Ideal MINIMUM system for working with AVCHD?

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:27 pm

This topic is very useful. I was actually planning on using a third party software to convert from AVCHD to MPEG2 video, but I am glad to learn that this can be done within VS11+. For the little research I have done, computers able to process and actually burn blue-ray or HD-DVD won't come cheap. In fact HD DVD / Blue-Ray burners are still very expensive and 1 blank blue-ray disc costs more than 20.00 USD. So I will give this process a try, try to retain as much quality as I can on my MPEG2 video so my end result is as close as possible to DVD quality which is still very good.

By the way, will my MPEG2 file retain Dolby Digital Audio?

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:50 am

Dabitz, That was a fast trip.
Yes, you can retain the Dolby Audio.

2Dogs,
Video editors need to load the drivers for these H264 accelerated video cards.
Pretty sure VS only uses Directx acceleration.
I have this on my system and H264 playback is not that great on many of the editors..

babdi · Post by **babdi** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:03 am

Seconding videoman's specifications I suggest to go for 512 MB video card. A safe bet and a bit future proof.

Again as videoman said Vista is a RAM gobbler. 4 GB would give lot of elbow room.

Finally 500 GB HDD with 10,000 rpm would keep VS11+ chugging happily.

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:48 pm

Hi there... my trip was great... man what a gorgeous place (Niagara Falls)...

I bought VS11plus last night, and installed the HD pack. Is there any other patch besides the HD one? I was trying to figure out how to convert the AVCHD to MPEG2, but I didnt' see that option anywhere. One of the things I did try was to import an AVCHD video I had saved on my hard drive. Everytime I click on it VS11 crashed. No warning message or anything just vanished. I downloaded another 3rd party software to convert to MPEG2, but that software looks complicated... I would love to do everything within VS11.

Also, when importing old DVD's from mini DVD's (previously recorded on my former Sony DVD505 Cam), they show the date and time it was recorded now. Is there a way to get rid of that? In VS10 the date and time stamp didn't show on the video at all.

I played the video I took on my trip directly from the camcorder to my HDTV. Wow, the picture is stunning. It looks like one of those Discovery Theater Documentals (except for the camera shaking, still working on that, ha, ha).

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:36 pm

Dabitz,

I played the video I took on my trip directly from the camcorder to my HDTV. Wow, the picture is stunning. It looks like one of those Discovery Theater Documentals (except for the camera shaking, still working on that, ha, ha).

Glad to hear you recorded the footage in HD. The time & date stamping is an internal setting in the cam. Not sure about the exact settings for that cam. It's been previously discussed on this forum with a resolution. Something related to sub-titling.

First, under ¡§Preferences -> Edit tab make sure resampling quality = BEST.
¡§General Tab -> Show message when inserting first video clip into the Timeline¡¨ = ON (Checked ON)
¡§General Tab -> Playback method¡¨ = Instant Playback
¡§General Tab -> Instant Playback target¡¨ = Preview Window

To create a dvd you first need to convert the HD to SD video. Also for editing purposes.
Goto ¡§Tools -> Make Movie Templates Manager¡¨ -> NEW -> FILE_FORMAT = MPEG files (*.mpg)
Assign a Name to this template such as ¡§My DVD SD 720x480 8500 VBR Template¡¨
Then click on the ¡§OK¡¨

General Tab
FrameRate = 29.97 frames/second
Frame type = upper field first
FrameSize = 720x480
Display aspect ratio = 16:9

Compression Tab
Media Type = NTSC DVD
Quality = 100
Video data rate = Variable 8500kbs
Audio format = Dolby Digital Audio
Audio type = 3/2(L,C,R,SL,SR)
Audio Bit Rate = 384kbs

Toggle between the 2 tabs & double check these settings making sure they are correct.
Click ¡§OK¡¨ & save your template.
You can make a few of your own templates the ¡§Video data rate = Variable 8500kbs setting will determine the quality & how much you can fit on one Single Sided DVD. The above template should give you an hour of video per dvd.

Always convert your video first before editing.
Then start a new project and load the video that was converted to SD (Standard Definition), answer YES to Match your Project Settings.

Converting your video (Remember your custom template and use it now).
Load your AVCHD Videos into the timeline. Trim them if you want, do not edit them, only trim if needed.
Then goto ¡§Share -> Create Video File¡¨ Select the custom template your made, it should be located towards the bottom of the listings.
Assign a filename and location on the harddisk and convert the video from HD to SD.

Start a new project, go directly to ¡§Share -> Create Disk¡¨ click on the Add Video Files Icon, load your new SD video file, create chapters, menus & burn the dvd.
Always go into the burning module with an empty timeline, makes things easier to work with.

Once you get your HD videos into SD you can also follow the tutorials.
You may want to print out these tips I've posted. Makes things easier.

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:22 pm

Thanks so much, it all makes perfect sense. One question though, do you have any idea why VS11+ vanishes once I click on a AVCHD video file? No warning or error message, just dissapears...

I will try again tonight. I will install my Sony programs also.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:34 pm

Is there any other patch besides the HD one?

There is an update patch for VS11 AND the Power Pack which in effect converts it into VS11.5.

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:38 pm

Thanks Ken.

Ohhhh... I did the power pack but I thought the other download was for V11, the regular version.

From the patch notes: "Inserting a video with a long file name will cause the program to close." I think that's what is happening to me... I'll give it a try tonight and post back with the results.

Thanks again, you guys are amazing...

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:42 pm

Both the Power Pack and the Update patch are on the Ulead update page http://www.ulead.com/tech/vs/vs_ftp.htm

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:44 pm

I figured it out, see my post before your latest response... my bad.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:50 pm

I think you should install the regular update patch first.
Then install the HD Addon pack/patch.

For mwhdvm,
I don't believe that upgrading your video card or harddisk is going to help VS11+. Those 2 items will enhance playing back H264 & mpeg2 video on your computer using PowerDVD 7 or WinDvd 8.VS11+ uses directx acceleration to playback the video. You could use a proxy file or convert them as posted above. Maybe memory if VS11+ uses the memory to build it's preview graphs. The operating system will use the memory.

The H264 acceleration on the Nvidia cards is called "PureVision" or PureView. These accelerators are included in the 6xxx series for hd-mpeg2 video , but you need programs like Powerdvd7 or Windvd 8 to access this acceleration.

It's the nature of the beast (AVCHD) & editing programs. Playing back avc/h264 is different then editing it.
This link explains how Nvidia HD cards work:
http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo_hd.html
I don't believe VS11+ has a driver to access this H264 acceleration on the Nvidia cards, it's using windows DirectX acceleration.

ATI uses AVIVO for HighDef acceleration, also works nice for playback..

Dabitz · Post by **Dabitz** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:52 pm

Whoops, but I installed it already. I guess I can always uninstall everything and reinstall.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:02 pm

No need I guess, if you have to.
Just install the regular patch & then the HD-Addon.
No need to re-install the complete program again.
You can install the patches over themselves again in the order I posted.

Let use know if you can insert your avchd files directly after installing the patches.

mwhdvm · Post by **mwhdvm** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:31 am

Many thanks etech6355 and the rest of the posters. You guys really are a tremendous amount of help and an awesome resource. Greatly appreciated!!

mwhdvm · Post by **mwhdvm** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:44 am

etech6355,

I went to the Make Movie Templates Manager and did as you prescribed and when I click OK at the end, it shows up in the list, but as soon as I click "Close" on the manager, and then reopen it, my custom template is gone. I've tried numerous times. Any reason you can think of for that? I