Panasonic HDC-SD9: Playing nice with iMovie 7.1.2

UPDATE:
It seems that QuickTime 7.5 update adds the compatibilities between Panasonic HDC-SD9 and iMovie ’08, Final Cut Express 4, and Final Cut Pro 6.

UPDATE:
Thanks to James and Hans Eklundh for confirming that QuickTime 7.5 now supports PAL/European HDC-SD9.

Immediately after applying iMovie 7.1.2 update, I recorded a number of videos on Panasonic HDC-SD9.

  • HA1920
  • HA1920 24p
  • HG1920

I managed to import the videos without any problems at all, and the audio is in sync with the video. Previously, iMovie ’08 was unable to import the video from Panasonic HDC-SD9 correctly. It crashes during HA1920 import. The HA1920 24p video was playing faster than the audio track.

I am doing more testing on this issue, and will post the result as soon as possible.

The gears:

  • Panasonic HDC-SD9
  • 15-inch MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz 2GB
  • iMovie 7.1.2
  • QuickTime 7.5
  • Mac OS X 10.5.3

Stay tuned.

Apple posts iDVD 7.0.2 and iMovie 7.1.2

Following WWDC 2008 Keynote and QuickTime 7.5, Apple post updates to iDVD ’08 and iMovie ’08 today.

06/10/2008

iDVD 7.0.220.27MB
This update supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

iMovie 7.1.217.9MB
This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

I want to know if Apple would add supports for newer AVCHD camcorders such as Panasonic HDC-SD9 which I own.

UPDATE:
I can now import videos from Panasonic HDC-SD9 using iMovie 7.1.2 and QuickTime 7.5 installed. I still have Perian 1.1 installed on computer. I will do more testing on this.

Panasonic HDC-SD9: 1080p/24p Video Sample

Since I can now use Final Cut Pro 6 to “Log and Transfer” 1080p/24p clip from my Panasonic HDC-SD9, I will be posting more video sample from this camera.

It was a nice day, so I took a little walk and film some footage using Panasonic HDC-SD9. Check out the video, QuickTime 7 is required for playback.

Prepare for Landing

Video info:

  • Format: H.264, 1920×1080
  • File Size: 16.66 MB
  • Frame Rate: 23.98 FPS
  • Data rate: 8.73 mbits/s
  • Length: 16.01 seconds

Panasonic HDC-SD9 settings:

  • Recording Mode: HA1920
  • 24p Digital Cinema: On
  • Intelligent Contrast: On

Software info:

I will post more videos.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 and Final Cut Pro: Library and Plugins

Someone requested me to post screenshots of plugins directory for QuickTime and Final Cut Pro; and my System Preferences.

Hope this helps. I now have no problems importing 1080p/24p clip from Panasonic HDC-SD9 using Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 and Perian 1.1 QuickTime Component.

Let me know how it goes.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 and Final Cut Pro: The Setup

Continuing the coverage on Panasonic HDC-SD9 and Final Cut Pro, the followings are the setup I have:

Final Cut Pro 6.0.3

  • Easy Setup
  • Format: Panasonic DVCPRO HD
  • Use: DVCPRO HD 1080pA24

QuickTime Component

  • Perian 1.1

Panasonic HDC-SD9

  • Record Mode: HA1920
  • 24p Digital Cinema: ON

——-

What kind of setup do you have?

Panasonic HDC-SD9: 1080p/24p Video

UPDATE:
I uploaded the whole video, instead of a snippet.

Now that I can import videos from HDC-SD9 in 1080p/24p mode using Final Cut Pro correctly, I’d like to share a brief video clip from this camcorder.

Check out the video quality taken using HDC-SD9, however short it may be. (QuickTime 7 required)

Notes:

  • 1920×1080 resolutions
  • H.264 8.82mbits/s
  • 28.06MB
  • About 1 second length
  • Imported using Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 and Perian 1.1
  • Exported using Compressor 3.0.3
  • On MacBook Pro Core Duo running Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2

Apparently I posted a Apple Pro Res 422 encoded earlier. It looked great but not many people could play it.

Panasonic HDC-SD9 in Apple Knowledge Base

From Apple Support:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1348

Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express: Unexpected quit with Panasonic HDC-SD9 AVCHD

Symptoms
Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express may quit unexpectedly when using the Log and Transfer window to preview AVCHD media from a Panasonic HDC-SD9 camcorder.

Products Affected
Final Cut Pro 6.0, Final Cut Express 4.0

Resolution
The Panasonic HDC-SD9 model camcorder is currently not qualified for use with Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Express.  Although some devices that are not qualified may work to some extent with Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express, in this case the camcorder may not perform as expected.

To find devices qualified for use with Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express, refer to Qualified Devices for Apple Pro Applications.

Additional Information
This camcorder’s implementation of AVCHD video uses a format of H.264 that employs “Br-frames”, which are similar to traditional MPEG-4 B-frames, but contain motion reference information. The Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express components that preview AVCHD media currently do not recognize or handle Br-frames in AVCHD data.

Up to this point, Panasonic HDC-SD9 is not yet supported in Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express by Apple.