File Formatting

When producing a music video, one must remember that not all file formats are supported on all computers. This is especially an issue for me as I am working between Windows and Mac hardware, therefore the software available to both is different. I have to be aware of these different file types in order to produce my work. This awareness means that I can work systematically.

Before I did my first filming shoot, I was not aware that this was such an issue. Avoiding using certain cameras will reduce my work load as I will not have to convert any files into Mp4s. This means I can concentrate on the editing of the video, which needs to be precise in order to be effective as a promotional film.

The following list shows popular cameras that have a tenancy to produce .MTS files. These are the cameras that I will avoid using when filming the other parts to my video.

SONY

•HDR-PJ540/B 2014 new avchd mts camcorder

•HDR-PJ340/B

•HDR-CX240/L

•HDR-PJ275/B

•HDR-PJ810/B

•HDR-CX330/B

•HDR-CX900/B

•HDR-AX2000/H MPEG-4AVC/H.264（AVCHD）SD：MPEG-2PS

• HDR-UX1 (DVD), HDR-UX3/UX5 (DVD), HDR-UX7 (DVD)

• HDR-SR1 (30 GB HDD)

• HDR-SR5 (40 GB HDD), HDR-SR7 (60 GB HDD)

• HDR-SR5C (100 GB HDD), HDR-SR8 (100 GB HDD)

• HDR-CX7 (Memory Stick Duo)

• HDR-SR10 (40GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR11 (60 GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR12 (120 GB HDD, Memory Stick)

• HDR-TG1/TG3/TG7 (Memory Stick Duo) • HDR-CX12 (Memory Stick Duo)

• HDR-CX100 (8 GB HDD, Memory Stick Duo)

• HDR-XR520V (240 GB HDD), HDR-XR500V (120 GB HDD Version)

• HDR-XR200V (120 GB HDD)

• HDR-XR200VE (120 GB HDD + GPS)

• HDR-XR100 (80 GB HDD)

• HDR-CX500E, HDR-CX520E

• HDR-CX105 (8GB Memory Stick Duo)

• HXR-NX5, HDR-AX2000.[73] • HDR-XR550 (240 GB HDD)

• Sony NEX-5, NEX-5C (without Eye-Fi support), of both models, variants with AVCHD 1080 50i and AVCHD 1080 60i only exist

• Sony HXR-MC50E.[74]

• Sony NEX-FS100

• NEX-VG20

• Sony SLT-A65, Sony SLT-A77V, Sony NEX-5N, Sony NEX-7

• Sony DSC-HX5V (GPS+COMPASS), HX5V-E (European version, limited to 30 minutes recording due to European specific taxes)

• Sony DSC-HX9V (GPS+COMPASS), HX9V-E (European version, limited to 30 minutes recording due to European specific taxes)

• Sony HX10V, Sony HX20V, Sony DSC-RX100

• Sony DSC-RX100 II

CANNON

•LEGRIA mini X, LEGRIA HFR56/HF R506 2014

•VIXIA R500/R50/R52 2014

•XA25, XA20

• HR10 (DVD) • 2007: HG10 (40 GB HDD)

• HF10 (SDHC, built-in 16 GB flash memory), HF100 (SDHC)

• HF11 (SDHC, built-in 32 GB flash memory), HG20 (60 GB HDD, SDHC), HG21 (120 GB HDD, SDHC)

• HF S10 (SDHC, built-in 32 GB flash memory), HF S100 (SDHC), HF20 (SDHC, built-in 32 GB flash memory), HF200 (SDHC)

• HF S11 (SDHC, built-in 64 GB flash memory, wired LANC remote capability)

• HF S21 (two SDHC slots, 64 GB flash memory, electronic viewfinder), HF S20 (two SDHC slots, 32 GB flash memory),[57] HF S200 (two SDHC slots); HF M31 (SDHC, 32 GB flash memory), HF M30 (SDHC, 8 GB flash memory), HF M300 (SDHC); HF R11 (32 GB flash memory), HF R10 (SDHC, 8 GB flash memory), HF R100 (SDHC)

• HF G10 (with 1⁄3 inch image sensor)

• HF M500 (with 1⁄3 inch image sensor; 24pf, 30pf, and 60i; removable SDHC/SDXC flash memory)

PANASONIC 

 HC-MDH2GK-K AVCHD

• HC-X920MGK ( [AVCHD] AVCHD 3D MTS / Progressive[iFrame] MP4)

• HDC-DX1 (DVD), HDC-SD1 (SDHC)

• HDC-SD3 (SDHC, available in Japan only)

• AG-HSC1U - essentially a rebadged HDC-HC1 (SDHC, comes with portable 40 GB HDD storage)

• HDC-SD5 (SDHC), HDC-SX5 (DVD, SDHC), HDC-SD7 (SDHC)

• HDC-SD9 (SDHC), HDC-HS9 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)

• AG-HMC70 (SDHC)

• HDC-SD100 (SDHC), HDC-HS100 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)

• AG-HMC150 (SDHC)

• HDC-HS300 (120 GB HDD), HDC-HS200 (80 GB HDD), HDC-TM300 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD300 (SDHC, available in Europe only), HDC-SD200 (SDHC).

• HDC-TM30/HDC-TM10 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD10 (SDHC)

• HDC-TM350 (64 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC, available in Japan and as of October 2009, from Panasonic Stores across the UK)

• AG-HMC40 (SDHC)

• HDC-TM700/HDC-SD700/HDC-HS700 (introduced 1080p60/1080p50 modes, depending on region)

• HDC-SD60/HDC-TM60/HDC-HS60

• AG-AF100/AG-AF101/AG-AF102 (4/3" large sensor camera)

• AG-AC130/AG-AC160 (SDXC/SDHC/SD)

• DMC-ZS3/TZ7*, DMC-TS1/DMC-FT1* (AVCHD Lite)

• DMC-GH1 (AVCHD) • Lumix DMC-ZS7/TZ10*, DMC-G2 (AVCHD lite)

• Lumix DMC-GH2, DMC-GF2 (AVCHD)

• Lumix DMC-ZS10/TZ20* (AVCHD lite)

• Lumix DMC-FX77/FX78*, DMC-TS3*, DMC-FZ45/47/48*

• Lumix DMC-GF2, DMC-G3/GF3 (AVCHD)

• Lumix DMC-TZ30 (AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive: GPH, PSH)

• Lumix DMC-G5 • Lumix DMC-FZ200

• Lumix DMC-GH3 with a bit rate of 28 Megabit per second (AVCHD 2.0)

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

After completing my second filming shoot, I uploaded the files straight from the camera, directly into imovie. This helps to maintain video crispness; ensuring it is as HD as possible, heightening the overall quality of the video and adding an aspect of professionalism. 

Issues I encountered whilst producing my first draft.

After the first day of filming, I took the SD card from the camera, placed it into the slot on the computer, and then copied the files onto my memory stick because this is portable, enabling me to transfer the data it holds to any computer (at home or at college) that I wish - although I had planned to use the Mac editing suite in college to edit my video. 

 After copying the files, I deleted the original ones from the SD card. This became an issue when I realised that the files were in fact incompatible with Mac software. I had assumed that .MTS files would be supported as it is a standard video format, however It would not automatically convert to an imovie - compatible file unless I transferred the files directly from the film camera, into imovie. This was an issue because I couldn't complete my video without it. 

It would seem logical to plug in the camera, and convert the files this way. However, I had already deleted the files. Instead, I used google to find out the best way to convert files.

The following screenshot shows the website I used giving a free download to an app which has the ability  to convert files such as..

"MTS to AVI, MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV, Divx, Xvid, FLV, etc" - (from the website)

This helped me to overcome any file formatting issues.
However, the more a video is processed, the lower the camera quality. This means that the clips that had to be re-formatted are of slightly lower quality, and appear more pixelated than the ones gained from a different days filming.