[SOLVED] AVCHD is slow, blurry

[yetanotherlogin]

Hello

I read the FAQ in this section but didn't find the answer to my problem.

Because I don't have a powerful computer, the MTS files from my Sony camcorder don't play well: The picture blurs when I move around (lots of blocks and horizontal streaks when there is movement.)

I used Handbrake to convert it to H264 and dropped the frame rate from the original (50?) to 25, but the result is even worse (purple pictures).

What is a good way to downgrade an AVCHD movie so I can edit and play it on a non-Formula 1 computer?

Thank you.

[Atak_Snajpera]

maybe you should just enable deinterlacing filter?

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks for the tip. In Handbrake, I tried either downgrading to 25fps or Deinterlace=Fast, but still NOK when played in VLC (Streaks gone, but purple blocks when it starts playing + stop/go when panning).

Generally speaking, what is a good way to doctor an AVCHD file so it can be edited/played on slower computers?

--
Edit : simply converting to MPEG2 (ie. original frame rate + no deinterlace) is better : no more purple blocks, no stop/go when panning, but the streaks are still there when I pan.

Will this disappear if I play the same file on a more powerful computer?

[edDV]

Hello

I read the FAQ in this section but didn't find the answer to my problem.

Because I don't have a powerful computer, the MTS files from my Sony camcorder don't play well: The picture blurs when I move around (lots of blocks and horizontal streaks when there is movement.)

I used Handbrake to convert it to H264 and dropped the frame rate from the original (50?) to 25, but the result is even worse (purple pictures).

What is a good way to downgrade an AVCHD movie so I can edit and play it on a non-Formula 1 computer?

Thank you.

If your computer CPU+GPU are weak for playing AVCHD camcorder files, further compression will make playback worse. You need to raise bit rate not reduce it, or if your display card doesn't accelerate h.264, convert to MPeg2 which your card probably will accelerate. MPeg2 HDV format is a good start. It uses anamorphic 1440x1080i25 and MPeg2 @25 Mbps. This format will be supported by most editors and Blu-ray if container is changed to m2ts.

Give us some computer details for further advice.

[yetanotherlogin]

Is Handbrake the right application to convert AVCHD into something lighter on CPU/GPU, or should I use something else?

[yetanotherlogin]

FWIW, I get the same horizontal streaks when playing files on the following hosts:

Desktop
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Brisbane 65nm Technology
ASUSTeK Computer INC. M2N68-AM Plus (AM2)
2,00 GB Single-Channel DDR2 @ 387MHz (6-6-6-18)
256MB GeForce 7025 / NVIDIA nForce 630a (ASUStek Computer Inc)

Laptop
Intel Mobile Core 2 Solo SU3500 @ 1.40GHz Penryn 45nm Technology
4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 399MHz (6-6-6-15)
Mobile Intel(R) 45 Express Chipset Family (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM 1.1)

I guess they're both too cheap to handle HD videos.

[edDV]

Is Handbrake the right application to convert AVCHD into something lighter on CPU/GPU, or should I use something else?

Handbrake could increase bit rate for h.264/mpeg4 or reduce resolution but cannot change to mpeg2 at full resolution. Hanbrake is usually used to convert files for Blu-ray, upload or for playback on mobile devices at reduced resolution.

Again we need your computer details plus any edit software you may now own.

[yetanotherlogin]

I gave some hardware infos above. What other informations are needed?

I don't own any edit software, just VirtualDub, AviDemux, and VLC.

[Hoser Rob]

If you're having problems playing your h.264 encodes due to slow hardware try disabling CABAC encoding in the advanced settings. You may need to set profile to high to do that ... I forget because I always use high profile anyway. Unless you're encoding to a mobile you really want it.

An h.264 video with CABAC encoding is like a zip file. That's largely where the added compression comes from. The thing is that when you're playing it via software it has to unpack it in real time. Some computers can't do it fast enough.

I'd try that before messing with the frame rate. I always just set it to same as source.

[edDV]

I guess they're both too cheap to handle HD videos.

That would be true. Consider Core2Duo with GPU certified PurevideoHD or AvivoHD for minimal AVCHD editing, i5/i7 preferred.

[yetanotherlogin]

Using H264, I unchecked CABAC in the Advanced tab, then tried Normal: The purple blocks at the start are back, and the horizontal streaks are still there.

Followed by High Profile: Purple blocks gone, streaks gone, but the video isn't smooth (chopped, stop/go).

[yetanotherlogin]

Out of curiosity, why do normal videos play OK on the same hardware? Is there no easy way to convert AVCHD to SD so it plays on a non-beefy computer?

[kondoa]

Have you tried Windows Live Movie Maker? It's free.

I recently tried it because I wanted to combine and upload some videos (.mts) to vimeo.com and they have some tutorials on using various tools to change the video compression and basic editing.

https://vimeo.com/help/compression

https://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/30/video-101-exporting-to-share-on-vimeo-with-win...ve-movie-maker

You can also try Splash Lite from Mirillis.com to play your videos. Sometimes when I notice the videos stutter using vlc I try Splash Lite and they play without stuttering.

[edDV]

Out of curiosity, why do normal videos play OK on the same hardware? Is there no easy way to convert AVCHD to SD so it plays on a non-beefy computer?

Try Mpeg2 HDV first. It will still be HD.

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks for the infos. Google doesn't return an application named "Mpeg2 HDV", so I guess it's some option in Handbrake?

[edDV]

Thanks for the infos. Google doesn't return an application named "Mpeg2 HDV", so I guess it's some option in Handbrake?

HDV is the competing HD camcorder format to AVCHD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDV

Most consumer editing software that works for AVCHD will allow conversion to HDV MPeg2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks for the clarification.

Which free/affordable Windows application is recommended to convert AVCHD into HDV?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_editing_software#High_definition_import

[poisondeathray]

Thanks for the tip. In Handbrake, I tried either downgrading to 25fps or Deinterlace=Fast, but still NOK when played in VLC (Streaks gone, but purple blocks when it starts playing + stop/go when panning).

Generally speaking, what is a good way to doctor an AVCHD file so it can be edited/played on slower computers?

--
Edit : simply converting to MPEG2 (ie. original frame rate + no deinterlace) is better : no more purple blocks, no stop/go when panning, but the streaks are still there when I pan.

Will this disappear if I play the same file on a more powerful computer?

Just so you know, the "streaks" are normal

Read up on what interlace is . Basically, 1 frame is composed of 2 fields. But they are 2 overlapped fields when there is motion (representing different moments in time), that's why the streaks are only visible in motion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interlaced_video

You normally activate a bob deinterlacer on playback . Your AMD x2 should be just enough to play back , definitely not enough to edit smoothly

Single rate deinterlacing is bad - you throw away 1/2 the information so motion is more choppy 50i => 25p

What you want is bob deinterlacing 25p => 50p . This preserves the motion samples, and this is what happens when you hook camera up directly to the HDTV

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks for the info.

What you want is bob deinterlacing 25p => 50p

Viewing: I launched VLC, and changed Video > Deinterlace mode from default "Blend" to "Bob": The streaks look more like waves now, but they're still there.

Editing: Will converting AVCHD videos into HDV make it possible for me to edit them on that modest AMD computer? If yes, which would you recommend I use for 1) conversion and 2) editing?

[poisondeathray]

Maybe your version of VLC is problematic, try a differnt version, or splash was suggested above . Certain versions of VLC are known to have problems (the newest ones are especially buggy)



Your X2 should be just enough to edit with HDV (a newer system is better of course)

What is your budget? Download a trial version of Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum and see if navigation is fast enough . You should be able to convert it with Vegas too

There are other methods like ffmbc/ffmpeg batch file conversion - this is the way I would do it . If you need a GUI maybe something like avanti , mediacoder or tencoder

Some people use cineform, it's higher quality than HDV (less quality loss than the original) , but file sizes are larger and more HDD space required. The problem is the free version (GoPro Cineform Studio) won't accept AVCHD MTS/M2TS files natively, you have to do it through avisynth and vdub. It sounds like many of these tools are new to you , so there will be a learning curve

For now I would convert a small test file right in vegas to HDV and see if that edits smoothly enough for you

[_Al_]

Keep interlace encode Mpeg2 format,
or
x264 encoder, use some Ipod profiles (internet like settings, I use it), it is CABAC no, baseline 3.0, 1 reference frame, strangely enough even if you bob deinterlace (QTGMC) to 50p it it might be all right or so, so for your PC, or you can downsize to 720p.

Do not deinterlace to 25p. Not sure if and how bobdeinterlace (yadif for example) works within handbrake.

[edDV]

The OP problem is his computers lack GPU decode acceleration for h.264 and the CPU lacks the grunt for software decode. His hardware would do better with higher bit rate Mpeg2 and 1440x1080i resolution.

If that doesn't work, reduce resolution to 960x540i/p.

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks everyone for the infos.

I tried playing the videos in Splash Lite, and they work fine: Objects are just slightly "wavy" when panning, but otherwise just fine. I guess VLC 2.0.1 is a bit young to play AVCHD on a lower-end 'puter like mine.

I'll investigate the options to edit the segments:

• Sony Vegas or Vegas Movie Studio Platinum
• ffmbc/ffmpeg batch file conversion (GUI: avanti , mediacoder or tencoder)
• Keep interlace encode Mpeg2 format
• x264 encoder: Use Ipod profiles (Internet-like settings): CABAC no, baseline 3.0, 1 reference frame (bob deinterlace QTGMC to 50p might be all right); try downsize to 720p.
• Do not deinterlace to 25p
• Try higher bit rate Mpeg2 and 1440x1080i resolution. If NOK, reduce resolution to 960x540i/p.

[yetanotherlogin]

I installed the trial version of Sony's Vegas Movie Studio HD 11, and using all default settings since I don't know what I was doing, I...

1. Created a new project
2. Imported a 22MB AVCHD video
3. Prepended a "text screen" (don't know the correct word) before the video
4. Project > Make Movie > Save it on my hard drive: MPEG2 > selected "HDV 1080-24p" > Render

The output file still doesn't play well in VLC but plays OK in Splash Lite. However, while the original AVCHD file was 22MB, the output MPEG2 is now 73MB

Since Splash Lite is able to play AVCHD well enough, couldn't I keep using the AVCHD format and simply add a few "text screens" between each segment and save the whole thing into a single movie?

Thank you.

[poisondeathray]

I installed the trial version of Sony's Vegas Movie Studio HD 11, and using all default settings since I don't know what I was doing, I...

1. Created a new project
2. Imported a 22MB AVCHD video
3. Prepended a "text screen" (don't know the correct word) before the video
4. Project > Make Movie > Save it on my hard drive: MPEG2 > selected "HDV 1080-24p" > Render

The output file still doesn't play well in VLC but plays OK in Splash Lite. However, while the original AVCHD file was 22MB, the output MPEG2 is now 73MB

Since Splash Lite is able to play AVCHD well enough, couldn't I keep using the AVCHD format and simply add a few "text screens" between each segment and save the whole thing into a single movie?

Don't use "HDV 1080-24p." Use the same settings as your input for 1) project settings and 2) export settings

I assume input is 1920x1080i50. Use mediainfo if you don't know

Standard "HDV" doesn't support full raster. It will be 1440x1080i50 on export, with 16:9 Display Aspect Ratio and 4:3 Pixel Aspect Ratio

It's common for intermediate formats to go up in size - because they are less compressed, easier to decode
Filesize=bitrate x running time . HDV has standard of ~25Mb/s . So if it went up >3x in size, you must have shot at very low bitrate ~8Mb/s, low quality mode and probably doesn't look too good. You usually want to use the highest quality mode for acquisition, because everything goes downhill from there

Sure you can add "text screens" if you want and save it as whatever format you want. It doesn't matter if the computer is slower when you process it, once you play it on a faster computer it will look ok.

[yetanotherlogin]

According to the Sony camcorder, the video was shot in "Standard HQ + 50i + HD Quality".

According to MediaInfo, it's in "AVC + 1440x1080 + 16:9 + 25fps + interlaced".

I used the above settings when creating the project and rendering the output in "MPEG2 > Blu-ray 1440x1080-50i": The original is 22MB, the output is 56MB... and Splash can't play it and VLC has no sound.

All this just to add a few text screens and join the videos into a single file

[yetanotherlogin]

Problem solved with Windows Movie Maker. Admittedly, it has much fewer options than Vegas, but it looks it's way good enough for what I need to do.

Thanks a bunch everyone