AVCHD Capture

[pepegota]

I am awaiting the delivery of a new Panasonic camcorder -TM900. I would like to know how good VS Pro X4 is at capturing from this camcorder and an alternate software source for capturing? I am disregarding the included Panny software unless someone can make a case for it.

[Ron P.]

You do not capture the video from camcorders that record to memory cards. Capturing is a real-time means of transfer, like used with DV, or HDV with firewire, or the old composite for analog video. With memory cards it's just a matter of copy/paste from the card to your hard drive. You really can't get any quicker or better than that. Once on your computer, insert the video clips just like any other.

Now I think you need to be prepared to accept that it has a proprietary 1080/60p MP4 codec. I'm not sure VS will be able to deal with it. It also has an iFrame record mode, which is a SD format designed specifically to work with Apple's iMovie, and records 960 x 540 at 28Mbps. VS may not be able to produce an AVCHD video file with the 28Mbps. Ken will probably correct me on that. The faster frame rates of 60fps also poses a problem. Look through the forum for posts discussing the AVCHD format and faster frame rates of 50/60fps.

[Black Lab]

I think there was also an audio issue with Panasonic cams. Don't know if it affected all or not. Again, a search of the forum might help.

[pepegota]

I know that from SD memory you can use a card reader and just copy to where you want to. I did not make it clear: I am referring to tranfers from the cam's internal memory (32 gig) only, in this case, via USB 2.0. I don't know why they went USB 2, when USB 3 is available-probably a timing issue? Though, I will use SD memory exclusively, I still would like to know about USB tranfer. I will use SD memory almost always, unless I run out of memory on the SD cards. Is VS capture good- I know for SD it had a problem? Are there any WinDV equivalents? The Panny software has a tranfer system but, their stuff has not been so good in the past-third party software is better. As far as 60p etc., I am going with Blu Ray production and I am not interested, presently, with something as tenuous as 60P today.

[Trevor Andrew]

I did not make it clear: I am referring to tranfers from the cam's internal memory (32 gig) only, in this case, via USB 2.0.

Hi

The 32Gb internal hard drive content can be uploaded to the PC in the same way as the memory card.

Connecting the camcorder to the pc via USB should show the internal hard drive as a “Removable Drive” when viewing your computer.
You should be able to “copy and paste” or “drag and drop” the files to the pc.

Once you have them on the PC then you insert them to Video Studio for editing.

The Capture option of Video Studio will never be used for your camcorder.

Panasonic may provide you with additional software to allow you to transfer the video from the camera to PC.

[teknisyan]

As always, I would recommend that you download the trial to see if the program works for you. You can download the trial via http://www.corel.com/trials

[msp7fan]

I have the TM900 already and all works fine with 1920x1080i in HG mode of that camera. the 1080p50 option i never hase used.
With the TM900 you can use the internal 32 GB RAM alike an inserted card and copy the files via USB - when you have found them in the used subdirectory.

But there exists a memory management problem between windows and videostudio X4, what may occur when rendering to AVCHD output on greater and more complex edits and some smartsounds are in use. Corel told me, that a fix is in preparation, but will take several month.

On 32-bitWindows that happens around 1 GB of memory use, on 64-bit along around 2 GB memory in use during the render process.

Therefor use the brain optimized "KISS-option": Keep it small and simple and think about the 4 GB file limit of USB-sticks with FAT32
That means mostly 35 minutes of AVCHD video will fit into a single file below the 4 GB limit, what afterwards you can replay from such sticks on your HD-TV.

Other formatting of the sticks your TV don't know and my Sony Bravia only will accept the file extension *.MTS with AVCHD files. The rendered *.m2ts output files which Videostudio X4 produce must be renamed before they wil recognized on a lot of HD-TVs.

Have fun.

-------------------------------------------
P.s. Some funny information beside:
I have two Panasonoc DV-cameras - 12 years old now.

The TM900 (and there sisters, too) come with a Power supply cable only to use the camera with/without Accu-power and to load the Accu in the camera only.

With the power supply equipment of the old cameras i can load the Accu external and can use my existing car power cable as a power supply for the TM900, too. Only problem: The power unit should placed upset, because the smaller Accu becomes not fixed.

[pepegota]

"On 32-bitWindows that happens around 1 GB of memory use, on 64-bit along around 2 GB memory in use during the render process."

So, on any project of magnitude, presently, VS is dysfunctional. This needs to be fixed ASAP-not at their pleasure. Now, I will have to shoot in 1920X1080i and then convert the mts files to SD DVD for processing-not too good. If I knew this, I would have not purchased the TM900 now, and would have stayed with my Panny PV GS500. This is what happens when a culture does not understand the meaning of "Gung HO."

[Ron P.]

I disagree, why would you buy a camcorder based on a program? I think it would be a little more wise to base the program used on the camcorder. If you already own VS X4 well upgrading your hardware (camcorder) risks this type of incompatibility. However sometimes it requires upgrading both.. My understanding is the TM900 is very new. It takes some time for software makers to catch up to what the camera makers release.

Here's the kicker that really makes no sense... AVCHD was developed by Sony & Panasonic. However I'm sure each has put their own little twist on things for the newer models. Then each software developer will add their own version of the codec, which be slightly different than the original, and any tweaking that has been done to the newest model cameras.

[pepegota]

I already have VS Pro X4. I have been a user since Ulead version 5.0. I am just wanting to use standard AVCHD to convert to Blu Ray. It appears the software, from what was said above, has difficulty do that when the project is large - 1 to 2 hous is my window. This is a big surprise to me-if true? I will try it out when I get the new cam. Thanks, for your inputs.

[J Dee]

With ProX4 you can 'capture' from the camera's internal memory or its SD card. Simply click on 'CAPTURE' then 'Import from Digital Media'. A long folder structure for your computer will appear. If you want to capture the clips on your SD card select CAM_SD: click the + sign and a load of sub folders will appear. For video clips put a tick in the box next to 'PRIVATE' and then click 'IMPORT' (there might be a bit of a wait at this stage with a progress bar to advise you on the percentage processed) then large thumbnails will appear of all your video clips. Tick the ones you want and take it from there. It will also ask you which library you want to put them in. It's the same for any still pictures you may have taken but this time you tick the folder labled DCIM, you can now highlight the folders you want to import or just highlight DCIM and all the photos on the card will be available. For some reason, with my set up, I get a warning saying 'There is no valid content in the path(s)' I click 'OK' and the clips appear anyway. The procedure for the camera's internal memory is similar and you select CAM_MEM: then 'PRIVATE' and so on. I have an earlier Panasonic (a TM300) but I imagine later versions will be much the same. Hope that's helpful JD

[pepegota]

For me the quick way to import would be using my USB 3 card reader and my Powerdesk file manager. Fast and simple. For the internal memory, the USB 2 camera port and the file manger will do the job. The thing that concerns me is what was said by msp7fan above: "But there exists a memory management problem between windows and videostudio X4, what may occur when rendering to AVCHD output on greater and more complex edits and some smartsounds are in use. Corel told me, that a fix is in preparation, but will take several months." That, when subject to verification is substantiated, would be a serious concern for large projects-one to two hours in length.

[J Dee]

Hi Pepegota, I'm not sure I understand the problem. My last major project was just under 5GB and Video Studio handled it just fine (ProX3 at the time). There were many transitions, overlays, additional audio tracks etc. though no 'Smartsounds'. Although I tend to break down a large project in to a number of smaller projects, I find it is easier to edit something in the region of 10 or 15 minutes rather than the whole 50 mins at once. I make a rendered video file (m2ts) of each segment (four or five segments usually) then put them all together (with transitions at the joins if needed) then with Smart Render on I create a video file of the whole thing and burn it to DVD or Blu ray. So I never actually have an individual Project File longer than about 20mins at most. It may be that, by accident, I've got a way round the problem. Maybe not - I'm not very technically minded and there are sure to be others on this forum with better advice. JD

[pepegota]

Now, that I got my TM900 and tested it out, I can see why you do what you do J. Dee. By the way, the camcorder is super! You can get a myriad of mts files, such that editing can be a horrendous effort. I will have to modify my method from the old SD days. It's when you create the final project from all the pieces that the above problem, alluded to by msp7fan above, can occur-that's what I am concerned about. It appears that you had no such problems in the final construction of your videos? I hope I will be the same as you are.

[J Dee]

I will be interested to find out how you get on. You see, I think it might be the sheer volume of clips, titles, overlays, audio clips etc. etc. that go in to a well produced video project of 50 minutes or an hour which just 'overloads' the system. I find if I go much over 30 minutes in any single project things really slow down and go kind of 'clunky'. Whereas if I put it together as I described before the software just treats it like any other project with only four or five clips in it. I should say I do usually save any music tracks for this final stage as they often need to cover more than one section. Regards JD