Convert M2T files to MOV files at DVinfo.net

Dan Licht · February 24th, 2009, 06:13 PM

Almost all of my stock footage is shot in HDV 1440x1080 60i. I use Vegas 8 to manage the clips. However, many customers complain that they can't work with the m2t transport stream and they request the footage as a mov file (I'm guessing they're FCP users). So I render the footage using the Motion JPEG B at 1920x1080 resolution; they can accept the rendered video, but it creates huge files.

Any suggestions on what codec/settings I should use to convert my M2T transport files to a usable and small mov file? I have MPEG Streamclip so I can use that software as well as Vegas. Thanks.

David Knaggs · February 24th, 2009, 06:29 PM

The best solution for a small .mov file from an .m2t file is ClipWrap. It gives perfect quality (no transcoding). It simply places a QuickTime wrapper around the .m2t file.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/jvc-pro-h...available.html

Dan Licht · February 24th, 2009, 06:37 PM

But I'm a PC user and the ClipWrap website says I need OSX (that's an Apple operating system, isn't it?).

David Knaggs · February 24th, 2009, 06:55 PM

Sorry, Dan. Perhaps you could try DVCProHD and transcode to that with MPEG Streamclip. A smaller file (and visually lossless) can be obtained with AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec). But I don't know if you can get AIC on a PC, so DVCProHD might be your best bet. I think it might be possible to keep your frame size at 1440 X 1080 with DVCProHD (but I'm not 100% sure).

Of course, another alternative might be to tell your Mac clients to buy ClipWrap and then they can convert it themselves with 100% of the original quality and use a minimum of hard drive space. Just a thought.

Reuben Miller · February 24th, 2009, 07:41 PM

My PC Clients send me DVCProHD in this situation, or they send the .mts files and I convert them with Toast.

Dan Licht · February 25th, 2009, 09:31 PM

Thanks Reuben and David. Unfortunately, it looks like the Motion B jpg may have to suffice. Both Vegas and MPEG Streamclip allow me to convert to DVCPro, but neither software seems to have the DVCProHD codec (I tried using the DVCPro codec and 1920x1080 setting but that didn't work).

February 24th, 2009, 06:13 PM	#1
Dan Licht Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota Posts: 60	Convert M2T files to MOV files Almost all of my stock footage is shot in HDV 1440x1080 60i. I use Vegas 8 to manage the clips. However, many customers complain that they can't work with the m2t transport stream and they request the footage as a mov file (I'm guessing they're FCP users). So I render the footage using the Motion JPEG B at 1920x1080 resolution; they can accept the rendered video, but it creates huge files. Any suggestions on what codec/settings I should use to convert my M2T transport files to a usable and small mov file? I have MPEG Streamclip so I can use that software as well as Vegas. Thanks. __________________ Sony EX3, EX1, FX7, CX7, HC3, Vegas 8.0 www.pronghornproductions.com

February 24th, 2009, 06:37 PM	#3
Dan Licht Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota Posts: 60	But I'm a PC user and the ClipWrap website says I need OSX (that's an Apple operating system, isn't it?). __________________ Sony EX3, EX1, FX7, CX7, HC3, Vegas 8.0 www.pronghornproductions.com

February 25th, 2009, 09:31 PM	#6
Dan Licht Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Rapid City, South Dakota Posts: 60	Thanks Reuben and David. Unfortunately, it looks like the Motion B jpg may have to suffice. Both Vegas and MPEG Streamclip allow me to convert to DVCPro, but neither software seems to have the DVCProHD codec (I tried using the DVCPro codec and 1920x1080 setting but that didn't work). __________________ Sony EX3, EX1, FX7, CX7, HC3, Vegas 8.0 www.pronghornproductions.com

February 24th, 2009, 06:29 PM	#2
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	The best solution for a small .mov file from an .m2t file is ClipWrap. It gives perfect quality (no transcoding). It simply places a QuickTime wrapper around the .m2t file. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/jvc-pro-h...available.html

February 24th, 2009, 06:55 PM	#4
David Knaggs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 826	Sorry, Dan. Perhaps you could try DVCProHD and transcode to that with MPEG Streamclip. A smaller file (and visually lossless) can be obtained with AIC (Apple Intermediate Codec). But I don't know if you can get AIC on a PC, so DVCProHD might be your best bet. I think it might be possible to keep your frame size at 1440 X 1080 with DVCProHD (but I'm not 100% sure). Of course, another alternative might be to tell your Mac clients to buy ClipWrap and then they can convert it themselves with 100% of the original quality and use a minimum of hard drive space. Just a thought.

February 24th, 2009, 07:41 PM	#5
Reuben Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Playa del Rey, CA Posts: 61	My PC Clients send me DVCProHD in this situation, or they send the .mts files and I convert them with Toast.