Without reading the manual for my Canon HF-10, I copied several video files (.mts) from the stream directory to my computer. I then deleted the files from the camcorder using the camcorder interface. Big mistake. The ImageMixer 3 SE program hangs when I try to import the copied videos.

I tested the camcorder using the software on a newly created video and it worked fine. I found that it imports from .mts to .m2ts (renaming the files improved playback).

Anyways, as a solution I tried copying the earlier files back to the camcorder so that I could import directly from the camcorder but it won't recognise them. Is there a solution?

Why do you need to copy files to your camcorder?

I believe the Canon Solutions disk provides facilities for moving the files both ways, doesn't it? I know the software for my HG10 does.

In response to the second poster, the best I can figure, there's something magical about rebuilding indexes or something when using the manufacturer's software to move the files both ways. The camera never seems to see them if you just move them. The software that came with the camera likely won't touch the files unless it retrieves them and the camera likely won't deal with them unless the manufacturer's software puts them there. Proverbial catch-22.

Many manufacturers require that you use their software to pull files from their device as a way of making the software proprietary and the software won't work on the files, even if they came from the correct device, unless their software does the pull. TheFlip software is this way too. I think it sucks but that's just the way the manufacturers choose to be in order to protect their intellectual property and to make sure you don't use their stuff on other manufacturer's files. Again; I think it sucks but apparently that's the way it is.

I even e-mailed TheFlip support complaining and their response basically was, "Sorry. That's the only way it works."

One gets what one pays for (software with the cameras is free), I guess. :(

xfws: this is the only way to get them into the ImageMixer software.

Wilson: I didn't install anything from the Digital Video Solution Disc as I only saw ZoomBrowser EX and DV Twain listed on the disc. When installing, it installed ZoomBrowser EX and EOS Utility; both image handling software. I need video handling software. ImageMixer does allow me to copy videos back to the Camera but only if I copied to PC using ImageMixer in the first place. What's the name of the software you use?

Mine came with Corel GuideMenu. Runs in the System Tray all the time and will move files both ways.

Surely yours has something that allows you to put them back even if it didn't pull them off.

I have to admit, I finally bought Premier Elements because I simply got tired of screwing with the nuances in the software provided by Canon plus it lets me deal with the files like I want to. Unfortunately, that may be where you are too. :(

(Add: Mine also came with something called HG Backup (as in HG10). Did yours come with HF Backup?? I don't remember which disc it was on)

Doesn't have either Corel GuideMenu or a Backup software. Pixela ImageMixer 3 SE is meant to do the backing up but running through its manual, it says it cannot import from nowhere but the camcorder.

xfws: this is the only way to get them into the ImageMixer software.


klymax.. I'm still not following. I've used the Image Mixer software with a Canon and it imports from the camcorder to the pc with no problems. The camcorder's serial has to be first registered with Pixela over the internet to activate it; did you do that?

What am I missing from your situation?

klymax.. I'm still not following. I've used the Image Mixer software with a Canon and it imports from the camcorder to the pc with no problems. The camcorder's serial has to be first registered with Pixela over the internet to activate it; did you do that?

What am I missing from your situation?

I think he just copied them off the camcorder to his PC (or moved/deleted them from the camera) and has now realized that he CAN'T bring them into ImageMixer unless he puts them back to the camera like they were (which he can't do with what he has).

I think he's in a quandry without some 3rd party app like Premier that doesn't care where the files came/come from.

Correct wilson.. I used Windows Explorer, went into the STREAM directory and copied the files to my hard drive. Didn't even have the ImageMixer installed at the time. Realised too late that I should have used ImageMixer to take them off the camcorder.

Correct wilson.. I used Windows Explorer, went into the STREAM directory and copied the files to my hard drive. Didn't even have the ImageMixer installed at the time. Realised too late that I should have used ImageMixer to take them off the camcorder.

I would backup the mts files files from the stream folder on a drive or disc, complete initialize the camcorder drive and do a RESET on the camcorder (the little button in the battery cavity you press with a pointed object), install Image Mixer and start over.

Realised too late that I should have used ImageMixer to take them off the camcorder.

But why? ImageMixer can work on the video files you copied yourself too. You do NOT need ImageMixer to copy the files - in fact, I never do, as it takes MUCH longer than I copy the files myself using a card reader.

There are only two reasons I can think of that you may want to use ImageMixer to copy the files: first is if you have recorded a very long duration video, and subsequently has files splitted up due to maximum size reached, in this case ImageMixer would join up the files for you (normal separate files because of Stop/Start recording will NOT be joined); second, if you want ImageMixer to rename the files according to date and time stamp, I do this myself using a rename utilities anyways.

Otherwise, I always copy the files using Windows Explorer and card reader.

And actually, the ImageMixer can upload the video files back to the camcorder for you, but it takes a quite a long time to do so. And the only reason I can think of to do that is if you don't have a HD player and want to use the camcorder as a player for edited videos.

klymax, just to clarify; when people are copying and pasting the mts files, they do this to use with third party software like Sony Vegas that can import the files for editing. (You're copying/not "cutting" the files from the camcorder, right?)

If not Vegas, you need something, like the included Image Mixer software to view the files which aren't going to play in Windows Media Player. And, if so, you install Image Mixer and do the procedure of copying using the prompts on the camcorder's LCD and the Image Mixer transfer prompts on the pc monitor.

I think that's the confusion, right? You shouldn't be doing the stream/copy trick if using with Image Mixer as the final destination...

kalak, I think klymax is using the HF10's internal drive, not a card and card reader. (right, klymax?)

Kalak: ImageMixer refuses to import the file I copied onto my hard drive. It would only read files directly from the camcorder. Program restriction which is documented in the manual. When I played the videos using WMP or MPC, they won't play on most systems, only my office laptop (new / high end). I tried several programs to convert the videos to another format but none worked. ImageMixer did with a new video I did - hence why I want to work with it. The bottom line is that ImageMixer won't read the files from my hard drive - only from the camcorder. And I'm copying from the internal card of the HF10.

xfws: Initialising / resetting the camera would only help me with new videos... doesn't help me with the ones I've done already. I copied the video files (.mts) and the from the camcorder, deleted the files (videos, index and playlist deleted).

I have the exact same issue with my Canon HF20. I rip down (cut) the .mts files directly from my SD Card (easiest, fastest, sanest way to get vids from cam to PC).

I sometimes want to put vids (that I have renamed and deleted metadata from) back on the Camcorder because:

1) This gives highest quality on HD TV
2) This gives fastest playlists w/o skipping between video segments
3) I sometimes decide I want to do lossless splits and the camcorder gives instant access to this w/o any rendering.
4) I sometimes want to take key videos to other people’s houses to direct connect via HDMI.
5) Etc, etc, etc.

Have you yet found a way to get the camcorder to recognize the .mts files dropped from the PC to the cam? Searching Google & forums for days now and no results. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I did find a trick...

1) reset the camera's date and time to when you took the original video;
2) take a short video (1-10 secs) of a still object;
3) replace the file on the camcorder with the old file (change the name to the new name on the camcorder)

Should work.

I now use the software that came with the Camcorder - its better to manage it. My earlier problem was a conflict with a Haali codec in K-Lite Mega Codec Pack.

Yes, I too discovered the Haali conflict with Canon Pixela. But, I stopped using Pixela. I now use Nero 8 which came free with a CD-Burner and it works great. I can throw as many vids as I desire back on to the cam. I found out via this thread:

(www.) dvinfo.net/conf/avchd-format-discussion/129746-saving-edited-footage-back-mts.html

Works flawless with one exception, when I get the vids back onto the cam, the Canon will not let me split them.

Thanks!