HD Video Storage/Conversion

[djtech2k7]

I need some help with HD video. I have an HD 1080p video camera with several hours of video recorded, so my storage is full. All the files are in the MTS format.

I want to be able to keep the videos electronically in HD quality but I would like to reduce the file size because they are huge. I have a Windows Media Center and several XBOX Media Extenders, so it would be nice to be able to keep them on my WMC. I may want to burn them as a DVD at some points, but I know that's straight forward.

So I have had a few pieces of software suggested to me to try and I have tried them. They all seem ok, but my file size really didn't reduce so I think I am not using the right settings. Here are the pieces of software I have tried:


http://www.wondershare.com/avchd/convert-mts-to-mp4.html $60

http://www.4videosoft.com/mts-converter.html $30

http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/tms.html $40

http://www.mtsconverters.com/mts-video-converter/ $35

So what settings should I use to accomplish my goals? I do not have a BR burner right now.

Any suggestions on the software?

[jagabo]

file size = bitrate * running time

So if you want a smaller file, use a lower bitrate. The lower the bitrate you use the lower the quality will be.

[djtech2k7]

What is a good format and settings to use to keep good HD quality? I do not know a great deal about all the different specs, like h264 vs whatever else. I know each of the software I mentioned have different output choices by device. So you can choose something like XBOX, but then u can customize the settings.

I would like to keep nice HD quality, but the file sizes are just too big to keep around all the time.

[smrpix]

djtech, you're thinking about this the wrong way.

If these videos are too precious to delete, they're too precious to ruin by converting to a lossier version only. Back them up and keep them on an external hard drive.

You don't say if your mts files are AVCHD or mpeg2. If AVCHD, they will not get significantly smaller while maintaining quality. If mpeg2 (HDV) edit them in a smart-rendering application to get rid of the junk (such as vegas or video-redo) and then save in its native format.

After, if you want to covert for YouTube or whatever, try any of the tools you've mentioned. Also try Winff (free)

Best of luck

[djtech2k7]

I am guessing its AVCHD. It is a Sony HD Video Camera.

I understand what you are saying. The videos are things I'd like to have around for a while, but there will be a lot of it. When moving the files to drive, not much will play the MTS. I need a different format to play in my WMC/WME.

I don't mind losing some quality, but would like to find the right balance. I mean if I had to, I would drop most down to DVD quality if I had to.

I know some formats, like H265, avi, etc have different benefits. I do not know those, so that's why I am asking. In the past, I had used handbrake to convert DVD (ifo/vob) into h264 to play high quality single files on my WMC/WME. The quality is good and the size is smaller. I am looking for a similar action for HD MTS files.

[smrpix]

Haven't used handbrake in a while myself, but If it worked for you before, it's perfectly fine, stick with it as you start experimenting.

Use h.264 in an mp4 container (as you imply you have done previously) the file sizes will necessarily be larger than a standard def output because the frame is greater than 4x larger. Start with the presets and tweak from there.

[djtech2k7]

Cant use handbrake for this. It wont do MTS and as I recall, wont take multiple files and output 1 single file. That's part of what I need, is to "join" multiple to one. That's why I was using the software I mentioned.