Transcode/cut/join Sony NEX-FS700 MTS files to Final Cut Pro

The Sony NEX FS700 in post production for FCP was relatively straight forward, however as the NEX-FS700 is a new camera and I thought it worthwhile to talk about our post workflow for this project. We shot VS on a pre production NEX-FS700 with Carl Zeiss CP.2 lenses. The recording format was both internal using the native AVCHD codec at 24Mbs, which is much more efficient than expected and produces a very clean output for a majority of situations. I am constantly impressed just how well the native ACVHD codec of both the FS100 and also the FS700 has been in post. The edit was done in Final Cut Pro 7 with the AVCHD media ingested via Log and Transfer to ProRes 422.



There was one problem, however. Some 1080/50 fps AVCHD clips grayed out in L&T window and we were not able to ingest them to FCP 7 until we used third-party encoder to change these 50/60 fps MTS clips to ProRes 422 HQ. In case you have the same problem, I’d share the workflow here.

What we use: Pavtube Media Magician for Mac ($45)

This app supports a variety of codecs and file types, including AVCHD, MTS, M2TS, TOD, MOD, MKV, MOV, AVI, MP4, ASF, DVD compatible MPEG files, flash videos and even protected TiVo recordings. We use it to cut AVCHD and encode MTS to Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec for FCP.

Guide: How to Change Sony NEX-FS700 MTS clips to ProRes 422 HQ clips

1. Connect the Sony NEX-FS700 cam to Mac and the software will pop up a wizard for you to capture AVCHD MTS/M2TS from camcorder. This wizard is brilliant – we have used it to import many 1080 50/60fps AVCHD videos that had not work in FCP Log and Transfer window.



2. Drag and drop video clips to timeline.

Tip: Here you can remove unwanted AVCHD clips AND trim out unwanted frames by frame-accurate. Also, you may trim, cut, delete, rearrange order, and merge videos. Find some helpful instructions in below guides:

How to split/cut/trim MTS in frame accurate editor without re-encoding on Mac?

How to do timeline editing and select frames accurately using frame selection controller?

3. Click the Output button on the top and switch it to output interface.

Here you can set common video format like AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, MPG, etc as well as intermediate codec for non-linear video editing app like FCP and Avid MC.



4. Export Apple ProRes video for FCP 7/FCP X.

For importing Sony NEX-FS700 MTS video to FCP, follow the steps to set Apple ProRes 422 preset:



a. Move your mouse to Editor, click on the tab.

b. Select "Final Cut Pro" group.

c. The default output format for FCP is Apple ProRes 422. To use ProRes 422 HQ codec, you need to click on the "Format" bar and choose "Apple ProRes 422 HQ" from the drop-down list of.

d. Press the plus sign (+) to add task for conversion.

e. Select the task(s) and click on the triangle sign to start encoding Sony NEX-FS700 MTS to Apple ProRes 422 MOV.

Find more related guides in Pavtube Sony Column and MTS column and FCP Column:

Sony Cyber-shot W730 MP4 to iMovie 11

Edit Panasonic TM900/HS900/SD900 MTS with iMovie/FCE

Combine MTS for streaming to DLNA-compliant Players

Change MTS to DNxHD MOV for Avid Media Composer

If you want to burn AVCHD files to DVD disc or ISO files or folder files for backup or watching, you can try Pavtube DVD Creator for Mac, which can burn HD videos to DVD easily.

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PS. If you have any problem, pls contact with macsupport@pavtube.com to get more information. You also can leave a message on Pavtube Community or Pavtube Facebook, we will answer your questions as soon as possilble.