Should I edit MTS files directly using Adobe Premiere or convert to h264 format?

[Angelo Lorenzo]

I’m a bit confused. MTS files are encoded as AVCHD, MTS is just a container.

Are you having issues importing them directly to Premiere? Premiere should import them, but if I recall you need to copy the whole file structure of your memory card and then use Premiere’s media browser/import function to properly import them; you can’t drag and drop. Very similar to importing video off P2 cards.

[Rob Brandreth-gibbs]

Oh, I hope that’s not the way it works.

Over the last few years, I have collected a “ton” of .mts files copied across from SD cards to hard drive folders with the intention of editing in PrP some day. There’s a work-around?

RBG

[Eddie Rodriguez]

Angelo,

Thanks for the reply… I literally right-clicked the media bin inside premiere and imported the mts files. The files import and I am able to edit them without a problem.

My question is in regards to the industry standard procedures. Is it better to convert the files first to the desired format (for me its usually h264) using encoder or edit first and then export the edited version as h264 using encoder?

I may not be using the correct terminology and in turn confusing you but i hope i was clearer this time,

thanks for your time!

[Angelo Lorenzo]

Rob,

I don’t have any MTS files to test personally. I would assume they play straight, but the folder structure does contain additional info.

P2 is slightly different, so take my advice with a grain of salt. The P2 structure splits Video from Audio and holds them in separate folders. https://www.hdvisionstudio.com/blog/assets/images/p2-structure.jpg

I think Sony keeps the audio and video muxed in one file. File structure usually looks like this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AVCHD_actual_file_structure.svg where everything else is basically metadata

[Angelo Lorenzo]

It all depends on your workflow. First, however, there should be no reason to transcode to h.264 as your working format. MTS/AVCHD is already based on h.264 so you aren’t really saving any additional storage space (unless you convert to a lower res or really compress it) and your editing program will have nearly the same performance level using both.

You’ll want to work in your native format and spit out whatever your deliverable is.

One thing to consider is if you’re shooting a greenscreen is to up-res your files to something like ProRes 422 or 444 as an intermediate format and then pull your key from that as it can sometimes produce a cleaner effect.

That’s my general opinion, what are you doing in post? Simple edits or more advanced compositing and effects?

[Steve Brame]

MTS files ARE H.264 files.

They will work fine if imported into the Project Panel directly without using the camera manufacturer’s copy utility, except for possibly in one scenario…if you have any long format clips that exceed the 4GB limit and are spanned to multiple MTS files. Premiere’s Media Browser is ‘spanned clip aware’ and will give you one single clip from multiple spanned MTS files. Direct import may not.

Steve Brame
creative illusions Productions

[Evan Lee]

hi, I’d like to chime in here. I know Prores is an ideal option for editing, but it is MAC ONLY. I am working on a PC ( this is the reason why I chose prem over fcp, because it’s platform-agnostic), and I’m having a hard time trying to convert avchd (mts. shot by GH1 hacked) into prores. So do you know any codec similar to prores and is pc-friendly.

Cineform is great, I know that, but I’m soooooo cash strapped now…..

[Steve Brame]

Seriously…sell something in your home for the $129 that Neoscene costs, and convert to Cineform, and don’t look back. When CS5 came out, AVCHD files seemed to edit sooo much easier. The thing is, they seemed to edit so much easier than they did in CS4. Cineform STILL is a wonderful intermediate codec for the PC.

Steve Brame
creative illusions Productions

[Angelo Lorenzo]

Give Avid’s intermediate codec set a try. It’s free and cross platform.

https://avid.custkb.com/avid/app/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=372311

[Owen Wexler]

Premiere Pro can work with MTS and M2TS files directly, just drag em in.

I’ve had clients give me AVCHD M2TS files without a card structure before and they have come right in just like any other file — Premiere Pro has definitely been a lifesaver in those instances.

Cinematographer – Editor – Motion Graphics Artist – Colorist

https://www.owenbwexler.com