workflow: AVCHD (panasonic-ag-hmc40) and FCP

I am contemplating the purchase of the panasonic ag-hmc40 (first of all, anyone has good or bad things to say about it?

I've heard different things about the workflow because of the avchd codec.

Anyone working with this codec?

My rig: MBP-2009

Final Cut does not work directly with this format. The media is converted on ingest to QuickTime using a codec you can select, any ProRes codec or the Apple Intermediate Codec.

All the best,

Tom

Thanks Tom
Actually I am looking for a little more detail on how complicated, steps heavy or time consuming this process is.
ANy idea?

The process is incredibly simple. Read the section in the manual on Log and Transfer. The time it takes depends entirely on the speed of your computer, faster than realtime on most machines, and it can be done in the background while making other selections and logging the media. Or it can be a one button click and walk away process.

All the best,

Tom

thanks.
Any actual users out there today?

I've got the Panny TM-700K (avchd) and as Tom said it's very easy to do. Much faster and easier than bringing in hdv.

cool
thx

I've been using the Panny HMC150 (which also shoots AVCHD) for the past 18 months and find the workflow very user friendly. Plus the cards are dirt cheap in comparison to P2 cards -- $40 holds more than 90 minutes of 1080p. We brought 30 of them for a shoot in Guatemala and they worked flawlessly.

Thomas

I know, what a price difference.
And I'm sure you love your 150....
Have you used a 40?.... Heard good things about it, except for the low light exposure

guamrider,

Can you get your FCP to recognize the highest quality setting (1080 60P 28mbps) on your Panasonic TM700K?

Mine will recognize only the clips in the HA setting which is the next level down but not in 1080 60P.

I can't find anyone who has gotten it to work.

The workarounds I've found and tried are: Toast, Voltaic, Clipwrap, and Aunsoft to convert the files to Pro Res and then import them into FCP 7.0.2

Thanks for any suggestions.

-Dickie

FCP 7.0.2
Intel Macbook
Power PC G5 Quad Core