AVCHD Lite Rendering

ag62 wrote on 1/24/2010, 7:29 AM
Is there a template to render a movie in this template. I only see full AVCHD which takes some time to render. My clips are all AVCHD Lite 720p 30fps AC3 audio (from Panasonic DMC ZS3). I've tried HDV-720 format, but it seems that it is MPEG-2 technology and not MPEG-4 (AVCHD). Full AVCHD doesn't seem to offer 720p template.

Thank you.

Comments

Byron K wrote on 1/24/2010, 10:53 AM
VMPPro doesn't have a native AVCHD Lite template.

You may be able to create your own custom template that's close to the AVCHD Lite format. Take one of the original AVCHD Lite clips run it thru Mediainfo or Gspot and try to match the parameters of the video in the Vegas render.

Tough I've not done this, pls remember that AVCHD Lite is a propitiatory and highly compressed format.
ag62 wrote on 1/24/2010, 12:30 PM
In Vegas HD, "Custom" button is disabled for AVC file type. Is there another "save as type" that would allow this to happen. Does anyone know if Vegas 9 Platinum has this enabled.
Eugenia wrote on 1/24/2010, 2:59 PM
There is no reason to export back in AVCHD. You seem to think that if you export back at AVCHD 720p you will be able to playback that footage via your camera, which is not true. The version of AVCHD Vegas exports at is not compatible with the cams that the original footage comes from (even if you were to export at 720p). So just use the 720p template for youtube that you already have as part of Studio HD and use that to watch on your PC/web. There's no way, even with other utils, to get to a format that the camera will play it back after it's edited. That's why I use the Sony PS3, AppleTV, or XBoX360 to watch my stuff on HDTV and not the cameras, or "AVCHD disks".
ag62 wrote on 1/24/2010, 3:21 PM
I'm interested in streaming the movie to my 58in TV and preserving it for future. When BD writers become resonably priced, I may want to burn it. Which format would be best suited for this.
Eugenia wrote on 1/24/2010, 10:30 PM
You use whatever Movie Studio HD provides for BD. BD doesn't support all kinds of formats, so if there's a template for 1080/60i AVCHD disk that plays on Blu-Ray players, you go with that.

You don't need a BD writer for that btw, or a BD disk, just a normal DVD disk. But the format burned can only be played via blu-ray player. Try that if you have a BD player. You only need a DVD disk and a DVD burner. The burned format will be in HD.
ag62 wrote on 1/25/2010, 5:56 PM
Which format would you recommend for rendering knowing that I'm coming from AVCHD LIte
Eugenia wrote on 1/25/2010, 11:24 PM
As I said. It's not up to you to use whatever format you want, it's up to the BD standard. So you use the template or option that says something like "burn Blu-Ray disk". The template will make sure it's using the right format to play on a BD player.

For youtube, you use WMV:
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/11/09/exporting-with-vegas-for-vimeo-hd/
michaelt wrote on 1/26/2010, 1:15 PM
"You don't need a BD writer for that btw, or a BD disk, just a normal DVD disk. But the format burned can only be played via blu-ray player. Try that if you have a BD player. You only need a DVD disk and a DVD burner. The burned format will be in HD."

Very few Blu-ray players will play AVCHD on a DVD disk - especially newer ones. This was possible with old Blu-ray players, and PS3, too. The newer ones are saving every penny to compete, so the read DVD at speed of x1 - which is not enough for AVCHD.

I agree - you better wait for Blu-ray writer prices to drop. But much better (and cheaper) approach is to use a stand-alone HD media player with a hard drive (internal or better external). There are plenty to choose from - WD TV, Seagate Theater, etc., etc. - as cheap as $50.

These HD media players will support absolutely any format you choose in VMS 9.
david_f_knight wrote on 2/1/2010, 6:59 PM
Blu-ray disk players that are labeled as AVCHD compliant will play AVCHD on a DVD disk whether the players are new or old. At least two manufacturers currently make Blu-ray disk players that are labeled as AVCHD compliant: Panasonic and Sony. I would never expect that something will be compatible unless it is labeled as compatible. Manufacturers have no responsibility to provide something they don't state they are providing.

It's not just the cost of Blu-ray writers that is the issue, it is also the cost of recordable Blu-ray media. If your productions are about 40 minutes in length or shorter, then you don't need Blu-ray disk capacity, so why pay for it? About 40 minutes of AVCHD video can be recorded onto a single-layer DVD, for about $0.16 each if you buy them on sale in a 50-pack spindle. No need to wait for the future.

I don't have any problem with the idea of HD media players, but they have their own issues so they aren't ideal for all users or all purposes. After all, a single DVD disk is very compact, durable, and economical.