avchd

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avchd

Hello,

I own a cannon video camera that shoots in full HD (AVCHD or MP4). When I shoot in AVCHD, and I plug into the big screen TV with HDMI, it looks beautiful. However, when I convert the MTS files using aunsoft or other conversion software, and send it to iDVD, the picture is grainy. I realize this may be a compression issue with iDVD, but I'm wondering if you know if there's a way to maintain the HD quality of the video and burn it to a DVD?

I've been told by some that I need a blu ray burner and player to do this. My Mac cannot burn blu ray discs, but maybe there's another product that will help with the burning process?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
David

iPhone 4S, iOS 5.1

Posted on Jun 10, 2013 4:07 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 10, 2013 8:06 PM in response to dgrockower

A DVD will always be standard definition. It will cut down your 1920x1080 HD to 640x480.

To show your HD, I suggest an Apple TV. You can also use Toast with BluRay Plugin to create a disk that can be played on a BluRay Player. Toast can burn AVCHD to a Blu Ray disk or to a DVD disk. Most BluRay players will play AVCHD.

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Answer 2

dgrockower Author

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Jun 11, 2013 4:13 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Thanks, that helps. Others have recommended Toast, but I'm wondering how I can burn a blu-ray from my MAC. Would I need an extrernal blu-ray burner (is that what you mean by blu-ray plug-in)?

I do have Apple TV. Would I just import to imovie, and stream to Apple TV?

Thanks again for your advice!

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Answer 3

Jun 11, 2013 7:59 AM in response to dgrockower

There are two (really three) ways you can burn from Toast.

1) You can burn a standard definition DVD that is playable on most DVD players using a standard DVD burner.

2) You can burn a regular DVD disk using a regular DVD burner in AVCHD (Toast calls this BluRay) format. It will be playable on most BluRay players. Because you are using a regular blank DVD, you will be limited in space relative to the space on a BluRay disk. You can get about 20 minutes at full quality, but quite a but longer if you back off a bit on the quality,

3) You can use a blank bluray disk with a USB bluray burner and create an AVCHD disk that is playable in most bluray players. This disks have quite high capacity, so you can burn multiple long movies in HD.

The reason I say that these are AVCHD disks, not BluRay disks is that a real BluRay disk that you buy in the store with a Hollywood Movie is in a quite different format than those you can make yourself. The real BluRay disk is made on special equipment in long press runs and has licensing fees that are too high for most home moviemakers. The AVCHD format can be read by most BluRay players and has reasonable licensing fees (which are paid by Toast (I presume). So it is the way to go for home use.

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Answer 4

dgrockower Author

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Jun 12, 2013 2:10 PM in response to AppleMan1958

Thanks! That if the most helpful advice I've received. I noticed that most of the reviews on Amazon for Toast Titanium are poor. Have you used the newest product? Found any problems?

Thanks again,
David

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Answer 5

Jun 12, 2013 2:27 PM in response to dgrockower

I have Toast Titanium 9 which is several years old. I haven't had any problems with it, but I found it was simpler to use an Apple TV for showing my movies than to deal with hundreds of disks.

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Answer 6