Can AVCHD and MOV formats be used in same clip?

[Nick Mirro]

Hi. Wondering if these two formats can be added to the same timeline.

I've been very happily outputting .M2T from AVCHD source files with VS X8. Render settings are "same as project" (1080p 60fps, PCM).

A 2nd camera produces the very same MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, but in the MOV format. Here's my plan:

- Convert 2nd camera 1080p 30fps to 60fps with 3rd party app (discarding audio)
- Add that video to a timeline that already has AVCHD footage (w/PCM)

1. Can the MOV format be added to a timeline with AVCHD?

2. Will I be able to retain the "same as project" setting (1080p 60fps, PCM)?

[Ken Berry]

You can certainly mix the two formats since they are essentially the same, apart from the 30/60 frame rate. I am not even certain you need to change the frame rate of the 30 fps as that risks duplicating frames (depending on the third part conversion software you are using). Mind you, if your Project Settings include 60p, then the 30p footage would be converted during the process of converting the project into a new video.

I would try making a very short project with a 60p and a 30p clip and see how that looks.

You don't actually say how you arrived at your project settings. Did you insert an AVCHD clip first and get a message asking if you want the Project Properties to match those of the clip (which would be preferable)? Or did you manually set them?

And what are you intending to make? If you are planning to burn a Blu-Ray disk, then the 60p footage would in fact have to be the one reduced to 30p as the international Blu-Ray standard does not accept 60 full/progressive fps (or 50 for PAL). The only 50/60p footage which is acceptable has to be 1280 x 720. But if you are doing anything apart from that, the Project Settings are fine.

[Nick Mirro]

Thank so much for helping! The "same as project settings" is a checkbox at the top of the Share tab. It automatically sets the project to the settings of the first added video (AVCHD and PCM audio). Come to think of it, I haven't tried that checkbox when there were already 30 and 60 fps clips added. Will check that too.

The video use is for local PC viewing on VLC and youtube upload.

I assumed that VS would downgrade the 60 fps clip to 30. That would be fantastic if the app duplicated frames in the 30 so 60 could be kept. Hope it works! I'll try the test and post back.

[Ken Berry]

In fact the "Same As..." box up there does NOT set the project properties to match those of the first clip. It makes the burning or conversion of the project in the Share process match the Project Properties which are set well before you reach the Share stage. And in your case this is best done by ensuring that the box beside "Show message when inserting first video clip" in Preferences is ticked. When you start a new project and insert the first clip, you should then get a message asking if you want the Project Properties to match those of your clip. In your case if the first clip is an AVCHD one you would say yes. Then you add your other clips and do your editing. It is only then that you reach the Share stage and you choose was format you want to convert or burn your project to. And it is here you would choose Same As Project Settings, though of course there are a variety of other possibilities.

Note that this process is linked to the first clip in a new project. If you already have 50 or 60 clips in the timeline adding a new clip at the beginning will not alter the existing Project Properties. That would have to be done manually by you.

But we'll look forward to hearing the results of your test...

[Nick Mirro]

(just got your last message. I understand "Same as" now and have checked "Show message...".

This is just amazing. It worked perfectly producing a 60 fps clip, just as you said. How marvelous!

One small issue with an easy workaround. VS crashes if a MOV file is added after the AVCHD. Adding the MOV first to the overlay track, splitting and deleting the audio and then adding the AVCHD worked perfectly.

Under attributes for the MOV (overlay), I set the alignment option to "Fit to screen" and for the first time we have 2 cameras

I've used VS for years without ever using a single overlay track. Now ripple editing suddenly makes sense for split audio. I can't thank you enough Ken!