AVCHD Question

simonpj · Post by **simonpj** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:04 pm

Sorry to be dull, i'm quite new to this.

My question is about my output options if I record in AVCHD (Panasonic camcorder).

I assume that my PC's DVD drive will be able to replay an HD recording, is this correct?

My home cinema DVD player has no HD capability. Will an HD DVD play? (obviously at normal resolution) If not, can I specify a non-HD output when I render the video using VideoStudio 11?

Sorry to be thick, and any help anyone can offer will be MUCH appreciated!

Simon

Jerry Jones · Post by **Jerry Jones** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:50 pm

I have the Sony HDR-UX1 AVCHD DVD disc model.

So we don't have the same model of camcorder.

However, I can share some insights.

First, I believe it is essential for me to use the Cineform .avi codec -- a $250 purchase -- to get decent AVCHD editing functionality in Corel's VideoStudio 11 Plus or Corel MediaStudio Pro 8.

Workflow steps:

1. Transfer the AVCHD files from the camcorder "disc" (or memory card in your case) to my computer's hard disk. I can do this successfully using either the Corel VideoStudio 11 Plus "Import From DVD" command or by using the Sony "Picture Motion Browser" software.

2. Transcode the AVCHD files to Cineform .avi format.

3. Edit.

4. Export to either WMV HD or HD MPEG-2

5. Distribute. (WMV HD can be distributed as a data file on any type of disc; HD MPEG-2 can be distributed as an "HD DVD" image burned to a normal DVD).

As for your question about playback of "HD DVD" discs, you should know that a normal DVD player can't read an "HD DVD" disc... even if the "HD DVD" disc image is burned to a normal DVD.

Yes, you can "down-convert" your HD timeline to standard definition MPEG-2 and then burn a normal DVD that will play in normal DVD players.

To play an "HD DVD," you will need an "HD DVD" player.

You can give your target audience an option to see high definition video by burning a WMV HD file -- as data -- to a normal DVD disc, which can be played on a computer with Windows Media Player.

For me, it is essential to use the Cineform codec because -- in my opinion -- there is a long GOP smart render bug that makes the native editing of MPEG-2 impractical.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net