Mini Guide - AVCHD to Anything Using DGAVCdec

[Soopafresh]

Hi direct -

It depends on so many factors, it's hard to give you a direct answer. h264 is the current darling of the codec world. It's great, but it's slow to process. If you're going to edit the AVI in Vegas, then use a lossless codec like Lagarith.

You should be able to get some outstanding results with Xvid. What are your settings? What program are you using to convert your AVS file to Xvid? Are you converting to 1920x1080 or 848x480? The bigger the size, the more bitrate you have to give it.

Low Bitrate Artifacts look like this in Xvid:


When you give it a higher bitrate, it looks better:

[direct]

To tell you the truth I'm not sure what I'm doing myself. First I convert the mts to avi with your software. The result is huge avi (2 GB mts or 30 minutes video is converted to 62 GB avi). After that I drag and put the avi to the DivX converter and the avi gets smaller to 300 MB. There is some loss of the quality which is normal but it takes a lot of time and also place on the hard disk. That's why I decided from now on to use only the "Render As" option of the Vegas. But I can not get the settings! Can you help please!

Here are the parameters of the original video:

Streams
Video: 00:00:14.515, 29.970 fps interlaced, 1440x1080x32, AVC
Audio 1: 00:00:14.515, 48,000 Hz, Stereo (stereo downmix), Dolby AC-3
Audio 2: 00:00:14.515, 48,000 Hz, Stereo, Dolby AC-3

What settings should I use for best result?

[Soopafresh]

1)Download and install the Lagarith codec . This will allow you to create a much smaller file than the 62GB one you mentioned.

2) Open up your AVS file in VirtualDub and save the AVI with the Lagarith codec







Once you've created the Lagarith encoded AVI, you can open it and edit it in Vegas. Once you're ready to render to XVID, I'd suggest the following settings

Choose either 848x480 or 720x400 dimensions. This will maintain the proper aspect ratio.


Save with a high bitrate in XVID - 3500 should be plenty

[CarstenKA]

Hi all,

i'm using the script for creating the *.avs from the *.mts and i use VirtualDub for creating the *.avi. The result looks pretty good for the first minutes of the video, but then the image contains a lot of big blocks flickering (i'm sorry, my english isn't that good to describe it perfectly). I'm using DivxPro with 1080HD as profile, Insane Quality as encoding mode and leave all other settings as default. Any suggestions what I'm doing wrong?

And another question: The "Select Video Compression" dialog shows Divx Codec (1 Logical CPU). Since i have a QuadCore, is there some other version of Divx or another codec that takes more profit from 4 Cores (with Divx the usage of each core is about 50% in average)?

Regards
Carsten

[Soopafresh]

Hi Carsten,

You have to buy the Pro version of DivX to get MultiCore Capability. http://www.divx.com/divx/whybuydivx.php

DivX Pro Codec
DivX Pro Codec includes the most advanced version of the DivX video codec so you can create the highest-quality DivX files using DivX Converter or another third-party encoding tool. With DivX Pro Codec you get:

* Higher performance, especially on HyperThreaded, dual core and dual CPU (SMP) systems
* HD conversion at up to 1080p resolutions
* Six preset encoding modes to optimize visual quality and performance


I don't know DivX settings very well, but I'm familiar with Xvid and there is a version with Multicore Support

Read this thread https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/xvid-1-2-multicore-t337030.html

The problem isn't so much the speed of the encoder, it's the processing that happens in the .AVS file, especially if you choose the HQ batch file. High quality deinterlacing of 1080i source will take time.

[CarstenKA]

Hi Soopafresh,

thanks for your comments so far. I already own DivxPro, but it seems to support really only 2 cores, not 4 (tested in a E8400). But i'll try XVid when i'm back home.

Do you have any suggestions for my first problem with the artefacts in the video? Some changes to your script?

Regards
Carsten

[Soopafresh]

I don't think it's my script, otherwise there would have been complaints a long time ago Then again, anything is possible.

Try this for an experiment:

1) Install Lagarith codec http://download.videohelp.com/download/Lagarith_1315.zip (right click on .INF file to install)

2) Open AVS in VirtualDub and save with Lagarith codec (make sure you have a lot of disk space, as this is a lossless codec)

3) Play the Lagarith AVI file back and look for problems.

If there are still artifacts, post a screen capture of the error.

Edit: Does it look like this?

2_xvid.avi

Do you have a Panasonic SD9/HS9 ?

[CarstenKA]

Yes, somewhat like that, but much worse.
No, i own a Canon HF100.

[Soopafresh]

I found an mts file made with the HF100. I'll test it out.

You try it out, too- http://www.savefile.com/files/1512625

[CarstenKA]

I tried it with Lagarith, but the result is the same, i attached a screenshot. Of course the *.mts is fine. The effect only occurs in videos longer then 10 minutes, so the sample isn't useful.

Regards
Carsten

[Soopafresh]

10 minutes... I think I know what the problem is. Thanks very much for testing this out. Vilen Danke

I'm going to have contact the author of DGavcIndex to report a problem.

Would you test this batch file out? Unzip and put it in the same folder as the rest.

test_multi_demux_mts_hq__pal_1024x576.zip

If that doesn't work, then I'd recommend VoltaicHD . It's commercial software, but only $30

[CarstenKA]

The *.avs created with the new script produces "Avisynth open failure. Video must be YUV." when opened in VirtualDub.

[Soopafresh]

Would you try this one?

test_multi_demux_mts_hq__pal_1024x576-v2.zip

[CarstenKA]

After i corrected a typo in the script (you forgot a "t" in converttoyv12), the same error as above occurs.

[Soopafresh]

Which codec are you using to play your MTS files - CoreAVC , FFdshow ?

[CarstenKA]

Hm, i'm using Pixela ImageMixer Player, don't know which codec. When i'm playing the mts with Nero ShowTime the image is also disturbed.

I also copied a small piece of the video (where the problems occured in the long version) and with that small clip everything was fine.

[chronic64]

i tried to convert a *.mts file from my canon hf100, it seems to run through your script just fine, i was using:
_multi_demux_mts_HQ__1920x1080.bat
from the v6 beta, but the *.avs file wont open in virtualDub i get this error,
AVI Filter import error: (Unknown) (80040154)

i want my files to end up as Lagarith - i also tried the command using avs2avi, but that didnt do anything, again probably because there is something wrong with th .avs

i also tried the huffy scripts, and that one executes properly, making the .avi, but the file is just black with audio, i do have the huffy codec installed, so im not sure what the problem is there

[Soopafresh]

Reinstall Avisynth . Try 2.58RC1

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/avisynth2/AviSynth_080527.exe?modtime=1211931624&big_mirror=0


Check that you have msvcr71.dll and msvcp71.dll in your \Windows\system32 directory

You can get them at
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msvcr71
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?msvcp71



What's more likely is some codec you installed is creating grief for VirtualDub. If you google your error message, you'll see quite a bit of info regarding this.

[chronic64]

got it working, VirtualDub wouldn't open the .avs because i was trying to use the x64 version of virtualdub

[CarstenKA]

I tried the new version of AviSynth (2.58) and it's much better. About 40 minutes of the video are fine and the problems start after that time (instead of 6-8 minutes). So to me it seems to be the problem that AviSynth gets "tired" after some work... (perhaps a memory leak)

Carsten

[Soopafresh]

That's interesting. The default memory usage settings in the new AVisynth are 50% of total RAM. Try adding a SetMemoryMax line to the top of the AVS script - Make the value 3/4 of your total RAM -

SetMemoryMax(768) #if you have 1GB RAM

[CarstenKA]

I tried this, but the behaviour was exactly the same, after about 40 min the video gets corrupt.

[Soopafresh]

The only other idea I can think of would be to split your files into 30 minute segments with TSremux and transcode in pieces.

[Regis2]

Hi, first time post.

I'm hoping I can get some assistance converting AVCHD from a Panasonic camcorder recording on SD. The files coming from this camcorder have .MTS extensions.

We purchased 2 camcorders at our university for faculty to borrow so they can capture and edit video. As you're no doubt aware, this is not as easily done as said. Ultimately we would like for any faculty member to be able to edit in Movie Maker since it's free and on every computer on campus.

Using the tools described by Soopafresh at https://forum.videohelp.com/topic346331.html (Thank you, thank you, thank you!)I'm able to convert to uncompressed avi. With an additional tweak I end up with a 4:3 uncompressed avi. Being uncompressed, however, these files are huge and won't play back smoothly on many computers on campus.

I've tried using the Panasonic DV codec to convert directly to the DV avi format, but my skills with avisynth scripting and Virtualdub are lacking.

Here's the .avs generated by the .bat provided by Soopafresh used with Virtualdub to get the uncompressed avi...

loadplugin("dgavcdecode.dll")
load_stdcall_plugin("yadif.dll")
loadplugin("audiolimiter.dll")
video=AVCSource("00000.dga")
audio=wavsource("00000.wav").convertaudiotofloat() .normalize(0.95).linearlimiter(1.5)
audiodub(video,audio).fadein(0).fadeout(0)
separatefields().selecteven()
Lanczos4Resize(960,540)
Crop(120, 0, -120, -0)

Can anyone tell me what to add to get a DV avi output? Is the Panasonic DV codec the best option? If not, which one?

At some point, someone will ask to edit using Vista in widescreen. Is there an HDV codec that can be substituted for the DV codec?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Soopafresh]

Hi Regis2, welcome to the forums

If you can post 5-10 seconds of an original MTS file from your camera, I can help you out. I've never seen AVCHD in SD format, so I have to test a few things. I'll write you a script to make it easy for you, just post a short bit of MTS file somewhere.

The choice of codec to save your file in depends on many things. You have to consider who is going to be looking at the video, and on what type of computer.

- What do you want to do with the converted files? Do you plan on distributing them to others to play on their computers?

- Do you want to play your files on a DVD player?

- Do you want to play the files on a Macintosh?

In addition to DV, there are several different codecs which will provide you with high quality results - Xvid and h264 are the popular ones, BUT you have to install the codec on the computers you wish to play the files on. This is easy to do, but I don't know what your IT policy is for installing codecs.

Mpeg1 is a format which can be played on any computer, BUT the file will be bigger than Xvid or h264. For the sake of compatibility, it will do the job.

There aren't too many apps which allow you to save in HDV format. TmpgencXpress will do it, but it is a $100 piece of software.

* Why are you shooting in SD format? If you shoot in HD, the quality will be much, much better when you resize down to SD dimensions with the script. Plus, you'll have 16x9 aspect ratio.


Good times

[Regis2]

Thanks Soopafresh.

Here's about 10 seconds straight from the SD card. It's from a Panasonic AG-HMC70 camcorder.

The plan is to let faculty check out the camcorders to record to their own SD cards. Afterwards, they're responsible for editing and distribution according to their own needs.

I'm looking for a solution that converts the .MTS files to a format editable in Movie Maker, since everyone on campus has that on their computer. At that point it will be up to the individual user to save the video to a format most suitable for the purpose they have in mind.

00002.m2ts

[Regis2]

A little more clarification. Not SD format, this camcorder won't even shoot in SD. I meant AVCHD to an SD card.

Straight off the card the files are .MTS. Copied using the Panasonic software they're .m2ts.

Posted file is about 3 sec. The 10 sec file was about 17Mb.

[Soopafresh]

OK. Looks pretty standard. If you want your final format to be Windows Movie Maker Compatible, then VirtualDub will still work. You just have to choose the proper codec





Which ends up giving you this:

test.wmv

There's also a more sophisticated WMV transcoder which accepts AVS files. Depends on your requirements.

http://nic.dnsalias.com/wm9enc.html

Finally, I don't think you need to do any cropping of your video. My scripts output proper pixel aspect ratio which is correct with the WMV format. Depending on your output size requirements, other valid dimensions are:

1920x1080
1440x810
1280x720
1024x576
960x540
848x480
720x400
640x352
480x272
320x180

The output dimensions are in the batch file(s) on this line. You can modify that to whatever you want the size to be, as long as you adhere to the numbers above.

[Regis2]

Thanks. Fantastic. You make it all seem so simple.

However, I don't get the Windows Media codec in either Virtualdub or VirtualdubMod. How did you get that option?

Can the Windows Media encoder be accessed via the .avs script?

[Soopafresh]

However, I don't get the Windows Media codec in either Virtualdub or VirtualdubMod. How did you get that option?

They should show up after installing this (might require a reboot):

http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/8/a/98a6cb2d-6659-485e-b1f9-2c0d9bf6c328/wmv9VCMsetup.exe

Can the Windows Media encoder be accessed via the .avs script?

An AVS script is just a file that you can feed to many different kinds of encoders - as long as the encoder knows how to deal with AVS files. I don't know if the official Windows Media Encoder accepts AVS files, but you have many options in the event it doesn't (see the WMnicEnc app above). I don't use the WMV format very much, so I can't help you with specific settings, other than "let your eyes and ears be the judge".

There's also a command line method to feed an AVS script into a scripted WMV encoder. Instructions are here:

http://kevo777.wordpress.com/tag/avisynth/

Here's a comprehensive FAQ on WMV and program options. Really good and useful information:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=112634