Odd problem with 24 Mbps AVCHD files and VS x6

[pvreditor]

I used to shoot all my video in 17 Mbps AVCHD, which worked perfectly with every version of VideoStudio that I had (x2, x3, x4 and x6). In the past couple of months, I started shooting everything in 24 Mbps AVCHD (1080i/60) and have an odd issue with VS x6. I thought it was just x6, but I tried the 24 Mbps files with x4 and it does the same thing.

I set up a new editing project normally, by loading files into the library. If I click on a 24 Mbps AVCHD file in the library and attempt to play it in the preview screen, it rushes through the video in a couple of seconds and there is no sound. I can drag the little pointer (the one below the preview screen) from side to side normally, but hitting the play button causes the video to zip past in a couple seconds. If I drag the video to the timeline and have it highlighted there, the same thing happens... zip! However, if I switch to program mode and play the video on the timeline, it plays normally.

Again, I thought this was a glitch I was having with x6, so I tried x4... same thing. I can still edit, and the files render well and look great. However, it's rather awkward being forced to edit in program mode -- I'm more used to highlighting a clip and playing it to find the in/out points.

I figured that there was some incorrect setting, but I can't find what that might be. Then this past weekend, I shot a project using both 24 Mbps and 17 Mpbs ACVHD cameras. I have the problem described above with the 24 Mbps footage, but the 17 Mbps footage works completely normally. The problem I have with x6 (and x4) is limited to 24 Mbps AVCHD files. Ultimately, I edited the project and the rendered video looks great. (Here it is: http://youtu.be/zBN0wrsFKS8.)

Zipping through the video is an annoyance but not a show-stopper... I've been able to edit everything I shot, but it's annoying to not be able to play through a clip. FWIW, I have the same problem with 24 Mbps files shot on Canon and Panasonic cameras.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[Ken Berry]

I can't think of what might be causing that. It certainly sounds strange. FWIW, I have quite a lot of AVCHD video clips shot at bitrates ranging from 22 - 26 Mbps, and all play correctly in both Clip and Project modes. And there are quite a few other users out there with camcorders which use that high bitrate (AVCHD 2.0 as it is called), and they don't appear to be having any trouble either.

I would think it has to be a decoder issue (i.e. the decoder part of the codec is used in Play mode, whereas the encoder part would be used in Project mode). But how to fix that is another question. You haven't by any chance loaded any codec pack recently? That sometimes causes conflicts. But then again, I would imagine that the same decoder would be used for both 17 Mbps and 24 Mbps video... unless there is a separate specifically for AVCHD 2.0. Did you download any software which might have come with the camera(s)? That would normally install the right codec for that camera's video...

[pvreditor]

I would think it has to be a decoder issue (i.e. the decoder part of the codec is used in Play mode, whereas the encoder part would be used in Project mode). But how to fix that is another question. You haven't by any chance loaded any codec pack recently? That sometimes causes conflicts. But then again, I would imagine that the same decoder would be used for both 17 Mbps and 24 Mbps video... unless there is a separate specifically for AVCHD 2.0. Did you download any software which might have come with the camera(s)? That would normally install the right codec for that camera's video...

Thanks for the quick response, Ken.

A couple months ago, I got a Panasonic Lumix GH3 camera, and it came with Panasonic's PhotoFUNStudio software. I loaded it, despite being underwhelmed with a version that I had tried from an earlier Panasonic camera. I really tried to figure out how to use PhotoCRUDStudio to very little avail. When you mentioned that the VideoStudio problem I have might be from some other software, I thought PhotoDRUDGEStudio could be the culprit. I deleted it, rebooted and no change. I also deleted VS x4 from the same computer, then deleted VS x6 and reloaded it. No change... it still has the problem as described above. The only way I can view a 24 Mbps AVCHD file in normal time is to drag it to the timeline and play it in "program" mode. Weird!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com