This is what works based on iskra's tip about Handbrake. I am now one step closer to video improvisation: next I need to understand how to deal with the AVCHD files in OS X. I think the best idea is to do all cutting/cleaning-up and things like that in OS X before transmitting to iOS with Handbreak or anything.
Puzzle 1: best way to convert MTS files to iPhone. There are many options Handbrake and Handbrake Alternative. Others?
Handbrake
Procedure that avoids the "no valid source selected"
copy the AVCHD file away from your camera to some harddrive (and free space from your camera)
rename the AVCHD file and rename the BDMV -- now when you clip them in Handbrake you can get into the MTS files
Discussion
You store the AVCHD without changing them or importing them anywhere in your external hardrive (best idea with this large files).
My plan is after all shooting sessions to remove the material away from the camera so material irrelevant to each other won't get into the libraries.
ALERT! Conversion of MTS files to iPhone file type: eg 1.5 GB video about (15 minutes) required 15 minutes' conversion on Macbook Air 1.8 GHz -- far too long time for improvisational material!
Related historical material
- comment to iskra's Handbrake: when I select the AVCHD thing, it says "No valid source found" -- how can I get the AVCHD into
Handbrake?
and
instructions
Puzzle 2. Is handbrake really a solution to this? Or should I use Handbrake
Alternative
to get the ACHD videos to iPhone?
Solution: rename the folder names and you will get the MTS files to be accessed by Handbrake: it is not programmed automatically to dig into the AVCHD folders.