1. Free AVCHD Editor is a software to edit your AVCHD / Blu-Ray video. * Watch HD videos on TV, * Build your personalized AVCHD stucture, * Create a personal copy of blu-ray movie, * Strip video of unwanted streams.
2. ICoolsoft AVCHD Converter for Mac can help Mac users to convert AVCHD videos to all popular videos like MOV, AVI, WMV, MP4, FLV, 3GP, MKV, etc. And extract AVCHD video to MP3, AAC, WMA, OGG, and other audio files.You can use iCoolsoft AVCHD Converter for Mac to convert these AVCHD videos.

It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, Linux and BSD under the GNU GPL license and supports a variety of video, image and audio formats, including AVI, DVD compatible MPEG files, MP4, MOV, ASF, JPG, AAC, AC3, etc. High compatibility with many video formats is the highlight of this free video editing software for Mac.

by Brian Fisher • Dec 08,2018 • Proven solutions

Is Avchd compatible with iMovie? AVHCD is the HD standard for full-size consumer camcorders like Canon, Sony, Panasonic, JVC, etc. Using Mac, you may have known that iMovie claims to support most of the popular HD cam. But pratically speaking, importing AVCHD to iMovie might be tricky, due to the version of iMovie, your Mac processor (PowerPC- or older Intel-based Mac don't support AVCHD editing) , and the model of camcorder. But don't worry! This post will show you how to convert AVCHD to iMovie easily.

Part 1. Convert and Import AVCHD to iMovie on Mac [Best Way]

For a hassle free experience, you may need to convert your AVCHD files to iMovie friendly format like MOV with a professional AVCHD to iMovie Converter, iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate, which will maximally preserve the quality of your original AVCHD footage.

Get the Best AVCHD to iMovie Video Converter:

• Easily convert AVCHD to iMovie and Final Cut Pro friendly format at 90X faster speed.
• Apart from AVCHD, it supports more than 150 video and audio formats.
• Transfer video to your device like iPhone, iPad, Android phone, PSP, Xbox, HTC, BlackBerry etc.
• Burn video to DVD with templates.
• Built-in video editor to help crop, trim, add effects/subtitles/watermarks to your video before conversion.
• Download online video from YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Vevo, Dailymotion, Metacafe, Hulu, etc.
• Perfectly compatible with macOS 10.7 or later, including macOS 10.14 Mojave.

[Step-by-step Guide] How to Convert AVCHD to iMovie on Mac with iSkysoft

Video Editor For Macbook Pro

Step 1. Import AVCHD file to iSkysoft AVCHD converter

Install iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate on your Mac. Plug the camcorder to the Mac. Click the drop-down icon beside to 'Add Files' directly load AVCHD files from your camcorder. Similarly, you can directly import the video from your mobile phone in this method. Alternative, if the AVCHD file has been on your Mac, you can easily directly drag and drop to the program.

Since this AVCHD to iMovie Mac app supports batch conversion, you can add more than one AVCHD file for converting at one time. In addition, you are allowed to combine your files into one by checking 'Merge All Videos'.

Step 2. Select iMovie from the output format list.

Next, among the output formats, select 'iMovie' from Editing category. This smart AVCHD to iMovie converter will automatically set the resolution and frame rate for you, maintaining the video quality, and the output video can be imported to iMovie 11/iMovie 09/iMovie 08/iMovie HD.

Note: This AVCHD converter on Mac also enables you to edit video before conversion. Click the little Scissor icon below the video and you can trim, crop the video, or add subtitle, watermark, effect to it.

Step 3. Start AVCHD to iMovie conversion

Click 'Convert' to start converting AVCHD files to iMovie compatible format. During conversion, you can let this AVCHD to iMovie Converter program automatically run background and enjoy surfing on the Internet. When the conversion is done, just import your converted footage to iMovie and start your own masterpiece.

After that, you will get your AVCHD file in the format that fully compatible with iMovie, whatever the version your iMovie is. Now you can import the converted video to iMovie for editing without hassle.

Part 2. How to Import AVCHD Video File to iMovie

After recording AVCHD videos on your camcorders such as Panasonic, Sony or any other Camera, you would then love to edit the videos. With iMovie on your Mac, you can freely edit the videos. The part below guides you on how to directly import AVCHD video to iMovie and limitations of using AVCHD on iMovie.

But this may lead to open errors on iMovie becuase you haven't convert the video to the format that supported by iMovie.

Since you have your AVCHD on the external device, you need to look for USB cable that you will use to connect your Camcorder and your Mac. Ensure also that you have iMovie on your Mac. If you don’t have it, then you can download it now.

How to Import AVCHD File to iMovie on Mac

Step 1. Open iMovie on your Mac and connect the Camcorder to your Mac with USB cable.

Step 2. On iMovie, go to “File” button and click on “Import” and then select the location where you want to import the file. For this case click on “Import from Camcorder.

Step 3. Next you need to do the settings on how you want to import the AVCHD file. It is advisable to import the all card so that the files will be playable. Choose whether you want to import files automatically or manually before clicking on “Import All”.

Avchd Editing Mac

Step 4. Next, the import window will appear. Choose where to save the file, the event and video optimization size. Finally, import the file by clicking on “Import” button.

AVCHD to iMovie: Limitations Of iMovie On AVCHD File

Despite uploading the AVCHD file to iMovie, you will notice the file may fail to play. This is because iMovie supports native AVCHD in 1080i 50/60, 720p 24/25/30, 1080p 24/25/30. Therefore, your file is in this format AVCHD 1080p 50/60 or 720p 60 which is not supported by iMovie. Moreover, if you don’t upload the entire video card, the video may fail to play.

Solution: To fix the issue of compatibility on iMovie, you need to convert your AVCHD files to iMovie supported format using a media converter. You can convert to video formats like MTS, AVI, VOB, MOV, FLV and others. Use a software like iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate. It has the ability to convert AVCHD to iMovie. From there you can upload your video to iMovie and play it.

Optional: Online AVCHD to iMovie Converter

If you don't want to install a computer program, you can also try online video converter to convert your AVCHD Video to iMovie compatible formats. Try it below:

Note: Online video converter will take a long time to finish the conversion process. And it will always have video length limitation.