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Just purchased VS 11+, latest plus packs and patches as of 12/2/2007.

Can't seem to create a new project to preserve both my 1440x1080 input (AVCHD) with Dolby 5.1 with the eventual result to create a standard DVD in BD-DVD format (to play on my BluRay or PS3 of course) that still has 1440x1080 and the 5.1 sound track (which my HDR-CX7 records).

When I create a new project, the only way I can get 1440x1080 or 1920x1080 is to specify MPEG-2 as the media type in the "Project Options", but then the "ULead Video Studio" tab sets the Audio Channels back to Stereo only.

Very frustrating, because I want to keep HD and surround sound all through the project. The included Sony software with the HDR-CX7 preserves everything end to end, and the resulting BD-DVD are fabulous; of course, I want to do the fades, transitions, effects that are not available in the Sony "Picture Motion Browser" software.

Where am I missing out here? How can I get VS11+ to cooperate with me on this?

Thanks.
Bob Bryla

Just purchased VS 11+, latest plus packs and patches as of 12/2/2007.

You may want to take advantage of their 30 day money back guarantee.
Remove Vs11+ completely.
Purchase MF6+ and then the HD-Add-On pack $20.00 us dollars.
I find it easier to work with avchd video in MF6+, avchd output.
I have to admit thou that if want to edit your avchd video files directly this may present a problem with any editing program. (One exception being Sony Vegas 8 Professional $700.00 along with having a very fast computer such as an Intell Q6600 quad processor). Even Vegas 8 Pro does not allow you to author BDMV or AVCHD disks with menus directly. For that you would use MF6+.

But to edit the actual footage with ulead you would want to convert it to hd-mpeg2. Then create BDMV disks with either avchd or hd-mpeg2 video (mixing is allowed on Blu-Ray Disks).

To edit & retain the Dolby 5.1 original audio from the source video isn't easy. I'm not sure if after recoding that the original audio is remixed correctly & retains the original center(vocal) track. It should.
But in ulead VS or MF you can always convert any audio to Dolby 5.1.

In VS11+ with all the patches the project settings you are looking for a located in the "Share -> Create Disk" module. If you go their (select AVCHD disk), and then into the project settings (GEAR Icon -> Customize) they are available. You can also create a custom template with these settings. These features that are in the VS11+ Disk Creation Module are native to MF6+ along with the feature to export the video to your harddisk.
MF6+ is not as good an editor as VS11+ is though.

I've made many AVCHD disks with MF6+ and they play great on the PS3. Love the new avchd format for playing back (not editing of course)

I'm not saying VS11+ wiil not work, I just feel that MF6+ is easier to use for avchd or hd-mpeg2 with Dolby 5.1 directly.

You can now, with VS11+ installed use your existing AVCHD videos to create an avchd disk, as long as they are compliant. This method will burn a dvd in the avchd format and playback in HD on the PS3 or any blu-ray player.

Start VS and go directly go "Share -> Create Disk", click on the GEAR Icon and check on both "Do not convert compliant files" & X-Disc.
Load your mts, m2ts, or m2t videos into the timeline. Make menus and burn an AVCHD Disk.
BDMV disks need to be burnt to a Blu-Ray Disk, if you burn them to a standard dvd (using workarounds) the PS3 displays them as data disks, same with Blu-Ray Players.
The AVCHD disks play without any problems.

Hope this helps.

Wow, thanks for the quick reply.

I have about 3 1/2 weeks to go on the money back guarantee, so I'll give it another week or so to see what happens.

Given the ease of use and functionality that MF6+ has, that VS11+ does not, I may very well keep both. I have about 70 Digital8 tapes that need to go onto DVDs or at least onto hard disk, I think VS11+ may be the ticket for that task anyway.

Just about 10 minutes ago, I suspended my disbelief, added about 10 AVCHD tracks from the Sony Cam, did not re-render, and created one of those BD-DVDs that records on 4.7GB but plays in a BD player. Took very little time, and the results seem to be very HD on my 1080p LCD.

I had to suspend my disbelief because the whole time, the title bar for the VS11+ window said "720*480". But the final product was definitely more than 720p, and the audio was Dolby 5.1.

Thanks again!
BB

Hi,
I should have said:
Start VS and go directly go "Share -> Create Disk -> AVCHD", click on the GEAR Icon and check on both "Do not convert compliant files" & X-Disc.
After you click on the GEAR Icon you can click on "Change Mpeg Settings" & customize the projects video/audio properties. Keep in mind though that if your video is already compliant it will not be re-encoded to those video/audio properties. If the program had to re-encode the video those are the setting it will use.
Clicking on the lower left Icon and selecting "Disc Template Manager" lets you make customized templates that you can apply under the GEAR Icon.

In VS the timeline versus the create disk burning sections are like 2 different programs.

There is a way to be able to set VS11+ timeline up as hd-mpeg2 using Dolby 5.1 or avchd video with Dolby 5.1
I just don't have time to explain how to do that now and the avc/h264 encodes I get from VS11+ timeline are not as good as MF6+
HD-Mpeg2 in VS11+ no problem, works great.

OK, one last question (I hope!!) -- before I abandon VS11+ completely, how do I do the "create BD-compatible disk on DVD media that will play on a Blu-Ray player with same resolution as the captured AVCHD" function on MF6+ ??? I can't seem to find the equivalent method after traversing all the different functions from the launcher... (in other words, the "Share -> Create Disk -> AVCHD" function you use in VS11+).

All I can seem to create in MF6+ is the standard DVD.

And believe me, I've RTFM as well... all I can seem to find is the menu to create a real BD disk.

Thanks.
BB

Did you purchase MF6+ or using the trial version.
The avchd and Blu-Ray selections are available with the retail version of MF6+.and the purchase of the HD-Add-On pack ( $20.00 ).
So you purchase MF6+ and install patch#2, then the HD-Powerpack.
Some say that Patch#2 is now included in the download version, not sure.

MovieFactory 6+ Patch#2:
http://www.ulead.com/tech/dmf/dmf_ftp.htm

MovieFactory 6+ HD PowerPack Plugin:
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/plugin.htm

Do not install "Hot Fix 01" unless you have installation failures (usually not required)

DOH! Well, I do have the retail version of MF6+, which does support HD in general, but I did not have the HD add on for $20.

Which of course comes free with VS11+ :sigh:

Looks like MF6+ is sort of +, but I guess for $20 more you get MF6++, and the price begins to approach that of VS11!!! So it goes.

Thanks again for your help.

Yes, if you go back to your original post/request, I said you can work with the videos the way you wanted to with MF6+ and the HD-Add-On pack installed.

It's really a catch 22 depending on your editing needs. You can edit in MF6+.
The burning module in VS11+ doesn't let you work with your videos as easy, it's really for burning the project files or direct media.

I suggest searching on etech6355 for many of my posts on How-To's for using MF6+. It's very powerful after you learn how to use the program.
The biggest challenge is learning video itself. It takes awhile to learn all the important attributes/properties of dvd's/mpeg2/avc & the blu-ray/hd-dvd formats.

Most important in MF6+ is mastering making templates along with MF6+ powerful exporting features. How to use & apply them, setting up your "Project Settings" and working with compliant video (video that does not need to be re-encoded).
Once you learn this making dvd's/avchd or blu-ray disks, HD-Dvd's is easy.
MF6+ also makes great slideshows, simple..

Any questions related to MF6+ post in the MF6+ forum.

I am bit confused. So you guys are saying that I would need to convert my AVCHD files to HD-MPEG2 in order to retain surround sound and make it easier to edit? Is there a work flow for AVCHD files? I just upgraded my system and have no trouble handling AVCHD files and I am looking forward to creating my first Blue-Ray movie...

Very frustrating, because I want to keep HD and surround sound all through the project. The included Sony software with the HDR-CX7 preserves everything end to end, and the resulting BD-DVD are fabulous; of course, I want to do the fades, transitions, effects that are not available in the Sony "Picture Motion Browser" software.

If you re-read the original post this person wants to retain & keep his original Dolby 5.1 audio. This is what makes the editing much harder.
It is possible to do this in VS11+, but in all video editors working with Dolby 5.1 is not easy because of the Dolby format for editing.
You need to create proxy files for the avchd videos you intend to edit. I've found it best to let VS11+ create the proxy file using VS11+ defaults.

Before editing avchd video in VS11+ I recommend learning how to use VS11+ with standard easy to edit videos first (standard mpeg or dv videos). Then after you learn how to multi-trim, add transitions, effects, titles & ripple editing start working with the avchd videos. Short clips at a time and how to export the avc/h264 video to a new file after editing the source videos.

I just upgraded my system and have no trouble handling AVCHD files and I am looking forward to creating my first Blue-Ray movie...

Hopefully you can post some tips & tricks for others to use for editing avc/h264 in VS11+
I haven't found avc/h264 very friendly to work with directly, for editing I have to create proxy files using VS11+..

Etech,

Just wanted to clarify that I do can handle AVCHD files, but I also get jerky picture or very bad quality once I select Dolby Digital. Do you recommend saving all my clips as WMV HD files or MPEG2HD files and then work with those, or is it better to work with Proxy files? I don't see a clear setting on the "share/create video file" tab to create MPEG2HD files. I do see WMV-HD. It is important for me to retain HD and Dolby Digital. I am pretty good at using VS11+ so I definitively don't want to give up.

It is important for me to retain HD and Dolby Digital. I am pretty good at using VS11+ so I definitively don't want to give up.

That's good, this is the only method I've found to be fairly reliable editing avchd.

I would use a short 2 minute test avchd video to get use to this process.
Start VS11+, Preferences (F6) render quality = Best, assign the working folder etc.
Turn ON "Create Proxy File" for files larger than 720x480 and assign a directory on a ntfs drive.
Let VS use it's default settings for creating the proxy file. The project settings don't appear to be that important when using proxy files. I have mine set on the default avi framebased 320x240.
Insert your xxxx.m2ts video file. VS11+ will start creating a proxy file, when VS11+ is done making the proxy file there will be a small icon inside of the thumbnail on the timeline (also I think in the library clip).
Save the project. VS11+ has to make the proxy file first (completely) before using it for smooth editing. To view the process of the proxy file creation goto "Tools -> Proxy File Manager". You will see the progress of the file being created. Depending on the length of your source video this may take sometime to create.
After the proxy is created under Project mode you should see smooth previews for playback, even for edited portions of the video.

After you are finished editing the project to create an AVCHD file that's the same as the source video goto "Share -> Mpeg Optimizer", select details to see what VS is going to recode the file as, only the edited portions will be re-encoded in the video (this is using smart render).
Click on accept, before saving the video I also click on "Options" and turn off "Playback Video after Rendering", because it's avchd and not necessary.

Be patient when VS re-encodes the new avchd video to the same video/audio parameters as the source avc/h264 video. Sometimes the program may appear to be idle or not responding when actually it is performing calculations in memory.
On my system when using the above process and re-encoding avchd I cannot drag any windows on top of the VS11+ window. This causes corruption on my display and the program does stop responding.

The other questions about saving the video in other formats from the timeline cannot natively in the HD-Mpeg2 format with Dolby Audio.
You can make a standard dvd in 16:9 with the Dolby Audio 5.1 @ 448kbs.
I would never select the HD-WMV codec for this.

There are 2 or 3 other methods you could use to convert the Avchd to hd-mpeg2 and retain the dolby audio. I could cover that later.

etech? Why create an AVCHD file and not a Blue-Ray disc directly like when you create a DVD? Is it because each blank blue-ray disc is about $25USD? I believe I read somewhere you can save an AVCHD movie to a regular DVD and play on PS3 and other players, but you are limited to less than 1hr of video. I wonder what time limit I should stick to if I use Blue-Ray disc.

etech? Why create an AVCHD file and not a Blue-Ray disc directly like when you create a DVD? Is it because each blank blue-ray disc is about $25USD? I believe I read somewhere you can save an AVCHD movie to a regular DVD and play on PS3 and other players

That would be when you make an AVCHD disk, the AVCHD disk format is burnt to standard dvd's. These disks are HighDefinition disks, only written to standard dvd's. These are the disks you are referring to that playback in the Blu-Ray disk players such as the Sony PS3.

I basically anwsered more to the intent of this thread (it's subject) is how to insert/import avchd with Dolby 5.1 audio and retain the settings after edting, then producing a new avchd file.
After you make this video file it is avchd disk compliant. You then use this video file in VS11+ authoring module to burn either an AVCHD disk or a Blu-Ray Disk.
You need to understand how VS11+ works with compliant media in it's authoring module, covered many times in the tutorial sections and various posts.
This is so the compliant media gets passed through the authoring module and is not re-encoded (because it is compliant).

These file formats and related media use for these new disk formats can be confusing.

Standard dvd's use Standard Definition Mpeg2 video.

High Definition on standard dvd's or blu-ray disks:
AVCHD Disk - Uses Standard Definition or High Definition AVC/H264 video only.
Blu-Ray Disk - Uses Standard Definition or High Definition MPEG2 or AVC/H264 video and another format called V1 (not discussed here).

etech? Why create an AVCHD file and not a Blue-Ray disc directly like when you create a DVD?

You can, just like making a dvd. The method I describe makes it easier to work with the video in the authoring module(s).

Thanks etech once again. I can now officialy say that all I know I learned from you.

You know when you do a DVD movie, you set up your quality to about 9000 and you know you probably can fit about 1 hour of DVD quality video on a regular DVD. When I work on a Blue-Ray movie that I intend to burn as a Blue-Ray movie. What is my time limit? I can't seem to find that answer anywhere.