Canon HG10 (AVCHD) to movie file

[PilotRPI]

I brought the clip into Imovie no problem, and am trying to figure out some settings for nice quality while not creating massive movie files. I made a nice clip using H.264 but for one minute it came out to about 200 or more MB. What screen size are common (pixels by pixels), keyframe rates, codecs (MPEG 4 seems kinda blocky), where do you set the quality slider, etc.

Also, any good user guides to help figure this stuff out?

Thanks,
Jesse

 

[tcross04]

I would start with DVCProHD, it is a really effecient codec, but it really depends on what your final goal is for it. Are you creating a DVD? A QuickTime? And as far as frame size... I don't really know much about AVCHD. Your two main frame sizes for HD footage is 1920X1080 and 1280X720.

 

[Kajaboss]

Re Canon HG10 files

Hi Jesse, I hope this thread is not too old and that you pick it up! I have the same video camera Canon HG10 and up until recently had not really been to concerned about what to do when I need to download files and then burn then to DVD. Well, the hard Drive is now full and I have to think about it. I have trawled all over the internet and am now at a loss as to how to convert MTS files, to MOV files and then to the same High quality video that I can burn onto DVD and play back on the dvd recorder whenever I want to, relieving the hardrive of lots of memory. Perhaps you could enlighten me as to what you do?
Kind regards,

 

[tcross04]

You should be able to plug it into your mac and use iMovie to bring them into your system. Does the camera have a USB or FireWire port on it anywhere?

 

[Kajaboss]

Hi thanks so much for getting back to me. It has been doing my head in trying to understand this whole process. I understand the limitations of iMovie8 now and, after playing with it, can see that the 960 x 540 file dimensions that it generates are simply the best it can do. The Canon produces 1440 x 1080 files and the drop off in quality is noticeable. What I need to know is where or how I can generate files that are of the same quality that can be burned to DVD and played on other media such as a TV. I now have a full hard drive on the camera and am desperate to figure this out so as to be able to take all the film off the camera and burn it to DVD. So in summary: The Canon HG10 generates MTS files. These are converted into .MOV files in iMovie8. DVDs will not support this file type to play on TVs etc so i need to find a way of converting these .MOV files to a dvd compatible type. What is your experience, Can you give any advice?

 

[tcross04]

Try downloading mpeg streamclip you can find it here. I'm not sure if it converts MTS but you might find that it does. (Its FREE) The other consideration is that unless you have an HD DVD or BluRay burner the highest resolution you can output on DVD is 720X576. I'm assuming that since you're in the UK you are on a PAL system. So that puts you smaller than 960X540 anyway.

What is the ultimate end goal here? Is it to archive High Quality video or is it to be able to watch on your TV/DVD player?

 

[Kajaboss]

I took your advice and tried mpeg streamclip. The file generated by the best setting mp4 at 1440x1080 is a 530mb file which is approx half the size of the original. The quality is visibly better but there is still alot of fall off in poor light and also fragmenting and rippling of the footage when the camera is moved around. So it is certainly an improvement but not enough. Ultimately, I would like to archive high quality footage from which I can then take footage as and when I want, when I get the chance to start editing and getting creative. I come from a Picture Library working background and have always had hard copy aswell as hardrive backup as a fallback. I guess I am seeing iMovie's limitations, and having read the review of iMovie8 on the Macuser website, I understand a bit more. Using a HD DVD burner was going to be my next port of call. Are you familiar with Final Cut Express 4.0?

 

[tcross04]

I am familiar with Final Cut Pro. Express is just a step down from that.

 

[Kajaboss]

Can I open a .mov file in FCP or express and then export it as a high quality DVD friendly fie?

 

[tcross04]

Yes, but you can in Quicktime Pro for $30. Here is a link: Apple - QuickTime - Convert your digital media with QuickTime 7 Pro.