TOD format, what are TOD files, how to play TOD files on Mac

1, What are TOD files?

Video file captured by a JVC Everio video camera, such as the GZ-HD3 and GZ-HD7; saved in a proprietary format that can be viewed using the Cyberlink software included with JVC video cameras.

Recent versions of other video-editing programs may also be able to import TOD files (see below); the included Cyberlink PowerDirector application can import TOD files and export them as .MPG files, which are viewable by most video-editing programs.

NOTE: Some JVC Everio cameras save video files with a .MOD extension, which is similar to the TOD format.

2, MOD and TOD files

MOD and TOD are informal names of tapeless video formats used by JVC (MOD and TOD), Panasonic (MOD only) and Canon (MOD only) in some models of digital camcorders. Format names correspond to extensions of video files. Neither JVC nor Panasonic, who pioneered the format, explained meaning of the file extensions. MOD is used exclusively for standard definition video files, while TOD is used for high definition files. The formats were never given an official name.

The first camcorders that used MOD format appeared in 2003. JVC introduced Everio GZ-MG30, which was recording directly to internal hard disk drive. Panasonic unveiled SDR-S100, which recorded to SD cards. Codec type, data rates, frame rate and frame size closely matched parameters of DVD-video.

In January 2007 JVC announced its first high definition tapeless consumer camcorder, Everio GZ-HD7, which could record 1080i MPEG-2 video to either built-in hard disk drive or an SD memory card. Data rates, frame rate and frame size matched or exceeded parameters of HDV video. This format is known as TOD.

In January 2008 Canon unveiled a family of tapeless standard definition consumer camcorders: the FS100, FS10 and FS11. All these camcorders record in MOD format.

Neither Panasonic nor Canon have ever released a consumer high definition camcorder with TOD recording format. Instead, Panasonic joined Sony to develop AVCHD. Canon supported AVCHD format by releasing its first AVCHD camcorder in 2007.

Both MOD and TOD are file-based formats that are stored on a random-access media. Directory structure and naming convention are identical except for extensions of media files.

Standard definition video is stored in MPEG-2 program stream container files with MOD extension; in most other systems these files have extension MPG or MPEG. High definition video is stored in MPEG-2 transport stream container files with TOD extension; in most other systems these files have M2T extension. Transport stream files can be converted into more common program stream files without recompressing the video itself.

The file structure is unique to this video recording format, though the directory for still images located on the root level is called DCIM, following a standard agreed upon by many still camera manufacturers.

Standard definition video can be recorded in 4:3 and 16:9 formats, but the latter is not correctly identified in media file header, so video may appear squeezed horizontally when viewed. Software that is shipped with camcorders is capable of processing aspect ratio correctly by using metadata stored in MOI files. There are also third-party tools for setting the wide-screen flag in media file header.

MOD video can be viewed on a computer with a player that is capable of reproducing MPEG-2 video. This video can be easily authored for watching on a DVD player without recompression, as it is fully compliant with DVD-video standard.

TOD format is comparable with AVCHD, but cannot be directly played on consumer video equipment. Media files must be packaged into distribution formats like HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc, using authoring software. One of TOD recording modes, "1440CBR", has the same frame size, aspect ratio and frame rate as 1080i HDV, and can be loosely called "HDV on disk".

Products

JVC MOD camcorders

2004: GZ-MC100 (SD), GZ-MC200 (SD)
2005: GZ-MG30 (HDD), GZ-MG70 (HDD)
2006: GZ-MG37 (HDD), GZ-MG77 (HDD), GZ-MG505 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
2007: GZ-MG130 (HDD), GZ-MG155 (HDD), GZ-MG255 (HDD), GZ-MG555 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
2008: GZ-MS100U (SD/SDHC card)
2008: GZ-MG7230 (30 GB HDD, MicroSD)
2009: GZ-MG630 (60 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-MG670 (80 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-MG680 (120 GB HDD, MicroSD)

JVC TOD camcorders

2007: GZ-HD7 (HDD, SD/SDHC card), GZ-HD3 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
March 2008: GZ-HD5 (HDD, MicroSDHC card), GZ-HD6 (HDD, MicroSDHC card)
June 2008: GZ-HD30, GZ-HD40 (HDD, MicroSDHC card, dual TOD and AVCHD recording)

Panasonic MOD camcorders

2003: SV-AV100 (SD card)
2005: SDR-S100 (SD card)
2006: SDR-S150 (SD/SDHC card)
2007: SDR-S10 (SD/SDHC card), SDR-H18 (HDD, SD card), SDR-H200 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
2008: SDR-H40 (HDD, SD/SDHC card), SDR-H60 (HDD, SD/SDHC card)
2008: SDR-SW20 (SD/SDHC card)

Canon MOD Camcorders

2008: FS100 (SDHC), FS10 (SDHC), FS11 (SDHC)

3, How to get TOD files off HD Video camera/camcorder to Mac?

Connect camcorder to your Mac computer with cable (USB/Wifi)
Select mode of camcorder such as PC/Computer mode
iMovie will automatic open Import window
If DVD Player automatic open. just quit DVD Player first
So Now, you can review your video or select "Import All"(make sure your switch is set to "Automatic")
If you select "Manual", you can import some clip to iMovie
If you import from Tape based device (DV/HDV), iMovie will automatic revise tape and import all
iMovie automatic create thumbnail video after complete import

4, How to play TOD files on Mac?

Try either MPlayer OS X or VLC Media Player. They are all free.

These excellent and free multimedia players can tackle many of the video formats unknown to QuickTime. They contain a decoder to decode the .TOD files. They will also play many of the formats you will find inside the .TOD file.