Reading AVCHD Playlist files BDMV\Playlist\*.mpl

[StrangeSolutions]

I have searched high and low and have been unable to locate a definition for the mpl files on HD AVCHD format camcorders. Does anyone have a definition or file format spec for these playlist files which are located at BDMV\Playlist\*.mpl in the AVCHD structure. I have opened it in hex and can ID some patterns, but a spec would help me with parsing the files to determine which mts files should be treated as a single video.

Thanks,

Mike

[tballister]

I've been searching fruitlessly as well. I did find this useful link:
http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Assets/Do...0406-15271.pdf
... which provides some good conceptual background. But as yet haven't found details
on the file's format/structure.

It looks to me something like:
- A Header of 45 bytes (content not yet understood)
- Clip Name Section, 1 entry for each clip, 82 bytes each
- Unknown section with 1 entry per clip, 14 bytes each, (In and Out point info?)
- A 274 byte section with Date at beginning. This may also include per clip segments,
but my camera fills these with all 0's, so I can deduce nothing.
- Date section, 1 entry per clip, 66 bytes each
- Trailer, 82 bytes (content not yet understood)

If I learn anything else I'll post it here.
Tom

[tballister]

Oops. That was a header size of 69 bytes ( 0x45 (hex)).

[m_eiman]

While not a spec, this might be enough for your needs: http://eiman.tv/misc/flashdump.txt

It's some hacky Python code I wrote that extracts the relevant data from a playlist. It probably only works properly on playlists generated by my Canon HF100, but adjusting for other cameras should be easy enough.

Sample output:

edith:~/ mikaeleiman$ ./flashdump.py f2/00000.MPL
Parsing f2/00000.MPL
File list with 2 files
File: 00000M2TS (00000, spanning: False) ['01', '00', '00', '00', '97', '2c', '03', '87', 'ff', '0c']
File: 00001M2TS (00001, spanning: True) ['06', '00', '03', '87', 'ff', '0c', '06', '17', '8c', 'ec']
unknown1 has 1 items
PLEX has 1 items, date 2009-01-11 16:02:29
CA index 0 date 2009-01-11 15:24:38 (files: ['00000', '00001'])

edith:~/ mikaeleiman$ ./flashdump.py /Volumes/CANON/PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/PLAYLIST/00000.MPL
Parsing /Volumes/CANON/PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/PLAYLIST/00000.MPL
File list with 3 files
File: 00000M2TS (00000, spanning: False) ['01', '00', '00', '00', '97', '2c', '02', 'c3', '8f', '8c']
File: 00001M2TS (00001, spanning: True) ['06', '00', '02', 'c3', '8f', '8c', '05', '84', '8d', 'ac']
File: 00002M2TS (00002, spanning: True) ['06', '00', '05', '84', '8d', 'ac', '07', '10', 'b8', '6c']
unknown1 has 1 items
PLEX has 1 items, date 2009-01-13 15:16:31
CA index 0 date 2009-01-13 14:32:37 (files: ['00000', '00001', '00002'])

[tballister]

m_eiman:
Where did you learn what things like "PLEX", "CA", where to find data rate, that you have to split bytes, and so on?
t

[seldon]

well this is not exactly the topic, but since i got some ideas for my script from here, i believe it's my duty to share it with you.

My Camcorder: Canon HG-20

The Story: since i wasn't very happy with this filie linked (xxxxx.mts <-> xxxxx.cpi -> xxxxx.mpl) solution to retrieve the recording date/time i was searching for another way to manage the task of finding this bit of information. After playing around a little bit with the software that came with my cam (pixela imagemixer 3 se) i noticed that it was able to retrieve the recording date/time directly from the mts files (without even the presence of a mpl file). So it was perfectly clear to me that this info has to be somewhere hidden in the stream. Firing up my hexeditor and after doing some probing it took not more than 5 minutes to see where. The result was the script i wrote (attached). I know it's not perfect, and not the most speedy one, but it's just meant as proof of concept. I tried to enable as many options as possible to allow it to be adapted for other cams too. I verified it's function against the mts files of my canon hg-20 and also against the files of a canon hf-100 and hf-10.

sincerely martin

canon_analyze_mts.zip

[core_man_2000]

hi

I cannot d/l from the link from above, but would be very interested...
"You don't have permission to access /images/guides/p1933128/canon_analyze_mts.pl.zip on this server."

Could you plz publish your tool again?

Thanks
Joey

[tballister]

Yeah! I get the same error! If not too large, could you just post the code in a reply? Thanks!!!
In the meantime, it feels like an apache configuration issue. I'm gonna click "Report this post" on the contribution and see if the webmaster can help.
t

[Baldrick]

Testing uploading it again

canon_analyze_mts.zip

edit: It should work now. The filename .pl caused some problems.

[core_man_2000]

Thanks I could d/l now.

Regards
Joey