Let's see... I usually shoot at 640X480, but sometimes choose one of the HD settings. I have a newer Mac Book Pro (about a year old).
To get the thing on my mac, I usually put the SD card into a usb card reader, and upload all the pics and video files together into iPhoto, then drag the videos out that I want to use and delete the rest. I'm able to drag/drop the video file from a folder right into the bin in FCE. It's FCE 4.0, and it's OSX Leopard (I update it regularly). Hope that helps! David King davidleeking.com - blog davidleeking.com/etc - videoblog On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 5:15 PM, Rupert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Great! I'm happy to hear that there's a Xacti MP4 file that does > work in a Final Cut product without conversion, but I have to say > it's the exception. I wonder why. The HD1a is an HD camera, unlike > most of the Xactis I've come across. Are you shooting in HD or at > 640x480, and what spec of mac are you using? > I'm not just making it up - and it's not just on my system - over the > last year or so I've noticed a *lot* people complain about this - as > Neil did in his message just now. I don't know anybody with a Xacti > who's been able to make it work properly - at best it causes FCP to > grind slowly, at worst to crash completely. The same for non-Xacti > p&s cameras & cellphones, as I said. > Rupert > > On 17-Jun-08, at 2:20 PM, David King wrote: > > Rupert... I use a Xacti HD1A and the newest version of FCE, and have no > problems whatsoever with the MP4 files. Just sayin... > > David King > davidleeking.com - blog > http://davidleeking.com/etc - videoblog > > On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 4:10 PM, Rupert <[EMAIL > PROTECTED]<rupert%40fatgirlinohio.org>> > > wrote: > > > Well... aha! Tying into the other thread about Macs versus PCs... > > > > If you're shooting on a Xacti (or any other camera or phone which > > stores video as MP4 files on memory cards), then in my opinion you're > > better off cutting on a PC with Sony Vegas. Vegas (which a lot > > cheaper than FCP but just as good for 90% of jobs) will take your > > files AS THEY ARE, with no importing or conversion necessary. This > > can save HOURS. As you say, Neil, if you have three hours of > > footage, then you need around three hours for conversion. WTF. All > > because Apple can't make FCP work with MP4 properly. > > > > But that's not all. When you convert your MP4 files for use in FCP, > > after you've waited all that time, you'll find that their image > > quality may be impaired by the conversion from 640x480 to a .dv > > file. Particularly a NTSC .dv file, which has a different ratio. > > > > Vegas cuts the files *as they are* - it will match the sequence > > settings to the clip, not vice versa. For people shooting on Xactis > > or little digital point-and-shoot cameras or mobile phones, Vegas is, > > in my opinion, a much more user-friendly experience. Shoot, cut, > save. > > > > I say this as a 8-9 year user of FCP and a life-long Mac user. Apple > > have dropped the ball in the important area of non-DV cameras and > > amateur video. And don't get me started on the new iMovie. > > > > Rupert > > http://twittervlog.tv/ > > > > On 17-Jun-08, at 1:49 PM, Neil Katz wrote: > > > > Neil Katz here, a journalist. I have had very good experiences with > > the Xacti CG65. Small, cheap, shoots well in low light, and is > > stable on zoom, and files sizes are small. I did an entire video > > story for the NY Times with that camera and even snuck a shot into a > > report for CBS News on national TV. > > > > http://video.on.nytimes.com/? > > fr_story=74e0011bd397f3fdad54e60c3b52612d009fa8bf > > Judge image quality for yourself. And keep in mind the NYT site is > > playing at about half resolution. > > > > I have purchased and returned every camera in the Xacti line except > > the CG65. The others have better specs, but nothing has a better > > picture. And it fits in your pocket, which means you will get the > shot. > > > > Battery life is poor. Buy three batteries and a quick charger. Use > > an online site to buy non Sanyo batteries. They run $20/each. > > > > The only negative is in order to edit you will have to convert the > > native mp4 files into DV. Sanyo says you can edit with mp4 files and > > technically you can import them into Final Cut Pro. But it doesn't > > really work, trust me. > > > > That conversion process will take about 1 minute per minute of > > footage. So if you shoot three hours, expect three hours of > > conversion when you come home. > > > > As an aside, working in India, if you don't have Sony, you can't get > > it fixed or spare parts, adapters, etc. > > > > N > > > > --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com > > <videoblogging%40yahoogroups.com><videoblogging% > 40yahoogroups.com>, > > Rupert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > I agree. I've been using a Canon Ixus 860 (European name for > > > Powershot, I think) and it shoots beautiful video. I love it. And > > > it's FANTASTIC in low light. Better than Xacti. But not quite so > > > good a grip. I think the Xacti pistol grip is the best way to shoot > > > - better than the traditional camcorder grip. > > > > > > It produces big video files, though, compared to other little > cameras > > > I've used - so get yourself an 8GB memory card or two. I found the > > > best deals for memory cards online - shops will rip you off. > > > Rupert > > > http://twittervlog.tv > > > > > > On 12-Jun-08, at 12:48 PM, Jay dedman wrote: > > > > > > > I'm heading to India for my honeymoon and the entire summer and > > > plan to vlog > > > > and do some > > > > interviews from there. > > > > I *do not* plan to bring my macbook. I just want to bring a > > > firewire or usb > > > > cable and upload > > > > at cafes. > > > > It needs to be small, light and easy to travel with and have > > > decent sound. > > > > > > the canon powershot is actually a great choice. > > > it has good sound, its small. > > > > > > It also records in AVI so a PC in an internet cafe will read them. > > > Just use Windows Movie Maker that comes with XP. > > > should be on most public computers. > > > > > > Jay > > > > > > -- > > > http://jaydedman.com > > > 917 371 6790 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
