Archiving AVCHD footage from Sony HDRTG5V

[Direwolf]

I have a Sony HDRTG5V camcorder and I want to take the raw footage (AVCHD) and archive it. I do not want to edit it right now.

The footage is captured on a Memory Stick Pro Duo card. My mac reads the stick with the following file folder structure:

AVCHD
> BDMV
> CLIPINF
> INDEX.BDM
> MOVIEOBJ.BDM
> PLAYLIST
> STREAM
> (a bunch of .MTS files which are the raw clips)

What is the best way to archive these files so that I can import them into iMovie, or do a "Log and Capture" with Final Cut Pro at a later date? Should I create a disk image of the memory stick or simply copy the .MTS files only?

[Greyhouse]

VoltaicHD works perfectly to convert this file directly to DV. You have to change the extension from mp4 to either MTS or m2ts. you can find it at
http://70.86.154.194/info.php/id/25296/voltaichd



20090303144511.dv

[Herve]

I have a Sony HDRTG5V camcorder and I want to take the raw footage (AVCHD) and archive it.

On intel, with iMovie7 or 8 (iLife'08 or '09), or not too old versions of FinalCut(Express/Pro), you can import directly these files (conversions are handled directly inside the soft)
With previous versions of iMovie (iMovieHD = 6) or PPC Mac, you must use a third software (the one in my sign does it for free)

Notice, all apple softwares only handle AVCHD if you have a full card (volumes). They do not handle simple files.

So, for archiving purpose, use disk utility, and make a .dmg of your card (the dmg/"card" and its contents will be available for future use).

bye

[Direwolf]

I had a feeling that Apple software would want to see the footage on a "volume," so I made a .dmg of the card as you suggested. Hopefully, when I'm ready to edit (and convert to Apple Intermediate Codec), it'll play nice with the .dmg.

Thanks for your input, Herve.

[mshilly]

Should be easier than all this...

BDMV/STREAMS directory should contain the individual content files. I copy TS files right off of my SD cards (recorded on Cannon HF100) from this directory to my server so I can play them on my PS3.

[Drewcox]

I have a similar situation, but no access to the camera (gave it to a family member). Can anyone actually post a small image file of an empty or nearly empty memory stick so I can get that folder structure?

Thanks
drew