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Convert Panasonic AVCHD Lite Video to MOV for iMovie on Mac
  • As we know, AVCHD Lite is a subset of AVCHD format, which identifies devices that are capable of 720p/30fps recording only. Comparing with Full HD, the 720p/30fps video is recorded in the normal AVCHD 720p/60 format, but every other frame is duplicated, resulting in thirty actual frames per second. Apple has made it clear that iMovie 09’ is able to edit the AVCHD Lite video, but I hang out the video editing forums, questions like “I wasn’t able to import AVCHD Lite to iMovie…” come up from time to time. For those who have got into trouble when load the AVCHD Lite MTS video to iMovie 08’ (or even 09’), the following guide might be a trick to solve the problem. In order to have the AVCHD Lite video files generated by the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT1, Panasonic DMC-ZS35, work with iMovie, you can convert these footage to MOV format so as to be editable with iMovie 08 or iMovie 09 with Brorsoft AVCHD Lite Converter for Mac.
  • Step 1. Load Panasonic DMC-ZS35 AVCHD Lite files or Lumix DMC-FT1 videos to Brorsoft AVCHD Lite Converter for Mac.
    Connect Panasonic DMC-ZS35 camera or Lumix DMC-FT1 to iMac or Macbook via USB cable and then run Brorsoft Mac AVCHD Lite Converter as the best Panasonic AVCHD Lite to MOV Converter. Click Add button to import AVCHD Lite recordings to be converted.
  • Step 2. Choose HD MOV as output format for iMovie.
    Click Format option and choose HD Video->H.264 HD Video (*.mov) as the output video format. To get proper video files, you are allowed to set output video parameters by clicking “Settings” button. And the parameters I recommend are listed as following (This will prevent you from suffering video quality loss to the greatest extent) :
    Video:
    Codec H.264
    Size: 1280*720p
    Bitrate: 8000kbps
    Frame Rate: 30/29.97
    Audio :
    Codec: AAC
    Sampling rate: 48khz
    Bitrate: 320kbps
    Channels: 6

    • convert-dmc-zs35-avchd.gif

  • Step 3. Start the AVCHD Lite video to MOV conversion for iMovie.
    Hit Convert button, the AVCHD Lite video to MOV for iMovie conversion will be started immediately. After converting, just import the converted videos to iMovie 08’ (or even 09’) for further editing.

    • Tips:
    Brorsoft MTS Converter for Mac, working as the best MAC AVCHD Lite converter, also has a perfect performance in converting other Panasonic AVCHD Lite cameras, like Panasonic DMC-ZS3/TZ7, DMC-GH1, DMC-GH2, DMC-TZ10, DMC-FZ40, DMC-FZ35, DMC-FZ38, DMC-FZ45,DMC-TS1/FT1, DMC-TS2/FT2 and DMC-FX75. Hope you could enjoy it.