ffmpeg setting to convert AVCHD to HDV (mpeg2video)

[reko]

My MTS (avchd) file is 1920x1080 50p (progressive 50 fps).

I use this setting in ffmpeg that I found from the internet :

for %%a in ("*.mts") do ffmpeg -i %%a -vcodec mpeg2video -qscale 1 -qmin 1 -intra -flags +ilme+ildct -an -f mpegts %%~na.mpg

from the indoor shooting :
The original mts file show more "grain" but overall video quality looks crisp and sharp.
The converted mpg file show less "grain" but overall video quality looks a little bit blurry.

from the outdoor shooting :
The original mts file has no "grain" and video quality looks perfect, crisp and sharp.
The converted mpg file video quality still looks a little bit blurry.

The same result with this command :

ffmpeg -i <input_file> -vcodec mpeg2video -pix_fmt yuv422p -qscale 1 -qmin 1 -intra -an output.m2v

Would someone please telling me if maybe there is another command that I should add to make a better (crisp/sharp) HDV quality ? (I know, it won't be exactly the same like the original ).

One reason that I am "persistent" wanting to have this HDV mpeg format is that when I drop the footage in Premiere CS3 timeline it plays smoothly, no red thin line on the timeline window and easy to edit for me.

Any kind of respond would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advanced and I'm sorry for my broken English.

regards.

[Chris K]

You could try this ...

ffmpeg -i "input_file" -vcodec mpeg2video -pix_fmt yuv422p -q:v 1 -intra -mbd 2 -trellis 1 -flags +ilme+ildct -bufsize 20000k -maxrate 200000k -an -f mpegts "output_file.mpg"

This should give high quality (and large file size). No guarantee CS3 will accept it. This is for interlaced source. Remove -flags +ilme+ildct for progressive source.

Chris

[reko]

You could try this ...

ffmpeg -i "input_file" -vcodec mpeg2video -pix_fmt yuv422p -q:v 1 -intra -mbd 2 -trellis 1 -flags +ilme+ildct -bufsize 20000k -maxrate 200000k -an -f mpegts "output_file.mpg"

This should give high quality (and large file size). No guarantee CS3 will accept it. This is for interlaced source. Remove -flags +ilme+ildct for progressive source.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Wow... I've tried your code and YES... it's much better, the video looks sharper now.
But too bad, playback in CS3 timeline is choppy which cause my editing process go slow

Anyway, I really appreciate your input and thank you very much for it.

regards.

[racer-x]

Use -pix_fmt yuv420p not -pix_fmt yuv422p. That better matches the input and Premiere should handle it better. Make sure to remove -flags +ilme+ildct, your source is progressive not interlaced.

[smrpix]

After many, many attempts over literally years, I have never managed to create a perfectly compliant HDV stream with ffmpeg. I would recommend dropping your MTS file into Adobe Media Encoder, which comes with Premiere, and generate a proper HDV stream that way. (TMPGenc Video Mastering Works is also reliable.)

[reko]

Use -pix_fmt yuv420p not -pix_fmt yuv422p. That better matches the input and Premiere should handle it better. Make sure to remove -flags +ilme+ildct, your source is progressive not interlaced.

Hi racer,

Yes, using "-pix_fmt yuv420p" plays not choppy in CS3 timeline.
Thank you very much for the command.
(still thank you again to Chris also).

BUT, I wonder why the footage on the timeline is double ? (which cause the playback go slow)
The one I created with the command in my first post (after removed the "-flags +ilme+ildct") is OK.
My trick is interpret footage in CS3 of the clip to 50 fps, and then is not double in the timeline.

Anyway this is the info from the command in my first post :

Video
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Commercial name                          : HDV 1080p
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : Main@High 1440
Format settings, BVOP                    : No
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Codec ID                                 : 2
Duration                                 : 25s 920ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 26.3 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 440 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 50.000 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.339
Stream size                              : 81.4 MiB (95%)

and this one is the info from your command line (combined with Chris) :

Video
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : Main@High 1440
Format settings, BVOP                    : No
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Codec ID                                 : 2
Duration                                 : 25s 920ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 43.1 Mbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 96.8 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 440 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 50.000 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.554
Stream size                              : 133 MiB (95%)

It's not a big deal actually, I just wonder why ...
and hopefully maybe there is a solution for the command line so it won't show double in CS3 clip duration.

I'd also like to know whether converting AVCHD to mpeg2video is a good acceptable workflow ?
My final movie will be rendered in mpeg2 HD format and also DVD format.

Thank you once again.

regards.

[poisondeathray]

Double duration? mediainfo reports the same 25s 920ms

Use a 1440x1080p50 timeline, and interpret the footage as 50p (because that's what it is)

Why is it reduced resolution 1440 width ? Shouldn't it be 1920 ? (EDIT: NM, you're using fake "HDV" intermediate)

Another option is to use something like the free version of cineform (go pro cineform studio). Higher quality, faster editing (but larger filesizes)

[smrpix]

For clarity's sake, 1440x1080 50p is not HDV. You might want to change your topic heading. In fact, though you can customize it, 1440x1080 50p mpeg2 is not a common "standard" format.

[reko]

After many, many attempts over literally years, I have never managed to create a perfectly compliant HDV stream with ffmpeg. I would recommend dropping your MTS file into Adobe Media Encoder, which comes with Premiere, and generate a proper HDV stream that way. (TMPGenc Video Mastering Works is also reliable.)

Hi smrpix,

My CS3 can not open the MTS file, my computer freeze when I tried to import the file to CS3.
Also I have an old slow computer, Intel E4400, 2 gig Ram, XP SP2.

I don't face a problem if my MTS file shot in 50i mode from the camera and I think ffmpeg do compliant HDV stream for 50i mts file as CS3 don't show thin red line when I drop the ffmpeg encoded file into the HDV 1080i25 (50i) project setting timeline. CS3 accept the file "happily"

Shooting in 50p mode is new to me, which I wonder myself is this useful to shoot in 50p ?

regards.

[reko]

Double duration? mediainfo reports the same 25s 920ms

Use a 1440x1080p50 timeline, and interpret the footage as 50p (because that's what it is)

Why is it reduced resolution 1440 width ? Shouldn't it be 1920 ? (EDIT: NM, you're using fake "HDV" intermediate)

Another option is to use something like the free version of cineform (go pro cineform studio). Higher quality, faster editing (but larger filesizes)

Hi poisondeathray,

CS3 doesn't have project setting for 50p / 60p.
They only offer DV 24P, 1440x1080 25p or 30p, 1440x1080 50i or 60i, and 720 25p or 30p

I reduce to 1440 because CS3 doesn't have 1920x1080 (50i) project setting.
For 50i HDV file, reducing to 1440 made CS3 doesn't show the thin red line.

I've tried proRes from GoPro cineform studio, I've tried Huffyuv also.
Yes the quality is higher, but because of a very large file - CS3 and my computer "suffer" and I'm unable to do the editing.

regards.

[reko]

For clarity's sake, 1440x1080 50p is not HDV. You might want to change your topic heading. In fact, though you can customize it, 1440x1080 50p mpeg2 is not a common "standard" format.

My fault, I'm sorry about this.

I just realize about this from you that 1440x1080 50p is not "standard" HDV.

Shot in 50p mode from my camera is new to me.
I'm used to shot in 50i, encode to 1440x1080 with ffmpeg and the resulting file is "standard" HDV file as CS3 don't show thin red line when I put the footage into the timeline. But I'm not so satisfied with the quality. (so I'm trying to shot in 50p mode)

Now I wonder what's the point I shot in 50p mode from my camera ?
Seems it's useless as I'm facing difficulties in editing stage

regards.

[smrpix]

Your software and computer are really too outdated and underpowered to properly handle your 50p footage. You will have to update or compromise somewhere. I personally find HDV can look pretty good and edits fairly easily -- but it's definitely a downgrade from your source.

[poisondeathray]

Another option is a proxy workflow (edit at lower resolution, lower quality , then swap to full quality/full resolution on final render)

[smrpix]

Another option is a proxy workflow (edit at lower resolution, lower quality , then swap to full quality/full resolution on final render)

@pdr, I agree in principle. But according to reko's earlier post (#9) the original 50p mts will not even be recognized in CS3.

[poisondeathray]

Another option is a proxy workflow (edit at lower resolution, lower quality , then swap to full quality/full resolution on final render)

@pdr, I agree in principle. But according to reko's earlier post (#9) the original 50p mts will not even be recognized in CS3.

It doesn't have to be the original; the "high quality" version can be the full resolution cineform or other intermediate

[reko]

Hi smrpix and poisondeathray,

Yes I realize my computer is outdated .

Actually I've also tried the proxy way using huffyuv and reduce the size to 720x576 widescreen.
Well what can I say, the computer is really really "great great grandfather" old, opening 1 hour duration video to CS3 takes forever when I replace footage to the huffyuv files.

anyway, thank you to all of you for the input and suggestion.

regards.