Suggestion... I never find this info in reviews... at DVinfo.net

Marcello Mazzilli · April 1st, 2014, 04:20 PM

Hi,
when buying camera (I am talking about the low end... small camcorders to use as a spar camera or so) I never find the following info... Will the camera split a long continuos recording (usually yes.. in 4Gb size files) and.. here is the point.. will these fit back together neatly. Many low end cameras can't do it.. they loose fw frames in audio and/or video when splitting the files they are recording. I use these cameras as backup or, for example during events, to record a wide angle shot of the whole thing. Some of these (not many really) have also audio input so this can be useful to have a safe recording from a tripod of the whole thing...
For example I got the Sony 320E for this.. It had a MIC in .. but it splitter files every 12 minutes or so and I was loosing few frames every time...

I think this feature (seamless joint on long files) should be clearly stated in technical data and in third party reviews of the product... Don't you?

Adam Gold · April 1st, 2014, 05:18 PM

If you use the Sony software (usually included) it will rejoin the files for you. At least it used to.

If you simply drag the files to your PC they will remain split. Any cam that uses the FAT32 file format will have this limitation.

Jody Arnott · April 1st, 2014, 09:31 PM

As above, the limitation comes from the camera using the FAT32 file system (which I think a lot do).

In the past I've found stitching the files back together manually is hit or miss depending on the camera (as you said, losing a couple of frames is common). But most manufactures have some sort of PC software that will do it for you. I know Canon does anyway.

Jeff Pulera · April 2nd, 2014, 09:54 AM

There should be NO lost frames or audio glitches in long recordings, even on "consumer cameras". The actual files on the camera SD card are most likely fine; rather, it is the editing software that adds the glitches due to poor handling of the files.

With Adobe Premiere Pro for instance, if you simply import the individual clips direct using File > Import, and then string them together on the timeline, you will get glitches between the clips.

The proper method with PPro is to copy the ENTIRE contents of the SD card to the hard drive. Do not alter, do not run through any utility software. Keep files original and intact. Then in Premiere, use the "Media Browser" to import your media. This will properly recognize and respect the AVCHD file structure and metadata needed to properly re-assemble the video.

If you have a two-hour recording on the card, which is obviously a lot of smaller clips, and you use Media Browser, the Import will appear as ONE LONG CLIP. When placed on the timeline, it is one continuous clip and is free of glitches.

So I don't know which NLE you use, but I'm confident that regardless of the camera used, there should be a method that will allow smooth editing of the files (as long as it is a brand-name camcorder and not some $99 throwaway thingy).

Thank you

April 1st, 2014, 04:20 PM	#1
Marcello Mazzilli Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ITALIA Posts: 416	Suggestion... I never find this info in reviews... Hi, when buying camera (I am talking about the low end... small camcorders to use as a spar camera or so) I never find the following info... Will the camera split a long continuos recording (usually yes.. in 4Gb size files) and.. here is the point.. will these fit back together neatly. Many low end cameras can't do it.. they loose fw frames in audio and/or video when splitting the files they are recording. I use these cameras as backup or, for example during events, to record a wide angle shot of the whole thing. Some of these (not many really) have also audio input so this can be useful to have a safe recording from a tripod of the whole thing... For example I got the Sony 320E for this.. It had a MIC in .. but it splitter files every 12 minutes or so and I was loosing few frames every time... I think this feature (seamless joint on long files) should be clearly stated in technical data and in third party reviews of the product... Don't you?

April 1st, 2014, 05:18 PM	#2
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Suggestion... I never find this info in reviews... If you use the Sony software (usually included) it will rejoin the files for you. At least it used to. If you simply drag the files to your PC they will remain split. Any cam that uses the FAT32 file format will have this limitation. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error." Last edited by Adam Gold; April 1st, 2014 at 06:14 PM.

April 1st, 2014, 09:31 PM	#3
Jody Arnott Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Posts: 747	Re: Suggestion... I never find this info in reviews... As above, the limitation comes from the camera using the FAT32 file system (which I think a lot do). In the past I've found stitching the files back together manually is hit or miss depending on the camera (as you said, losing a couple of frames is common). But most manufactures have some sort of PC software that will do it for you. I know Canon does anyway.

April 2nd, 2014, 09:54 AM	#4
Jeff Pulera Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Milwaukee WI Posts: 691	Re: Suggestion... I never find this info in reviews... There should be NO lost frames or audio glitches in long recordings, even on "consumer cameras". The actual files on the camera SD card are most likely fine; rather, it is the editing software that adds the glitches due to poor handling of the files. With Adobe Premiere Pro for instance, if you simply import the individual clips direct using File > Import, and then string them together on the timeline, you will get glitches between the clips. The proper method with PPro is to copy the ENTIRE contents of the SD card to the hard drive. Do not alter, do not run through any utility software. Keep files original and intact. Then in Premiere, use the "Media Browser" to import your media. This will properly recognize and respect the AVCHD file structure and metadata needed to properly re-assemble the video. If you have a two-hour recording on the card, which is obviously a lot of smaller clips, and you use Media Browser, the Import will appear as ONE LONG CLIP. When placed on the timeline, it is one continuous clip and is free of glitches. So I don't know which NLE you use, but I'm confident that regardless of the camera used, there should be a method that will allow smooth editing of the files (as long as it is a brand-name camcorder and not some $99 throwaway thingy). Thank you __________________ Jeff Pulera Safe Harbor Computers