Problems editing/authoring AVCHD .mod files

[JulioSalinas]

I recently bought the Canon FS11 tapeless camcorder. It stores the recorded files in a .mod format. As far as I have read the .mod extension is AVCHD.

When I play the .mod files in e.g. Windows Media Player there is no problem but when I import these .mod files in my favorite editing/author program Photodex ProShow 3 I loose the sound.

What is the best way to get around this problem? Do I need some kind of codec or do I have to convert the .mod files?
Maybe it might be easier to use another editing software that supports AVCHD...can anyone recommend one?

[Baldrick]

It's not AVCHD.

It's mpeg2 video and ac3 audio. Photodex proshow might not support mpegs with ac3 audio, check the features.

Or try another mpeg2 editor like mpeg video wizard dvd or tmpgenc dvd author.

[turk690]

The Canon FS11 is a standard-definition camcorder, and the *.mod files it produces are NOT at all AVCHD (such as those produced by its high definition counterparts, which is a variation of MPEG-4), but bonafide MPEG-2, with Dolby digital stereo audio.
Conventionally, an MPEG-2 program stream is composed of MPEG-2 video together with MPEG layer 2 audio (the HDV standard remains like this). Most media player programs and NLEs will play this by default without difficulty.
However, most others have taken to replacing the MPEG audio with Dolby Digital (for a variety of reasons, like higher subjective quality with lower bit rates, etc.). This means that the program that will play (and edit) these *.mod files should have the required Dolby Digital *.dll (or access to it) so you will get sound.
The behavior of programs vary. For example, Windows Media Player will generally use *.dlls installed by other programs so it can play these files (in my PC, WMP uses the MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital codecs by a previously installed Cyberlink PowerDVD). In earlier versions of Adobe Premiere, it's as simple as moving the Dolby Digital codec (ad2ac3dec.dll or ad2mcac3dec.dll, found elsewhere on this site) to its plug-ins folder. You have to find out how to coax your Photodex ProShow 3 how to do so similarly.

[JulioSalinas]

Thanks guys, with your input I got the sound back to the .mod files when editing them in ProShow.

I simply put the suggested "ad2ac3dec.dll" file in the root folder of ProShow and that was apparently enough to get the sound back.

I think that many people that have bought the new tapeless digital video camcorders will encounter similar problems untill the software developers have updated their software. So if you have an audio problem with these .mod files then its definately a good idea to try to put the above mentioned file somewhere in your editing program where it could fit. Once again thanks

[JulioSalinas]

Ok here is a question that is driving me mad.

I got the ac3 audio back on my ProShow software that is installed on my stationary computer. I have also installed the ac3 decoder file in my ProShow that is on my laptop but strangely enough this does not have the same effect as on my stationary.

Why is that? Any advise would be great, thanks

[JulioSalinas]

Hey again, this is an advise for those folks using .mod files in ProShow.

When I imported .mod files in ProShow I lost sound.

One way I got around this problem in ProShow 3 was to place the ac3 decoder filer that was mentioned in an earlier post in the root folder of ProShow 3.

On my laptop I had the same problem with ProShow 3.5 but inorder to solve it I installed the software AC3Filter.

Good luck