Is there any HDD based camera whose files actually work with AVCHD2HQ Converter?

[yanedit]

... because the AVCHD files from Sony's HDR-SR series definitely don't and I really need to find a HDD camera that could work with edius without wasting more that real time converting clips do HQ...

thanks,

Yan

[vienna1944er]

that real time converting clips do HQ

I never see a info from GV who said: >AVCHD2HQ works in realtime<

I know (with files from my SR11) AVCHD2HQ have problems with it.
But with export from the timeline to HQ it works without problem
exactly in the same time ...as the (bad result) job with AVCHD2HQ (~ 2,5xRT on a small D950 shuttle)

greetings from europe\austria\vienna ..... old (but not dead) Hans ;-)

[Chuk_I_Gek]

confirm said by Hans- flashes appears in AVCHDTOHQ converter only.

[Jerry]

... because the AVCHD files from Sony's HDR-SR series definitely don't and I really need to find a HDD camera that could work with edius without wasting more that real time converting clips do HQ...

thanks,

Yan

Is your computer fast enough to convert on capture?

[Ron Evans]

There's no capture for HDD AVCHD cameras. Files are transfered via USB2 to the PC so the only way to convert is to use the AVCHD2HQ or use something like Blackmagic HDMI cards to playback and convert to some other format like MJPEG. I have tried this and Edius will not use but PPR CS3 will. Blackmagic has a plug-in for CS3. A Canopus capture card to go to HQ would be good and I seem to remember something about a card like this sometime back.
Ron Evans

[GrassValley_KH]

That would be Pegasus: http://www.canopus.com/products/Pegasus/index.php

(The standard disclaimer of "it's not an editing board, but a capture-only board" applies.)

[yanedit]

I never see a info from GV who said: >AVCHD2HQ works in realtime<
I know (with files from my SR11) AVCHD2HQ have problems with it.
But with export from the timeline to HQ it works without problem
exactly in the same time ...as the (bad result) job with AVCHD2HQ .

I am working with AVCHD files from a SONY HDR-SR12 using Edius 4.6 with a Intel Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz and 2 RAM GB.
With AVCHD2HQ converter I convert 1 min of AVCHD file in aprox. 1 min, wich is aceptable, but I get useless material. Exporting the same minute from the edius timeline takes about 2 minutes. In my case this is terrible because I'm working in breaking news for a news website...You say your Edius exports as fast as a ACVHS2HQ convertion?

cheers

Yan

[Ron Evans]

Just did a few tests on a 2:44sec AVCHD clip from a SR7 1440x1080i.

Elecard converter to HDV 6min 14sec
Vegas 8 to HDV 8min 23sec
AVCHD2HQ 13min 23sec
Edius from timeline to HQ 19min 25 sec
Edius from timeline to HDV 19min( missed the seconds!!!)
This on my AMD 4200X2 so a modern Quad core should be 2 to 3 times faster. I think that until I upgrade I will use the Elecard and edit in HDV native.

Ron Evans

[fukly]

sorry to interrupt.. but what a waste if we should 'capture'(convert) a file that should be drag n drop.. i would rather use ordinary/old miniDV tape.
i've been following many thread on this avchd issue in this forum..n yes i need to convert...panny AG HMC150 n 70 will be introduced in may..i hope theres a better solution on this..other wise i'll stick to my fx1.
i really think edius should find solution on this avchd issue...i mean 'fast' is edius' middle name right?

[Ron Evans]

AVCHD has some real advantages for it's intended purpose as a consumer camcorder. No need to worry about changing tapes ( in the case of my SR11 will run for over 7 hours in the highest data rate 1920x1080), clips can be accessed directly viewed through HDMI on a HD TV, using Sony Browser software discs can be made of the AVCHD files to play on a Blu-ray player like PS3 or convert to SD DVD with ease. MUCh, much, much more convenient than tape for the consumer which is why I have one for my family and holiday videos rather than use my FX1. Quality in good light may actually be better than the FX1 because of all the in built features like face recognition etc and it also seems to have more latitude though i can't really check this but looks to have more detail in both highlights and shadows. I would love this technology in more manually controllable version then better editing functionality would be important to me. Initially when DV came out PC's had problems capturing and editing and I have no doubt that later in the year hardware and software will have more capabilities to make editing AVCHD a smoother experience. Now one can capture through HDMI with the Blackmagic Intensity to Cineform intermediate and edit in Vegas or CS3. That card costs $250 and then one needs Cineform NEO software that costs $599. So Pegasus is in the same overall ballpark.
There are issues with transfering the files. The storage on most of the camcorders is FAT32 so these files need to be joined for long programs. Sony software does this automatically on capture and then analyses files to extract meta data etc. IT would be nice to have hardware acceleration for conversion of these files once on the computer maybe some smart NLE will use the latest GPU's that have encode/decode AVC capability for playing Bluray ( like the latest ATI/AMD HD video cards). We will have to see.

Ron Evans

[fukly]

hi ron...
i have panny guy presents the panny ag-hmc70 n 150 in indonesia...
they dare to compare the sony mpeg2 vs avchd 13mbps side by side.they show it live to 40'' panasonic true hd lcd...me with 15 other prod.house owner were amazed by the quality of footage..they convince us that avchd13mbps is not a 'piece of junk' that many editors think. we love it so much..specially drag n drop!
most of us r wedding video events... we shot mostly 3 camera live to lcd projector..the era of HD is coming..so we realy think on this avchd for future editing..but there is 1 big problem..for single events we spent 3hours live recording on single camera...3cams mean 9 hours footage + 3 hours for the morning reception = 12 hours/events..final edit is 3 hours..can u imagine how many DAYS i should waste to 'capture'/convert this avchd to be able to edit it in edius??...if we could edit straight from avchd to edius timeline,i believe edius will have such a big market here in indonesia...everyone is waiting here.
hope i dont have to 'migrate' to ther 'realtime' NLE ;)
cheers

[Ron Evans]

I think there will be more developments later in the year as it is clear Sony and Panasonic are moving in this direction. Most of my projects are also multicam and this is why I love Edius but for the time being I use Vegas 8 for AVCHD or convert output from my SR11 to HDV for use in Edius. Very slow!!! IN this case I think hardware acceleration will be needed for the consumer if Sony and Panasonic want people to edit and burn to BluRay. Converting and burning to a BluRay disc takes for ever!!!! I would be surprised if Sony doesn't come out with a competitor for the ag-hmc70 too. At least that what I am hoping for as I have too many other Sony things in my equipment collection though I do have Pansonic Plasma and DVD players!!

Ron Evans.

[tingsern]

EDIUS Broadcast supports AVC-Intra, right?

Since AVCHD and AVC-Intra are both essentially the same specifications (though at different levels) ... AVCHD is consumer grade, whereas AVC-Intra is professional grade ... my guess is - given enough CPU power, if EDIUS can process AVC-Intra (50Mbits) in real time, it should be able to process AVCHD (13Mbits) in real time as well. Of course, if Panasonic were to release the 100Mbits AVC-Intra ... things will get interesting......

[GrassValley_KH]

As per Panasonic's AVC-Intra white paper: ftp://ftp.panasonic.com/pub/Panasoni..._AVC-Intra.pdf

6. What is the difference between AVC-Intra and AVCHD?
While AVCHD and AVC-Intra are both H.264 compliant codecs, they are very different. AVC-Intra is a professional intra-frame codec with bit rates of 50 and 100Mb/s, utilizing the High 10 Intra and High 422 Intra profiles of H.264 respectively. AVC Intra 100 offers professionals mastering quality video for the highest level of HD production, while AVC-Intra 50 provides video quality similar to that of DVCPRO HD, but at half the bit rate, a plus for news and bandwidth efficient requirements. AVCHD is a consumer high definition (HD) digital video camera recorder format announced jointly by Panasonic, Sony, Canon and others. AVCHD is a long GOP H.264 implementation designed for less demanding prosumer and consumer applications. Panasonic offers both as a choice of products to the user.

[tingsern]

I understand that difference. What I am trying to express myself previously was - Since EDIUS has no problems handling AVC-Intra at 50Mbits in real time (at least on my system) - (AVC-I compresses one frame at a time), compared with AVCHD (which compresses groups of frames at one go) .... which is something like HDV (MPEG2 compression on groups of frames) - given enough CPU power, EDIUS *could* handle AVCHD.

I have no problems handling HDV in real time, AVC-I in real time. I don't have any AVCHD materials. All my videos are either DVCPRO HD (MXF format), HDV or AVC-I.