Panasonic HDC-SD5 - Cannot Find Files

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:11 am

I just upgraded to Video Studio 11 plus. When I plug my new Panasonic HDC-SD5 into the computer's USB port, I cannot locate that as a device to import into Video Studio. Nor can I find any of the files within the Video Studio Editor.

How do I configure Video Studio 11 Plus to recognize my camera, import the files or at least find the files when browsing for them from within the editor?

Thank you,

Tom

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:51 am

etech -- it's a recent AVCHD hard disk camera.

Javaman -- you haven't filled in your computer specifications. But you need to be aware that AVCHD is verrrrry demanding of computer resources, including in playback of High Def H.264 video clips. If you look at etech's System button, you will see what sort of computer he uses for HD video editing. By contrast, look at mine, and while it can edit and process AVCHD, it takes about 10 times real time to do. I recently processed a 4 minute High Def mpeg-2 into AVCHD H.264 using VS11.5+, and it took nearly 40 minutes to render. And the greatest insult of all was that the computer just wasn't powerful enough to play back the resulting clip smoothly. When I transferred it to my new Core 2 Duo 2 GHz machine, it worked fine.

So just be warned...

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:37 am

Thanks Ken - I just updated my profile to include my system stats. Yes, I know how processor-hungry this CODEC is. I'm prepared for that. My problem is that I can't even get Video Studio 11 Plus to see the files or import them. How do I do that?

By the way, yes, my new camera is very new, and comes bundled with a Pinnacle Studio demo disk. I just upgraded to Video Studio 11, paid the $50 for the upgrade, and don't want to switch to Pinnacle if I don't have to.

Thanks again,

Tom

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:01 pm

C'mon moderator - VS 11 Plus just doesn't work with AVCHD does it? If it does, then how do I import files? How can I get it to recognize my camera? According to the Panasonic Web site, VS 11 Plus is compatible with my HDC-SD5, but I sure don't see it.

I'm about ready to ask for my money back.

Insult to injury - I click on HELP within VS 11 and I get the message "Cannot Find Help File"

I've uninstalled VS 9, reinstalled VS 11 now twice.

Sorry, just soooo frustrating!

Thanks,

Tom

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:06 pm

Does Windows recognise the existence of the cam when connected?
If so what does Windows see it as? Separate drive? USB mass storage device?

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:39 pm

Windows sees it as a mass storage device. I just installed the patch for VS11. I installed the PowerPack before, but it caused VS 11 to crash. Do I need the PowerPack for VS to recognize AVCHD?

Thanks for your help - much appreciated.

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:50 pm

I am by no means expert on this but based on similar experience I can at least give some idea.

First, although Panasonic may say VS11Plus can handle the files it most definitely doesn't mean you can use VS to IMPORT the files from the cam. Very often in cases like these the cams that are recognised as mass storage Devices can only be accessed through the specific software provided with the cam. The same goes for Sony DVD cams for example. They are recognised by Windows as Mass Storage devices yet rarely can any program other than the one provided with the cam actually access the disc while it is still in the cam. To handle that you have to either use the softeware provided (in Sony's case, garbage!) or finalise the disc, place it in the DVD tray and import using VS from there.

In you case I strongly suspect that the software you were provided with has been specially tweaked to import directly from the cam and possibly ONLY that software will do it.

I think perhaps your alternatives may be to either use the sofware provided to import then use VS for editing or see if you can navigate to the files in the cam through Windows Explorer and simply drag them across to a folder on your hard drive.

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:14 pm

Thanks - you're on the right track with that advice. My camera uses High Capacity SD cards as its storage medium. The Panasonic software will copy all the info from the cards to the computer (similar to video capture, I suppose), but I cannot get VS 11 to find those files when I try navigating to them with the Video Editor.

Do you know anything about changing the "Capture Plug-In" so that it will recognize AVCHD encoded files?

Thanks again,

Tom

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:22 pm

No, I don't have VS11, I am still sitting on the fence.
Part of the difficulty here is you are not answering questions that are asked. That's why the other poster got frustrated and deleted his posts.

I asked you about Windows recognising the cam or if you could navigate to the cam using Explorer and you didn't answer yet you were quick to jump to another topic regarding the capture plugin. Slow down. This is a process of elimination and no-one on the board can SEE your setup.

If the software provided can transfer the files then what do you have on your hard disc when you do that? How are you trying to navigate to those files from within VS?

PLEASE just read this carefully and answer those questions!

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:02 pm

Windows recognizes the camera as a mass storage device.

Yes, I use the provided software to transfer the files from the HD SD card within the camera to my computer.

From within VS, I navigate to the Video Editor and click on the (open folder icon) 'Load Video' button near the top to navigate to my files.

I am now able to find my files this way after installing the PowerPack for VS 11.

I'll have to wait until I get home to see if can use VS to capture by using the "Import From Mobile Device" in the capture tab.

AVCHD support seems to have been activated upon installation of the PowerPack.

Thanks for your patience and help.

Tom

Post by **lancecarr** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:34 pm

No probs.
Let us know what works and what doesn't as these experiences build knowledge into the forum for everyone to use.

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:32 pm

Will do. Sorry for being so abrupt before. Just dropped $1,000 on a HD camera with anticipation that VS would seamlessly recognize and import the files. Turns out that the Power Pack is essential to this process.

Still can't find the 'Help' file, so if anyone has any help for finding that file, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 8:56 pm

Re the Help files, depending on what version of VS you have obtained, it should be either on the main installation disc (boxed version) or in the second of the three files in the download package (Extra Content). If not, you can download the Manual from the Ulead.com > Download > Product Documents page.

Javaman · Post by **Javaman** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:06 pm

Thank you.