How to output Apple ProRes 422 for Final Cut Pro from AVCHD/AVCHD Lite (MTS, M2TS) footage?

Final Cut Pro users often have the needs to rewrap AVCHD/AVCHD Lite footage (*.MTS, *.M2TS) to Apple ProRes 422 for editing use without converting. That is why Pavtube Studio unveils the Media Magician application for Macintosh users. In this article, we demonstrate the detailed steps on how to get AVCHD MTS footage from camera/camcorder through the program to output Apple ProRes 422 for using in Final Cut Pro without losing file quality.

The steps to export ProRes 422 for FCP using Pavtube Media Magician for Mac

Preparation:
Free download Media Magician for Mac Trial Version, install and launch it

Notes: The free trial version of Pavtube Media Magician for Mac has the following limitations:
1. It will add Pavtube logo watermark in output file(s).
2. Lossless output has a file size limit of 5 minutes.

If the free trial version does what you want, you can click Buy Now button below to purchase its full version to bypass the above mentioned free trial limitations.

Step 1: Add AVCHD MTS clips into Media Magician for Mac
There are two ways available to import source media files:
1) Import from camera
Connect your camera with your Mac computer and run Pavtube Media Magician for Mac. This camcorder companion tool will detect your camera automatically and ask “Camcorder is connected. Are you ready to launch wizard now?” Click “Yes” to confirm.

In the mean time, you are allowed to backup MTS footage directly from camera to local computer. Also, you can click the camera icon to load camcorder videos as well.

2) Import from local computer
If you already have stored MTS clips on your computer’s HDD, you can choose to “Import Media Files” or “Import Media Folder” to browse and load your source files from computer.

Step 2: Drag and drop AVCHD/AVCHD Lite (.MTS/.M2TS) files onto Timeline
After source MTS clips are imported into the Media Magician for Mac program, you need to drag and drop the clips that you want to remux to Apple ProRes 422 onto timeline.

Step 3: Split/Cut/Reorder/Merge MTS clips (Optional)
If you would like to cut off unwanted parts of your MTS clips, rearrange them in your wanted order, or merge them into one file, you can use the control buttons on timeline to do this.

The control buttons on timeline help you locate frames accurately so that you can cut, trim, delete, and merge video clips in a much easier way.

Control buttons on Timeline
1. Time Display Controller: Move your mouse cursor on timeline, the opposite time point will be displayed here. Once you entered a time point into the time display box and click enter, the Preview Window and Timeline will switch to the frame of this time point. This helps to locate to the accurate frame that you want.
2. Zoom in and Zoom out: Drag the bar on top-right of timeline to Zoom in or out for better view.
3. Preview: Highlight a clip on timeline and click Play button, you can preview. Double click on a clip can also begin preview.
4. Trim: Put your cursor to the start or end point of a clip on timeline until it changes to trimmer. Drag the trimmer and you can trim off unwanted starting or ending.
5. Cut: Drag the pointer to the right place; Put your cursor to process bar under preview window and select the right frame; Click the Scissors button and you can cut the clip. And then you can rearrange order or delete.

Cut the clip at where the cursor locates
6. Delete: Highlight the unwanted clip on timeline, and click Delete button. You can also delete it with right-click menu.
7. Rearrange order: Drag and hold a clip to the right place until the place line shows. Drop the clip and it will be placed right there.
8. Merge and join: All files placed on timeline will be output as one file. So if you want to merge and join several clips, just drag them to timeline in right order.

Step 4: Remux AVCHD/AVCHD Lite MTS/M2TS files to Apple ProRes 422 for Final Cut Pro
Choose “Output” in the main interface, and click “Plus” icon to add conversion task before selecting output format. Then switch to “Editor” > “Final Cut Pro” and click “Start” to begin exporting MTS to Apple ProRes 422 for FCP without recompression.

When rewrapping task finished, you can find out the generated Apple ProRes 422 MOV files for using within Final Cut Pro from the “Output Path”.

Launch Final Cut Pro 7/FCP 6/FCP X, choose File > Import > Files…, and browse to where you saved the generated ProRes 422 files to. Choose the videos that you’d like to add.

Tags : Working with Apple ProRes Codecs, ProRes 422 for Final Cut Pro, convert avchd .mts to .mov, mts file to FCP, Convert MTS Files to FCP or Rewrap, Edit AVCHD/AVCHD Lite in Final Cut Pro