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June 11, 2008

Panasonic HDC-SD9: The Answer Lies Within QuickTime 7.5

For the past few months, Panasonic HDC-SD9 owners have not been able to import videos from Panasonic HDC-SD9 correctly. The temporary solutions for Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 users was to install Perian 1.1 plugin.

AVCHD

With the release of QuickTime 7.5, Panasonic HDC-SD9 videos can now be imported using iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6.

It is recommended to update all the applications to the latest versions. QuickTime 7.5 is the most critical component to make this work.

I can only confirm this on the North American version of Panasonic HDC-SD9 (with 24p Cinema Mode). The European version (with 25p Cinema Mode) theoretically should now work with the Mac.

UPDATE:

Hans Eklundh left a comment and confirmed that the 25p PAL version (Europe) also works with QuickTime 7.5

Test results using 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2GHz 2GB RAM:

Mac OS X 10.4.11

QuickTime 7.4.5
iMovie 7.1
HA1920 24p – Video is faster than Audio
HA1920 – Crash during imports

QuickTime 7.5
iMovie 7.1
HA1920 24p – Video imported successfully; 37s -> 36s
HA1920 – Video imported successfully; 38s -> 38s

QuickTime 7.5
iMovie 7.1.2
HA1920 24p – Video imported successfully; 37s -> 37s
HA1920 – Video imported successfully; 38s -> 38s

Mac OS X 10.5.3

QuickTime 7.5
iMovie 7.1.1
HA1920 24p – Video imported successfully; 37s -> 36s
HA1920 – Video imported successfully; 38s -> 38s

QuickTime 7.5
iMovie 7.1.2
HA1920 24p – Video imported successfully; 37s -> 36s
HA1920 – Video imported successfully; 38s -> 38s

Get QuickTime 7.5 and iMovie 7.1.2 updates from Apple Software Update or through the Downloads site.

March 9, 2008

Panasonic HDC-SD9: Screen Capture

Despite its compatibility problem with Mac OS X, Panasonic HDC-SD9 is a great HD camcorder. If you are using Macs and wanting to get this camera, it is best to wait until Apple releases updates to iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6.

In the meantime, check out the screen capture from Panasonic HDC-SD9 and compare it to the one from Panasonic HDC-SD5. Notice the interlacing on Panasonic HDC-SD5 screen capture.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 Screen Capture

Panasonic HDC-SD5 Screen Capture

March 8, 2008

Panasonic HDC-SD9: The Trouble with Mac OS X

UPDATE (2008.04.11):
I finally get it to work with Final Cut Pro!!! just search for HDC-SD9 on this blog.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 is capable recording video in 1080p and 24 mode. This is one great feature on a compact camcorder. The quality of the video is amazing.

Unfortunately for Mac users, this camcorder is not fully compatible with iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6. The three applications crash during playback or import of videos recorded in non-“24p Digital Cinema” mode. When the “24p Digital Cinema” mode is turned on, iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6 can playback and import the recorded video. Even though the three applications can play and import the video, some problems persist.

To illustrate the problems, please check-out the following videos. Both videos were recorded at the same time, one is using Panasonic HDC-SD5 and the other is using Panasonic HDC-SD9. You’ll see how the HDC-SD9 video is playing faster than the actual recording.

Both videos are resized to 960×540 resolutions. This is done due to the sheer monstrosity of the 1920×1080 file size. QuickTime 7 is required for proper playback.

Panasonic HDC-SD5 Recording (H.264 13.2MB)

Panasonic HDC-SD9 Recording (H.264 9.2MB)

The imported video plays faster while the audio plays at normal speed. Somehow the video and audio go out of sync during the import. By default iMovie ’08 transcoded the AVCHD video to Apple Intermediate Codec, while Final Cut Pro transcoded the AVCHD video to Apple ProRes 422. I will try importing the AVCHD video to another format using Final Cut Pro later.

——-

note: I blame Carrie for making me re-learn “Greensleeves“

March 8, 2008

Panasonic HDC-SD9: Video Mode

Panasonic HDC-SD9 is capable of recording video in 1080p/24p mode. Mac users find out that iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6 are unable to read/import videos from HDC-SD9 that are not recorded in 24p mode.

UPDATE:
Currently iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6 do not transcode AVCHD video correctly. The video is faster than the audio.
More info here.

To enable the highest quality recording and 24p mode, go to the “video” menu, and set the followings:

REC MODE: HA1920
24pDIGITAL CINEMA: ON

By selecting those options, the HDC-SD9 camera will be recording in 1080p and 24p mode. In addition to that, Mac users can import the videos to iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, or Final Cut Pro 6.

UPDATE:
For some reasons, Final Cut Pro imported the video and speed it up a little bit. One video runs about 40 seconds, while the imported video runs about 28 seconds. It is clear that Final Cut Pro does not fully understand the recording mode from this camera.

HDC-SD5 (left) vs. HDC-SD9 (right)

HDC-SD9 24p Digital Cinema mode turned on

March 7, 2008

Panasonic HDC-SD9: Video Sample

UPDATE:
Panasonic HDC-SD9: The Trouble with Mac OS X

Another video, with audio intact. Imported using Final Cut Pro 6.0.2.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 video sample:

Recording Mode: HA1920
24p Digital Cinema mode
Imported using Final Cut Pro 6.0.2
H.264 @ 1920 x 1080
10.80 mbits/s
27 seconds
35.4 MB
Done on 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz, Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2

Final Cut Pro is having trouble playing/importing when the video is recorded with “24p Digital Cinema” mode turned off.

UPDATE:
For some reasons, Final Cut Pro imported the video and speed it up a little bit. The original video runs about 40 seconds, while the imported video runs about 28 seconds. It is clear that Final Cut Pro does not fully understand the recording mode from this camera.

WARNING! THIS MOVIE FILE MIGHT NOT PLAY IN YOUR BROWSER DUE TO ITS RESOLUTIONS.
Right-click, then save as. Because it is going to take a long time to buffer.