Convert AVCHD to DV-AVI for editing? « Videomaker Community Forums

BrianSiano
Member

I'm probably taking the plunge into an HD camcorder in the near future. However, I'm still using Premiere Pro 2.0 for editing, and upgrading _that_ and my computer system will cost a bit. So I'm wondering about converting AVCHD to DV-AVI so I can edit it (or try to edit it) with my current rig, until I spring for a new one. What are the tradeoffs-- I mean, other than massive files on my hard drive? Is there a loss of color depth? Is DV-AVI limited to certain resolutions, framerates, color scales, etc.?

Posted 2 years ago #
composite1
Moderator

Brian,

Take Waiwai's info with a handfull of salt. He's just plugging product.

Have you bought the camera yet? Are you in love with AVCHD or are you open to other HD formats? AVCHD is really compressed and every pro I've talked with about it says it's a PIA to deal with.

H.Wolfgang Porter, Composite Media Producer
Dreaded Enterprises Unlimited, Inc.
http://www.dreadedenterprises.com

Posted 2 years ago #
famering
Member

Why not Sony Vegas Pro? It supports AVCHD editing natively. Although it does not support smart rendering, it is okay for most editing works.

If you only want to cut out unwanted scenes out the movie, you can try Smart Cutter for DV and DVB instead. Smart Cutter is a Frame Accurate H.264/AVCHD editor. Especially, only small parts on start and end points will be re-encoded, the middle part will remain untouched. This gives highest speed while reserving highest video quality. This is just 'smart rendering'.

Posted 2 years ago #
XTR-91
Member

Editing the AVCHD video natively is probably the best strategeom, though it may put a ton of lag on a non-core (e.g. Celeron) processor. If the speed handler is not a core, 2.5 GHz for editing AVCHD should probably be your minimum. Editing MPEG-2 footage on my duo-core 1.66 GHz processor isn't bad at all with Sony Vegas Pro 9. The lag picked up tons more in Cyberlink PowerDirector 7 (consumer video editing software). From my experience, the processing to lag ratio varies A TON among the software type. Pro quality software will generally edit more smoothly and produce less lag.

Converting AVCHD to DV-AVI will limit the quality reproduction to the capabilities of both formats. For example, AVCHD and DV-AVI use different encoding systems (compression techniques and different types of losses). Converting highly compressed formats to DV-AVI will generally involve losses that are not noticeable enough to care. If the slow nature of AVCHD drags heavily, a DV-AVI conversion will probably be your best bet.

Posted 2 years ago #
Coreece
Member

"Is DV-AVI limited to certain resolutions"

Yes...DV-AVI is standard definition (720x480, hence DV) so you'd essentially be converting an HD source to SD.

There are other codecs that will allow you to convert to an AVI that will allow you to maintain HD quality like cineform's neo scene ($129)

Posted 2 years ago #
Derek_Sine
Staff

edit native. once you start converting things left and right it gets' pretty messy.

Posted 2 years ago #
Coreece
Member

"edit native. once you start converting things left and right it gets' pretty messy."

There are basically two reasons one would convert AVCHD or HDV footage...Better performance within an NLE and better quality upon export of your final project....not sure what you mean by messy? It shouldn't be a problem if you know what you're doing.

Posted 2 years ago #
XTR-91
Member

If at all possible, I'd agree about the part of editing natively, but a conversion between AVCHD to an HDV format would probably be (though I have no experience with it) virtually lossless. If the editing process becomes unbearable, or if you prefer a smoother workflow, then by all means I'd have to go with what Coreece said about converting.

Posted 2 years ago #
oposky2006
Member

i think adobe cs4 can help u

Posted 2 years ago #
Anonymous

Adobe Premier Elements 7 can edit AVCHD native also.

Posted 2 years ago #
SandyGrim
Member

Premiere Elements 8 CAN theoretically edit native AVCHD files, but it is an acutely painful process even with a fast machine. And if you try to render and burn longer movies to DVD it will take many hours and may crash. I have a new quad core computer with 6 Gigs of RAM and a dedicated terabyte disc for video and the computer consistently crashes if the movie is longer than 40 minutes or so. Far better to convert your files to AVI format with a video converter program, such as AVS Video Converter, then edit in PRE. Judging from comments on various other forums this seems to be the way to go.

Posted 2 years ago #
XTR-91
Member

All DV-AVI is in standard definition. Your best bet will probably be to convert the AVCHD files to a high bitrate MPEG-2 or H.264 file.

Posted 2 years ago #
videoguys
Member

You should check out the new Edius NEO2 w/ AVCHD Booster. It provices Real-Time AVCHD editing!

Grass Valley EDIUS Neo 2 with AVCHD Booster Option
The Perfect Solution for Editing AVCHD

Native AVCHD files have previously been difficult to edit with NLE software,
due to the high compression of the video, and often required dedicated
hardware solutions. The new EDIUS Neo 2 Booster allows for smooth,
full-frame editing of native AVCHD video in software only, courtesy of
a newly-developed AVCHD codec engine that can process more than 3
real-time streams simultaneously with EDIUS Neo 2 (tested with an Intel
Core i7 CPU system - just like the Videoguys' DIY 7 system configuration).

GrassValley EDIUS Neo 2 with AVCHD Booster option is an affordable NLE
software featuring basic, entry-level range of tools and features,
EDIUS Neo 2 software is perfect for those new to video editing. Yet it
also provides powerful nonlinear editing features common to all EDIUS
solutions, such as real-time, multi-track, mixed-format HD/SD editing,
chroma keying, titling, and Blu-ray Disc and DVD authoring. Built on
the same highly-acclaimed technology as the EDIUS editing software,
EDIUS Neo 2 offers native editing of various formats including AVCHD,
HDV, DV, Windows Media, and QuickTime â?? and provides a seamless,
real-time workflow that supports the mixing of all formats within the
same timeline.

The EDIUS Neo 2 Booster makes real-time AVCHD editing an affordable reality and
enhances Grass Valley's commitment to the real-time "anything in -
anything out" editing platform. The EDIUS Neo 2 Booster is compatible
with Windows XP, Vista (32-bit/64-bit) as well as 32-bit and 64-bit
versions of the new Windows 7 Operating System.

Gary
http://www.webvideoguys.com/neo2booster09.html

Posted 2 years ago #
vivili
Member

Try iOrgsoft AVCHD Converter.which can help u convert avchd to AVI/DV.

http://hdconverter.blu-ray-softs.com/

Give gives me more happiness than just gain!

http://blu-ray-softs.com/

Posted 1 year ago #
timili
Member

why not try doremisoft video converter to convert your AVCHD to DV-AVI and also edit it (or
try to edit it) with your files without loss of color depth.

hdconverterformac will bring you more.

Posted 1 year ago #
xluckynumber7x
Member

Well, here is what I do when I go to edit my AVCHD (.mts) files off my Canon HF S100 so that I can edit them in PP CS3. I use this .mts to Xvid batch file that was created by other people not some company and is free and easy.

First I pull the files off my SDHC card into a preset folder

Then I copy and paste the batch and ffmpeg.exe into that folder and click on the batch file to transcode the video

Then I import and edit :)

Posted 1 year ago #
wilqen
Member

If you are going to stick with your older computer system for a while then go with cineform Neoscene. You can get it for $99 and it will allow you to convert to it's intermediate codec for ease of editing, then you can go directly to burn an HD Bluray disc, or go back to AVCHD w/o any loss of quality. It will also give you a much wider choice of NLE's when you do upgrade because you won't have to worry about lag. Get Cineform and be worry free

Will

Posted 1 year ago #
birdcat
Moderator

I use New Blue FX's AVCHD Upshift - It converts MTS files to lightly compressed M2T files (MPEG-2) which I then edit in Vegas nicely on an older Pentium IV running at 2.53 GHz with 1 GB RAM (it works better on a faster box with more RAM).

Bruce Paul
7Squared Productions
http://www.7squared.com

Posted 1 year ago #
webvideo
Member

I use total video converter converting first.

E.M. Total Video Converter is a piece of
extremely powerful and full-featured converter
software that supports almost all video and
audio formats. The software is designed to
convert video for your mobile video player as 3gp,
mp4, PSP, PS3, iPod, iPhone etc and also VCD or DVD player,
XBOX360.

Posted 1 year ago #
sirbobls
Member

so, i have purchased the HMC150, downloaded the panasonic recomended transcoder and started doing some testing, Great camera!

now, i have noticed that when i have converted the file to a DV-AVI 16:9 video, i noticed that the video is fuzzier and a few pexils wider! for all of you who need to check this out, open your choice of NLE (i use vegas pro 9), drop the .mts video and the transcoded videos on the timeline and set up multicam edit or press play to see the video, you will see the difference in the video.

i want to properly transcode the video to keep the same video quality, just as a DV-AVI for easy editing with another camera. please check out to see what i am talking about, and help me figure this out!

Posted 1 year ago #
rebekahlmueller
Member

are there any free AVCHD converters for macs?

Posted 1 year ago #
mailber350
Member

DV-AVI is generally the format with less compression and quality loss. The way I am using to conert AVCHD video form my HD camcorder is using Aunsoft MTS Converter for Mac which is the easiest and fastest program I have ever used to accomplish AVCHD video conversion.

Step 1. Import AVCHD files to this program.

Step 2. Choose DV AVI format.

Step 3. Convert VRO to DV AVI for Mac.

http://www.aunsoft.com/mac_avchd_to_dv_video_converter_convert_mts_m2ts_to_apple_dv/

Quite easy to use.

And the most satisfied one is its high quality of output video formats.

Posted 1 year ago #
kate59588
Member

I've had good results converting the .mts files to .mov, with the settings h.264, 12000kbps, 1280*720, 25fps, aac. The files look good on my Mac running Adobe Premiere, edit easily, and convert well to DVD format.

http://www.pavtube.com/hd-video-converter-mac/guide/how-to-convert-hd-video.html

Posted 1 year ago #
Robert
Member

If I might introduce myself as a dyed-in-the-wool PC Adobe Premiere user, CS5 to be exact, I can attest that CS5 does an okay job with native AVCHD, but truthfully, I have not yet tried long form video of an hour or more. Computer is a quad AMD with 8-G of RAM, 3-GHz processing with Blackmagic Intensity Pro, and 64 bit. (No Mercury Engine).

I am reading that when the computer begins to choke, which appears to happen around 40-min. or so, I do wish to consider a conversion, if that will help. If H.264 is best, or if DV-AVI can be done to retain the 16 x 9 A/R, does anyone know which might be best to minimize image quality loss or provide best editing, or both ? There are many conversion options built into Premiere's Encoder, but no one suggests which is best for any particular circumstance. A lot of my long form video occurs in Wedding work, where I can easily have 2-hrs or more of raw footage.

HD Camera, BTW, is a Sony HDR-SR-12, a real sweetheart single CMOS unit with a 120-G Hard Drive, and when 1080i footage is shot at FS speed, (a higher speed than the normal SP), the image, under good lighting, is completely comparable to what is put out with much more expensive and very high end HD camcorders.

For me, one of the big treats in using this camcorder is that the AVCHD files, using a USB cord connected to the camcorder, can copy and paste video files directly into the computer without having to "capture" the footage at real time, which I have always had to do with my PD-150 SD-DV tape camcorder.

If, however, to facilitate editing, I am advised to convert this footage to something else, I may need to trade the bullet of saved time for easier editing in another format after conversion.

What would seem to be the best way to proceed ?

Posted 10 months ago #
birdcat
Moderator

Hi Robert -

I too shoot with a SR11 (same camera, smaller hard drive). I have had good luck with New Blue FX's UpShift (see comment above). It converts MTS (AVCHD) to M2T (lightly compressed MPEG-2) which I edit easily in Sony Vegas. It can be done in a batch mode, so I leave large conversions running overnight.

FWIW - I loves me my SR11 (wish I had sprung for the extra HD space of the SR12) as it has many features of a true prosumer camera (manual focus & exposure, Dolby 5.1, headphone jack, mic jack, optical image stabilization, HDMI out, 1/3" CMOS sensor, Zebra stripes, manual & auto white balance, HD recording @ 1080i, large viewscreen, etc...) for a (high end of) consumer price.

Posted 10 months ago #
Robert
Member

Hey Birdcat....thanks for the reinforcement of the many attributes of that camcorder design, too easily taken for granted ! Not being where I should be in the vernacular department, what is the "batch mode" you describe ? .... a partially processed timeline ? And when you convert to M2T, do you retain the 16 x 9 A/R, (or 1.0 pixel ratio?) I'm not sure if M2T is an option in Encoder ..... will need to check. And for that conversion, does the timeline content then edit any easier than if you leave it in AVCHD (MTS) mode ?

Another issue I did not discuss is the slight nuisance of the SR-12 recording HD in 2-GB segments or clips. This is noticeable in long form video recordings, wherein a gap is produced after each 2-Gs of recording, disrupting desired continuity (without gaps). Coming to the rescue for this, I understand that an "MTS Merge" program is supposed to connect these clips and eliminate any discernible gap. Are you familiar with that ? I have yet to get that into motion, but something like that is going to be necessary if I am to combine SR-12 footage with a second camera, of some genre, and not miss a beat in sync.

Posted 10 months ago #
hmueller
Member

I edit AVCHD with no problem in PP CS4. I would imagine with your system you would have a problem. The most reliable converter is NeoScene. It is not free but it really works. You can find it here http://www.cineform.com/neoscene/ Even with new software and fast computer it will make your life easier if you convert.

Heidi

Posted 10 months ago #
birdcat
Moderator

Hi Robert -

You are correct in the 2GB gap - I usually pause before I reach that limit but it has bitten me before. I haven't heard of anything to solve this but it hasn't been high on my list as I try to keep clips 10 minutes or less (easier editing).

As for batch mode, UpShift allows you to specify a directory, and will convert all files therein, sequentially, until they're all done - I've done 15-20GB at a clip when needed, albeit it took about a day on my box.

And yes, the M2T files are also 16:9, square pixel. Sony Vegas Pro reads the M2T files natively (it is lightly compressed MPEG2). If you have an issue with M2T, you can also look at GearShift from VASST which does something similar but outputs various formats. http://store.vasst.com/store/vasst-software/gearshift.aspx

Posted 10 months ago #
XTR-91
Member

You mean your video editing can't occupy more than 2GB of RAM?

Posted 10 months ago #
Robert
Member

First to XTR-91: No... during recording, say of a 2-hr event, the AVCHD SR-11/12 records in only 2GB segments, and then produces a gap of a few seconds to sort of mess up continuity before continuing its recording operation. The camcorder was never turned off or lets you know this is happening....it just records in segments, which you discover when you place the clips on the timeline to edit.

Now for Birdcat : The good news is I just found the lost application that solves this problem of joining the segments. It is called .... MTSMERGE.exe A great way to input all the 2-GB segments and the FREE app nicely links them together into one clip, which of course in shooting, was the intention all along. So that would seem to solve the segmentation problem. I plan on getting into editing that long one tomorrow, and I'll get back if I discover any problems. BTW, some HD camcorders do this segmentation-recording in 4-GB segs, but either way, when doing long form video editing, that needs to be continuous, that little habit is a real nuisance. So merging the clips is a real necessity.

But back to the M2T file conversion, I really need to see if that conversion codec is available in CS5 Encoder, because every filter or cosmetic correction I add now to the MTS video stream takes "forever" to render, compared to good ole' DV. So much complexity here, that it is difficult to even scrub thru the clip before rendering. Hence, if a different file is going to be easier to edit, and we can still retain original resolution and clarity, etc. - that should be a good way to go.

Posted 10 months ago #