More AVCHD questions

scottdeane · Post by **scottdeane** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:00 pm

Hello again. I have a few more stupid questions (I know - no such thing) as I am absorbing more about this new digital camcorder adventure.

I have VS11+ and a Canon HG10 camera.

My assumptions (with this forums help) are that a good strategy is to do as little re-encoding as possible. Capture (import) AVCHD. Edit AVCHD and burn AVCHD onto dual layer DVD discs for playback on some yet to be purchased Blu Ray player.

Questions:
- should I leave Project properties compression in default, or select two pass encoding? I assume this would require re-encoding - would I be losing quality by not sticking with my original camera encoding? Or would quality be better, and I believe data size smaller?
- by editing in AVCHD then going to share/burning, am I going thru another encoding process? Should I go directly to burning (assuming I don't need to edit) and save a re-encoding process that may retain better quality?
-when editing AVCHD, the playback screen does not have the fast forward/rev (or any of the middle 5) buttons enabled. Also, the jog slider only works when the playing is paused. Is this normal? Do these things work when editing Mpg2(DV)?

thanks,
Scott

scottdeane · Post by **scottdeane** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:33 pm

No one knows, or has an opinion???

I would sure appreciate some input, please.

thanks,
Scott

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:37 pm

-when editing AVCHD, the playback screen does not have the fast forward/rev (or any of the middle 5) buttons enabled

They should be enabled to jump to the end of the video, frame advance etc.

How are you getting the avc/h264 videos into the timeline?
Are you importing them from the camcorder using the dvd/dvd-vr avchd import feature? I think that process may put the avc/h264 videos into a more editable/readable format. Also what are the properties of the source videos?
What resolution/settings did you record in when using the HG10.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:04 pm

scottdeane wrote:No one knows, or has an opinion???

I would sure appreciate some input, please.

thanks,
Scott

Patience, Scott!

On matters HD we generally defer to etech6355 and I presume you wouldn't begrudge him eating his breakfast or having a lie-in before responding!

scottdeane · Post by **scottdeane** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:32 pm

Sorry for my impatience, but I did post the question approx 24 hours ago. I will wait.. It is the weekend after all.

I have the HG10 set for highest resolution. I used the backup utility that came with the camera to transfer to the hard drive. Then imported into VS from the HDD with the capture feature in VS. All went well and very quickly.

Now I am in the process of burning an 8.5GB dual layer disc in AVCHD format. No effects were added and VS performed no rendering.

When burning starts the video progress screen says "converting video of the title". it is taking FOREVER to do this - 15 minutes so far and it's at 1% complete. It does this whether I have a title page or not... Watching paint dry is more satisfying.

I know - patience....

Perhaps I am reading too much into the term "title" and some conversion process is being performed on the entire video. What might that conversion process be? I would think the AVCHD data from the camcorder to the HDD to VS to Burning would not require conversion - staying in MPEG4 all the way. Apparently there's another piece of the puzzle I havent grasped yet. I am starting to get used to that.

Scott

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:17 pm

Editing AVC/h264 is like trying to run wires in a 2 story poured concrete home build on a concrete slab.
When you go from the VS timeline into the burning module it does not bring the videos directly.
It's bringing the project which contains the videos, so start over, that render probably still isn't finished yet if you have a P4 computer

Open a new project, go directly to "Share -> Create Disc -> AVCHD Disk". Under the GEAR icon make sure both the 2 boxes are checked ON "Do Not Convert Compliant" & "XDisc Format"
Then while still in this burning module use the icon at the top to insert the videos you imported from the HG10 or any other videos that are avc/h264 compliant.
Because these are already compliant they will not be re-encoded (settings under the GEAR Icon).

Another way to do this if you go into the burning module from a timeline with videos is in the burning module then simply remove/delete those videos that were carried over from the project.

The burning module is like another program inside of VS (very similar to Movie Factory). It also requires you to setup a "Working Folder" temp directory along with important "Project Settings". Available under Preferences & the GEAR Icon.

The above steps do not cover how to edit avchd & output the video. This is for burning already compliant avchd video files.
When you use the above method it should go very quickly. If you see Converting video 1 of 1 then something is wrong and the video is being re-encoded, either the videos aren't avchd compliant or you have the "Do Not Convert Compliant Mpeg" under the GEAR Icon turned off.

I would burn a single layer dvd-r disk first. Then when I know that process works correctly attempt to burn a DL dvd. Burning DL dvd's can be hit & miss because of burner/media compatibility problems. My DL dvd's are all 2.4X and it does take awhile to burn a 7gig or 8gig DL dvd at 2.4X

scottdeane · Post by **scottdeane** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:16 pm

Thanks so much for the info!

I stopped the first burn prior to it "cutting" the disc and moved back to Movie Factory. It is still working on the burn. It is faster, but still is taking its time "multiplexing video and audio". I did not check the xdisk format" box, however because I didn't know what it was at the time. I can't remember if there was a "do not compress compliant..." box as it is tied up now burning the disc and I don't want to interrupt.

Yes, the process is slow. The system with the dual layer burner in it is a P4 with hyper threading and 3.3GHz with 2.5GB RAM. The Duo systems render much faster, but currently lack the dual layer drive.

The dual layer burners do have issues, especially the early ones. I was boasting about getting a Memorex with my IT support guy at work (Intel) and he was not impressed. I will get a better one for the dual processor dual core machine that will become my editing machine....I attempted to backup my raw videos onto dual layer and the third of three discs failed to write - great, 3 new coffee coasters. I think I'll open a coffee shop!

Man, I ran into some very Japanese language in some error messages with Movie Factory!! VS11 appears so far to be better edited, but the manual really sucks for questions like this one.. I hope Corel does a better job than ULead has, in the future.

thanks again!
Scott

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:27 pm

In the avchd disk creation when you see video/audio multiplexing or similar wording it should be burning the disk at the same time.

Usually I burn at 4X, recently have used 16X with good success.
I haven't come across any Japanese messages yet.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:39 pm

... the manual really sucks for questions like this one.. I hope Corel does a better job than ULead has, in the future.

I hate to tell you, but the VS11 manual *is* the Corel version. Corel took over InterVideo/Ulead about 18 months ago i.e. well before VS11 appeared on the market...

Choptop · Post by **Choptop** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:14 am

I tried out the AVCHD with stills for a slide show. Results were fantastic but "watching paint dry" is right. It took 2 hours to render and create a 17 minute movie. My system is also P4HT 3.x 2gig, sata drives etc.
But the quality was worth the wait!