Burning AVCHD disk in VS X8.5

[billbullock]

I've been editing home videos for many years with different versions of Video Studio. I purchased VS Pro X8.5 in September 2016 and have successfully made several AVCHD disks since then. In the last few days I have edited a 21 minute, 2.6 GB video and tried to burn it several times to different blank DVDs only to find that only 16.5 minutes gets burnt, amounting to 2.03 GB. VS reports that the disk was successfully burnt even though much of it is missing. I have not experienced this problem before and I cannot fathom it out. Years ago I remember there being a Windows problem with files greater than 2 GB but that went away with newer versions of Windows. I am on the latest update of Windows 10 which was installed just recently. My PC has been successfully burning AVCHD for years and so there must be a software problem somewhere rather than a hardware one.

Can anyone help please?

[lata]

Hi

It has been a while that I burnt AVCHD, I soon upgraded to Bluray.

Do you render your project to AVCHD, then using the new video to burn the disc.
Start a new project- empty timelines- share Disc Avchd – add video file.
Or
open the burner with your project open, that will cause the burner to convert the project.

To save creating the coasters you can create AVCHD folders, then view the video content to see if it is complete. You may be able to use ImgBurn to burn the disc from the folder.
I use that approach for Bluray discs, should work for Avchd.

[billbullock]

Hi Iata.

I have tried both methods you mentioned but the result is the same, only 2 GB of project is burnt. I have been successfully burning AVCHD discs for many years with VS Pro X2 using Windows 7. When I upgraded to Windows 10, I purchased VS Pro X8.5 (in Sep 2016). At first my projects were sub 2 GB but my latest 2 have been greater than 2 GB and they have both failed to burn to disc. When I viewed the content before going to burn, it was all there. There definitely seems to be a 2 GB limit with the latest update of Windows 10. It's probably a Windows fault!

Corel's response to my problem is that Pro X8.5 is designed for use with Windows 8 and may not be compatible with Windows 10. In desperation, I have just purchased VS Pro X10.5 and burnt both my outstanding AVCHD projects successfully onto normal DVDs the same day. Windows 10 seems to compatible with Pro X10.5 but I haven't been using it long yet, only one day!

Whilst we are in contact, can you answer another question for me please? Why do I get so many options for AVC in the editing software? There's 1920x1080 50i or 50p which I think I understand but don't know which one to choose, interlaced or progressive scan. I can't see the difference. Then there is 18, 20 or 28 Mbps; which one do I choose?

[lata]

Hi Bill
You may wish you never asked….
The program provides a variety of avchd templates, some are Bluray compliant.
The frame rate may show different symbols, just to confuse us.
25fps interlaced is the same as 50i
For HD interlacing will be Upper Field
1920 x 1080 x 25fps Interlaced (50i) is Bluray compliant and can be burnt to disc.
1920 x 1080 x 50p is not bluray compliant and would be converted/rendered to use interlacing before being burnt to disc.
Now 1280 x 720 x 50p is Bluray compliant and can be burnt to disc.

My Panasonic records to 1920 x 1080 x 50i at 16800kbps, those are good quality Bluray compliant, after completing my project I render to those settings, my project properties match those settings, so I choose Share - Same as project settings.
Rarely do choose any of the default templates

The data rate 18mb will control the file size and quality, approx. 8 Gb per hour
Again my original video records using 16800Kbps, no point in increasing that, not really gonna improve quality, although some may argue the point.

Our pc monitor displays progressive, so playing interlaced looks the same as progressive.
Interlaced is best played back on tv. So if your target audience is the internet then progressive is the better option.

As for AVCHD hybrid discs, I think 50p may be possible, unlike BD needs 50i

I’ll run a quick test to create a AVCHD folder using 50p

Ideally you should keep your original video properties as your output settings, assuming they are suitable that is.
So what are they, right click one of your original video files and choose properties, create an image of that panel to attach to your post.

[lata]

Hi Bill
I do not understand Corel Supports comment regarding X8.5 burning discs.
The authoring platform has not been updated for many years, so X8 is the same beast as X9 and X10.

I have just created a avchd folder, that completed ok
I then burnt the original video to AVCHD Disc, no problems all video was burnt to disc.

I don ‘t understand why you had a problem but certain X8.5 will burn avchd discs.

[Ken Berry]

Just to add a short postscript to Trevor's very helpful posts: don't get too confused by the many options available to produce an AVCHD clip. What you need to know is that the international standard for an AVCHD/hybrid disc takes away much of the confusion. An AVCHD disc can only accept a maximum bitrate of 18 Mbps. So there is no point in producing a video with a higher bitrate as it will only be down-converted to 18 Mbps or below in the rendering process to an AVCHD disc. Using 18 Mbps will allow you to burn around 25 minutes to a single layer DVD in high quality.

In video, the bitrate controls not only quality but also the size of the resulting file. The higher the bitrate, the bigger the video will be. And conversely, the lower the bitrate, the smaller the size. So if, like Trevor, you use a common bitrate for many video cameras of 16.8 Mbps, the resulting video when you use it will be smaller than it would if you used 18 Mbps. The quality will still be very high, and the human eye probably wouldn't notice the difference. But it would mean you could burn up to 30 minutes of video to a single layer DVD.

[billbullock]

Hi Trevor and Ken,

Thanks for all your useful information. In the olden days of Video Studio Pro X2, and before that when I had Ulead versions, you were supplied with a comprehensive User Guide as well as the discs. I used to know exactly what I was doing and produced reasonable DVDs from 1992 onwards, despite the software glitches, some of which were incompatibility issues with Windows.

Corel has just asked me to give them access to my computer to examine my problem with Pro X8.5 and projects greater than 2 GB. I told them to forget it as, in my frustrated state, I had just upgraded to Pro X10.5 and successfully burnt my projects. It's interesting that you think that Pro X8.5 should work well with Windows 10. I am bang up to date with Windows 10 updates. I wonder if anyone else is having problems with projects greater than 2 GB.

[lata]

Hi Bill

As I said it has been a while burning a AVCHD, but the process went ok and has not changed since X12.
The menu templates may have been updates providing the Smart Scene, but overall it is the same beast.

Just to check your process / workflow
Do you render the project to AVCHD, the new file being 4.3 Gb max to fit to disc without further rendering.
The test I performed used a 4.09GB, that’s about as close to a full disc with a bit spare for the menu structure.
For what its worth I managed 35 minutes using a data rate of 16800.

I then start a new project, nothing in the timeline, it is important that the timeline is empty.
Share – Disc – Avchd opens the burner module
Top left Add Video File- choosing the 4.09Gb video
Create the menu
On the final page after I hit Burn the process starts with Convert Menu.
If you see Convert Title then the 4.09GB video is being converted, this is not required as we are burning a compliant video file.

If you are seeing Create Title it could be that process that is causing the 2 GB problem

[billbullock]

Thanks Trevor. I still have Pro X8.5 and the large project on my PC so will try once more. I think I followed the procedure you describe but will try once again and report back. Regards, Bill.

[billbullock]

Hi Trevor,

I have just finished burning my Thailand video again, following your procedure which is the same procedure I have used all along. Before hitting the Burn button, I got confirmation that the disc would be 2.7 GB and 20 min 42 sec. The disc burnt successfully according to the software. However, the disc ended up being 1.68 GB and 13.32 min, exactly as before. The problem is still there I'm afraid to report.

Regards, Bill.

[lata]

Hi Bill

You did not say if after hitting Burn that the process started with Convert Menu or Convert title.

I don’t wish you to create more coasters, but if you choose to Create Disc Folders and not Create Disc then you don’t need a disc.
But what does the process start with

Convert Title
Or
Convert Menu.

It’s a mystery?

[billbullock]

Hi Trevor,

When I hit Burn, the process starts with Convert Title.

Regards, Bill.

[lata]

Bill

If you render the project to a compliant video file, then use that video to burn the disc the process should start with Convert Menu

If you see convert Title then your files are being converted, this is not required and certainly causing the problem.

As a quick Guide

1 / complete the project
2 / Share/render the project to a compliant video file, choosing AVCHD, video should be no greater than 4.2 GB
3 / start a new project to clear the timelines
4 / Share Disc AVCHD opens the burner module
5 / top left for Insert Video File – choose the file created in 2 above
6 / Complete the menu
7 / on the final page, as a test choose Create AVCHD Folder, no need to waste a disc. Deselect Create Disc
8 / Press Burn should start with Convert Menu.

Oh do not choose Normalise Audio?

When complete locate the AVCHD folder, browse for the Stream folder that contains the movie / video should be complete.

[billbullock]

Hi Trevor,

I have just followed your procedure precisely but on hitting burn, it says Converting Title again. The rendered project file I am using is an m2t file called PRJ_CREATEDISC.VSPTEMP_(001) if that helps you understand what is going on.

What is really interesting is that the Corel Vieo Studio Pro X8 User Guide procedure for burning a disc differs from your procedure and I have been burning AVCHD discs for years with Video Studio software without any problem until now. I have always gone from the editing stage to the share stage and straight into burning.

Your response is eagerly awaited. Sorry that my response is a bit slow but I am looking after a sick wife as first priority.

Regards, Bill.

[lata]

Hi Bill

Don’t worry about the response times, posts will get read and receive a reply, providing I don’t miss your reply.

There is some confusion about VSP files, they are project files not video files, mts, m2t are video files.
Reading your post you say……………..
“I am using is an m2t file called PRJ_CREATEDISC.VSPTEMP_(001) if that helps you understand what is going on.”
That file is a project file, a temp project file. (VSP TEMP)
As such would be converted to a video file using Convert Title

And that’s the problem.

Further in your reply you say
“I have always gone from the editing stage to the share stage and straight into burning.”
It is that step that can cause problems.
Yes the program is designed to do that but some users do have problems, rendering the “editing stage “ to a new video file will / should fix those problems.

Does that make sense

And my best wishes to you and your wife