Extracting AVCHD files the right way

[zvit]

I got AVCHD files on an external HDD from a client. I don't know how he extracted them, using Panasonic software or just doing copy\paste.

All the files are .MTS extensions, and are numbered 00000.MTS - 00102.MTS.

I dragged them to the timeline and noticed a strange thing...
Some clips are just repeats of the event that are in previous clips! Say there are 12 minutes of songs in clip 00050. Clip 00053 are the some songs! This problem repeats itself about 5 times during the whole event. How is this possible? Can this be the result of using copy\paste and not designated software to extract the files to the computer?

[SoundFreak_HD]

While the filename points to a copy & paste workflow, with my Sony cam I never had problems with repeating footage like you mentioned.

After using the intended software for transfer it did the job much faster and giving it unike filenames to you never run into trouble.

I'm afraid that after extraction from the cam it might not be possible to 1) change the file name automatically. 2) the issue with repeat image I can only think of spanned clips that were divided in the camera and now wrongly copied with copy and paste.

While I have never tried Panasonic software, maybe it's worth to install that to a not critical pc and let it make it's data base with its features.
When completed export the data base with new names to another folder on that HDD or use another storage medium and edit from there.
It could fix you unusable footage now, but no guarantee.

[Bluetongue]

Just did a copy and past from a panasonic this weekend, Edius Browser just spat the dummy, would not look at the camera so copy & paste pulled all the files over with no problem.
All were around 7 to 30 seconds so there was no file splitting

Regards Barry

[zvit]

I guess it's when you have long files that are split in the camera that can cause this.

[Bluetongue]

It could be the problem, it is strange that some cameras cause a lot of problems
I am glad i standardised on Canon, so far which ever way I import works and the quality of the video from their lenses is superb
Even though Edius Browser spat the dummy, AVCHD2HQ was able to convert the files with no problems, it would be interesting to see if is stiches long Panasonic files correctly as it does with Canon and Sony, both tested and confirmed, pity it does not like the H264/AVC files from a GOPRO but at least they can be stitched and converted in Browser

Regards Barry

[PaulTV]

I've had duplicated files using drag and drop from a Sony - also the spanned clips never join correctly, neither audio or video - using the correct Sony PMB software in this instance creates perfectly seamed clips as well as never any duplicates.

Paul :-)

[dpalomaki]

I've found that spanned clips can be joined using concatination (e.g., the DOS COPY Command with the /B parameter). If not concatinated but just copies and then dropped on a time line a frame or two maybe missing at the junction. Works for an NTFS system.


Any clues as to what is happening in the duplicte files? The file sizes may give an indications. One may end up being a concatination of several others.

[zvit]

The client is the one who transferred the clips to the computer and he told me that he did actually just copy paste. I explained to him how to do it in the future and charged him $30 for the extra work I had to do. He was happy so I am too.

[David Clarke]

I have had this depending on how the clips are copied. Some software is clever enough to look at the original media and work out which are spanned and then join them into one file when copying. Other software just copies the files.
EDIUS using the source browser will join clips as it copies, for example.
I have had an occasion that when loading clips EDIUS sees clip 1, and knows that clip 2 & 3 are continuations of a long capture so it in the bin clip one ends up as a combination of clips 1, 2 & 3. But it also loads clips 2 &3 as well, so you end up with one long clip, as well as the additional bits. I basically delete the extras from the bin and just use the long clip. Just make sure you don't delete the MTS files.

[ajcvideo]

I have had this depending on how the clips are copied. Some software is clever enough to look at the original media and work out which are spanned and then join them into one file when copying. Other software just copies the files.
EDIUS using the source browser will join clips as it copies, for example.
I have had an occasion that when loading clips EDIUS sees clip 1, and knows that clip 2 & 3 are continuations of a long capture so it in the bin clip one ends up as a combination of clips 1, 2 & 3. But it also loads clips 2 &3 as well, so you end up with one long clip, as well as the additional bits. I basically delete the extras from the bin and just use the long clip. Just make sure you don't delete the MTS files.

David, I have files from Sony nx5u and the audio is missing for 16 frames at the end of each clip. The video is fine but audio is gone. Any explanations? I tried source browser, Sony Content Management and copy and paste methods. Nothing seems to work.

[Ron Evans]

David, I have files from Sony nx5u and the audio is missing for 16 frames at the end of each clip. The video is fine but audio is gone. Any explanations? I tried source browser, Sony Content Management and copy and paste methods. Nothing seems to work.

Did you transfer the files from the camera or were they given to you? As you can see all my cameras are Sony's including the NX5U and have never seen this problem. The consumer PMB will transfer all files from the cameras even the NX5U but will not play the PCM audio files from the NX5U. I use the appropriate transfer software for the cameras and have never had any problems. All my stuff is long shows of around 2 hours so all cameras have split files for transfer.

Ron Evans

[ajcvideo]

Did you transfer the files from the camera or were they given to you? As you can see all my cameras are Sony's including the NX5U and have never seen this problem. The consumer PMB will transfer all files from the cameras even the NX5U but will not play the PCM audio files from the NX5U. I use the appropriate transfer software for the cameras and have never had any problems. All my stuff is long shows of around 2 hours so all cameras have split files for transfer.

Ron Evans

Ron. These are files on cards from the customer and I have the camera as well. The audio is AC3 not PCM. The appropriate software for this camera can be found where? With customer or on Sony website? If you have it could you send it to me?

[Ron Evans]

Ron. These are files on cards from the customer and I have the camera as well. The audio is AC3 not PCM. The appropriate software for this camera can be found where? With customer or on Sony website? If you have it could you send it to me?

I use the CMU for the NX5U and the PMB for the consumer cameras. The version I have for the NX5U CMU is http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/micro-n...tUtility.shtml.

If you have the camera then use that to transfer from rather than a card reader. That's how I did it when I tried it. Don't use cards now as I have the FMU128 which is much easier to use and faster transfer rate too. Will transfer 2 hours in about 8 mins.

Ron Evans

[vlasios]

I Have Sony NX5 and i transfer my clips from a card-reader to my pc, and then i use them in the bin of edius 6 and i have the same problem with repeating parts of the clips as David clark says. So the correct way do not happen this is to use the Sony software and do not use the card-reader?

[Fred Dwyer]

I have had this depending on how the clips are copied. Some software is clever enough to look at the original media and work out which are spanned and then join them into one file when copying. Other software just copies the files.
EDIUS using the source browser will join clips as it copies, for example.
I have had an occasion that when loading clips EDIUS sees clip 1, and knows that clip 2 & 3 are continuations of a long capture so it in the bin clip one ends up as a combination of clips 1, 2 & 3. But it also loads clips 2 &3 as well, so you end up with one long clip, as well as the additional bits. I basically delete the extras from the bin and just use the long clip. Just make sure you don't delete the MTS files.

I believe the problem is that you highlight all of the clips when telling EDIUS to load them. Highlight only the first clip of the series and EDIUS will load just the full long spanned file. It will not also load additional copies of the secondary clips.