I am not sure if this suggestion makes any sense or not, but does it make sense to convert the AVCHD files to MPEG (or any format that will not lower the video quality) and then use the new file (MPEG, in this case) in Studio for editting (vs editting the AVCHD file).  Meaning, if the processors are working hard to de-code the AVCHD file then why not de-code it and then bring back into the project (de-coded).  This assumes that you have the extra diskspace.

Just a thought that I had as I was working on my HD video.  Another little advantage is that you can now preview the file outside of Studio.  For me, I cannot play .MTS files outside of Studio.

 Thx,
Nir.

Oops:  Can this thread be moved to the "editting" forum.

This has been discussed in several threads. It is certainly a viable approach since the average PC simply isn't powerful enough to edit AVCHD. It just takes time and hard disk space.

You might be able to play the .MTS files in Windows Media Player if you simply change the file extension to be .M2TS.

B

Thx for the reply.  I didn't realize it has been discussed.

I will try the .M2TS extension change.  I assume that .MTS and .M2TS files are the same like renaming a .txt to .csv.

Thx,
Nir.

Nir123:

Thx for the reply.  I didn't realize it has been discussed.

I will try the .M2TS extension change.  I assume that .MTS and .M2TS files are the same like renaming a .txt to .csv.

Thx,
Nir.

Take a look my latest post in this thread to see the challenges of editing raw AVCHD and the performance improvement in converting AVCHD to MPEG-2 prior to editing. Also, be sure to note my system specs.

Let us know if the .M2TS extension works.

B

bhurst -

Changing the extension for .M2TS worked, thank you. :)

I am unable to jump to a different part of the clip.  Is that normal?  When I try to jump, the video freezes.

Also, I read your thread on converting AVCHD to MPEG2 prior to editting.  Very informative.  Based on your thread and lots of editting of AVCHD on my own system, I can guarantee you that any future AVCHD projects that I work on, I will definately convert to MPEG2 first.

Thanks again for the help.

Nir.

Nir123:

I am unable to jump to a different part of the clip.  Is that normal?  When I try to jump, the video freezes.

When you say "unable to jump," are referring to playing the file in Windows Media Player? That happens sometimes, but I do not know the technical reason. Based on my brief experience, I think you are making the right decision about conversion to MPEG-2 as a first step.

B

Thanks for your help.  I am not looking for a technical answer in regards to why I cannot jump.  I just wanted to know if this is normal.

Thx,

Nir.

bhurst:

You might be able to play the .MTS files in Windows Media Player if you simply change the file extension to be .M2TS.

No you can't.  It reports it as an unrecognised format, but plays the sound, but not the picture.  WMP 11 by the way.

IanS:

bhurst:

You might be able to play the .MTS files in Windows Media Player if you simply change the file extension to be .M2TS.

No you can't.  It reports it as an unrecognised format, but plays the sound, but not the picture.  WMP 11 by the way.

... and by the way the .MTS extension also plays - in exactly the same way.

The whole AVC codec seems to be pretty unstable in that there still seem to be a lot of different "flavors," but I have, in fact, been able to play MTS files (video and audio) by simply changing the extension to M2TS.

That said, I would not be surprised at all if it did not work in some cases.

Just something to try.

B

Changing the extension worked for me too.  I was able to view the video and hear the audio in Windows Media Player.  I was NOT able to click on the timeline to jump to a different part of the video clip.  When I would try to "jump" the video would freeze.

Nir.

Nir,

I'm curious. If you play your .m2ts file in Windows Media Player, then click File>Properties. What codec is listed? In my WMP< I get video, but no audio. So I would be interested to see what I need to change.

Hi Markk655 -

On the system (Win XP Pro) that I am able to rename the extension to .M2TS and view the video I am using Windows Media Player Classic v6.4.9.1.

This is what I get for Codec:

Type: KLCP.TS (I am not sure what this is, but I included this anyway.)

Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 1920x1080 29.97fps [Video]
Audio: Dolby AC3 48000Hz stereo [Audio]

The AVCHD file is from a Canon HF100, in case it makes a difference.  The files (the whole "private" folder in fact) was copied directly from the memory stick to the computer.

On a side note, I tried to rename the .MTS files to .M2TS on a different system (Win XP Pro) and I was unable to view the video in Windows Media Player v9.  I am not sure why it works in v6 but not in v9.

Nir.

VLC player will happily play back *.m2ts and *.mts (8.3 filename) files.

WMP11 doesn't recognise .m2ts (it will if you download codecs like K-lite or you just happen to have ffdshow installed), However,  as the AVCHD Mpeg4 is wrapped inside an mpeg2 transport stream .ts, then WMP will recognise it when you change the filename to *.mpg). But studio wouldn't recognise it.

To convert the heavily compressed AVCHD to something useable on a dual core, convert mt2s to mpeg2 first (batch conversion with nero or super) and then you can edit 1920 x 1080i on a dual core. Turn off 'enable full resolution preview' in video/project preferences and also turn off 'background rendering' to speed things up a bit more. 

Then when finished, render to a blu-ray disk using BMDV(Mpeg2) at 25mps. Don't use Studio's standard 'Best Quality' - as it tends to render at half this rate, regardless of how much motion you have in your video. Instead use custom settings and manually set it to 25mps. For some reason, this works better and forces studio's VBR to operate in the upper tolerance range. Ignore the disk-o-meter, its all over the place. Even toggling the audio compression settings can upset it!

If you don't have a blu-ray burner, then render as AVCHD / image type AVCHD at 17mbps (about 35 mins) on a standard DVD-R or DVD-RW to play back on a domestic blu-ray player (assuming it's a profile v1.1 or higher player), but the Studio render time to AVCHD is much, much slower than Mpeg2 with the disadvantage of having to send the video through yet another codec conversion, but the quality doesn't degrade that much.) 

Or render as an mpeg2 1920 x 1080i file, which should be reasonably quick in Windows Mediaplayer or even render as WMV HD 5.1 and stream over your home LAN via an xbox360 into the component-in or HDMI (Xbox Elite) to your TV.

I am editing AVCHD at 720p in studio 12 on a 3ghz with 2mb ram.  I am able to make the movie and export fine; however, during playback it plays fine until the last 3 seconds of each clip.  The last 3 seconds the video freezes and you can still hear the sound.  The next clip starts just fine and is smooth but same thing it freezes on the last 3 seconds.  Makes it look like a still picture.  Any ideas why this is happening?  I was thinking it may have to do with AVCHD.   But because everything else is very smooth I am hoping maybe it is some setting in version 12.    This also doesn't happen when I make a movie with ULEAD which came with the camera. 

jb41:

convert mt2s to mpeg2 first (batch conversion with nero or super) and then you can edit 1920 x 1080i on a dual core.

Hi - In nero - how is this done - batch conversion 

thx

Karl.

If you had a canon camera with an SDHC slot could you render the video to avchd format with ultimate 12 and put it back on the SDHC card?  I want to try that so I can play it back at friends houses that have lcd's but no blu ray players.

 This way I can make vids in HD, add stills and music and play it back in beautiful HD on friends and family's LCD tv's that dont have blu ray players

Hi

I have worked a method that appears to be working. I Import the video files from the SD Card Reader into Studio V12, which saves them in "Videos". (As MTS files) I then use the AVS Convertor program to convert the files to MPEG2. These then drop to the Timeline OK

My only comment is that the DVD made Movie on my computer from this methed, is much Brighter and "Cleaner" but weaker in colour, than the screen image on the TV through the DVD Player. They seem a lot darker "Darker", although the Colour is more natural on the TV screen.

Any comments ????

When I used the Panasonic HD WRiter to convert the files to MPEG2, thet would not transfer to the Timeline in Studio V12

 Thank You for all your help

Cheers.

Hi,

I added AVCHD files to the timeline and made Pinnacle 12 create an mpeg-2 file from them. I then re-imported that file to the timeline for editing and burning to disc. Results looked ok, rendering took twice as long as normal but the timeline and preview screen all worked smoothly. After scanning forums about AVCHD problems, this seemed to easy!

 I wish I was not at work right now, as I would most likely be sitting on my computer trying to learn this program.  I just got it installed last night and have lots of questions, but most of them don't belong in this thread, but my question that will go in here, I tried last night after getting everything setup to edit a movie.  I have 12.9 GB worth of movies of my daughter and various other stuff I would like to edit.  I started Editing my Motor swap on my truck last night and when I opend the Mt2s file it converted it over to mpeg-4 is there a way to just edit it as avchd in 1080? 

   My current setup SHOULD run it.  I have an AMD 940 Phenom OC'd at 3.16 4G of Ram @ 1066 and a 4870 1GB vid card.  This should be stout enough to run AVCHD.