Hello,

I am an amateur videographer/editor. I have been using the following for the past 2 years:

• older iMac with older versions of iMovie and iDVD (2006)
• Final Cut Pro 5
• footage on mini-DV tapes shot on a Sony VX2000

I just purchased a Sony HDR-SR12 camcorder. I set the recording format to High Definition. My iMac successfully recognizes the harddrive and titles it "NO NAME", and it sees the MTS files. The problem is my version of iMovie and Final Cut Pro cannot read the MTS files. So, I reset the recording format to Standard Definition. Again, my iMac recognizes the harddrive, but it cannot read the MPG files.

I have read many forums about this problem. Some people advise to buy third-party software, to convert the files. Some people say iMovie 08 works - others say it doesn't. Some people say Final Cut Pro 6.0.3 works - others say it doesn't.

At this point, I don't know what the solution is. I have found a way to capture the footage off the camcorder, but with serious signal degradation. It looks like I shot the footage with the first video camera ever made - but it's all I got, for now.

If anyone finds the perfect solution, with no flaws, please tell me. Otherwise, I basically just bought a high def harddrive paperweight.

thanks - eric