Editing mp4 HD1 clips and watching result in 720p on HD ready plasma
 

What are the different options that I can use to watch an edited HD1 movie with the best quality?

1. If I burn a DVD, some definition will be lost, I presume?
2. Can I cut/join/trim MP4 HD1 clips + add sound track, get a HD MP4 file, upload it back into the Sanyo and watch it through the camera?
3. Do you recommend another way to proceed?


Many thanks

If you burn the DVD, you will loose some quality, but it will be better than most video formats. You can utilize the full widescreen if the software you use can handle it.You won't be able to edit outside of the camera and upload edited files back, The HD1 won't recognize them.

Only HD option is to use video output from your PC to the plasma, or plug the camera directly to the plasma. You can edit in-camera using the camera's editing options. The new HD DVD and Blue Ray formats will allow more options in the near future.

I did downscale to DVD and was impressed with the video quality and widescreen footage.

Any idea if you can edit the HD1 footage in FCP? I was thinking about getting one and making an HD-DVD through DVD Studio to try it out.

Even using MPEG Streamclip? I will have a try and report on this.

I did it also and was happy with the results but I wasn't impressed. Maybe a consequence of editing with MovieFactory 4? Which editing software did you use?

Here is my confirmation that after having edited using MPEG streamclip and renamed the file SANY....MP4, the HD1 doesn't recognize the new file.

Any idea how it comes? SO, the only option left to read edited HD1 footage in HD definition is to use a PC...

Erick

If you have Windows XP Media Center, you can stream HD videos to an Xbox 360, wireless if you get the usb wireless device.

There's also a 360 Kiosk disk that might be out there that is bootable and the demo movies can be replaced with your own in WMVHD encoded video.

There might be some media extenders/hd enclosures that output HD using divx.

Probably your best bet is to try to find out what bitrate/codec is needed to be able to play back on the HD1 itself. Transfer some video over. Edit it. The encode it back to what the HD1 recognizes.

Hi Rodney,

Do you really think it might be possible? Can anyone in this forum provide me with advises on how to proceed? I am certainly not an expert in encoding procedures..;<(

Many thanks

This issue - manipulating files on a computer and then not being able to get them back onto the camera - comes up from time to time.

As I've said before, if we could solve this it would be a major breakthrough because would have an ideal video playback system for our HD1 footage.

-Extremely Portable
-High Definition
-Remote Control

I tried the moviefactory software that came with the camera, but wasn't impreesed with the end result. I now use vegas movie studio platinum dvd+. It has a much better result for less than $100 US.

As noted previously, I am using a Mac Mini Intel Dual Core connected to my Sony 60" HDTV. It works beautifully for editing and showing footage from the HD1. I render into Apple Intermediate Codec at 1280 x 720P, and process times are very fast. The files are obviously large, so I use an external hard drive. This is not an inexpensive solution, but then neither is a plasma screen (mine is projection LCD). There are other advantages to having a computer hooked to the TV -- surfing, etc.

You can start with quicktime's MP4 format to try. I don't have a HD1 myself, so I can't do any testing.

If you have Quicktime Pro, you can export the many video formats quicktime reads into other video formats.

My guess is that the Sanyo's use similar MP4 encoding as Apple quicktime. I read somewhere if you record in low res (320x240), the MP4 files can be read directly with an iPod with no re-encoding.

Looking at Bo's samples, the audio uses AAC, 48kkHz sample rate. You're going to have to guess a bitrate.

For video, try MP4 file format, MPEG-4 Basic video format, 1280x720 image size, 29.97 frame rate, 8000 kbps data rate?
For audio, try AAC-LC audio format, 48kHz sample rate, 128 kbps date rate?

Not really sure on the data rate numbers.. just a good place to start.

I don't know if it's likely to be solved. The users who are in the best position to devise a solution are users well-versed in video software and perhaps programming. Such users tend to have computers connected to their TVs or other preferred viewing device (CRT) and are probably happy with their computer playback options. My greatest motivation for devising a solution isn't to watch HD-1 video but rather to transfer movies to my HD-1 as an alternative to a video iPod. (Not DRM'ed movies or TV shows, obviously, as they are locked to iPod playback and, accordingly, very consumer un-friendly.) On the other hand, the HD-1 screen, while better than a video iPod screen, is still pretty small for watching movies so I haven't persued a solution.

Personally, I have my TV connected to three computers--a HTPC, Mac Mini, and MythTV PVR (Linux). They all play my HD-1 videos perfectly so I've never even used the HD-1 component video cable!

I've used the lowly iLife proggy, iMovie-HD and it works so FCP should work too. FCP is only available in FC Studio now, I think. $1300 is too rich for my blood! I can't find it now, but I saw a comparison chart of the Final Cut products. Final Cut Express HD($300) seemed like the one to buy for HD-1 work. The main advantage of FCP is native mode editing of DV, which won't help you with mp4 anyway. Nothing can edit mp4, natively!

Yes, it's 48kHz/16-bit audio. GSpot reports the audio as 160kbps sampling rate. CoreAAC decoder reports the audio as AAC-LC varying around 117-118 kbps (at least that's the rate for every HD1 sample I looked at). Nero reports the rates at 128 to 131, depending on the video. I suspect it's a variable sample rate.

There are so many things than can keep a file that's imported into the HD-1 from playing! The HD-1 does not have to support any particular profile, as it's only designed to play its own material. Many things in the A/V headers could trip it up too. Please report any success here and I'll try to help, but I don't have time to dig into it right now. (I'm too busy taking video of our 6 month old baby daughter :))

-Cal, DivX Forums Moderator

MP4 to AVI using MP4cam2avi or MPEG streamclip
 

Thank you All for your valuable answers.

Just another concern: should I expect some HD quality loss using one of these converters?
I am thinking about using some simple Editing software like PowerDirector or Première Elements which will probably not accept HD1 files sothat I will need some kind of prior-conversion like MP4 to AVI.
On the other hand, I am not really enthusiast to accept some quality loss.

Or, do you recommend that I upgrade to Vegas? It sounds like too complex for my little editing experience as I am only using MovieFactory till now!

Many thanks

Erick,

I use the included software to convert to UNcompressed AVI. You need much disc space, and it will not play back smoothly due to disc limitations. I then input this to Ulead MSP and output as HDV 720p. It is then possible to intercut HD1 with HDV from JVC HD10, as well as SD material. Besides computer, the HDV files can be played on the JVC SRDVD-100U, a DVHS deck, or authored to HD-DVD (on red laser disc) and played on the Toshiba player.

Sometime back, I saw a pgm to modify JPGs to play back in cameras. Each camera has it's own "thing", and must be specifically addressed. What we need is a wizard to make such a pgm for the HD1.

There many set top box players/media extenders that support WMVHD, Divx HD, and/or MPEG2-TS (HD 720p).

Just search google for 'wmvhd divx hd player'.

Here's a few:
http://www.divxtech.com/product.html
http://www.z500series.com/features.php
http://www.iodata.com/products/produ...VLP2%2FDVDLA06
http://www.kiss-technology.com/?p=600en&v=users

Eric,

Actually I have had fairly good success editing these files also using MoviePlue from Serif - it was a bit of a headache to get it to open the files but the software is fairly intuitive and I personally find it more straight forward than Vegas, particularly the in and out point setting... maybe because Im used to 1inch online editing setting my points in a story line the same way.. but none the less.. it does work. Vegas drives me nuts with having to use the "trimmer". Probably because Im missing something logical... Ha ha.


Bo

www.bophoto.com/HDV

So you are saying, Sanyo HD, and Ipod normal, are using the basic format.

Thanks Bo,

Movieplus seems indeed quite interesting.Would you really recommend this editing soft for a beginner like me?
Do you confirm that you are able to edit your HD1 files straight into the application without converting anything and that output can be HD or DVD?

Bo,

I too might be interested in MoviePlus. Is it possible to adjust audio level throughout each clip? Maybe pick points on the timeline and adjust audio level. I looked at their web site, and as I backed out of their purchase page, a window came up offering a 30% discount.

Not being able to try the pgm, I might see if I could get pdf manual.

Hi David,

You'll find the manual here: http://www.serif.com/community/productmanuals.asp
Can you get the product at less than 59.99 GBP? I don't remember any 30% discount.

Cheers,

Erick

Erick,

Just noticed your location. In the army in 1958, I was stationed at a transmitter site in France. I spent a three day pass visiting the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair. I remember seeing color television for the first time, and seeing the atomium, which I understand is still there.

Thanks for the manual link! As a result, I decided to buy. In the U.S., if you back out of the store screen, a window pops up offering a 30% discount. My price was about $55 US. If you just go ahead and buy, you'll miss the discount!

David, Eric,

I have edited HD1 video straight with it... BUT... and a HUGE BUT... I had a headache installing the right codexes for movieplus to do this.. and honestly after I rebuild my laptop I have not re-instealled those yet.. right now I use Vegas for full size and Movie plus for VGA. But YES I did edit straight out of the camera HD1 files with movieplus, you need to install the codex package movieplus techsupport recomend though.

Yes I believe you can keyframe the audio level to change level at particular points in the output.


Bo

www.bophoto.com/HDV

David,

Yes, the atomium is still there. Very recently, it has been completely renewed with brand new aluminium plates... it looks again like in 1958.
Btw, I am unable to get any discount or pop-up window on Serif.com
Can you give me some more details about the procedure to be followed?
Was your order submitted to Digital River?

Thks.

Erick

Erick,

Yeah, it went to digital river. They probably have a different policy for different locatioins. To verify - just act like you're going to buy, then back out before giving your name and credit card.

Bo,
Can you help me because I don't find my way with Vegas.
The preview window is working at a rate of not more than 3 to 4 frames per second....is this normal?
I would like to experiment with Vegas but I have heard on another french forum that I can't expect real time edition with MP4 files.
How do you do than? Do you convert first your files in some avi format prior editing?

And what about Movie plus capabilities?

Thanks a lot

Erick

I have had some time to play with MoviePlus. and I am positive about most things. While I have not been able to input the MP4 files from the HD1, I have used VLC media player to convert them to .MOV files (one of the choices for streaming output). This process is VERY quick, and the files then play nicely in the QuickTime player.

The only output option that retains HD is WMV. You have some latitude in quality options, and it can look quite good, and have a number of playback options.

Capturing HDV from JVC HD10 does not work. In fact, it screwed up the drivers for my other capturing options. I can use files captured other ways though.

They really need an HDV output compatable with JVC though!

I know its been awhile since the last posting, but if anyone is still interested in this thread, try Ulead's Video Studio 10 Plus. The Plus version not only supports Sanyo's MP4 HD imports, but it edits the clips with transitions that even include 3D and exports them to either MPEG 2 HD for burning to HDDVD or WMV HD. I've used it and the exports look great. You might get a little background artifacting if you add "anti-shake" to one of your clips, but it's barely noticable. For $100, it's a pretty good product. As for the HDDVD burner, don't have one yet. For now, I'm just archiveing the finished MPEG 2 HD File to a data DVD. Then, when I can afford one, I'll transfer the file back to the hard drive for authoring and burning. Of course, I can also look at it on my computer's HD monitor using VLC player for now, playing off the hard drive.

Thanks a lot Philip.

Interesting, your approach is certainely worth to be retained and I will consider VS10+ as an option. TKS!

Erick

HD PLayback of Edited Mp4 Files - Still No Joy?
 

Any luck with this?