AVCHD disk - problem with setting CBR

[Przemek]

I use the following workflow in creating AVCHD disks:
I convert HF100 footage (mts files) to m2t files (mpeg2), edit and create an AVCHD disk, or alternatively create file (either AVCHD or mpeg2) and then input directly to burning module. When I set the properties to 1920-1080, best quality etc. the option CBR is greyed out. By default it is set to VBR.
In one of the posts Ken recommends using CBR 16800 while making an AVCHD disk, but all I can do is get VBR 18000 max giving me an average of 11000.
I 've tried lots of settings, however I still cannot set CBR. I read that Etech also uses CBR, but how? In fact I followed exactly his workflow and still no go.
Thanks for help,
Przemek

[Ken Berry]

I follow the advice given to me by etech quite some time ago.

Proceed as you have done, jumping straight from the editor to the burning module (Share > Create Disk > AVCHD). Click on the lower left hand corner Icon and select "Disk Template Manager". Make sure "AVCHD" is selected at the top right hand drop-down box. Click on "NEW", then use the following settings to create a permanent template that you can later apply as your "Project Settings" for the AVCHD Burning Module.

Assign a name such as "AVCHD CBR 18MBS"

General Tab:
FrameSize = 1920x1080
FrameType = Upper Field First

Compression Tab:
Quality = 100% (or leave it at the default 90)
Video Data Rate 18,000kbs Constant Bit Rate (It should not be greyed out here)
Audio Format can be either LPCM, Dolby 2/0 or Dolby 5.1 @384kbs or @448kbs (Preferred Dolby 5.1@448kbs)

Now go back to the "General Tab" and Double Check the FrameSize and Fielding information. For some reason when you make a change between tabs the program tries to revert back to "Lower Field First" or may even change the FrameSize.

Hit "OK" to save this template. (Hint: Hit the "EDIT" Icon and double check all your settings again, especially for the correct fielding which should be Upper_Field_First for both HDV and AVCHD source videos.)

Exit the template manager.

Now while you are still in the AVCHD burning module first screen timeline, click on the "GEAR" Icon (middle of the three). Click on "Change Mpeg Settings" and select the previous template from the dropdown list that you created using the above instructions. This will now assign your customized template as the AVCHD burning module's "Project Properties/Settings" These are the values the encoder will use to render/encode the AVC/H264 AVCHD compliant videos onto the AVCHD disk you will be burning.

As you probably also would have seen from my earlier posts on this, using this setting will limit the amount of video you can burn to a single layer DVD to around 20 minutes.

[Przemek]

Thanks a million Ken!

What I was doing differently was trying to create a template when the video has already been imported; it did not occur to me to try and do it before... Following your advice, I made the template and then imported the video and now it works like a dream. At the moment I'm burning an AVCHD and it might be my 'final' step in solving the AVCHD editing problem.
I am very satisfied with the results I get using the Up-Shift first and then editing m2t (mpeg files). As I've already written in one of the posts, the quality of video files made in this way is excellent; there are no glitches after transitions, and it was only AVCHD disk making left to be sorted (until now).

thanks again!!!
Przemek

[michal_h]

I get using the Up-Shift first

what settings are you using? (bitrate, GOP, keyframe)

[Przemek]

what settings are you using? (bitrate, GOP, keyframe)

HI Michal,

Sorry it took me so long. I use the following settings in Upshift:
Low Speed/Highest Quality
Bitrate - 60Mbps
Keyframe - 1
GOP size - 1
Interlace - Copy from input

However, to be frank, I do not know what I'm doing here - just changed the obvious ones, i.e. Highest quality and Bitrate (although this might be a bit of an exaggeration) to 60000. I did not have time to investigate those settings - just checked these and since they work...
Have already tried the output with X2 about ten times, and every time the result is very good. I would be interested to hear your comments on the quality. The editing is extremely easy - reminds the editing of DV tapes with Video Studio 8.
Przemek

[michal_h]

what settings are you using? (bitrate, GOP, keyframe)

HI Michal,

Sorry it took me so long. I use the following settings in Upshift:
Low Speed/Highest Quality
Bitrate - 60Mbps
Keyframe - 1
GOP size - 1
Interlace - Copy from input

However, to be frank, I do not know what I'm doing here - just changed the obvious ones, i.e. Highest quality and Bitrate (although this might be a bit of an exaggeration) to 60000. I did not have time to investigate those settings - just checked these and since they work...
Have already tried the output with X2 about ten times, and every time the result is very good. I would be interested to hear your comments on the quality. The editing is extremely easy - reminds the editing of DV tapes with Video Studio 8.
Przemek

I have tried trial UpShift It works great, I think 60Mbps is too much you can see in their manual about 40Mbps is OK. My friend has Carbon Coder which is probably the best sw for decoding. I have sent him some files and he made me hd mpeg2 (bitrate only 24Mbps). I burned the same clip (avchd and hd mpeg2) on dvd and I see no difference while watching them on hd tv via ps3

[bankroot]

Everything looks excellent, but remember, that you have to spend another 50 bucks for UpShift and have bigger files.
Maybe Corel should include this soft and sell this "package" for 100 bucks ?
It will be more fair anyway.

By the way: did you try convert mts to m2ts using freeware tsMuxer ?