Best format to export old *.m2ts files from SonyCam

GoToVegas wrote on 11/15/2024, 4:32 AM

Hello together,

i have a question about encode some old files from an old Sony Cam.

The files are in *.m2ts format (container) and have an pixel ratio from 1,333.

My setup: VP18 / VoukoderPro / Nvidia

Streaminfo
Video: 25,000 fps with Interlace, 1440x1080x12, AVC
Audio 1: 48.000 Hz; 5.1 Surround (Stereomix), Dolby AC-3
Audio 2: 48.000 Hz; 5.1 Surround, Dolby AC-3

Which would be the best format (less quality loss) to export these files in 1920x1080??

Or should the old format with pixel ratio 1.333 be retained?

Thanks in advance

Oliver

Comments

Dexcon wrote on 11/15/2024, 4:57 AM

First, what is your intended delivery destination; for example, BluRay disc, YouTube, memory card/stick etc?

With regards to the aspect ratio (AR), you are planning to convert 4:3 AR video to 16:9 AR which means that you are either going to have the image stretched out so that the 4:3 image fills the 16:9 AR without losing image height; or you're going to lose the top and bottom of the 4:3 image so that the image fills the 16:9 width without horizontal stretching. Which of those choices is your intention as it may be a consideration in the choice between a 1.000 or 1.333 pixel ratio choice?

Just a bit of trivial information based on a comment on the forum from maybe 10 years or so ago - a forum member disassembled a Sony 5.1 handicam and found that there were only 3 microphones in the camera for FL, C and FR, the L and R rear audio being generated from the 3 front microphones. At the time, I found via a Google search confirmation of this - proprietary audio processing was used in the camera to generate the rear audio.

EricLNZ wrote on 11/15/2024, 5:39 AM

Presumably this is tape HD Widescreen which is 1440x1080 which with the PAR of 1.333 gets displayed as 1920x1080. Best to stick with the 1.333 PAR if it is widescreen.

For burning to BR disc or showing on your TV I'd leave it interlaced and as 1440x1080 using Sony AVCHD render template. Let your TV deinterlace and apply the PAR.

For YouTube you need to deinterlace to 50 fps and apply the PAR to give 1920x1080. Use either Magix or Sony AVC. If you had a later version of VP I'd recommend deinterlacing with Smart adaptive deinterlacing. It can give better results than interpolation.

BUT I don't know about your 5.1 audio. None of my suggestions may be appropriate for your audio situation.

Dexcon wrote on 11/15/2024, 6:18 AM

This forum post from 2008 re 1440x1080 1.333:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/is-1440x1080-considered-a-4-3-resolution--66170/

This would suggest that leaving the pixel ratio at 1.333 to retain 16:9 AR is a good idea - if the original video's AR is 16:9.

GoToVegas wrote on 11/15/2024, 6:35 AM

@Dexcon : yes indeed, the target information is actually missing! I want to save it for myself to watch on the TV with Android TV etc. or on the PC with the best possible quality. No YouTube or anything like that. Yes, I think the camera actually only had 3 microphones. But I will just re-encode it in stereo. But it is actually as EricLNZ described, i don't want to stretch it to 1920x1080 because "this is tape HD Widescreen which is 1440x1080 which with the PAR of 1.333 gets displayed as 1920x1080".

Your Link is a good hint. Thanks!!!

@EricLNZ : Thanks for this information and right understanding of the 1,333 PAR. I think i use the Sony AVCHD render template and leave it in interlaced. The 5.1 audio i would encode as normal stereo.

Best regards

Oliver

3POINT wrote on 11/15/2024, 8:17 AM

@GoToVegas I produced all my HDV (1080i50) projects with following project settings:

Rendering is done with Voukoder for Vegas. I made also in the past the mistake to render interlaced, which is not accepted by my modern 4kTV (and Youtube). Also I stretched to 1920x1080, because your TV expects square pixels. When leaving PAR 1,333 your TV will probably display at wrong 4:3 and not at correct 16:9.

mark-y wrote on 11/16/2024, 7:56 AM

I think i use the Sony AVCHD render template and leave it in interlaced. The 5.1 audio i would encode as normal stereo.

Your idea to leave your delivery interlaced and letting your teevee do its hardware deinterlacing is a good one; it is always better than software deinterlacing during production.

If you will be sharing it or uploading to social media, it must be progressive and 1.0 PAR (1920x1080p).

Always good to see a bright bulb on the tree this time of year; welcome to the discussions ;?)