I'll be traveling overseas with the NX5U and FMU-128 and I want to be able to download my footage a couple of times a day. Are there any third party file conversion programs that I can use other than Log and Transfer in FCP?

I'm using a mac book (not the pro) and I don't think it is powerful enough for FCP2 and obviously, I can't use Sony's content management utility as it is for PC only.

Finally, I'd prefer to be editing on Avid Media Composer when I return, but I can use FCP or Premier if need be.

Any suggestions? Hope someone can help me with this.
Thanks

Drag the MTS files into a folder and use Roxio Toast 10 to convert to ProRes.
It works great if you don't have final cut pro

Chuck, remember to copy over and archive the WHOLE contents of the memory card -- not just the .mts files.

The video files need the other accompanying files to be with them at all times for them to be read properly by edit systems.

Cheers

Adam

Thanks. This is really helpful. I'll buy Toast 10 tonight.
It apparently doesn't work with Toast 9.

BTW some of your website images are really quite nice.

Chuck, remember to copy over and archive the WHOLE contents of the memory card -- not just the .mts files.

The video files need the other accompanying files to be with them at all times for them to be read properly by edit systems.

Cheers

Adam
Thanks Adam,
So, just to clarify: all of the files including the .mts files get thrown into toast?

Thanks Chuck.
Yes. 10.06 and higher is best to use with MTS Files. The earlier versions had some audio sync issues. It's a great app for MANY reasons. you will get you mileage out of it.

Thanks Adam,
So, just to clarify: all of the files including the .mts files get thrown into toast?

Out of experience I can tell you that the only files you need to drag into the Toast window are The ACTUAL MTS files.
I know others will beg to differ since on a pc the process is different.
I just did it AGAIN as a test.
MTS files into toast and choose your settings to convert to. Thats it. No other files reside on my system from the camera. Just the MTS files.

Thanks again. I'll download Toast 10 tonight and try it. This will work well for my work flow. Unfortunately, pro res422 loses sync on long takes when used in avid, but there were plenty of other options to chose from.

Just to clarify, some apps need the entire file structure, but many don't.

Final Cut Pro does need the entire file structure, or Log and Transfer won't work, so if you want to have the option of later using L&T, then you should make a backup of the entire file structure.

You also need to use the camera to erase the files once you've copied them (if you erase them while the FMU or memory card is connected to the computer you can corrupt the file structure and L&T won't read them.)

Has Sony at all hinted that there will be apps similar to XDCAM Transfer and Clip Browser for the NXCAM format? Or is this only an issue for Avid users? (Like XDCAM was at first)

Just to clarify, some apps need the entire file structure, but many don't.

Final Cut Pro does need the entire file structure, or Log and Transfer won't work, so if you want to have the option of later using L&T, then you should make a backup of the entire file structure.

You also need to use the camera to erase the files once you've copied them (if you erase them while the FMU or memory card is connected to the computer you can corrupt the file structure and L&T won't read them.)

So, if I am transferring to uncompressed QT or "none" compression QT or photo jpg I would not need the data? Only for FCP?

I only have experience with Final Cut Pro and VoltaicHD, which is a standalone AVCHD conversion app.

VoltaicHD (I guess like Roxio Toast) does not require the file structure; you can just drag the AVCHD file into the app and away you go.

I've found VoltaicHD useful for extracting file's I've archived without the file structure, but the downside is that I find VoltaicHD is much slower than Final Cut.

I don't know why FCP needs the file structure; I don't know that it provides information that's relevant to the recompression of the video data (i.e. impacts the compressor you're going to.)

Voltaic HD has trouble with files from theNX5U cam. Something about the audio files. I tried the newest version and it would not accept the files due to incompatible audio codecs. I would stick with Toast until Voltaic puts out an update. IMO

thanks to all who responded

bottom line: If you want to archive the images you get out of your NX5, be sure to archive all the files on the card, not just the .mts files. That way you will increase the chances that apps like FCP will be able to see and transcode the footage properly.

If you're doing quick n dirty jobs and don't need to archive your footage for longer than it takes to edit, some apps are happy with just the .mts files.

Cheers

Adam

True Statement Adam. Thanks

Thanks for that added comment, Adam.
I'm in a situation where I will have time each night to download all the information, including the hidden files. I am not questioning whether one way will work better than the other, but as I have the time, I will play it safe.

I'd rather be looking at them than looking for them.

I archive the contents of each card in a folder named with the date and a one-word reminder at the end of each day. If more than one card, this gets noted too.

So a folder might be called

20100203_clown_card2

if I spent the 3rd of Feb 2010 shooting a clown, and I used two cards to do that. Important to name the folder with the date first in YEAR/MONTH/DAY order so that you can arrange folders easily.

I still have to figure out the rest of the workflow for my long doc project, but I figure with this start I can't go too far wrong.

Cheers

Adam