.

After the conversion, click the “Open” button to locate converted files, then load ProRes .MOV files in FCP (X). Now you can successfully and easily import AVCHD footage to Final Cut Pro HD/6.0/7/X for editing with best quality.

Additional Tips:

1. If you are also a FCP X user, before you try to do the conversion, don’t forget to make sure that you have installed the Apple ProRes Codec manually since the FCP X asks users to install it by themselves.

2. If you want to edit AVCHD MTS in iMovie, you just need to choose the “iMovie and Final Cut Express -> Apple InterMediate Codec (AIC) (*.mov)” in the second step.

3. If you want to batch conversion, the professional iMedia Converter for Mac is the best choice for you.

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