iMovie: How to Edit AVCHD (.MTS) Files from Handycams and Other Flash Memory Camcorders

This is a tutorial on importing and exporting AVCHD (.MTS) files in iMovie. Although this tutorial is made for Sony's Handycam CX100 series, it should also be fairly relevant to other flash memory camcorders as well.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• how
• to
• edit
• import
• .mts
• mts
• files
• avchd
• in
• imovie
• 09
• 08
• export
• 1080p
• 1080i
• 1080
• sony
• handycam
• cx100
• cx110
• cx150
• flash
• memory
• camcorder
• sd
• compact
• tutorial

[SmexyWells]

Remember that when you import the Sony's .mts files into iMovie, there will be an automatic step down in quality because the file is transcoded into Apple's AIC format for easier editing. Even exporting to a 1080p file or uploading to YouTube in 1080p will unfortunately result in a huge loss in quality from the orginal .mts video file. You can use some video transcoding apps to create a usable file in iMovie that maintains as much of the original quality as possible, but this takes more time.

[TheElevatorChannel]

@SmexyWells Yes, there is some image quality loss,  However, if your video's final destination is on YouTube, it would be hard to tell the difference.

[stuprint182]

hi just wondering if u could help me. I'm doing the same process as u and when i put my sd card in my iMac it finds it in iMovie and the videos show a box with 60 with a red circle cross in the clip so that means it won't accept 60 fps. which is 1080p. i can record in HE1920 and that will send to iMovie. which I'm sure loses video quality. is it best to record 1080p then convert video to mp4? thanks

[ShaoPing09]

I have the Sony HDRCX110 and could not, for the life of me, figure out how to make my camera compatible with a iMac and now I know!! Thank you so much!! Really helpful.

[billytaylor1986]

LOOOOOOOOOL! You sound like Sheldon from the big bang theory! hahaha!

[j2cool2]

What if the card cannot be formatted after uploading? I have a Sony S1 tablet where I have taken videos. I upload them but I saw no way on it to format the card before or after use or uploading. I will let you know, if my next recording could still be uploader for you and other viewers future references.

[HiImKeith4]

@aldandann Do you have to media format every time your going to film or do you just do it once?

[HiImKeith4]

YOU. ARE. A. GENIUS!

[freeridezach]

please help i recorded a bunch off footage and imported into imovie off the internal HDD. Then i recorded more footage and it will not import! The camera shows up on my desketop. but when i click the camera button in imovie it will not show up. please help.

[brooks718]

@mrperrybmx165 .... it's not necessary as you get microsoft moviemaker/ or Moviemaker Live if you have windows 7 with your PC. It does the same thing. I have both a PC (vaio) and a Macbook Air and there is really not much difference between the two...except it is arguably easier to import native HD (1080p) video.

[GamerZoneTactic]

@mrperrybmx165 nope, mac only

[mrperrybmx165]

might some dumb but can i get imovie on a pc?