Panasonic SD9 capture AVCHD

Astacus · Post by **Astacus** » Tue May 27, 2008 4:37 pm

While I wait for the ulead product to arrive (sent to the UK from CZ, go figure!) I downloaded a trial of another product that not only imports the video, but offers to convert to a form suitable for frame by frame editing...Not sure if it is against etiquette to mention it, but I am reassured tat it might be do-able.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue May 27, 2008 9:52 pm

It would be extremely useful for others to know what this mystery program is ... and what format it actually converts the AVCHD to.

pangwu · Post by **pangwu** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:35 am

Have checked the codec last night. Couldn't see any codec pre-fixed with Panasonic.

Btw, I started to suspect Pinancle might works. Cos in the SD-9 package, there is an installation disc for Pinancle. If it doesn't work, Panasonic should not put it in the box. I'll do some tests in these days to confirm if Pinnacle has any problem to deal with Full HD 17Mbps AVCHD file.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:44 am

I have also done a little more experimentation, without success, I am afraid. I wondered if recoding the S9 original .mts files using the VS11.5+ codec might help, but it didn't. I recoded both with and without SmartRender enabled. Both results crashed VS after only about 9 seconds in Project mode. I then recoded using VS's MPEG Optimizer's recommended bitrate of VBR max 18000 kbps instead of the default 16800 kbps used by the S9. Again, failure.

pangwu · Post by **pangwu** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:34 am

Strange. My only crash is when I fast forward. No problem when using VS 11.5 to playback or convert AVCHD into MPEG-2. Perhaps what I did was that I clean up all VS installation (very clean) and re-do the installation again. Btw, I use Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz (overclock to 3.2GHz)

pangwu · Post by **pangwu** » Wed May 28, 2008 6:35 am

Btw, I used VS 11.5+ with latest patch installed as well

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:18 am

The only way you *can* play around with it is by using the fully patched and updated VS11.5+... so no surprise there!

I can play it in Clip mode, no problem. I can convert it to another format, no problem. It is just in Project mode that all the crashes occur one way or another.

Astacus · Post by **Astacus** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:59 am

The software (mods - remove this if inappropriate) is Magix Movie Edit Pro 4 PLUS (free trial). This is from their help files..

Note on AVCHD (Only in the PLUS version):
To import AVCHD video the camera drive must be installed, even if you are working with portable media (8 cm DVDs, SD Memory Card, etc.). Reason: AVCHD cameras use an improved UDF file system which Windows® can't handle without the driver.

During import you can decide whether the material should be edited directly or converted first. Conversion creates an MPEG-2 video file and lasts about three times the playback length on current systems. Direct editing is very demanding on the processor, and you should first check if your system is capable of handling this challenge by trying it, e.g. with a short 3 minute video.

Since AVCHD camcorders generally use Dolby Digital sound you will have to activate Dolby Digital 2.0 for free. Alternatively you activate Dolby Digital 5.1, for which a small fee is charged.

Astacus · Post by **Astacus** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:06 am

I also installed Pinnacle out of the box.

It seemed to load OK, but kept 'going away' for minutes at a time. I have a call to Panasonic this am when they promise to tell me the answer to making SD9 work with ulead. We shall see....

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:26 am

Thanks for the reference. Good to at least have that in the back pocket. And we mention competitor products a little in a comparative sense (as opposed to openly promotional of that other product). And if VS has a flaw, it is useful to other users to know there might be an alternative until such time as Corel fix it.

The question is, though, did it work as advertised? No crashes with S9 footage?

And please please please feel free to share any hints from Panasonic!

Astacus · Post by **Astacus** » Wed May 28, 2008 12:47 pm

As regards Magix, I have loaded SD9 video (at highest quality), and spliced two clips together with a fade - it plays back within the programme fine. I haven't yet output a video file. I am not enough of an expert to know when to expect things to fall over. Program seems fast so far. More anon.

Panasonic conversation was as follows: It's not really our fault, the s/w writers need to catch up with our high bit rate video. But, you might get uled to work if you record in HG setting (second highest quality, lower bit rate, and switch off 25p) - this is more like SD5 output.

I haven't tried this yet. but will report back, when my full VS11.5+ arrives. Perhaps someone else can have a go as well?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed May 28, 2008 2:19 pm

That's a bit prima donna-like on Panasonic's part -- our camera's brilliant; pity no one can utilise it fully as yet, including us! Why not cripple it to produce lower grade product???!!!!

As for your Magix experiment, how long were the clips you joined? (I too have joined short clips, indeed several of them, and output them to a new clip which played fine. Or were you saying you joined two clips with transition and played them back successfully in whatever the Magix equivalent of Project mode is?

lb44 · Post by **lb44** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:14 pm

I've been having the same problem as 'pangwu' with my Panasonic SD9 files in fast forward and also intermittently while playing in 'project' mode. After reading 'Astacus's message from Panasonic, I have recorded two 6 minute clips in 'HG' mode (2nd highest quality) and at this stage played in 'project' mode and fast forwarded in 'Multi Trim Video' without a crash.
I'm starting to think VS makes no use of multi core CPUs as 'pangwu' can almost do 'HA' quality with 3.2Ghz single core. Mine is 2.66Ghz quad core and still fails randonly playing in project mode.
Les

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:21 pm

We already know that VS doesn't make use of the multi-cores. We are hoping that will be rectified in VS12...

Astacus · Post by **Astacus** » Thu May 29, 2008 1:28 pm

Well, my copy of VS11.5 arrived today, and I will install it and try some experiments later. I could live with a slightly lower quality (lower bitrate) AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE while I learn how to get the best from the camera. Maybe VS12 will fix this. How do we let ulead/Corel know there's a problem.

Oh yes, I bought 11.5 and then saw the thread about VS12. I hope I'm going to get a free upgrade!

More to follow.

P.S. Magix - I assembled several minutes worth of clips last night, and created an AVI. All without a hitch. Didn't care a lot for the interface but that might just be inexperience Some nice transitions though.

p.s. The back of the small manual with 11.5 has a logo that says "enjoy with intel core2 duo" - but it doesn't support multi-cores?? Weird?