Switching to AVCHD

[TheLaserdisc]

I have alot of SD and HD content on my computer and I am thinking of doing it all as AVCHDs instead of DVDs. I know that AVCHDs can store more data even on DVD-Rs due to unique compression schemes available to the format.

I need an AVCHD program that encodes multiple audio tracks, subtitles, menus, do multiple titles (multi episode stuff) and accept MKV and OGM. So far, Multi-AVCHD has not been to par on the multiple audio tracks thing. Is it too early to wish for such a program?

[yoda313]

Before you get started just make sure you understand avchd only benefits your hd material. SD material has no advantage with avchd that I am aware of - aside from possibly smaller compression rates at equivalent quality levels. So it might be beneficial if you want to squeeze more onto a small space. But for sd in general avchd won't do you any good.

Avchd is good for preserving hd on a dvd media or harddrives for media players. But avchd does have some limitations. Though as pointed out in another recent thread avchd has some multiple meanings and the restrictions are more up to the inteded playback device and not quite as much of an ironfisted standard as say dvd is.

Multiavchd is very powerful. You might be restricted on the avchd platform as a whole. I'm not sure what limitations it truly has on the audio options for formats and total number of tracks.

Again you'll have to specify your playback device and what audio tracks you are intending to use. Also note you may run into problems using dts audio on avchd. But again it depends on your device and whether or not you are using dvds or harddrives for playback.

Give us your specs and others can chip in with more details.

Also you might consider looking into full fledged bluray now. The burners are pretty reasonable now. Media isn't as cheap as dvd yet but its not the insanely expensive stuff it was a few years ago when it was first out. Doing blurays would give you more flexibility and possibly better authoring options if you want to go that way.

[TheLaserdisc]

Before you get started just make sure you understand avchd only benefits your hd material. SD material has no advantage with avchd that I am aware of - aside from possibly smaller compression rates at equivalent quality levels. So it might be beneficial if you want to squeeze more onto a small space. But for sd in general avchd won't do you any good.

Actually squeezing more into a smaller space is the idea.

Avchd is good for preserving hd on a dvd media or harddrives for media players. But avchd does have some limitations. Though as pointed out in another recent thread avchd has some multiple meanings and the restrictions are more up to the inteded playback device and not quite as much of an ironfisted standard as say dvd is.

It seems like the limitations of AVCHD would be the same limitations of BD since its a BD file structure on a DVD.

Multiavchd

is very powerful. You might be restricted on the avchd platform as a whole. I'm not sure what limitations it truly has on the audio options for formats and total number of tracks.

Again you'll have to specify your playback device and what audio tracks you are intending to use. Also note you may run into problems using dts audio on avchd. But again it depends on your device and whether or not you are using dvds or harddrives for playback.

Give us your specs and others can chip in with more details.

I have two Blu-ray Players; a PS3, and a LG BD610, both of which are AVCHD capable.

Also you might consider looking into full fledged bluray now. The burners are pretty reasonable now. Media isn't as cheap as dvd yet but its not the insanely expensive stuff it was a few years ago when it was first out. Doing blurays would give you more flexibility and possibly better authoring options if you want to go that way.

I use Tiger Direct and new egg, both have BD burners at $80. I want to wait a bit longer for the prices to go down a bit more. Unless you can point me in the direction of cheaper but still quality (quality being key) burners, AVCHD is the way to go for the time being.

[yoda313]

If you are willing to spend 80.00 sans media you might look into going to a media player and not deal with authoring at all.

The ps3 is limited in what it can and can't play - and as you are finding out avchd isnt' a utopia.

A wdtv or roku or similar would be a good idea for you. Just load your files as they are onto a harddrive (ntfs compatible) and go for it. They'll play a wide, wide range of formats and file types. If you already have an external harddrive laying around you are good to go.

It would save a lot of hassel. Buying used would keep you under a 100.00. No need for discs and the hassle of converting and encoding.

[TheLaserdisc]

I can stream to my PS3 easily, but I want to get my content off the hard drive in case of a hard drive crash.

[yoda313]

I can stream to my PS3 easily, but I want to get my content off the hard drive in case of a hard drive crash.

If you can already watch easily than might I suggest investing in another harddrive as a backup?

Or you could just burn all the files as they are originally to dvd (as data files) and then use that for archiving. Use dual layer for anything larger than 4gigs (roughly of course) or split across multiple discs.


That way in the event of a failure you could either recopy from the discs or simply pop in the backup harddrive. No need to convert.

[TheLaserdisc]

I have MKVs and OGM files, as you know PS3s can not play container files like MKV and OGM.

[yoda313]

I have MKVs and OGM files, as you know PS3s can not play container files like MKV and OGM.

But you only want backups right?

Or are you trying to play them without the need for streaming?

If you just want backups do what I said and get dvdrs or an extra harddrive and backup the original files.

If you want to play without streaming from a computer than you will either need to convert OR invest in a media player that can play the original files without converting.

Edit -also what is in the containers? If its divx/xvid or h264 you MIGHT be able to simply remux them to mp4 or m2ts and play them without reencoding. Somthing like winff can do the job.

[TheLaserdisc]

I want to play them without the need for streaming. I have been doing this for a while, I know how to do DVD using DVD-LAB, ConvertXtoDVD, and TMPGEnc. I would like to see about doing the same but for AVCHD.

[yoda313]

I want to play them without the need for streaming.

Than you will have to take the time to convert.

Or as I mentioned use gspot to identify what is in the containers. If it happens to be something the ps3 can play natively you might be able to remux to mp4 or m2ts and play it that way without reencoding. However some may have to be reencoded if they are outside the limits of the ps3.

But like I mentioned and many other members here will recommend getting a wdtv or similar device to play the original files without converting. It saves a lot of time and hassle.

[TheLaserdisc]

I've been doing the conversions to DVD for a while now, I just want to do the same but for AVCHD. I figured with the VC-1 encoding, the SD media can be uncompressed (well less than it would be on DVD) and show a decent picture, a tad bit better than on DVD.

[yoda313]

Well why not try the remuxing I suggested? Winff is fairly straightforward. User member bat999 is something of an expert on it and could lend a hand if needed. There is documentation on it on this website. It might save the need for conversion.

Also you haven't mentioned what type of audio you've been trying to squeeze onto an avchd disc. A conversion of that might be needed to get it to be compliant.

And unfortunately like most things in life trial and error are your best bets in getting this stuff to work. And like a lot of things compromises are necessary sometimes.

[TheLaserdisc]

I extract the audio files and convert them to .ac3 files, stereo sound in VirtualDubMod

[yoda313]

Thats odd. Ac3 should be totally compatible with avchd. Have you tried any other programs to convert the audio? What was the original audio format? Are these truehd dolby? I think even that should be avchd compatible though don't quote me on that

[TheLaserdisc]

Its not that they weren't compatible, its just that I couldn't do multiple tracks, like an English AND a Japanese track on one.

[yoda313]

I don't know if you've tried it or not in multiavchd but you SHOULD be able to add audio tracks when you select the video in the first tab and select properties. From there the properties window has an audio tab that lets you add an audio track. I haven't done it much if it all that I can remember but the option is there.

It might prompt you if its not avchd compatible. It might also offer to convert it for you if it is. Though like I mentioned I haven't done too much with audio in multiavchd.

[TheLaserdisc]

I've tried it, sure it will input multiple tracks, but it will only spit out the one on the top of the list.

[yoda313]

Than it might truly be a limitation of avchd. It might very well not allow multiple audio tracks.

It could also be that perhaps the second audio track isn't the exact the same length as the video? Could it be rejecting it that way?

Also are both tracks ac3? If one of them is dts it might not behave properly or be recognized.

[TheLaserdisc]

It may be a limitation of the software as I can input as many audio files as I want (all .ac3) and it only uses the top one.

I am going to try and run the elementary files through TMPGEnc which has BD authoring, and use a BD to AVCHD program to bring it to AVCHD.