HDV, Apple HDV codec or .m2t stream?

I am trying to figure out which would be better to do for HDV. Should I capture in FCP into the Apple HDV codec, or should I use DVHSCap to rip the .m2t file so that it is raw? Or, does these two come out to be the same quality?

It depends on your workflow. I think Apple Intermediate has a higher data rate. Check this out.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301599

Similar Messages

When to use Apple Intermediate Codec -v- NTSC ???

OK,
After successfully creating two projects - one for YouTube and another on DVD - I found myself in a slump when 3 succeeding projects wouldn’t upload properly to YouTube.
After doing some troubleshooting with people who “might” know what the problem is, it seems the issue with my 4:3 SD uploads was compression. Somewhere, supposedly I had compressed the footage within FCE, and when uploaded to YouTube (which compresses it further) it just wouldn’t work at all (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3DonNt7B08). Somewhere, somehow, I did something in FCE that is prohibiting this video from playing properly (but it plays fine in QuickTime).
I still have no answer as to why 16:9 HD footage wouldn’t upload, unfortunately, so I’ve since removed it. That video failed to upload on YouTube at all; whereas my initial effort went flawlessly. It took forever, but it uploaded fine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhIDIsZ9i7E).
Anyway, back to the point. I’m ready to go for another run of capturing footage from my Canon XHA1, and I want to make sure I have the proper setting(s) within FCE so that when I’m capturing footage to my computer, where I can edit it for final viewing, it comes out non-compressed.
Where do I start? In Easy Setup for example, there are just too many options for me to know what the heck I’m supposed to use (other than PAL, which I believe was European?).
I thought on my initial video that I had used “Apple Intermediate Codec”. What does this mean exactly?
So far, I’ve chosen the following:
FORMAT - Apple Intermediate Codec
RATE - 29.97
USE - HDV Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i60
After choosing this “Easy Setup” (in Preferances), I then go to File > New Project. Right away, it asks me to “Select Sequence Preset”, with some 16 options being given. Must these options jive with what I selected in “Easy Setup”?
Is there some way that FCE or my iMac are reading my camera through the Firewire & determining specifications?
Any help appreciated, thanks.

As Tom says, you have to select "HD" first.
The number "60" at the end of the preset shows that it is NTSC. PAL ends in a "50".
I don't know about YouTube but when I upload HDV to Vimeo I do this:-
Select File>Export>Using QuickTime Conversion.
Click the Options button and select Settings.
Make sure that Compression Type is H.264
Leave Quality on High and set Encoding to Faster. You may think this will not give the best quality, but I doubt if you will see any difference but your files will encode twice as fast.
In the Data Rate section insert Restrict to 5000 kbits/sec.
Click OK and then click the Size button.
In the Dimensions, select 1280 x 720 HD from the dropdown menu. Some people click the deinterlace button. I don't and I have never had any problems . . . your choice. Then keep clicking OK until you get back to the Save window where you can Save your video.
As mentioned above these settings may not give you the theoretically best settings but you are unlikely to notice any difference and your files will encode much faster (or less slower!) and be much smaller.

Frame rate problems with Apple Intermediate Codec.

Hi,
I have just upgraded to a new Mac Pro and FCE 4.1.
I went to carry on working with an existing FCE HD file. It loaded and updated fine.
When the project was played back it appeared jumpy and too fast.
I looked at the clip properties and the FPS for the project was at 32!! I'm working in 25 fps.
Its as if FCE is interpreting the movie files as 32 FPS
When the clips are played back in quicktime they are at 25 fps as normal.
The clips are AIC 1440 x 1080i.
I tried it on a new project and the same thing happened.
Other codecs like DV seem to be OK.
Has anyone had this problem before and know of a solution.
I have done all the usual disk repairs and the like. Next will be a re-install.

Hi(Bonjour)!
It's a must to use the correct setup in easy setup dialog to fit your shooted material on tape.
Here's the trail to follow if you want to edit in HD (by the way the FX1Ecan shoot in HD mode or standard definition DV- mode: wide or standard screen).
On your FX1E
-find the camera menu and set the recording format to HDV (it sould be 1080i50 as it's the HDV format used by this model).
-Set the output format to automatic or 1080i50 (this is the type of signal that will be outputed by your camcorder upon capture via firewire).
-turn off you camcorder and mac.
-Plug both devices with a firewire cable.
-turn on the FX1E AND the mac.
-Start FCE HD
In Final Cut Express HD
-Use "Easy Setup..." command in Final Cut express menu , select HD in format tab, 29.97 in rate tab and HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50. Click "Setup" button.
-From this point, any new sequences and capture session will occur in Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50 (the format used to edit in HDV).
-Use command-8 to open the capture window. HDV is captured via a simple dialog. There are no capture setings or log clips info.
-Start your camcorder in *VCR mode*(the play button on camcorder or on remote) and click the capture now button into FCE HD.
NOTES: there is no sound from your MAC upon capturing. There is a lag time between what is played on your cam and what you can see on your mac screen, so use the camcorder screen to monitor the content.
-Hit the "ESC" key when you want to stop the capturing process.
Once the esc key is pressed, your mac will continu to process the captured material and the capture window should close.
That's the way to capture HDV material into FCE HD.
Michel Boissonneault

I can only import HDV with Apple Intermediate Codec!!!!

Hello,
I want to get to the bottom of this. I have HDV film shot on a DV tape. I cannot import this HDV footage, it appears to be importing, but the moment I hit "escape" to stop capture, I realize nothing was actually importing. I usually end up with a second of captured footage, ironically, it's of the second that I stopped capture on. So I capture my last second.
Of course, if I change my setting to Apple Intermediate Codec, it works fine.
I'm using Final Cut Pro 5 on a G5 that hasn't been online in a while. Maybe I just need some 'updates?"
Or is this a Final Cut Pro 5 issue since it came out when HDV was relatively new on the scene?
Should I upgrade to Final Cut Pro 6, cut that make importing HDV easier for me?
This footage I don't mind converting to Intermediate Codec, but in the future I'd like to not have to do this.
Anyone know what causes this?
Thanks!

You should be able to do it fine in 5.0 as well as 5.1.
I have been capturing HDV since August of 2006, long before FCP 6. Make sure you use a camera that is supported, for HDV is not a standard the way DV is. It is MPEG 2 out of the box. So when you capture you are in for a bit of a ride editing HDV on FCP 5. It can be done, but you are better to take a page from Shane's book and capture to DVCPro HD instead. It takes up much more space, but you will have no headache editing and outputting later.
Hope this helps.
Matt

Can't import HDV unless I set it for Apple Intermediate Codec

I cannot import my HDV video for the life of me. I see it on the screen, I hit capture "clip," and it appears to be capturing fine, but when I'm done, the clips in the browser show the red line crossing through them and say "offline" when I try to play them.
And when I hit "Capture Now," I don't get anything at all.
Actually, I do get a clip that is approximately 1 second long that captures the last second of my video. The literal last second. So I capture one second that I'm actually trying to stop the video on.
So I try Apple Intermediate Codec. It works PERFECT now!
Only thing is, I would like to use HDV instead, because isn't it better quality?
Plus it's just bugging me that I can't understand why I can't import on HDV settings. Why would it not capture a single frame except for the last second or two?
I guessing it's timecode related, but the timecode seems to be continuous. Scenes do change where the camera was turned off and on, but the timecode is continuous.
Thanks everyone for listening.

I am using Final Cut Pro 5.
I am probably using the latest version of Quicktime.
Thanks for any advice!!!!

Apple HDV CODEC 1.4 is only made for Sony????

This is my question, since the apple hdv codec is support for XDCAM HD 422, I can't capture tape from my JVC PRO HD GY110U camera, this in FCP 6.0.3, but in FCP 6.0 I can capture from my jvc camera , but if I update to pro applications update 2008-01 I can't no capture from JVC camera or device. In FCP 6.03 , or in Final Cut with Apple HDV codec 1.4, when I tray to capture , the vtr it's ok in the capture window , but the capture window status say SEARCHING FOR MEDIA and no capture anything, another issue is the problem with the DV devices ( PREVIEW DISABBLE) same characteristics, vtr is ok but no capture anything. I hope that this problems will be resolve for the apple team. At this moment I can work with DV devices (24PA footage) and JVC pro hd(720P@24) devices well with this configuration:
PowerPC G5 Dual, system 10.4.11, quicktime 7.4.5(25) (67), final cut pro 6.0.
MacBookPro Intel core duo, system 10.5.2, quicktime 7.4.0(92), final cut pro 6.0.2
The major problem is , if I need to work with xdcam ex footage I will be need update to fcp 6.0.3 'cause the apple hdv codec needed for the xdcam transfer is Apple hdv codec 1.4, that come with the FCP 6.0.3, but, if I updated for that , I can't capture HDV PRO HD footage , and, probably the problem with the DV devices starting again. Note that We work with Firewire to capture , I have not a HD CARD or AJA to capture. Note that some people report the same problem with Canon cameras.
Well , if any one report this problems: SEARCHING FOR MEDIA or Preview Disabled , I hope that my little report help in something.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7155700&#7155700

Apple HDV Codec

Hi,
I am using *Final Cut Pro 5.0.4* (FCP). I recently filmed a short film using 24p mode on a *Sony HVR V1U*. I now have *high-def 24p footage* which looks great on the LCD screen of my camera.
I thought I could import footage using the *Easy Setup HDV-1080i60* then use the Tools tab of FCP to reverse telecine. However, I get an error saying *"Codec not found. You may be using a compression type without the corresponding hardware card."*
So instead I used the Easy Setup *HDV AIC 1080i60* and then used Tools to reverse telecine the footage which gives poor looking footage (artifacts and ghosting).
Questions:
1. Is the HDV codec I am missing suppose to come with FCP 5?
2. Is there anywhere to download the HDV codec I am missing?
3. Is the poor quality of the AIC due to the compression of the codec or to possible operator error in not having all the capture/telecine/sequence settings correct?
4. Can anyone point me to the direction of a solid workflow that could help my situtation?
Thanks,
Brian

I hate to tell you this, but there was the EXACT same issue with the Apple DVCPro50 codec. If it was captured on a MAC (say, in FCP) it could not be read on a PC. And how long has DV been around? This codec was never ported over for Windows users. I don't expect the HDV codec will either. If anyone can prove me wrong, please do so. This has been a MAJOR annoyance for those of us working as professionals who receive footage from all types of editing systems.

Apple HDV codec and Out of Memory error on transferred project

Hi,
I recently captured and have been editing fine with HDV footage on my iMac (surprisingly enough). My question is, I transfered the entire project to a collegue to edit on his new Powerbook(much faster than my machine) he gets two errors when he tries to open the sequence. 1. Codec not found. You may be using a compression type without the corresponding hardware card. Then, 2 - Out of Memory. He can play the audio off the QT movies but the display is only white. I looked up the Movie info for the QT movies and mine is reading that it is Apple HDV codec. The exact same clip's Movie info on his Powerbook is reading only HDV? Can anybody help? I'm pretty perplexed on this one.
Thanks!

It really would be useful if you included information like: FCP versions, QT versions, how the footage was captured and what codec was used?
Do you and he have matching versions of FCP? of QT?
If he doesn't have the codec you used to capture, then he t'aint gonna play the file. It is as simple as that.
x

Apple HDV "uncommon codec"?

I edit footage mostly from a Sony Z7 camera, shot in HD 25p onto Compact Flash cards. The FCP (sony) plugin imports this footage via "log and transfer" and turns it into AppleHDV and I use that codec for my timeline. My finished edits are exported as self-contained AppleHDV, ready to be transformed into whatever format is required.
I've been told the Apple HDV codec is an unusual codec (by Sorenson as it happens). I will go to Prores if I'm using other formats or doing color correction of any significance. In fact I prefer Prores in most ways but I cannot transcode to Prores via "log and transfer" so I tend to stick with Apple HDV as a matter of course.
Am I unusual in working this way?
Anyone else working with this codec - surely I'm not alone?
(for the record, it turns out in Sorenson Squeeze 7 there is a bug that makes horrid results when transcoding HDV to anything H.264 - I think thats worth taking note of!)
I'm just wondering if I'm weird

This is true, but it takes a heck of a lot longer to transcode all your footage to prores than to edit straight into HDV. I'm using a pretty speedy mac and I can't say the timeline renders have been any trouble.
I would consider ProRes if I could transcode during "log and transfer" but it seems there is no way to do this without transfering all clips to HDV first.
I could also just work with a ProRes timeline - but then I'm not sure how this would work much differently to exporting my master movie as ProRes from an HDV timeline (apart from every clip would be screaming for a render all the time during the edit.).
My thinking seems to tally with Ken Stone - that if your outputting to web/dvd formats and not doing much color correction or graphics you might as well as stay in HDV.
The problem with this idea is highlighted when you discover that the pricey compression software you bought to take care of all your compression needs wont transcode HDV to h.264 without making a right old mess of the picture - due to a bug involving this "unusual HDV codec".

Switch Logging info from HDV to Apple Intermidate Codec???

I have just logged all my tapes accidently using the HDV codec, is there a way to switch over to the Apple Intermidate Codec before i digitise or am i screwed?
Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Many people choose to use HDV, and tell me that there's no downside to that. The downside I expected there to be would be that random access would be slower (as you're jumping around in an MPEG-2 file). But apparently that doesn't happen.
I would be tempted to just go ahead and try editing the files you have, because if it works it's a better quality path than converting to Apple Intermediate Codec would be, as well as taking up a lot less disk space.

Difference between AVCHD Apple IC 1920X1080160 and HDV-Apple IC 1080160?

Hello I am using a Canon HG10 which is a AVCHD camera. Should I be using the AVCHD Apple IC 1920X1080160 codec or the HDV-Apple IC 1080i60 in Easy setup?
I am not sure I know the difference. I am shooting everything in the highest setting.
Thanks.
Ed

The HDV setting is always 1440x1080. The AVCHD settings can be either 1920 or 1440.

Capturing in the HDV-Apple ProRes 422 Preset

I am trying to capture some HDV footage in Final Cut 7 using the HDV-Apple ProRes 422 preset. However, when I go to log and capture after changing the audio/visual settings, the program immediately asks me to enter a file name and then jumps right into a capture now rather than bringing up the usual log and capture screen.
Has anyone else run into this problem, and if so, have any solutions to fixing it? This is the first time I have used this capture preset, so there may be a step or setting I am accidently skipping.
Thanks in advance.

If you are capturing HDV as ProRes, this is normal. This is the only case that this happens like this. Only with a capture card can you get the normal Log and Capture window. Converting one format to another via firewire...typically requires a card. This is a special case.
http://library.creativecow.net/articles/poisson_chris/hdv-prores.php
Shane

I have converted m2ts files to .mov to edit in FCE (4.0.1) When I drag the clips into the timeline they need rendering, as much as a minute for a 30 sec. clip. Is this normal? I am using OS 10 . My easy setup is apple intermediate codec, 720p30. Any help

I have converted m2ts files to .mov in streamclip, for editing in fce 4.0.1. When I drag them into the fce timeline the clips need rendering, as much as a minute for a 30 second clip. Is this normal? My OS is 10.6.8. My easy setup in fce is apple intermediate codec 720p30. Any advice to avoid the rendereng would be helpful. Ann

To what codec, frame size & frame rate did you convert the files in Streamclip?
If it isn't AIC 720p30, you'll need to render.
x

Capture HD with AVCHD apple intermediate codec

I have captured video from my Canon xha1 previously. Today I went to capture some video. I have my presets to HD with avchd apple intermediate codec. When I go to capture I receive the message "capture preset must have video or an audio digitizer set to capture. Please change the desired preset in the audio/video settings. I go back to system settings and the "audio capture" is not highlighted. I'm not sure if this is how I set the capture preset or if there is something else I am looking for. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Hi Tom,
The camera settings are on HDV/DV. I haven't changed the setting, that I am aware of. I have tried a few easy set up settings. Last night I set to all formats and HDV. I was able to import video but not audio came through. I also tried HD with HDV or AVCD and received the message about needing a digitized audio preset. Today I received the message my deck could not be recognized. I loaded the footage into imove hd just to check my firewire. Video and audio both came through. Interestingly enough when I tried to import an imovie hd into fce, I received an error message. So my problem went from bad to worse. The other devices connected to my imac is an external hard drive and a printer. In the system profiler my camera is listed under the firewire device tree.
I am going to call Apple again tonight. I have only had this machine a month. So I am not very experienced with what can go wrong. But I guess I'm learning. By the way I have enjoyed your tutorial. I have learned a lot.
Thanks,
Jamie

How to avoid the Apple intermediate codec on AVCHD

Hi everyone,
In case you want to work directly with your AVCHD shots instead of having them recoded to the Apple intermediate codec (AIC) format (which takes up huge amounts of space), just read this blog entry:
http://joeshaw.org/2010/04/10/655
Especially the second ffmpeg command line shown there:
ffmpeg -i input-file.m2ts -ab 256k -vcodec copy -acodec aac output-file.mp4
shows how to repack an m2ts / mts file to mp4 without recoding the video (audio is converted from ac3 to aac). The resulting mp4 video may then be imported to iMovie and will NOT be recoded to AIC.
Be warned: iMovie then makes heavy use of your CPU when working with this files. At least on my Macbook I frequently see the spinning ball. So you should have a powerful machine or a large cup of patience ...
At least this explains why Apple uses the AIC when importing AVCHD data.
Hope to help
Yours
Wolfii

Hi there,
ok, here the step by step instructions:
1. Download AirVideo Server from here:
http://www.inmethod.com/air-video/download/Air%20Video%20Server%202.4.0.dmg
and install it to your applications folder. You now have a suitable version of ffmpeg available at "/Applications/Air Video Server.app/Contents/Resources"
2. When your Camera is connected, Mac OS X should show an additional volume. With Finder, search this volume for the directory that contains files named *.MTS (or *.M2TS). Note down the directory, we need it for the following little script.
3. Open a terminal window and type in the following:
cd /Volumes/...
(where your MTS files are located, e.g. something like /Volumes/CANON/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM)
for a in *.MTS
do
"/Applications/Air Video Server.app/Contents/Resources/ffmpeg" -i $a -ab 256k -vcodec copy -acodec aac ~/Movies/${a%%MTS}mp4*
done
If everything is done correctly, you should find a bunch of mp4 files in your personal Movies folder afterwards.
Depending on your camera, you might need to change MTS into M2TS in the above script (at two places).
Be warned: This script will overwrite existing files with identical names in your Movies folder, so maybe it is a good idea to use an individual subfolder for each run.
Maybe somebody else reading this is able to provide an automator script.
Yours sincerely
Wolfii
Message was edited by: Wolfii
Message was edited by: Wolfii

HDV, Apple HDV codec or .m2t stream?

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