Trying Video studio pro X3 - 2 major problems, Please help

[core2avs]

I am just trying corel video studio pro X3 from few days for my editing the videos taken by panasonic HD camcorder. As of now I am having 2 problems. Can someone please help me to solve these problems.

The two problems are in creating video file.

1) Creating AVCHD file. I tried to create AVCHD file with three methods "Create Video File->AVCHD HD->NTSC HD 1920", "Create Video File->Same as first clip", "Create Video File->Mpeg Optimizer". All these options produced mpeg file, but not ts or mts. This file is not playing on my computer. even VS can not load this file. I have checked with media info and found video stream is AVC. When supply file name with .ts extension, ts file is created. I think only difference is the extension. So what ever I do I am not able to generate a working AVCHD file.

2) I tried to create avi file with XVID and MP3. It worked fine. but I had to use only Fraunhofer codec which is limited to 56kbps. I have installed both ACM and directshow filters of LAME. but LAME does not show up. LAME works fine with virtualdub.

In between the VS works fine on my old computer for the tasks I want to do. I just want to trim and generate AVCHD/H264/XVID(avi) files. H.264 mp4 files are working fine. H.264 conversion is faster than expected.

[nosnoop]

1) Creating AVCHD file. I tried to create AVCHD file with three methods "Create Video File->AVCHD HD->NTSC HD 1920", "Create Video File->Same as first clip", "Create Video File->Mpeg Optimizer". All these options produced mpeg file, but not ts or mts. This file is not playing on my computer. even VS can not load this file. I have checked with media info and found video stream is AVC. When supply file name with .ts extension, ts file is created. I think only difference is the extension. So what ever I do I am not able to generate a working AVCHD file.

The extension does not matter, you can just rename the output video file to .m2ts as long as the output format is AVCHD 1920.
I can't explain why the output video file cannot be played though. Try turning smart render off, render a short clip, and compare the properties of the source and output file and file size.

[pepegota]

AVCHD is the problem. This technology is in its infancy. If you like to spend hours on a single DVD, when you can spend minutes using SDVD, continue. Some people just like to suffer. Go to videohelp.com for more information.

[nosnoop]

AVCHD is the problem. This technology is in its infancy. If you like to spend hours on a single DVD, when you can spend minutes using SDVD, continue. Some people just like to suffer. Go to videohelp.com for more information.

I totally disagree, and this is not helpful at all.
There is no reason whatsoever why anyone cannot get AVCHD to work. AVCHD camcorders are in its 3rd or 4th generations already. I would not consider that as "infancy".

[Black Lab]

I would agree with pepegota to a degree.

AVCHD camcorders are in its 3rd or 4th generations already.

That's part of the problem. Video editing apps can't keep up. And what makes matters worse is some camcorder manufacturers use their own proprietary AVCHD codecs. If I remember correctly Panasonic (the OPs camcorder manufacturer) is one of those.

Core2avs, please read the following and see if it helps: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=37688. The link references Ciniform's Neoscene, and they have hit the nail on the head:

You see, camera formats are designed for recording, not editing.

[nosnoop]

That's part of the problem. Video editing apps can't keep up.

There is no excuse for this though. Maybe a year or two ago, when most of the PC's hardware simply cannot handle AVCHD, everything slowed to a crawl. Now, the hardware has progressed far enough to make those memories a thing of the past.

And what makes matters worse is some camcorder manufacturers use their own proprietary AVCHD codecs. If I remember correctly Panasonic (the OPs camcorder manufacturer) is one of those.

Of course ideally, everyone should stick to the norm. But if this is not the case, then the software has to cater for it.
In the world of DSLR and photo editing software, you need new update for almost every single new model of DSLR to read its RAW format. And guess what, most of the software has kept pace. So there is no excuse why video software cannot do the same. For example, AVCHD lite format has been around for 15 months, and yet X3 still cannot set it as project properties or as AVCHD disc output format.

You see, camera formats are designed for recording, not editing.

High compression format like MPEG4/H.264 will be harder to edit, no doubt about it. But with today's hardware, there is little barriers or obstacles for it not to work. And with so many software options out there, if Corel does not keep up, it will be overtaken.

[Black Lab]

If Corel was the only company having trouble with AVCHD and other highly compressed formats I would agree with your points. But they are not. Other apps continue to struggle with these formats, and some don't even accept them.

[mitchell65]

Lets go back to the original post. To try to create an AVCHD file is not possible because that is not a file. AVCHD is the folder that is created when you burn a HD folder or disk. If you put MTS files into the project and choose Create Video File same as original clip you will get an mpg file with the self same properties as the original clip. An MTS file IS an MPG file. To prove this, take any MTS or M2TS file and change the file extension to MPG and it will work perfectly! You cannot burn an AVCHD folder in X3 the facility is not there in the authoring module but you can do this in the new burning module produced by Corel after the string of complaints about the original module that came with X3.
By the way so far as still RAW files are concerned, if the software you use doesn't support the camera manufacturers file extension like Olympus ORF then just change the extension to RAW.

[Ken Berry]

To try to create an AVCHD file is not possible because that is not a file.

Sorry John, but don't you have an AVCHD camera which films in AVCHD clips -- individual, HF mpeg-4 AVCHD clips???!!! Of course AVCHD is an individual video file format. Sure, you can make AVCHD folders/discs but in some ways that is just a shorthand way of saying you are making a folder (or disc) containing AVCHD files/clips... But the AVCHD/mpeg-4/H.264 HD files exist independent of what you do with them or whether you later decide to burn them to a folder or disc. I have lots of AVCHD individual files, both original and produced with VS that have never been burned to a folder or disc.

... or have I missed something completely in what you have tried to say???

[nosnoop]

You cannot burn an AVCHD folder in X3 the facility is not there in the authoring module but you can do this in the new burning module produced by Corel after the string of complaints about the original module that came with X3.

This is not true. You can do AVCHD authoring in X3. MF 7 SE works better, but X3 can do AVCHD authoring without it.

[rayd]

AVCHD camcorders are in its 3rd or 4th generations already.

That's part of the problem. Video editing apps can't keep up. And what makes matters worse is some camcorder manufacturers use their own proprietary AVCHD codecs. If I remember correctly Panasonic (the OPs camcorder manufacturer) is one of those.
[/quote]

As a matter of interest, my Panasonic HDC TM10 produces AVCHD Video (.m2ts) files which are easily editable in VS X2. There doesn't appear to be any compatibility issue.

Most of my HD home videos are about 30 mins or so long and VS X2 doesn't have a problem editing 3GB of AVCHD files from the Panasonic.

VS X2 is also quite happy producing AVCHD files, although it does take a long time. It saves them as m2t files.

I did have problems with VS X3 trial though as it was so slow. I eventually uninstalled it and went back to X2.

Cheers,

Ray D

[core2avs]

Thanks a bunch for all.

I know AVCHD is a problem. But if you want to buy a camcorder now, I think it is the way to go. I bought one few weeks back,it is Panasonic and produces very good videos (way ahead from my 5 year old mini DV).
So I am trying to find out a good software to edit.

X3 do not have a problem to import, to edit (may be not frame accurate which I do not care), It is simply not producing AVCHD files correctly which it is supposed to do. I can create h264/mpeg2(full hd) file for back up. But I need to have a HD player again to watch them on tv. If I can create AVCHD file, camcorder can play back to the TV.

Now hardware is all there. A laptop i5 is less than 1000 bucks (may be with 500/4 gig). All popular video editor software in the market are HD capable and less than $100 (for home user). May be it is not as easy as SD but it is not as difficult as we see, or as it was two years before.

Coming to the actual problem,
1. X3 is capable of creating AVCHD. rayd confirms that it worked in X2 but he had some problems in X3. But either it is broken or I am doing some thing wrong. May be I need to wait for X4. I will try creating AVCHD folder.
2. X3 supports vfw or directshow. I do not know why lame encoder option is not available for me.

Do any one have success in doing this.

In between I have written to corel support and received no help but a direction to priority support, a link to this community and with a coupon.

[core2avs]

Here is my observation.

I have tried MPEG optimizer with pro X2. MPEG optimizer works fine. There is an option of specifying the file extension mpg or m2t. I have selected m2t. The splash lite played the file but the playback is not smooth. The file info did not display details. Then I have demuxed audio and video and muxed again with tsmuxer. The spalsh lite played the file without a problem. Also WD TV played the file to the TV. Even though there is an extra step this worked fine.

As I find this new step, I tried with X3 again. X3 never generated the file for complete timeline and also not responding many times.

rayd had similar type of problems. So some thing is broken in X3.

It is very important to me because, It saves lot of time of encoding on my computer. My test video of 10 minutes with two transition filters has been rendered in few minutes with X2. demuxing and muxing again took 2/3 minutes. At least it will take 1 to 2 hours to generate 1080p mp4 file. So I saved a lot of time here.

What can I do to get an mp4 file. Upload to youtube. by next day ican download 1080p/720p/640x480 flv/3gp file for mobile. All encoding job is done by youtube. I only need to encode when I need to make DVD.

One more important point here is there is no other program except pro X2 that can do this with panasonic AVCHD.