AVCHD preview framerate in VP8.

Rosebud wrote on 9/18/2008, 12:39 PM
I'm going to build a new computer based on an Intel Q9550 quad core.
Currently, I’m working with DV file but I will certainly switch to AVCHD soon.
I looked in the forum to know the frame rate I’ll can expect to get with this kind of processor, VP8 and AVCHD files but I did not find a clear answer.
So, thank in advance for sharing your experience (which preview quality, external or internal preview ?)

Gilles

Comments

Sebaz wrote on 9/18/2008, 2:30 PM
I can tell you my experience with a Q6700, which is 2.66 Ghz. On 8.0c timeline AVCHD playback was improved to a certain extent, but it's still not optimal. For small periods of time it plays at full 29.97 but then for no apparent reason it goes down to 13 fps and eventually it goes back up to real time. When the cursor goes through cuts the beginning of the new event is going to stutter and then increase speed after a couple of seconds. This is playing at Preview quality in full size, going down to half size in either Preview or Good qualities will prevent some of the stuttering at the sacrifice of picture quality, which of course it's independent of the final render quality, so it's not a big problem unless you need to preview some specific effects.

Obviously the more RAM the better, and for AVHCD 4 GB is necessary if you want to speed your workflow.
rmack350 wrote on 9/18/2008, 5:54 PM
Seems to me that if you could avoid AVCHD you'd be better off. Not so useful for Sebastien here but if you haven't bought the camera yet are you really sure that's the way you want to go?

Rob Mack
blink3times wrote on 9/18/2008, 6:04 PM
I quite agree.

At the risk of starting a debate.... I think avchd is one great big lie. It's supposed to be a more efficient compression scheme.... and it is. In fact it's a great delivery format.... but that's it. It certainly does not belong in vid cams or on the time line.

You compare the sr12 at 1920x1080 to the canon hv20 at 1440x1080 and you will be hard pressed to see any difference at all.

I would LOVE to see Sony do like JVC and put out a hard drive cam based on mpeg2. I would snap one up in a heart beat. But as long as they keep popping out HDD cams in the avchd format...... then I'll stick with tapes thank you!
Konrad wrote on 9/18/2008, 6:22 PM
I'd like to hear from a user of the VASST tools that converts AVCHD to MPEG2.
Jeff9329 wrote on 9/26/2008, 10:02 AM
I'm going to build a new computer based on an Intel Q9550 quad core.

I wouldn't waste the time right now building a machine based on the 65nm processers. The Nehlam/i7 CPUs will be out in November and will double the computing power compared to current CPUs. It's going to be pretty amazing.

There are lots of Quad core systems out there now that are a better deal than building your own. Here is a Q6600 system;

http://www.buy.com/prod/hp-media-center-desktop-m8507c-intel-core-2-quad-q6600-2-4-ghz-4gb-pc2/q/loc/101/208893560.html

I had a link for a HP Q6700 system with 8GB RAM & 1TB HD for $600 but I can't find it.

About AVCHD. I just got my Panasonic AG HMC-150 AVCHD camera. It has a PH mode that outputs 21 mbps files. Using 8.0c on a Q9550 machine works well, but a little slow, to edit and render the material. Of course it's going to depend on what exactly you are rendering. When rendering 1920 back to 1440 HDV for instance, its about half realtime rendering speed. The preview window on best/auto at 965X550 works well. I didn't pay close attention on the test renders actually.