Share: How much do you know about AVCHD format?

[Priscilla]

A new land of high definition video is now taking root, and it’s not just happening on our televisions, we’re also seeing high definition show up in files that are downloaded from the Internet, and videos that are designed to be played on our portable players. The future of HD has arrived. But how much do you know about HD video and HD video format?

AVHD stands for Advanced Video Codec High Definition. It is a format for the recording and playback of high definition video. AVCHD is a form of video compression that allows the large data files created by HD video recording to be captured and saved on digital media such as hard disk drives and flash memory cards. This format is jointly developed by Panasonic and Sony for use in consumer camcorders.

The AVCHD file extension may be .M2TS, .M2T, .MTS, .TS, .TR, .TP, .TRP, .TOD, .MOD, etc.

[MediaGuy]

...One thing I know about AVCHD - I know that it is impossible to edit with it in Premiere on a Macbook Pro. Don't try it.

[Gracetech]

The AVCHD covers alot of ground and while the main editing softwares out there are trying to pick up as many as possible to smooth out the editing workflow it's still pretty crazy. It seems you have to convert things now before you edit them or use the proprietary editing software that comes with the camera(usually not an option). I for one would like to see all the knuckle heads finally get on the same page and produce a singular format for all to use. I guess it's to much to ask.

crt

BTW welcome to CMN!

[Paris MkVI]

Even within AVCHD there's two camps - AVC long-GOP and AVC-Intra.

Long-GOP is what we'll find on most of the less-expensive cameras. It requires more horsepower to edit, since so many cuts/transitions will require the interpolation and creation of new I frames.

AVC Intra is all I frames, so to speak. Easier to edit, more expensive on the camera hardware side.

[cw4u]

I've used an AVCHD flash based canon consumer camera before, and I was amazed at the quality. I edited on a iMac with a separate 24" LCD to preview on and the quality of the video shot blew me away.

I know that FCE is really picky about file structure and all that. It took me about a week just to figure it out. AVCHD isn't the easiest format to play around with, but it sure gives a good image for the price point of those consumer cameras.

[chris2pher]

I have used a camera that records in AVCHD but I just used log and transfer in final cut to convert it to files codecs I need.

[cw4u]

But if the file structure is messed up, log and transfer wont read any of your files...that was my problem when I first started to use the camera.

[zactommo]

HD formats can be a bit of a mine field for the inexperienced, especially thanks to sony's fragmented product lines. A quick look at their website will show you 5 different HD recording options available to you.

But they are all very similar in a way. Unless your lucky enough to be using a $50,000+ HDCAM format camera, then the HD format your using will be using an MPEG type of compression. This includes HDV, XDCAM, NXCAM, AVCHD, etc.

File types are also a bit tricky too. Like Priscilla said, the same video file can be contained in various file types. Anyone whos ever used AVI's will know about this. An AVI file can contain any number of different video codecs, such as DV, Xvid, MPEG, and so on. Think of a file type as a container to keep the video information in. What is actually important is the codec that is used for the actually video information. This is what is the the container. So whats that got to do with HD video? Well the thing to remember, is that all these HD video formats pretty much use the same MPEG type compression, so what it important is getting the right Container to work with your editing system. This is what programs such as XDCAM transfer do. It keeps the video information the same, but puts it into a .mov container. so it will play nice with final cut pro.

Hope that helps you all understand the world of HD video!

[yogaf]

I am Just a newbie, but today I play around with out AVCHD camera file (Panasonic HDR-HS9) and use the USB to move the file to my laptop (is MTS format). Edit in Adobe Premiere CS4 and got no problem at all.

[MediaGuy]

Originally Posted by yogaf

I am Just a newbie, but today I play around with out AVCHD camera file (Panasonic HDR-HS9) and use the USB to move the file to my laptop (is MTS format). Edit in Adobe Premiere CS4 and got no problem at all.

You are surely blessed, my friend - or I am cursed. I always have to render a preview before I can ever hope to work with it on my MacBook Pro

[yogaf]

@MediaGuy .... hhahahaa... I believe no Curse in Him .. maybe because I did it on PC not Mac base. Is it possible?

[bladeaudio]

@MediaGuy, are you using Premiere Pro? CS4 or greater? If so then you shouldn't need to trans-code anything.