Can't retrieve footage for AG-HMC152, I'm getting worried at DVinfo.net

Cameron Poole · January 25th, 2011, 07:14 PM

I had to do a shoot the day after purchasing my Panasonic AG-HMC152 last week, I am praying that I didn't need to format the camera or something before shooting.

I'd figured out the basics of how to use the camera, but still haven't managed to install footage into my MacBook Pro. I opened i-movie HD in the correct widescreen HD 1080i format but could not find/import the clips. Lots of files, mostly ones that 'Quicktime couldn't parse' whatever that means - and a still from my first shot which I was able to drag into i-movie but it was just a still.

I can find the thumbnails of the footage on the camera in playback mode and play them back so the data must be there. The footage is being edited by somebody overseas and he will need to know what format the files are in even if my Mac can't recognize them.

Please help if you can.

Dan Carter · January 25th, 2011, 10:00 PM

Cameron,

I don't believe the Mac can read the AVCHD (MTS) files from your camera natively. Try the AVCCAM Viewer software that came with your camera. You should have Mac and PC versions.

Good luck

Chris Harding · January 26th, 2011, 12:38 AM

Hi Cameron

The Panasonic Broadcast site also has a bunch of useful utilities you can download for the cameras. If the files are a problem they also have a recovery package too!!

Each and every card that goes into my cams are formatted in camera before a new shoot. It's a wise thing to do!!!

Chris

Cameron Poole · January 29th, 2011, 04:56 AM

Ah, well I just put the cards in and away I went - there was no time to figure out how to format stuff and nobody had mentioned it, including the Panasonic dealer.

'The movie could not be opened' - 'The file is not a movie file' ...Still getting this when I click on the 00005MTS files which are grey rectangles with 'exec' in the top left hand corner.

I'll try the AVCCAM viewer software that came with the camera which in my case is an installation DVD for EDIUS Neo 2 Booster and AVCHD converter which sounds exactly what I need.

I assume AVI is the format I need to convert to so the editor can work with the clips in Avid.

I realize I must sound awfully amateur, but I've always been a technophobe.

Cameron Poole · January 29th, 2011, 06:18 AM

Operating system required is Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP - doesn't mention Mac anywhere.

Phoned the shop where I got the camera and they said I need Final Cut 5.0 and above to import and convert files.

I don't have FCP I have FCE but was planning to take a course in FCP later this year, so does this mean that basically I can't edit my footage in anything else and I can't convert it without FCP???

Dan Carter · January 29th, 2011, 10:21 AM

Cameron,

Go here https://eww.pass.panasonic.co.jp/p2ui/Certify.do

Register your camera, and you'll be able to download the AVCCAM viewer for Mac.

Good luck

Cameron Poole · January 30th, 2011, 10:38 AM

Many thanks Dan, will do!

Cameron Poole · February 5th, 2011, 04:58 AM

I downloaded AVCCAM SD card file recovery and it seemed to work but I ended up with lots of jargon titled files within files within files that made no sense and could not be opened with anything.

As it happens, the footage I took was fine and was used by another editor who has FCP. It was yesterday when I got my SD cards back and tried to get the data for iMovies using this software.

Am I missing something or do I need to try something else?

I will be getting FCP at the end of the month, but still want to use iMovie for simple stuff.

Cameron Poole · February 8th, 2011, 05:55 PM

I have downloaded free trials of two other file conversion software and Wondershare Video Converter has cracked it.

January 25th, 2011, 07:14 PM	#1
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Can't retrieve footage for AG-HMC152, I'm getting worried I had to do a shoot the day after purchasing my Panasonic AG-HMC152 last week, I am praying that I didn't need to format the camera or something before shooting. I'd figured out the basics of how to use the camera, but still haven't managed to install footage into my MacBook Pro. I opened i-movie HD in the correct widescreen HD 1080i format but could not find/import the clips. Lots of files, mostly ones that 'Quicktime couldn't parse' whatever that means - and a still from my first shot which I was able to drag into i-movie but it was just a still. I can find the thumbnails of the footage on the camera in playback mode and play them back so the data must be there. The footage is being edited by somebody overseas and he will need to know what format the files are in even if my Mac can't recognize them. Please help if you can.

January 29th, 2011, 06:18 AM	#5
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Minimum System Requirements Operating system required is Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP - doesn't mention Mac anywhere. Phoned the shop where I got the camera and they said I need Final Cut 5.0 and above to import and convert files. I don't have FCP I have FCE but was planning to take a course in FCP later this year, so does this mean that basically I can't edit my footage in anything else and I can't convert it without FCP???

February 5th, 2011, 04:58 AM	#8
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	The malady lingers on... I downloaded AVCCAM SD card file recovery and it seemed to work but I ended up with lots of jargon titled files within files within files that made no sense and could not be opened with anything. As it happens, the footage I took was fine and was used by another editor who has FCP. It was yesterday when I got my SD cards back and tried to get the data for iMovies using this software. Am I missing something or do I need to try something else? I will be getting FCP at the end of the month, but still want to use iMovie for simple stuff.

January 25th, 2011, 10:00 PM	#2
Dan Carter Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 366	Cameron, I don't believe the Mac can read the AVCHD (MTS) files from your camera natively. Try the AVCCAM Viewer software that came with your camera. You should have Mac and PC versions. Good luck

January 26th, 2011, 12:38 AM	#3
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hi Cameron The Panasonic Broadcast site also has a bunch of useful utilities you can download for the cameras. If the files are a problem they also have a recovery package too!! Each and every card that goes into my cams are formatted in camera before a new shoot. It's a wise thing to do!!! Chris

January 29th, 2011, 04:56 AM	#4
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Ah, well I just put the cards in and away I went - there was no time to figure out how to format stuff and nobody had mentioned it, including the Panasonic dealer. 'The movie could not be opened' - 'The file is not a movie file' ...Still getting this when I click on the 00005MTS files which are grey rectangles with 'exec' in the top left hand corner. I'll try the AVCCAM viewer software that came with the camera which in my case is an installation DVD for EDIUS Neo 2 Booster and AVCHD converter which sounds exactly what I need. I assume AVI is the format I need to convert to so the editor can work with the clips in Avid. I realize I must sound awfully amateur, but I've always been a technophobe.

January 29th, 2011, 10:21 AM	#6
Dan Carter Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 366	Cameron, Go here https://eww.pass.panasonic.co.jp/p2ui/Certify.do Register your camera, and you'll be able to download the AVCCAM viewer for Mac. Good luck

January 30th, 2011, 10:38 AM	#7
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	Many thanks Dan, will do!

February 8th, 2011, 05:55 PM	#9
Cameron Poole Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: London Posts: 212	I have downloaded free trials of two other file conversion software and Wondershare Video Converter has cracked it.