Why does a 12 Mbps file import as .mts/avchd?

yowzer wrote on 7/17/2011, 12:49 PM
I shot 20 final segments for my current project with my canon hfs10. I had it set to xpplus so they wouldn't shoot in HD. All but two did. They all uploaded to my computer as .mpg files except for the two. They are .mts files and are recognized as avchd. All the files have very close to 12 Mbps rates and the total bit rates are similar to each other. The only difference I can find is in the audio files. In the two "HD" files (despite being 12 Mbps) I see that the audio is twice the Mbps as all the other files that imported as mpeg2 files. The HD files have 256 Kbps and the other 18 mpegs have 128. Is this what caused them to save as HD files? I'm really trying to avoid having to burn any bluray discs and am searching for how I can step down whatever needs to be to have consistency in all my files. I'm using vms 10 plat.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/17/2011, 1:36 PM
I don't see why having some source files as HD would prevent you in any way from rendering and delivering SD output.
Eugenia wrote on 7/17/2011, 1:47 PM
Can you please tell us the resolution of these files? If these files are 1280x720, 1440x1080 or 1920x1080 then ALL are HD. Don't confuse bitrate as the reason for something to be called HD or not. HD is resolution-tied, not bitrate.
yowzer wrote on 7/17/2011, 2:48 PM
Crap, I didn't realize that. I'm no techie. Well, the resolutions of all the files shot with my canon (which I bought mid-project) are indeed all 1440 x 1080 or the next lower one -all HD then. Hmm, is there I can render them in a lower res without obscuring the ratios and having Mongoloids onscreen?
Eugenia wrote on 7/17/2011, 5:39 PM
I don't think it's possible on the new AVCHD camcorders (you could in the HDV camcorders). You can only select bitrates. If you can't avoid HD, simply shoot in the highest bitrate, so you get the best quality possible, and then you set the right project properties, you edit, and at the end you export in SD if you want, in MP4 (h.264/AAC, MainConcept): 848x480, 1.000 aspect ratio, progressive, 3 mbps average, 6 mbps maximum, Main Profile, correct frame rate.

Alternatively, you can re-encode all your HD clips into SD and then start editing, but in my opinion it's a waste of time if you're using VMS11 and your PC is moderately fast. Just edit in HD.