High-def video editing & DVD conversion

[alpheus86]

Hi all, I have a rather large number of AVCHD Video (.MTS) files, and I need to edit them- nothing interesting, just remove some film here or there and collate them all into one contiguous file, is there any (preferably free) software with which I can accomplish this?

What I then need to do is convert this into a format which I can burn to a DVD in normal DVD format so it can be played in the average player...If I can accomplish step one I would imagine this can be done with a standard DVD authoring tool (it should convert the file format automatically, shouldn't it?).

On a relatively tight schedule, particularly for part one, would very much appreciate any info you can provide.

Cheers all!

[edDV]

AVCHD is a difficult format to edit. First, are you just looking to cut or do filtering/effects/transitions?

Downsize comes after editing, then encoding MPeg2 and authoring a DVD.

Suggested entry programs are Sony Movie Studio Platinum or Adobe Premiere Elements.

Both can be accelerated with the Cineform Neoscene digital intermediate codec.

[alpheus86]

I wouldn't say no to some basic transitions. If that particular format is difficult to edit might it be easier to convert it first to something like .mkv or even .avi? The final result is standard def DVD so a loss in quality is expected...

[edDV]

I wouldn't say no to some basic transitions. If that particular format is difficult to edit might it be easier to convert it first to something like .mkv or even .avi? The final result is standard def DVD so a loss in quality is expected...

If you are familair with avisynth, you would downsize to 720x576i, then encode to MPeg2. Alternately you would deinterlace before downsize. This would drop half the motion samples.

[alpheus86]

I'm really quite new at all this, sorry to be a pain but I'd really appreciate some more description or a link to a relevant guide...

[greymalkin]

try this. if you're recording in 30i/p then this MAY work:

1) Use AVStoDVD to convert your avchd to mpeg2 files. It is a pretty front end for avisynth/imgburn/etc. If you're not already familiar with programming or hate the thought of learning more syntax this is the way to go*

2) Now with your easy to edit dvd compliant mpeg2 file use a program like womble mpeg video editor or another free program like it that I can't ever seem to remember off the top of my head :P. This will let you do the cuts/transitions. When you render the new edited file it does a stream copy..meaning the video will only get re-encoded on the transitions..essentially keeping all the quality of the original mpeg2.

3) Author with any dvd authoring application.

*if you recorded in 60i there's currently a "bug" with AVStoDVD that makes your mpeg2 videos play too fast. I'm trying to figure out how to edit the avisynth script right now to fix it.

[alpheus86]

I tried using AVStoDVD but it didn't work- it aborted itself and gave no particular reason why. I've attached the log file...would be awesome if you could tell me where I'm going wrong

[_MrC_]

Make sure you have installed:

AviSynth
Haali Media Splitter
a good directshow codecs suite (like ffdshow)



Bye

[pepegot1]

You must like to spend hours on things that can be done in minutes. When AVCHD approaches the easy of use of DVD, then I will be interested. Now, it is only for those who like to push the envelope and venture. The average user is screwed by a lack of knowledge after spending big bucks on this stuff. If you like to edit creatively or not, this is NOT the way to go!

[pgoelz]

You must like to spend hours on things that can be done in minutes. When AVCHD approaches the easy of use of DVD, then I will be interested. Now, it is only for those who like to push the envelope and venture. The average user is screwed by a lack of knowledge after spending big bucks on this stuff. If you like to edit creatively or not, this is NOT the way to go!

Until I dumped Premiere Elements in favor of Sony Vegas I would have agreed with you. Editing AVCHD from my Canon HF100 was painful, and that is being charitable. Premiere is in my opinion fatally flawed and is highly unstable editing anything more than about 10 minutes of 1080i AVCHD.

HOWEVER, since I switched to Vegas I can edit my 1080i AVCHD exactly as if it was any other type of video. I have a dual core 3GHz machine running Vista Ultimate 64 bit and I am using the 64 bit version of Vegas Pro. However, I started out on Vegas Movie Studio (32 bit) and it worked just as well.

I understand how difficult AVCHD "can be" to edit. However, Vegas handles it just fine with no hiccups whatsoever. I HIGHLY recommnend it. It can ingest it, edit it, and spit it out as a DVD or BluRay with no problems at all.

Paul