AVCHD Slide show

[Henny]

I am trying to create a slide show from hi-def digital images, using VS 12 X2 in AVCHD on DVD (Hybrid). The disk should be playable on my Samsung BD-P1500 player. (PAL)
Sofar I have followed this procedure:
Set project parameters to HD 1920x1080. Insert Images into the timeline. Create an AVCHD burn profile, by editing the existing HD 1440 one. then burn the disk on a standard DVD+R. Result, the disk cannot be read.
Has someone done this before? I searched a lot in the various the forums, could not find any guidelines.
Some extra questions: does the non-square pixel setting require some additional preparation of the images, with respect to aspect ratio? I used DVD+R, is DVD-R required?
Some help would be much appriciated!
Henny

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Henny

Not used AVCHD, but cannot understand why you changed the standard template??????
The only reason to modify the template would be to match your video file, but you are just using still images!

I may be wrong but I thought you had to use a blueray type disc for AVCHD video, not a standard disc.

Are you able to create a Standard DVD, does that play on your player, if not then it may be a disc compatibility issue.
I always use DVD ¡VR type discs.

Non-Square Pixel Rendering---- is related to the video files not still images. Unless you have video problems, leave this option selected.
If your images are 16:9 ratio, then the image will fill the widescreen frame. The option ¡¥Keep aspect Ratio¡¦ should be selected.
Most digital cameras produce 3 x 2 images, some 4x3, which will leave a black bar left and right when using widescreen.

[Henny]

Hi Trevor,
The only thing I changed in the profile is the image size. the standard AVCHD profile is based on 1440x1080? I set it to 1920x1080, following a template instruction I found in this forum.
I know about the square/non-square pixels from my video experience, but I thought that, since the images are taken with square pixels, and are now displayed on a TV, I might have to accommodate for that.
It is a pity, by the way, that writing the AVCHD files to disk, during the actual burning, is suppressed in VS12. Otherwise I could see what filestructure was made.
I'll change to DVD-R to try, once I have exchanged the burner.
And yes, you can burn AVCHD on SD discs. Even the manual confirms that. But sofar I had no luck.
Thanks, Henny

[mitchell65]

And yes, you can burn AVCHD on SD discs. Even the manual confirms that. But sofar I had no luck.
Thanks, Henny

You can indeed burn AVCD to an SD disc but it will only play on a BlyRay Player. See Ken Berry's post here:
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?p=183984#183984

[erdna]

I am trying to create a slide show from hi-def digital images, using VS 12 X2 in AVCHD on DVD (Hybrid). The disk should be playable on my Samsung BD-P1500 player. (PAL)
Sofar I have followed this procedure:
Set project parameters to HD 1920x1080. Insert Images into the timeline. Create an AVCHD burn profile, by editing the existing HD 1440 one. then burn the disk on a standard DVD+R. Result, the disk cannot be read.
Has someone done this before? I searched a lot in the various the forums, could not find any guidelines.
Some extra questions: does the non-square pixel setting require some additional preparation of the images, with respect to aspect ratio? I used DVD+R, is DVD-R required?
Some help would be much appriciated!
Henny

Yes I did this before from 1920x1080 .jpg images, including crossover and music. DVD + or- doesn't matter, even DVD+/-RW is OK. I keep non square pix rendering ticked. What do yu mean by setting the project parameter to 1920x1080. Is this in the "project properties" before you start the project?(not possible in my version).
For best results I do resize my .jpg pics before putting them on the timeline

[erdna]

Do you have "H264 Video" in your burn settings"

[Ken Berry]

Create an AVCHD burn profile...

Like erdna, I too am a little puzzled by what you mean by this, though I assume you are talking about the burning module being open, and you have clicked on the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of screen. But it would be useful if you could confirm this.

It would also be useful if you could describe your workflow in more detail. For instance, when you have assembled your slide show in the Editing module, and added your background music, titles etc, do you first produce an AVCHD file of the project (Share > Create Video File > AVCHD) which you later insert into the burning module? Or do you finish your editing, and then jump immediately to the disc creation stage: Share > Create Disc > AVCHD?

With standard DVDs, we usually recommend against the latter i.e. jumping directly to the burning module and using the project file as the basis of the burn (i.e. with conversion taking place during the burning process, instead of as a prior, separate step in the Editing module). However, with AVCHD hybrid discs, I find I get better results by doing my editing, then jumping straight to the burning module ... as I suspect you might be doing anyway!

Then I open the second icon in the bottom left of the burning screen and un-tick the 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' (though in the case of a slide show this is in any case irrelevant since there are no mpeg files if you have inserted the project file (.vsp) into the burning timeline... )

But then I too adjust the burning properties in the top window of that icon. Although I sometimes also change the frame size from 1440 x 1080 to 1920 x 1080, usually the thing I change is the bitrate. I tend to make this CBR 18 Mbps rather than VBR. Although this should again probably not make much difference with still images, I find that with video it gives me better final quality. Even though the higher quality AVCHD default settings theoretcially use VBR max 18 mbps, in truth the average is far lower than this... The downside of a high constant bitrate, though, is that you fit far less on a DVD -- with that rate I usually get around 20 minutes on a single layer DVD.

I am also puzzled by exactly what you mean when you say:

It is a pity, by the way, that writing the AVCHD files to disk, during the actual burning, is suppressed in VS12. Otherwise I could see what filestructure was made.

As far as I am aware, VS in any version has never shown any individual file structures being created, whether with standard definition DVDs or hybrid ones. All you get is a message (if burning the video project file) saying something like "converting the title to video" (I just happened to burn a hybrid disc successfully yesterday following this workflow, and that is my recollection of the message...)

But on a successfully burned AVCHD hybrid disc, you will get a Blu-Ray type file structure within a folder labelled BDMV. The video itself will be in the STREAM sub-folder... And as mitchell has said, such discs can only be played on a Blu-Ray player which is also rated to play hybrid discs. Not all of them are so I can't comment on the capacity of your Samsung to do this.

[erdna]

The (English) BD-P1500 manual mentions that the player is AVCHD compatible. On the other hand I can find AVCHD playback problems reported on the internet w.r.t. this player.

[lassegus]

Hi Henny,

I think your problem is that you change the properties for burning hybrid discs from 1440x1080 to 1920x1080!
As I have learnt AVCHD hybrid discs have to be 1440x1080 and nothing else.

I have just created a slide show with pictures from my HD digital camera with no problems using the std template for AVCHD and the result is perfect. The pictures appears in full format on my HD TV.

I have the same Samsung Blue-Ray player as you have and it plays the hybrid discs without any problems.

[Henny]

Hi Ken, erdna and other contributers.

I try to clarify a little on what I wrote:

Like erdna, I too am a little puzzled by what you mean by this, though I assume you are talking about the burning module being open, and you have clicked on the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of screen. But it would be useful if you could confirm this.

I first tried to create a new burn template in the template manager (explained in another post to or from Ken). But I found out that if you select 'NEW' you can only choose a CBR. So finally I modified the HD 1440 one for AVCHD.

It would also be useful if you could describe your workflow in more detail. For instance, when you have assembled your slide show in the Editing module, and added your background music, titles etc, do you first produce an AVCHD file of the project (Share > Create Video File > AVCHD) which you later insert into the burning module? Or do you finish your editing, and then jump immediately to the disc creation stage: Share > Create Disc > AVCHD?

I started with project settings MPEG 1920x1080. This is not a standard, but you can get it by going to the 'Create Disc' step with an empty timeline and then under Compression set Quality to 100, increase the audio bitrate and on the General tab select 1920x1080 resolution.
Then back to edit and insert the stills on the timeline. Standard X-over, add some music and to Share>Create Disc>AVCHD
I have also first created a video file, but I come back to that below.
In fact the workflow Ken describes.

Do you have "H264 Video" in your burn settings"

These are the settings in the burn module:
MPEG files
24 bits, 1920x1080, 25fps
Upper Field First
(HDMV PAL), 16:9
H.264 Video
VBR Max. 18000 kbps
Audio 384 kbps
Dolby digital Audio 48 kHZ 3/2...

As far as I am aware, VS in any version has never shown any individual file structures being created, whether with standard definition DVDs or hybrid ones. All you get is a message (if burning the video project file) saying something like "converting the title to video" (I just happened to burn a hybrid disc successfully yesterday following this workflow, and that is my recollection of the message...)

What I meant was that in the first step of the burn process, you normally can tick 'Create AVCHD folders' and 'Create .iso file'. Not in this case. The options are greyed out and can not be selected. If instead of going directly to the burn module, I create a video file first, these tick fields no not even show up at all. Does this have something to do with the burn settings? Is this a bug or is it deliberate? And if so why?
I said it is a pity, because if the folderstructure would be available, I could see if it is Blu ray or AVCHD. Some players insist on a real AVCHD structure. This can be made from a Blu Ray folderset by deleting a number of folders, like AUXDATA, BDJO and some others. With NERO I could then burn the disk in the proper UDF format.

But on a successfully burned AVCHD hybrid disc, you will get a Blu-Ray type file structure within a folder labelled BDMV. The video itself will be in the STREAM sub-folder... And as mitchell has said, such discs can only be played on a Blu-Ray player which is also rated to play hybrid discs. Not all of them are so I can't comment on the capacity of your Samsung to do this.

I do not know what my Samsung player needs, but I know that it can play AVCHD hybrid discs, as long as the firmware is not upgraded beyond 1.3, which is the case. Evidence is found in various forums on the internet.
Ken or erdna, could you verify if the folders I mentioned above are present or not?
I do not know if I have explained enough, but I hope it helps. But thank you all very much already.

[erdna]

What do you mean by "Ken or erdna, could you verify if the folders I mentioned above are present or not?" Do you mean the burn module settings?They seem OK.
What do you get when you open the hybrid disc on your computer? Do you get the BDMV folder/subfolders? What do you get in the "Stream" subfolder?

[mitchell65]

I create a video file first, these tick fields no not even show up at all.

Then what you could do is in the Create Disc option choose BluRay and then you can create Blu-ray folders. No need to burn straight to disc. Check out the folder and files on you PC and if happy use a third party burner software like Nero to make a data DVD and burn the BDMV folder straight to the disc. Remember you will only get about 30 mins on a SD disc.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Henny

The final Burner Window sometimes hides some details, depending on how you access the Burner.
To view all select the Up/Down pointing arrow icon, (Output Options) to the right, part way down.

Floating your mouse over the screen is sometimes beneficial as it shows tool tips, some of which you may not know exist, not just the burner module but ever where in VS.

Ok
I have just installed X2 and can now follow this post.
What I see when creating a Blu-ray

Create Disc - available
Create Blueray folder as available
Create Disc Image Not available

Creating a AVCHD
I have to select the down arrow as above.
Only Create Disc Available

I cannot understand why the Create AVCHD folder option is Greyed Out.

Not much time at the moment, but will investigate further.

[Henny]

What do you get when you open the hybrid disc on your computer? Do you get the BDMV folder/subfolders? What do you get in the "Stream" subfolder?

I could not open the disc on my XP machine, but it worked on my wife's with Vista.
This is what it shows:
BDMV index.bdmv, MovieObject.bdmv
AUXDATA (empty)
BACKUP
BDJO (empty)
CLIPINFO 00000.clpi, 00001.clpi
JAR (empty)
PLAYLIST 00000.mpls, 01200.mpls
BDJO (empty)
CLIPINFO 00000.clpi, oooo1.clpi
JAR (empty)
META (empty)
PLAYList 00000.mpls 01200.mpls
STREAM 00000.m2ts, 00001.m2ts
Note: it was only a short (35 secs) test disc.
Is this the same you have?

As you can see, it's not a pure AVCHD file structure, according to this article:

http://chinapaulo.blogspot.com/2009/04/ ... -1500.html

From other articles I understood that in particular the presence of the AUXDATA folder can be a deciding factor. On the other hand, most of these articles talk about an upgraded firmware BD-P1500.
And you said DVD + or -R makes no difference?

Then what you could do is in the Create Disc option choose BluRay and then you can create Blu-ray folders.

You're right, I could do that, but it would result in a much higher bitrate. The 30 mins per DVD might even be much less. 30 minutes is for AVCHD, I thought.

[mitchell65]

I cannot understand why the Create AVCHD folder option is Greyed Out.

Trevo,
Either Ken or Steve confirmed sometime ago that when you choose AVCVD creating folders is not available in VS. That's why I suggested the Create BlyRay disc route. There you can save the Folders without creating a disc.Same format as AVCHD which is a hybrid.