AVCHD & Realtime?

[Bassman]

Hello,

I just picked up the HMC-150 camera and it uses the AVCHD codec for recording.

I also just built a new editing computer with a quad-core Intel 9400 chip & 4 gig ram with XP.

The ACVHD files at their max bitrate do not play at all inside of Edius 5. The buffer just drains down to zero.

Are there any settings to change?

I guess I thought I could play more than a straight buffer drain on this system.

The CanopusHQ conversion is a nice easy step, but the file size is quite large when it is all said and done.

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks.

[pgovotsos]

Have you tried Panasonic's AVCHD to DVCPROHD converter? Might result in better file sizes.

Panagiotis

[Jerry]

Hello,

I just picked up the HMC-150 camera and it uses the AVCHD codec for recording.

I also just built a new editing computer with a quad-core Intel 9400 chip & 4 gig ram with XP.

The ACVHD files at their max bitrate do not play at all inside of Edius 5. The buffer just drains down to zero.

Are there any settings to change?

I guess I thought I could play more than a straight buffer drain on this system.

The CanopusHQ conversion is a nice easy step, but the file size is quite large when it is all said and done.

Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks.

Easiest solution, get bigger drives. It is just that simple.

[Bassman]

Have you tried Panasonic's AVCHD to DVCPROHD converter? Might result in better file sizes.

Panagiotis

Well I am trying to stay full raster, so it is either HQ or AVCHD.

So there is no hope to edit the native files?

Maybe a faster drive setup like a RAID or is this processor only?

[Philip]

Well I am trying to stay full raster, so it is either HQ or AVCHD.

So there is no hope to edit the native files?

Maybe a faster drive setup like a RAID or is this processor only?

Processor....AVCHD are mp4 in nature and more highly compressed than HDV and MPG2 files. There's lots of un-squeezing to do with those AVC files. That's why I don't understand all the excitement over AVC cameras for editing work. Many NLEs require an upconvert to framebased to edit efficiently.

[SRsupport]

I think the first thing you have to look at is workflow. A lot of people get frustrated, disappointed when it comes to Editing of those ultra compressed formats.

I think when buying into these "very compressed" formats one has to put it in perspective. What do I expect in Editing, what is my turn a round time, how will I archive it.

All this thinking will certainly delay your buy but when you finally buy in to a format there will be no surprises.

I think the best way to go at AVCHD is to bring it to HQ.
Native editing will be struggling, hair pulling and can lead to high blood pressure.

I personally don't think the ultra compressed formats are an advantage they are more trouble and in the end lost time. (converting)

But I also can see why some people rather buy in to it. :)
In Edius to get the best performance a conversion to HQ is the way to go.

The AVCHD to HQ utility has recently been updated!

[Bassman]

I have to say, the HQ conversion is very easy and I can do four files at once.

The cost factor for this camera is still cheaper than P2 as I can record 3 hours on a $300 SD card and purchase hard drives at low relative cost.

I just did not know how much processor these files needed.

Seems like we are a few generations away from this speed.

[Bassman]

The AVCHD to HQ utility has recently been updated!

Is this different from the utility that installed with Edius 5?

[SRsupport]

Check out this post:

http://ediusforum.grassvalley.com/forum/showthread.php?p=51663#post51663

[pgovotsos]

Is this different from the utility that installed with Edius 5?

Yes. 2.10 installs w/ Edius (my copy at least)

Panagiotis

[zoolane]

I too am one of those ppl with great expectations for AVCHD, and have always used Linear Editing .... until now.

I put together a machine, and loaded EDIUS last night. I just started using it, and edited my first sequence from the first footage (or should I say "cardage") from my new Panasonic AG-HMC150.

The machine I put together is as follows:

Motherboard: ASUS Maximus Extreme (the overclocker's dream)
Processor: Intel E8400, 3GHz ZENON, running @ 4.29 GHz
RAM: 8 gig of OCZ - DDR31600, running @ 1.521 GHz
Video Card: BFG 9800GX2; both GPUs dedicated to one monitor
PCI x16 bus, overclocked bus to 110 MHz
Capture Card: BlackMagic - Decklink Extreme
Storage: 6 Samsung Spinpoint, 1 Terrabyte, SATA drives; 4 drives in RAID5
OS: Vista64

Problem: I shot at the highest AVCHD quality for the AG-HMC150 camera, and downloaded the scenes through a USB cable from the camera to the computer. I loaded up EDIUS, and brought some scenes into the timeline. The system plays the first 3 seconds at the start of each scene on the timeline, then appears to slow with audio dropout, then continue after the brief freeze, then cycles repeatedly (slight freeze, or slowdowns) at about 1/4 second intervals until the start of the next scene, at which point it plays the first 3 seconds, then hiccups until the next scene.

IMPORTANT: I was able to observe that the processor does NOT appear to be running at max speed, and during one scene change, was able to perfectly play the first three seconds of video and audio at the beginning of the next scene, with the processor running at more than 90% load because of the scene content (kids playing and splashing at one of Disney's fountains).

Any thoughts???

[Ron Evans]

I have not been able to get Edius 4.6 to play AVCHD with my QUAD core 9450. Sony Motion browser will play OK as will Vegas at quarter scale preview. The easiest is to convert to HQ then it runs realtime . Conversion is very quick. I can transfer my SR11 AVCHD clips to the PC and convert in just over realtime. The converter uses all 4 cores if the file is dragged over the desktop icon.
Decoding AVCHD is very hard on a PC it is easier to convert to an intermediate.
Ron Evans

[vctv]

I've a question:

Converting to HQ codec from AVCHD, there's a loss in quality? All conversions should degrade the image...

Or in this case, the quality is the same?

[Ron Evans]

There are lots of posts on the HQ codec but this link may answer a lot of your questions.http://desktop.thomsongrassvalley.co...c_NS050906.pdf

Ron Evans

[vctv]

Thanks, very interesting... It seems that the loss in compression is very low...

Maybe the perspective is use today HQ codec and maybe in 1-2 years the CPUs could support better native AVCHD editing...