[luis_no]

I just bought a sony tg3.

I am using a Mac Book Pro so I intend to import the HD movies into Mac using iMovie 8, wich as far as i heard uses transcoding.

In addition I also want to import/copy the AVCHD files from the sony TG3 into a PC/HDD so that I can put it into my PCH and back up into an HDD.

I have 3 questions if anybody can help me:

1) Do I have to do any special operation on the sony Tg3 when importing with iMovie 8? As far as I heard Mac OS recongizes the cam and then imports the clips is this correct?

2) After the iMovie 8 importing, How Can I import the AVCHD files from the Sony TG3 into the MAC?
Can I just access the AVCHD folder in the sony TG3 and copy the complete folder/all items keeping its folder structure?
How should I copy the folder? connecting the TG3 to the MAC or removing the Memory stick from the TG3 and connecting to the Mac via USB?

Sony states in the manual that accessing this folder might damage image files or prevent them form being played back... Is this correct?

3) I have heard that PCH reads directly from a card reader such as the MS from my Sony TG3. How is this performed?

Can any body help me with these questions?

Thanks a lot,

Best Regards

Luis

[glesgaguyav]

I don't have a Mac but this is my understaning.

iMovie transcodes the files for it's own use, if you copy and paste the files to your Mac they shouldn't be altered, therefore you should just copy the full card and structure (folder named AVCHD) over to a folder in you're Mac.

There should be nothing you need to do in the TG3 when copying, either plug it in to the Mac where it should be recognised as a USB device (just like a card reader) or plug in the Memory stick and copy the files over (they're in the folder named STREAM) as you would with photos.

The PCH can read directly from the card (possibly even directly from the cam) via a usb .

Sonys warning about the files is more to do with changing anything on the card directly ie. renaming or deleting files.

[luis_no]

Hi, Thanks a lot for your info. Quite Helpfull.

I will copy the complete AVCHD folder structure from the TG3 into the Mac.

When you mention the STREAM folder (inside the AVCHD folder) this is just for my reference where the TG3 store the .MTS files right?
Or should I just copy the STREAM folder into the MAc or PCH. Does the PCH need the complete folder structure or just the .mts files to read the clips?

When you say that the PCH reads directly from the card(via USB). How do I perform this operation? Is this automatic or via an http interface? maybe this is a question for the PCH forum... I guess...


Thanks

[glesgaguyav]

The STREAM folder contains the individual .mts clips, the benefit of copying the whole card structure (AVCHD folder) to the PC/MAC is that you can copy it back to a blank card for viewing via the cam, so it's really only for archive purposes.Other than that just copy the clips within the STREAM folder to a folder named of your choice on the Mac or PCH.

I don't own a PCH but I believe it's similar to the TVix, so it should have USB inputs, just plug in a card reader, navigate to the Stream folder and the PCH should play the individual clips from the card (with pauses in between), it won't recognise Sony's file structure, you need a PS3 for that.
To view the clips contiuously you'll need to join them, I believe for Mac users that's where iMovie comes in.