how to edit a full HD mp4 file?

ranis · Post by **ranis** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:23 am

Here's how I was doing my regular home movie editing up until now:

I record in mpeg2 format (using Panasonic SDR-H200). Sometimes I collect up to 300 video clips on the camcorder built in hard drive. I then copy them to my PC. I load all of them in Video Studio 11. I put them in Timeline as one single video (I cut out the parts I don't want). Then in VS11 under "Share" I select "Create video file" and "Same as first video clip". That's it, that was enough to produce one single long video file with everything I need in it. This "Same as first video clip" function was a life saver. It always gave me the best quality final video, even better than "Mpeg Optimizer". Everything was like a song.

Now I got a new Sanyo Xacti H1010 camcorder that records in full HD 1920x1080 60i. The problem is it uses mp4 file format. I don't know how to handle that kind of HD mp4 in Video Studio. First of all, the "Save as first video clip" function is not available anymore, even when I have only one single mp4 file in my project. If I try to save it as HD DVD, the output mpeg video is unwatchable (squeezed into less screen size and skipping frames).
Please tell me can I have the "Save as first video clip" function enabled (lit) somehow again, and if no then what kind of final video file is best for a project containing a bunch of mp4 clips recorded in full HD with my Sanyo? What kind/format should be my final output file in order not to loose any of the original HD quality?

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:13 am

Hi,
You need to post the Video/Audio Properties of the source MP4 files in order to know what format to convert them to.
.
What Codec (probably H264),
What's the video bit-rate,
Whats the fielding (upper or lower field first or none).
What are the audio properties?

From the timeline right_click on the video & select "Media Properties" to view the above information.

ranis · Post by **ranis** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:06 pm

Hi and thank you.

Here are the properties of my test MPEG-4 file:

Video:

Video type: H264 Main Profile Video
Total Frames: 1,034
Attributes: 24 bits 1920x1080
Frame rate: 59,940 frames/sec
Data rate 14183 Kbps/sec

Audio:

Audio type: MPEG AAC Audio
Total Samples 827,392 Samples
Attributes: 48000Hz, 16Bit, Stereo
Bit rate: 128 Kbps

In Video Studio preferences the default frame order is set to frame based.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:52 pm

This is how I've always worked with VS versions.
First setup your preferences and make the ¡§Re-sampling Quality¡¨ to ¡§BEST¡¨, assign an easily accessible ¡§Working Folder¡¨ to a large NTFS drive.

Then setup your ¡§Project Settings¡¨ <ALT + ENTER> (HotKey Command) to match your source videos, in your case read on to learn how to setup your ¡§Project Settings¡¨.

Since your source videos are reporting true Progressive at 59.940 FPS I would convert them to mpeg2 format so they are much easier to edit. You will have to try 2 methods to determine which one plays back easier on your system. True 1920x1080P (@PAL50 or @NTSC 59.940) really task the computers playback program.

I would use true progressive (59.940) & also converting them to interlaced (29.97) (2 methods). You should find the interlaced videos playback much easier on your computer system.
When you make the template use frame_based for the 59.940 frame rate and Upper_Field_First for the Interlaced 29.97 Frame Rate.
You may find the interlaced videos playback better on your system and you shouldn't lose any video information since each field will be a complete frame taken from the 59.940 frame rate.
.
An H264 video bit rate of 14MBS like yours is approx equal to a HD Mpeg2 file of 25,000kbs (25MBS). Since the source is H264 I would use variable bit rate for the outputted mpeg2 video file.

If it was me I would make custom template(s), ¡§Tools -> Disc Menu Templates¡¨ in the template creation under the ¡§Compression¡¨ tab change the drop down box to MPEG2 & use a Quality setting of 100%. . When you make this change to ¡§Mpeg2¡¨ then when you go back to the ¡§General¡¨ tab you can setup the frame size as 1920x1080. You will see many listings for the mpeg2 format.
You will have to use Mpeg audio, I suggest Stereo 384kbs.

After you make the templates you can convert the video by going to ¡§Share -> Create Video File¡¨ and at the bottom of the listings you will see your customized templates.

Also you should setup your 'Project Settings¡¨ & Preferences for VS first and then save the Project.

"1920x1080" or "1280x720" uses ¡§Square Pixels¡¨ so make sure you have
¡§Non Square Pixel Rendering¡¨ = OFF

Here's 3 templates as suggestions:

Template 1:
Compression Tab = MPEG2 (Always do this first)
FrameSize = 1920x1080
FrameRate = 59.940
Frame_Type = Frame_Based
Compression = MPEG2
Quality = 100%
Video Bit Rate = 25,000 VBR (Variable Bit Rate)
Mpeg2 Audio, Stereo @ 384kbs

Template 2:
Compression Tab = MPEG2 (Always do this first)
FrameSize = 1920x1080
FrameRate = 29.970
Frame_Type = Upper_Field_First (UFF)
Compression = MPEG2
Quality = 100%
Video Bit Rate = 25,000 VBR (Variable Bit Rate)
Mpeg2 Audio, Stereo @ 384kbs

Template 3:
Compression Tab = MPEG2 (Always do this first)
FrameSize = 1280x720
FrameRate = 59.940
Frame_Type = Frame_Based
Compression = MPEG2
Quality = 100%
Video Bit Rate = 15,000 ¡V 18,000 VBR (Variable Bit Rate)
Mpeg2 Audio, Stereo @ 384kbs

Also, when converting from H264 video to another format I would turn off smart-rendering, click on the "Options" Icon in the exporting screen.
Smart-Rendering cannot work converting between 2 different formats.

ranis · Post by **ranis** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:37 am

I wanted to play with those settings for a few hours before posting the results.

Before all else, thank you very much for taking the time to explain in details.
I did the three templates using the parameters you gave. I only couldn't see where to set Video Bit Rate to 25,000 VBR , but I did adjust the Video Data Rate option to variable and raised up to 25000 kbps.

I made mpeg2 clips using all 3 templates and a single source mp4 file. When the video is static with the camera on tripod, the quality is outstanding. The mpeg2 file and the original mp4 file have no difference in their detail, color and all.
The problem becomes visible with moving object. Every second or so the video goes back a couple of frames. If for example a car moves left to right, on the mpeg2 its motion is not smooth, but it's chopped. Like the car is constantly pulling back to the left a few steps and then continues moving to the right. The object's edjes also look dizzy.

This is always the result, no matter which template I use. The final mpeg2 video looks the same for all of them.
Also, it takes about 6-7 minutes to rendeer just a five second test clip (and I'm with Athlon 6000+, 2GB ram and a decent video card)

Given all this I'm in doubt that transferring to mpeg2 is worth it. I'd much rather not change the original input format.
Let's say I have 5 clips shot in the mp4 format, each clip 1 minute long. I basically want VS to glue them together in one single 5 minute video in the same file format. Minimum possible intervention. The computer and a regular set top dvd player can read mp4, so watching both on monitor or on tv is still possible. Then i'd rather leave it all in mp4. That's why I was looking so hard for the "Same as First Video Clip" sharing option. Any advice on how to stick clips together and save them in a single file without conversion will be much appreciated again.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:27 am

I'll let etech reply on your practical questions. However, I would note that high definition video, whether AVCHD or HDV format, which has horizontal motion in it such as panning, has a sort of blur which is very disconcerting. Static (tripod) type shots, zooming in or out or vertical panning all seem OK. Just not horizontal panning or motion. So that could be part of your problem.

I am also interested when you say 'a regular set top dvd player can read mp4'. Regular stand-alone DVD players in fact cannot play mpeg-4. Some, but not all, are rated to play Div-X, I will grant you, but that is a special kind of mpeg-4 and not the same as the high definition AVCHD mpeg-4 which comes from your camera.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:28 pm

Hi,
If the original 1080P .MP4 videos playback smoothly & the conversions are off when you single step through the new mpeg2 video files ( you stated that that the video jumps backwards a few frames ) I would say that the programming engineers for VS11 would like to get a sample of one of those mp4 1080P videos and see if it's being decoded correctly via VS mpeg4 plug-in. The H264 codec is very complex. It could also be the related in the MP4 plug-in decoder shipped with VS11+.

I believe that most of the these newer cams shooting in true 1080P came out after VS11+ releases.

Maybe you could try shooting in a different mode that will work with VS11+.

I would contact tech support with this conversion problem.

I don't think it's possible to chain your MP4 videos together unless you convert them using the AVCHD template. You may still have the same problem if the MP4 plugin isn't reading 1080P correctly.

Maybe creating high definition MP4 video will be available in VS12 (when it's released). Then you could chain them together into one video file.

ranis · Post by **ranis** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:04 pm

Ok, it's a newly released camera indeed (june 20th I think). I will try Nero. In the instruction manual it says if you want to save your clips in mpeg2 use Nero 8 Essentials (they come with the camera). I'm not familiar with Nero, there're no any more specific instructions in the camera manual, and anyways I think VS is a better software for conversion, so it was my first choice. Thanks again.

Ken Berry - you're right, it was rather my wishful thinking. My stand alone dvd player reads like everything but these mp4, my mistake.