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File Format
I just purchased one of those small Sony MC1 cameras. I’m confused about the file format. I’m use to shooting with my Sony Z1U which flows fine on my Vegas timeline.
However the MC1 when shot in the HD FH (AVC HD 16M) mode is extremely jerky on my timeline even in draft mode.
Will shooing with the MC1 in HD HQ (AVC HD 9M)give me the same quality picture as shooting with my Z1U?
It’s almost impossible to edit this HD FH file even though they download as M2T’s.
Thanks for any education on this. -
5 Replies
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> However the MC1 when shot in the HD FH (AVC HD 16M) mode is extremely jerky on my timeline even in draft mode.
You didn’t say what version of Vegas you are using or how powerful a PC you have but both are big variables in the equation. You need a powerful computer to work with AVCHD. A QuadCore PC is almost a minimum requirement. Also Vegas Pro 9.0 works much smoother with AVCHD than 8.0 did.
> Will shooing with the MC1 in HD HQ (AVC HD 9M)give me the same quality picture as shooting with my Z1U?
Do you think the 1/5 inch CMOS sensor, 30mm lens, and 9M stream on the Sony MC1 is going to give you the same picture quality as the three 1/3 inch CCD sensors, 72mm glass, and 25M stream on the Sony Z1U? I don’t think so.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks for your post. I do realize that the 1/5 chip in my MC1 will not give me the quality picture as does my Z1U but I would like to know if the picture quality between the two setting options on the MC1 of HD FH and HD FQ will have any real noticable difference in quality.
And since the clips that come from my Sony MC1 are M2t files, what exactly is the difference between them and the files that come from my Z1U?
I purchased and am using Vegas9.
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> I would like to know if the picture quality between the two setting options on the MC1 of HD FH and HD FQ will have any real noticable difference in quality.
I would have to say yes but you need to test this for yourself. You are almost halving the bit-rate. 16Mbps is going to give better quality than 9Mbps. Also the 9Mbps setting is 1440×1080 not the full 1920×1080 like the 16Mbps mode (my Sony HDR-CX12 has the same modes) I would only shoot in 1920×1080 16Mbps if quality is your concern.
> And since the clips that come from my Sony MC1 are M2t files, what exactly is the difference between them and the files that come from my Z1U?
The Sony MC1 shoots AVCHD and the Sony Z1U shoots HDV. AVCHD is highly compressed MPEG4 while HDV uses less compressed/high bit-rate MPEG2. Are you sure the file extensions is m2t for the MC1? It should be mts or m2ts which are the extensions used by AVCHD cameras.
The claim is that 16Mbps AVCHD is as good quality as 25Mbps HDV but I can’t do any tests because my Sony HDR-CX12 only has 37mm glass so it’s not fair to compare that quality to my Sony Z1U but I can tell you that it is not the same quality (and no where near the low light capability of the Z1U). You really have to compare it to a Pro AVCHD camera which I don’t have (and have no desire to own… my CX12 is just a “vacation cam”) I just prefer HDV because it’s a lot easier to edit and I’m happy with the quality of my Z1U.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
Thanks for taking time to answer my questions. I understand better now.
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