AVCHD editing in CS4, transcoding & organizing help! at DVinfo.net

Shawn Whiting · October 25th, 2009, 01:35 AM

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking to form an editing strategy for a project im shooting on my HMC150. I'm not entirely sure what the constraints of working with AVCHD (.Mts files) are for CS4 4.1, could some one please fill me in? Ive read some posts that say you MUST retain the original file structure from the card, and others that say just copying over the STREAM folder with the clips inside will be fine.

In my case, this is a long term project, so being able to rename each clip and organize them in their own folders would be a huge advantage. But I will also probably be transcoding, using cineform prospect HD i hope, so do i need to retain the whole AVCHD file structure and names for this to work? Because if not i would really love to just copy over the STREAM folder from now on, delete the clips i know i will not need, then organize and rename the rest of the .Mts files before transcoding them. Is this a sound workflow?

I have heard that the other data outside of the STREAM folder is very useful for playback and thumbnails and finishing to blue ray, but i will be finishing to DVD and the web, and im not worried about playing the clips back on the camera again, so i dont see the need for anything but the STREAM folder, unless leaving the whole structure out will hurt my process somehow that i am not seeing? Please let me know as im very new to this, Thanks so much!

- Shawn

Simon Zimmer · October 25th, 2009, 08:34 AM

Hello,

I own the HMC-150 and use Prospect HD. I just use the stream folder and copy them over to my computer and convert them using HDlink. Works extremely well and is also very quick.
I never used the rest of the data because I see no need to watch the videos again on the camera once I am done with a shoot.

Good luck!

Simon

Graham Hickling · October 25th, 2009, 03:37 PM

I think the comment about blu-ray applies only if you plan to burn a disk of the original unedited files.

Since you are (I assume) planning to do some editing in Premiere, the old structure on the card wont be helpful at the authoring stage - so yeah just copy the STREAM directory.

Shawn Whiting · October 27th, 2009, 04:47 PM

If i just copy the STREAM folder, I can then feel free to delete clips i know i wont use and rename clips right? this will not hurt their playback?

Robert Young · October 27th, 2009, 07:54 PM

Shawn
I often will convert to CF with HDLink directly from the camera card- no import of original files, metadata, etc. Or, you can import the stream from the camera card (maybe for archival purposes) and then convert those files to CF. You can rename, delete, move to various different folders, drives, etc.
I edit the CFHD.avi & output to whatever delivery format I need, Blu Ray included.

October 25th, 2009, 01:35 AM	#1
Shawn Whiting Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blacksburg VA Posts: 75	AVCHD editing in CS4, transcoding & organizing help! Hey Everyone, I'm looking to form an editing strategy for a project im shooting on my HMC150. I'm not entirely sure what the constraints of working with AVCHD (.Mts files) are for CS4 4.1, could some one please fill me in? Ive read some posts that say you MUST retain the original file structure from the card, and others that say just copying over the STREAM folder with the clips inside will be fine. In my case, this is a long term project, so being able to rename each clip and organize them in their own folders would be a huge advantage. But I will also probably be transcoding, using cineform prospect HD i hope, so do i need to retain the whole AVCHD file structure and names for this to work? Because if not i would really love to just copy over the STREAM folder from now on, delete the clips i know i will not need, then organize and rename the rest of the .Mts files before transcoding them. Is this a sound workflow? I have heard that the other data outside of the STREAM folder is very useful for playback and thumbnails and finishing to blue ray, but i will be finishing to DVD and the web, and im not worried about playing the clips back on the camera again, so i dont see the need for anything but the STREAM folder, unless leaving the whole structure out will hurt my process somehow that i am not seeing? Please let me know as im very new to this, Thanks so much! - Shawn

October 27th, 2009, 07:54 PM	#5
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Shawn I often will convert to CF with HDLink directly from the camera card- no import of original files, metadata, etc. Or, you can import the stream from the camera card (maybe for archival purposes) and then convert those files to CF. You can rename, delete, move to various different folders, drives, etc. I edit the CFHD.avi & output to whatever delivery format I need, Blu Ray included. __________________ Bob

October 25th, 2009, 08:34 AM	#2
Simon Zimmer Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Easton, Maryland Posts: 497	Hello, I own the HMC-150 and use Prospect HD. I just use the stream folder and copy them over to my computer and convert them using HDlink. Works extremely well and is also very quick. I never used the rest of the data because I see no need to watch the videos again on the camera once I am done with a shoot. Good luck! Simon

October 25th, 2009, 03:37 PM	#3
Graham Hickling Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 1,669	I think the comment about blu-ray applies only if you plan to burn a disk of the original unedited files. Since you are (I assume) planning to do some editing in Premiere, the old structure on the card wont be helpful at the authoring stage - so yeah just copy the STREAM directory.

October 27th, 2009, 04:47 PM	#4
Shawn Whiting Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blacksburg VA Posts: 75	If i just copy the STREAM folder, I can then feel free to delete clips i know i wont use and rename clips right? this will not hurt their playback?