AVCHD files truncated when burned to disc

[Danamac]

I'm burning an AVCHD DVD with VS X7, which was used for the complete project. Most of the files are not full length when the disc is completed, such as a 1:39 is cut after 0:56. The disc will play on a blu-ray player and my computer, but the menu will not access most files. The player will play the first file and eventually skip to playing the last two. The files were originally edited and rendered MP4 1920 x 1080. I also tried rendering for AVCHD as M2TS files. I've tried sending to disc folders so I can view the results and both file types are truncated. I've tried setting project properties to AVCHD. I've also tried disc creation using the VSP file to render with the same outcome. All source files were HD from GoPro or Canon 600D camera. I have successfully burned a SD DVD before I started this. I've previously created several AVCHD DVD's with no issues. Am I missing something I need to do?

[skier-hughes]

Are the problems you are seeing on a disc, in a bluray player?
What sort of disc did you burn?

Will the disc play in a pc?

[Ken Berry]

To expand on one of Graham's questions, is the disc you burnt a hybrid one i.e. AVCHD high def video burnt to a standard def DVD? Or is it really a Blu-Ray disc burnt to a Blu-Ray blank? How much video did you burn to it?

[Danamac]

The disc is a Sony standard DVD and I'm burning HD files as AVCHD using VS X7. The finished disc loads OK in my stand alone Sony blu-ray player and the main menu appears and plays some of the chapters. My computer has an LG blu-ray/DVD burner, and I've successfully made several different HD discs in the past months. The total project is a little over 3 GB, the finished disc shows 800 MB used. The problem is the disc creation process appears to truncate some of the files before it burns the disc, and I've burned four discs with the same result. Twice I selected Create AVCHD Folders and examined the files in the Streaming subfolder. I located a file named Paddock that came from a 154 MB MP4 source duration 1:39. The corresponding M2T streaming file is named 00001.m2ts at 104 MB duration 0:50. I can play this file on my computer and it clearly stops early.

[Danamac]

One more test setting project properties to AVCHD 1920 x 1080 and using chapter files rendered to M2T. Duration results for each chapter file before and after disc creation going to AVCHD streaming subfolder. Source files total 3.11 GB and finished streaming files total 795 MB.
Chapter 1) 0:11 to 0:11
Chapter 2) 1:39 to 0:51
Chapter 3) 4:45 to 0:41
Chapter 4) 2:01 to 0:39
Chapter 5) 3:06 to 0:45
Chapter 6) 1:55 to 0:42
Chapter 7) 3:47 to 0:37
Chapter 3:17 to 0:49
Chapter 9) 0:38 to 0:38
Chapter 10) 0:11 to 0:11

[Ken Berry]

I was going to suggest creating AVCHD folders instead of burning to disc, but since you have already tried that, we can forget it.

But when you finished editing, did you first create a new AVCHD from the project before opening the burning module, or did you jump straight from the editing timeline to the burning module? If the latter, then could you try the former? Logically, you should be able to burn direct from the editing timeline, but in practice quite a few users find that converting the edits to final video as part of an already complicated burning process often screws things up... That is why we just as regularly recommend taking things one step at a time...

[Danamac]

You may have solved it. I was using the editing project for Chapter 1, the opening title. When I opened the disc creation in Share, I added all the chapter files already rendered and replaced the Title VSP with a rendered file. I just ran a test with a new untitled project going directly to Share and added the first two rendered files. The output was to folders only. Both files were fully processed, where the second previously was truncated. I'll try the whole project to folders next, but I feel this will succeed. Prior to your suggestion I successfully created Blu-Ray folders for the complete project using the Chapter 1 project as a starting point. The issue seems to only be with AVCHD creation, but your work around will get me through, thanks.

I'm also puzzled how to use folders to later create and burn a disc. Nothing in the VS manual goes that deep.
Thanks again!

[Ken Berry]

The issue seems to only be with AVCHD creation, but your work around will get me through, thanks.

It may seem like a workaround to you, but to quite a few of us, including myself who has been doing it for the past 12 years, it is our standard approach!

I'm also puzzled how to use folders to later create and burn a disc. Nothing in the VS manual goes that deep.

Unfortunately, VS itself does not have a facility to burn a final Folder to disc. It has one for an ISO file but not a folder, and of course you can't create and AVCHD hybrid disc ISO... But there are a variety of programs out there which will do so, including the freeware ImgBurn and commercial programs like the Nero and Roxio suites, as well as cheaper but very effective options like Ashampoo Burning Studio.

[Danamac]

I've completed a working disc now. I'll be changing my standard process to start a new project to burn discs.

I started years ago with Ulead VS 5.0 and continued through several generations of VS, but the HD formats are not intuitive to me yet. Getting detailed functional instructions is a bit elusive, so you've been a great help. I've used ISO files for some years, so I appreciate the references to sources that can use folders for burning multiple copies with HD.

Again,
Thanks for all your help.

[Danamac]

I thought I was done with this AVCHD hybrid issue until now. I have one file out of five that is truncating from 10:41 to duration between 00:23 and 01:08 and made too many DVD coasters before finding it. I tried using it successfully in a standard DVD. I edit and render as an m2t and save (tried mpeg-2 and AVCHD). Next start a new AVCHD project and go directly to share and insert the file alone or with a second file. The finished disc will load and play the other file, but not load this one. I finally rendered to folders and found the same truncated m2t file each time.

Any thoughts about a fix?

[lata]

Hi

First the workflow for burning DVD is the same or very similar to burning a AVCHD or Bluray disc.

1 / edit project
2 / Share to convert the project to a compliant video file suitable for burning a disc
That could be Mpeg2 for DVD and MTS for Bluray. You can create several video files provided the overall file size will fit to disc.
Play the files to check quality

To burn a disc
3 / Start a new project – Share Disc – DVD – Avchd or Bluray
4 / from the first burner page add video, adding your compliant files created in 2 above
5 / each file added creates a Title on the main menu.
6 / Chapter points could be added to each Title?
7 / Create the Menu
8 / When we hit “Burn Button” the process should start with Convert Menu.
If Convert Title shows then the video files are being converted, this should not be required as we are using Compliant video files.
It is highly likely that Convert Title is causing your truncated problems?

It is a long time since I burned a AVCHD disc but do remember having some issues setting the properties to create the Compliant file, but that may have been my inexperience, like you burning AVCHD was new at one time. The aim is to avoid that Convert Title.

I assume from Project Settings Cogwheel that Do Not Convert Compliant is selected (ticked)

9 / I always burn a Disc Image (iso) for DVD and a Folder for Avchd and Bluray, I can play these to check quality before burning the disc, unless you want coasters?

Getting the properties correct for 2 above, I would view the Stream Folder to check the video properties, then use those to convert in 2.
You could use one of those video files in Movie Manager to create your own template.

[Danamac]

This is the workflow I've used with no file conversion needed for share to disc, and it's been fine. After multiple disc failures, I rendered the final disc project to folders so I could view the video files in the Streaming folder. One of the five files on this project should be 10:41 duration, but it only comes out between 00:23 and 01:08 after multiple tries. I can play the actual file on the computer, and it shows the beginning of the original and stops at shortened duration. If this file is included with others on a disc, the disc will play but will not load this file. I've tried it as the only file with no menu, with menu, and with other files. The file is a slideshow of various still pictures with a few video sections, as are the other files I have. It may be the largest one, but another is over 9 minutes and works OK.

[lata]

Hi

What you are describing seems very unusual, I do not understand if Convert Title does not show then the original file should be used in full, as original and not converted.

What is the total length of the movie?, I seem to remember about 35 min max for a ACHD disc.

When viewing the Duration / Size bar as AVCHD 4.7G does it show all Green or is there some Yellow showing.
That may cut the video to fit disc and remove some frames. I would have though the last clip / title would be affected.?

[Danamac]

Total length is 19 minutes on the two files I want on this disc, and there's plenty of room left. I just tried a parallel test for bluray folders by fresh rendering the problem file as a new bluray project. I used mpeg-2 1980/1020 30p output. I started another bluray project and went directly to Share - bluray, inserted the new file, deleted menu, output to bluray folders. Noted it was converting title for some time. When done, I opened the resulting Steaming folder and found a single m2ts file that plays full 10:40 video on the computer. In the AVCHD folder I previously created, this same m2ts file was 00:33. This puzzles me. I don't know enough about file compatibility, but I wonder if pasting the good file from bluray into the AVCHD folder will fix it. It's the same file type. Any thoughts?

[Danamac]

I have also split the file into two parts and rendered each as an AVCHD file. Both play OK on computer. Starting a new project going directly to Share AVCHD disc, insert both files, turn off menu, save to AVCHD folders. One of the two files (usually the first) is truncated again. Both play on computer for the duration of their new size. I've repeated with varying split location. No success.