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Canon XA20 MP4 and AVCHD into FCPX
My new Canon XA20 arrived with a multitude of choices for recording. I will be using this to film a fast moving sport (lacrosse) with pans and some zooming. As far as I can tell the main difference in AVCHD and MP4 is the “package” assuming the frame rate and resolution are the same. The AVCHD comes with various audio formats linear PCM, Dolby Digital, while the MP4 is just ACC. At 24 Mbs, 1920×1080 records the same amount of data, about 200 MBytes/min. For AVCHD it can do interlaced 59.94 i or 29.97 progressive. For MP4 it can do 29.97 P.
If I wanted to overcrank with MP4 it will shoot at 59.94 and this directly plays at a frame rate of 29.97P or 23.98 P.
Is there an advantage for AVCHD at 24 Mbs 59.94i over MP4 29.97 P for quality, editing or anything else? I would like to choose one and stay with it so I am not mixing formats.
Thanks -
2 Replies
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AVCHD is generally a bit more robust during editorial but without seeing the output directly from the camera it’s hard to offer more advice.
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[Claude Lyneis] “Is there an advantage for AVCHD at 24 Mbs 59.94i over MP4 29.97 P for quality, editing or anything else? I would like to choose one and stay with it so I am not mixing formats.”
Yes, I would like to know this too. I thinking of picking up an inexpensive “Canon VIXIA HF R400 Full HD Camcorder” to use as a second angle for multicam. The CMOS is only 1/4.85″, but hopefully it would be good enough for a second angle (maybe not).
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/909788-REG/Canon_8155b004_VIXIA_HF_R400_Full.htmlMy older Canon HF S100 Vixia is no great shakes either, but is fine for what I’m shooting. The S100 shoots AVCHD at 1080p 30fps. This R400 shoots at these choices:
AVCHD Progressive
1920 x 1080p / 60 fps (28Mbps)
1920 x 1080i / 60 fps (24Mbps)
1920 x 1080p / 30 fps (17Mbps)MPEG4
1920 x 1080p / 60 fps (35Mbps)
1920 x 1080p / 30 fps (24Mbps)
1920 x 1080p / 24 fps (17Mbps)
—I edit with AVCHD and MP4 footage all the time on my 2011 Quad i7 17″ in FCP X without any issues. If I decide on this camera, would it be best to stick with the AVCHD as James seems to think for better quality? I have a feeling if the “look” is about the same as my Canon S100, either format would work. Also, I always first use ClipWrap on the AVCHD and work with the native footage.
Thanks,
Dave
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