Convert Panasonic SD600 AVCHD files to less compressed ProRes format

Apple ProRes, introduced in Final Cut Studio, was advertised to one of the codecs to result in less compression and higher data rate/higher quality files for HD editing in Final Cut Pro. I have Panasonic HDC-SD600 to shoot videos, and want to import the HD videos to Final Cut Pro. But the 1080/60p .mts files are not supported by Mac, not to say editing 1080/60p AVCHD files with ProRes in FCP.

While googling the ProRes 422 codecs (such as the standard "ProRes 422", "ProRes 422 (HQ)",  "ProRes 422 (LQ)" and "ProRes 422" Proxy"), I find Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac as the recommended AVCHD video to less compressed ProRes converter, which provides Apple ProRes 422 output options and even Apple ProRes 4444. I can easily convert mts files which were retrieved from a formatted SD card, and use them in Final Cut Pro.


To help those who may face the same problem like me, or want to rewrap AVCHD to ProRre .mov on Mac for HD editing in Final Cut Pro, I here list a few steps with the fast prores video converter.

Step 1. Download Panasonic videos to Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac.
Connect camcorder to iMac/Macbook Pro, run Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac as the best Mac Panasonic video to FCP ProRes converter. Click the "Add" button to import AVCHD files from the camcorder directory or Apple computer hard drive disk.

Step 2. Choose ProRes 422 HQ format.
Click the "Format" option, and move the mouse cursor to Final Cut Pro > Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) (*.mov) as output format.

Other less compressed video codecs like DVCPRO HD, HDV, are available, and you can choose your preferred format. The profiles under the Final Cut Pro group of Aunsoft Video Converter for Mac only works for Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Studio. If you would like to edit less compressed video in iMovie or Final Cut Express, just choose the options in QuickTime Movie Format group.

Step 3. Output ProRes 422 HQ with 1080p HD.
Click the "Settings" button and choose 1920*1080 as output video size. The Mac AVCHD to ProRes 422 converter will transcode and rewrap AVCHD files to ProRes MOV in 1080p. You can also set the frame rate to 60fps.

Step 4. Convert 1080/60p video to ProRes 422 HQ MOV for Final Cut.
Click the convert button under the preview window, the Mac Panasonic video to ProRes converter will start converting Panasonic SD600 AVCHD files to ProRes 422 HQ .mov for Final Cut Pro 7, Final Cut Pro 6, Final Cut Studio.

Tips:
1. If you get 1080i videos from camcorder, just click the video clip and click the Editor button. Go to the Effect tab to tick the checkbox for deinterlacing.

2. As new promotion in 2011, Aunsoft Studio also provides discounted product on every Tuesday. Do not miss it for your preferred product on www.aunsoft.com.