AVCHD / MPEG2 (SD_VIDEO) support in Panasonic SDHC BD players & Viera TV (multiAVCHD)

[Capsbackup]

@deank;
Even though I have not tested your programs personally, I believe you are providing an excellent program and support for many people. I also appreciate your responses to many questions that are asked in these forums, and think you have helped and provided very valuable information for many, and not just regarding your programs. I appreciate that.
I was initially disappointed with your leaving this forum for what had happened, since I think there was unnecessary criticism aimed your way, and did not want you to cut and run. But I also understand we must do what we must do.
That said, I am glad to see you are still around!! Your views and opinions and experience are welcome here! :thanks: :)

[deank]

Thanks for the kind words!

***

SD_VIDEO (MPEG2) is now supported in both Panasonic Blu-ray players and Panasonic Viera TV sets.

Imported MPG files have to be recorded with either a JVC or Panasonic camcoder / Panasonic DVR, otherwise BDPs may not accept the file. Vieras seem to take anything (I think).


[16:38:05] Log started for multiAVCHD v3.0 (build 659)
[16:38:05] Selected output mode: Panasonic Blu-ray player (SDHC)

[16:38:05] Processing 7 titles...

[16:38:05] Switching to output mode: SD_VIDEO folder mode (MPEG only)
[16:38:05] Processing 6 titles...

[16:38:06] MPEG Title : #1
[16:38:06] Video duration : 00:00:02
[16:38:06] Video DAR : 4/3
[16:38:06] Video bitrate : 8400 (VBR)
[16:38:06] Audio codec : AC3
[16:38:06] Audio bitrate : 384 kbps
[16:38:06] Copying video : mov040.mpg
[16:38:06] Recorded with : JVC

[16:38:06] MPEG Title : #2
[16:38:06] Video duration : 00:00:02
[16:38:06] Video DAR : 4/3
[16:38:06] Video bitrate : 8400 (VBR)
[16:38:06] Audio codec : AC3
[16:38:06] Audio bitrate : 384 kbps
[16:38:06] Copying video : mov041.mpg
[16:38:06] Recorded with : JVC

[16:38:06] MPEG Title : #3
[16:38:06] Video duration : 00:00:02
[16:38:06] Video DAR : 4/3
[16:38:06] Video bitrate : 8400 (VBR)
[16:38:06] Audio codec : AC3
[16:38:06] Audio bitrate : 384 kbps
[16:38:06] Copying video : mov03f.mpg
[16:38:06] Recorded with : JVC

[16:38:07] MPEG Title : #4
[16:38:07] Video duration : 00:04:25
[16:38:07] Video DAR : 16/9
[16:38:07] Video bitrate : 8340 (VBR)
[16:38:07] Audio codec : AC3
[16:38:07] Audio bitrate : 320 kbps
[16:38:07] Copying video : vts_02_1 - coppgy.mpg

[16:38:18] MPEG Title : #5
[16:38:18] Video duration : 00:00:20
[16:38:18] Video DAR : 16/9
[16:38:18] Video bitrate : 4032 (VBR)
[16:38:18] Audio codec : MPEG
[16:38:18] Audio bitrate : 256 kbps
[16:38:18] Copying video : mov00a.mpg
[16:38:18] Recorded with : Panasonic

[16:38:20] MPEG Title : #6
[16:38:20] Video duration : 00:00:26
[16:38:20] Video DAR : 4/3
[16:38:20] Video bitrate : 5500 (CBR)
[16:38:20] Audio codec : AC3
[16:38:20] Audio bitrate : 384 kbps
[16:38:20] Copying video : mov007.mpg
[16:38:20] Recorded with : JVC

[16:38:21] Overall video duration: 00:05:17

[16:38:21] SD_VIDEO folder structure created!
[16:38:21] Copy D:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD_SDMPEG-2\SD_VIDEO folder to the root of your SDHC card!

[16:38:21] Switching back to AVCHD mode: Panasonic Blu-ray player (SDHC)
[16:38:21] Processing (D:\bluray.mkv)...
[16:38:21] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[16:38:21] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=24.000, ref=3
[16:38:21] Detected audio: ID#2:A_PCM (48000Hz 16bit 2ch) Language: und
[16:38:21] Attempting to convert A_PCM audio track #2...
[16:38:21] Extracting audio track #2 (mkvextract)...
[16:38:22] Converting PCM audio to AC3 (eac3to)...
[16:38:23] Added audio: A_AC3, "d:\multiavchd\_temp\bluray.mkv.t2.und.ac3", lang=und
[16:38:23] M2TS stream split set at 3999MiB...
[16:38:23] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[16:38:23] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[16:38:24] Setting vertical resolution value (720p).
[16:38:24] Media transfer: 00000 -> 00000.m2ts
[16:38:24] Processing playlist...
[16:38:24] Title #1 added: "bluray"
[16:38:24] Verifying title...
[16:38:26] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[16:38:26] Preparing authoring information...

[16:38:26] Setting menu for 1 titles...
[16:38:26] Playback will start with title #1 (bluray).
[16:38:26] Setting menu properties...
[16:38:26] Selected TV system: [PAL]
[16:38:26] Processing clip (CPI/CLPI) files...
[16:38:26] Completed.
[16:38:26] Applying Panasonic SDHC for BD parameters...
[16:38:26] Setting FAT compatible 8.3 filenames...
[16:38:26] Done!

[16:38:27] Saving multiAVCHD quick-load project (mpf):
[16:38:27] D:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD_SDMPEG-2\PRIVATE\AVCHD\multiAVCHD.mpf (OK!)

Compilation summary:
Format: Panasonic Blu-ray player (SDHC)
===============================================================================
1. bluray [00:00:10]
===============================================================================
Overall duration : 00:00:10
Output size : 2 MiB (0.002 GiB)

[16:38:27] D:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD_SDMPEG-2\PRIVATE\AVCHD folder created!
[16:38:27] Rename D:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD_SDMPEG-2\PRIVATE\AVCHD to AVCHD and copy it to X:\PRIVATE\ of SD/MMC card.
[16:38:27] You may now remove temp folder (D:\multiAVCHD\_TEMP\).
[16:38:27] Your compilation contains 0hrs 0min 10sec of video material.

[16:38:27] multiAVCHD finished in 22 seconds (00:00:22)!

[16:38:27] End of log.

[davsim]

I just created a new AVCHD compilation of 5 titles. The "Direct Navigator" playlist loads in the SD card menu and all 5 titles are listed with name and duration, but there are no thumbnails (black frames). None of the titles play when selected. "Cannot play file."

So, I exited the SD playlst menu and pressed Return to go out to the Panasonic blue Blu-ray logo screen. Then I pressed Play and the video played (after a green flash on screen). I was able to skip forward and view all 5 titles.

I remember running into a similar problem like this early on when I was first testing the newly added Panasonic SD card support (old 2.5.x builds):

http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1277967&postcount=2413

http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1278694&postcount=113

My earlier playlist problems seemed to be fixed in Dean's 2.5 build 549:

http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=1278721&postcount=121

Using the workaround playback method works fine for me, so I am just reporting this in case it will help you troubleshoot. Please let me know if you can suggest any other settings changes to try to get the playlist working.


using multiAVCHD v3.0 build 666, testing playback on Panasonic BD60 US NTSC:

source: 1280x720, 25fps, level3.1, AC3 .mkv

5 x 60 min titles (8 gb total), each title 1.6GB

I tried with the following options: 1) PAL, AVCHD version 001, then 2) NTSC, AVCHD version 001, force level 4.1 with the same results both times.

All 5 titles are encoded with the same settings. MediaInfo:

General
Complete name : video1.mkv
Format : Matroska
File size : 1.46 GiB
Duration : 58mn 30s
Overall bit rate : 3 566 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2009-06-23 22:03:34
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.4.1 ('Use Me') built on Dec 5 2008 18:30:05
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 3 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@3.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 58mn 30s
Bit rate : 3 111 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 3 180 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.135
Stream size : 1.27 GiB (87%)
Writing library : x264 core 67 r1173M f6d3166
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113
/ me=hex / subme=6 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 /
chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 /
chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 /
bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 /
keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc=2pass / bitrate=3180 /
ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 /
cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / aq=1:1.00
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 58mn 30s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 161 MiB (11%)
Language : English


log:

[02:17:39] Log started for multiAVCHD v3.0 (build 666)
[02:17:39] Selected output mode: Panasonic Blu-ray player (SDHC)

[02:17:39] Processing 5 titles...
[02:17:39] Temp folder does not exist. Set to G:\multiAVCHD\_TEMP.
[02:17:39] Processing (video1.mkv)...
[02:17:39] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[02:17:39] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=25.000, ref=3
[02:17:39] Detected audio: ID#2:A_AC3 (48000Hz 6ch) Language: eng
[02:17:39] Added audio: A_AC3, "video1.mkv", track=2, lang=eng, timeshift=0ms
[02:17:39] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[02:17:39] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[02:18:29] Processing playlist...
[02:18:29] Title #1 added: "video1"
[02:18:29] Verifying title...
[02:18:32] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[02:18:32] Processing (video2.mkv)...
[02:18:32] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[02:18:32] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=25.000, ref=3
[02:18:32] Detected audio: ID#2:A_AC3 (48000Hz 6ch) Language: eng
[02:18:32] Added audio: A_AC3, "video2.mkv", track=2, lang=eng, timeshift=0ms
[02:18:32] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[02:18:32] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[02:19:21] Processing playlist...
[02:19:21] Title #2 added: "video2"
[02:19:21] Verifying title...
[02:19:24] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[02:19:24] Processing (video4.mkv)...
[02:19:24] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[02:19:24] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=25.000, ref=3
[02:19:24] Detected audio: ID#2:A_AC3 (48000Hz 6ch) Language: eng
[02:19:24] Added audio: A_AC3, "video4.mkv", track=2, lang=eng, timeshift=0ms
[02:19:24] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[02:19:24] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[02:20:15] Processing playlist...
[02:20:15] Title #3 added: "video4"
[02:20:15] Verifying title...
[02:20:18] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[02:20:18] Processing (video5.mkv)...
[02:20:19] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[02:20:19] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=25.000, ref=3
[02:20:19] Detected audio: ID#2:A_AC3 (48000Hz 5ch) Language: eng
[02:20:19] Added audio: A_AC3, "video5.mkv", track=2, lang=eng, timeshift=0ms
[02:20:19] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[02:20:19] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[02:21:12] Processing playlist...
[02:21:12] Title #4 added: "video5"
[02:21:12] Verifying title...
[02:21:15] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[02:21:15] Processing (video3.mkv)...
[02:21:16] Detected frame reference count: 3 (max:9).
[02:21:16] Detected video: ID#1:V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC 1280x720, fps=25.000, ref=3
[02:21:16] Detected audio: ID#2:A_AC3 (48000Hz 6ch) Language: eng
[02:21:16] Added audio: A_AC3, "video3.mkv", track=2, lang=eng, timeshift=0ms
[02:21:16] Chapter marks ignored in Panasonic SDHC mode...
[02:21:16] Creating clip and playlist info (tsMuxeR)...

[02:22:02] Processing playlist...
[02:22:02] Title #5 added: "video3"
[02:22:02] Verifying title...
[02:22:06] Title has: 1 audio tracks and 0 subtitle tracks

[02:22:06] Preparing authoring information...

[02:22:06] Setting menu for 5 titles...
[02:22:06] Playback will start with title #1 (video1).
[02:22:06] Selected TV system: [PAL]
[02:22:06] Completed.
[02:22:06] Applying Panasonic SDHC for BD parameters...
[02:22:06] Setting FAT compatible 8.3 filenames...
[02:22:06] Done!

[02:22:07] Saving multiAVCHD quick-load project (mpf):
[02:22:07] G:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD\multiAVCHD.mpf (OK!)

Compilation summary:
Format: Panasonic Blu-ray player (SDHC)
===============================================================================
1. video1 [00:58:30]
2. video2 [00:58:15]
3. video4 [00:59:31]
4. video5 [00:58:14]
5. video3 [00:58:40]
===============================================================================
Overall duration : 04:53:10
Output size : 7970 MiB (7.783 GiB)

[02:22:07] G:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD folder created!
[02:22:07] Copy G:\multiAVCHD\AVCHD to X:\PRIVATE\ of SDHC/SD/MMC card.
[02:22:07] or SD_VIDEO and PRIVATE to root of your SDHC/SD/MMC card.



Thanks for any suggestions.

[deank]

Does the problem appear when you use 23.976/29.970fps video files?

[davsim]

Does the problem appear when you use 23.976/29.970fps video files?

No. For some reason, I thought my earlier testing with 2.5 had allowed me to see PAL videos in the playlist, but maybe I was wrong.

I just did a series of tests with still images encoded at various framerates and compiled them together with multiAVCHD. You can see the results in the image below:

23.976p - thumbnail displayed and plays fine
24p - thumbnail displayed and plays fine
25p - no thumbnail, does not play, "P" next to playlist item
50p - no thumbnail, does not play, "P" next to playlist item
60p - thumbnail displayed and plays fine

http://www.cdupload.com/files/60788_zwtbm/screencaps.jpg

As before, the workaround: returning out to the Blu-ray logo screen allowed me to play all videos by pressing play, then skipping through the videos.

Despite the mixed framerates, the 23.976p, 24p and 60p clips played fine from the Direct Navigator playlist. Additionally, when playing the first clips (23.976p and 24p) from the playlist, I was able to skip forward and play the "P" marked 25p and 50p clips, even though I couldn't select and play them directly.

So, this seems like a good second workaround possibility, I can just add a short NTSC format clip at the head of PAL compilations, then I can see the playlist.

I suppose this is probably just a limitation of the NTSC region player. It's disappointing that they locked out playlist playback, even though the videos play perfectly through two different workaround methods.

I would be interested to hear if European players display the opposite behavior with NTSC AVC formatted videos, do they lock out NTSC format clips from the Direct Navigator playlist?

Here is my sample compilation, in case you want to try for yourselves. (Note the audio plays longer than the video, but it shouldn't be a problem.)

PRIVATE.zip (http://drop.io/rqxujgn)

[Emulgator]

Some Panasonic DVD/HDD/VCR/SD combos (mine is a -95EX) can be set up by user to act either
as generic PAL device, outputting real PAL 50i 4.43Mhz through video out
or as generic NTSC device, thus outputting real 59.94i NTSC 3.58MHz through video out.

If the direct navigator encounters an opposite system object,
it will be flagged with the opposite sign and thus will not be playable nor editable.

So if the player is set up as NTSC and finds a PAL object, this will be flagged as P and blocked from playing.
If the very same player some seconds later is set up as PAL player and finds the before playable NTSC objects,
these will be flagged as N and now these are blocked from playing.

Panasonic seem to see this as a feature and maybe this behaviour has found its way into BD-player firmware as well.
Haven't checked this mixed behaviour (which will be visible only when playing mixed systems from SD card)
on my BD-50 yet, no time now, but I will.

I guess I will find the same as you did
and I guess it is not multiAVCHD's fault, just Panasonic's diligence to follow the "either PAL or NTSC" system scheme.

You may try to mux a AVCHD PAL volume with the same mixed system content on your SD card and watch if the player now blocks NTSC out, it would be interesting.
If it turns out this way then it's just the NTSC/PAL system flag of the AVCHD volume alone
which leads to this behaviour, not the actual clip's stream properties.

[deank]

@davsim:

A simple test you can make: download version 2.6 or 2.7 from videohelp.com (http://www.videohelp.com/tools/multiAVCHD/old-versions#download) and try to see if there is a difference.

Make sure you roll-back your system clock to 23-Apr for 2.6 and 13-May for 2.7.

late edit:

Before trying the older versions try this (in current 666 build): Select "Viera (NTSC)" as output mode (not Panasonic) and check if "P" will show again in the list. The difference between Panasonic SDHC and Viera modes is that multiAVCHD will force PAL/NTSC + FPS in Viera modes, but won't do it in Panasonic SDHC mode.

another edit:

Did you update your player FW? Another user reported that his BD-55 won't play multiAVCHD compilation with FW 2.0. I don't know what files he used, so I'm not really sure where the problem is.

[davsim]

Thanks for the replies.

A simple test you can make: download version 2.6 or 2.7 from videohelp.com (http://www.videohelp.com/tools/multiAVCHD/old-versions#download) and try to see if there is a difference.
I just tested two older versions, 2.6 build 549 and 2.6 build 566 with the same results as 3.0 build 666. Both older builds will label the videos as "P" in the playlist and will not play directly, but will play with the workaround methods.

I must have misremembered being able to play PAL video from playlist.

Before trying the older versions try this (in current 666 build): Select "Viera (NTSC)" as output mode (not Panasonic) and check if "P" will show again in the list. The difference between Panasonic SDHC and Viera modes is that multiAVCHD will force PAL/NTSC + FPS in Viera modes, but won't do it in Panasonic SDHC mode.
I also tried this on 3.0 build 666. I used Viera NTSC mode. The playlist listed all video tracks (both PAL and NTSC) without "P" and I could press play on the PAL tracks, but the video did not play on any tracks (neither NTSC nor PAL), but the audio did play for all tracks.

Did you update your player FW? Another user reported that his BD-55 won't play multiAVCHD compilation with FW 2.0. I don't know what files he used, so I'm not really sure where the problem is.
I have upgraded from FW v1.5 to v1.7 since my earlier testing with multiAVCHD 2.6, but I don't think that has changed SD card playback. Again, I think it's most likely that I was never able to play PAL video except with the workaround.

You may try to mux a AVCHD PAL volume with the same mixed system content on your SD card and watch if the player now blocks NTSC out, it would be interesting.
If it turns out this way then it's just the NTSC/PAL system flag of the AVCHD volume alone
which leads to this behaviour, not the actual clip's stream properties.
I tried both ways earlier. My playlist blocks the PAL streams only, regardless of whether the volume is marked as PAL or NTSC.

[deank]

Thanks for the testing, because the results show that nothing is broken with SDHC output from multiAVCHD :)

[deank]

multiAVCHD build 677 includes an option for hard-encoding the subtitles into the video. Since Viera TV do not support subtitles, and most of the time 'encoding' is involved, now Panasonic Viera users can get subtitles - option is in "Transcode" menu. Full update may be required or VSFilter.dll in tools folder.

http://multiAVCHD.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_transcode.jpg

[krzyszcz]

Is it possible to create subtitled AVCHD with multiAVCHD so that subtitles show while playing over BDP-60's SD card? What settings should I apply?
Cause I finally managed to convert my 720p MKV video with srt advanced processing and no errors (thanks to yours recent update - 709), but they still don't show.
Btw, your app is great even without such a function, thanks so much :)
Regards,
Krzyszcz

[deank]

Panasonic BD60 US v1.5 results:

SD_TEST13: Plays perfectly. Two titles show up in the playlist and play consecutively. Skip forward and back moves between titles. Subtitles work and stay on through title changes as well as after you go back to the playlist, then start playing another title again.

Amazing work!


Before I start sifting through all the MeGUI (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=78) and x264 (http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=77) encoding discussions, does anyone have any detailed suggestions for the best encoder settings for optimum bitrate, image quality and Panasonic compatiblity?

Here is a post from BD60 owner few months ago...

[deank]

Some news:

I think I finally managed to make CHAPTERS to work with Panasonic/Viera (SDHC) modes (using the so called SCENES), so no more FF/REW but a nice chapter skip should work for you.

I'll try to prepare a sample for someone with Pansonic BDP (SDHC) or Viera TV to test.

Post if you want to test it.

Dean

// I guess there will be no need to test it... HD Writer accepts the output and shows all chapters :) (scenes) allowing you to play each one, to join or merge scenes. It means that now multiAVCHD has no chapter restriction when producing AVCHD output for SDHC players (BDP, camcoders and Viera TV). You'll get this in the next update and I hope someone shares with me if it is working properly.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Now, I'll also try to get rid of that "multiAVCHD.deanBG.com" scene/thumbnail preview and use the real chapter thumbnail for each scene cut. Then all will be complete for SDHC. Nice, eh!

:rolleyes:

Dean


// YES :)

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_SDHC_scenes_2.jpg

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_SDHC_scenes.jpg

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/multiAVCHD_SDHC_scenes_3.jpg

:p

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

No one posted with a will to test it, so it is going in the update in few minutes. I hope it works.

Dean

[shaun9129]

Have a panasonic BD35 to try a sample on if you still want it testing?

[deank]

There is no sample :) It is already published with multiAVCHD so you can try to create one yourself.

Did you use multiAVCHD before?

[shaun9129]

Will try one later thanks :)

Yeah been using it for a while - great piece of software :) don't know how you manage to keep the great work going but thanks for all the updates.

As an aside there is a new firmware out for the BD35 but still no go on the motion menus for version 4 - still great to use though :)

[shaun9129]

Quick update - tried the new output to SD card on my BD35 and i can use the << skip >> buttons on the remote to jump between chapters - great work Dean :)

[deank]

It will be nice to know if thumbnails show properly, too.

[shaun9129]

Hi Dean

Yes the thumbnails show too - although on my player (BD35) they are in a seperate gallery ie you choose to watch the video or see a gallery of the thumbnails :)

Excellent work :)

[deank]

:) Well... I didn't mean the "PHOTO/PICTURE" mode of the player... Once in the movie mode the main (first?) thumbnail for each title should display there... there where you click "OK"/"PLAY" to play the title. I don't have a player to test with, that's why I'm asking for details...

:) Dean

[shaun9129]

Sorry - misunderstood. There is a motion thumbnail of the title playing alongside the title itself ( where you select the title to play ) and yes it shows fine :)

[deank]

Is there anyone out there to test with a VIERA TV the latest build 748?

[deank]

Another one.... Are there people who wish to have soft subtitles for Viera authoring without hard-burning?

[b66pak]

of course...this is a HUGE think...i am planing to by a viera soon...
_

[deank]

Yeah, well I need someone who owns a Viera at the moment so we can test. :)

I have a Viera, but it doesn't support AVCHD so I cannot test it.

[b66pak]

do you plan to do this by making subs "forced"? i don't remember to see any "subtitle" button on the viera tv remote control...
_

[deank]

Viera TV will accept AVCHD SDHC only from camcoders. Most camcoders store date/time information as PGS (subtitles). I was wondering if anyone managed to display these 'subtitles' in their Vieras. I may buy a new 2010 Viera model and I'll test it, but afaik no one posted about pre 2010 models subtitle support.

Dean

[deank]

I got myself today a PANASONIC TX-P50G20 which is capable of AVCHD :) + a lot more... So finally I'll be able to see the result of my work.

I'll do some tests to see if it is possible to add subtitles at all.

Dean

[deank]

After three weeks of testing, all I can come up with proved that (atm) there is no way to make a Panasonic Viera TV to display PGS (soft subtitles) while playing AVCHD structures.

Vieras won't even show the PGS created by the AVCHD camcoders, where subtitles are naively present in the m2ts as "recording date/time" stamps, so it makes all pointless to further try anything. Panasonic provides firmware updates for G20 series and may be at some point they'll post an update about that.

There is a bright sky though, because the newer PAL region Vieras (G10/G20 and 3D models V10/V20) can play 23.976fps videos, without speeding up to 25fps.

To utilize the feature and keep the 24p playback with such sets, you'll need to enable [x] Convert DTS to AC3 option in Subtitles&Audio tab and use [AVCHD for solid media] output for [Panasonic Blu-ray players]. It is needed just in case you use DTS audio with your video files.

This way you'll get the original video + audio (if audio is DTS it will be converted to AC3). Basically it is a complete pass-through for compliant AVC/H.264 video + AC3 audio sources.

Dean

[deank]

Here is a link to a torrent file with x264 Blu-ray DEMO disc, prepared for SDHC/SD/MMC/MS/USB playback.

It can be directly transferred to SDHC card to play in Panasonic Viera TV sets, Panasonic BDP players (using SDHC card) and Playstation 3. For PS3 you can use USB/MemoryStick, but then you'll have to copy the contents of PRIVATE folder (AVCHD) to the root of your USB stick/HDD or MS card. The same goes for Viera TV if you use USB stick.

Tested to work in Panasonic 50G20E model, PS3, Nero Showtime, Arcsoft TMT. The content uses NTSC framerates and should work with NTSC-region TV models, too.

Download torrent file (40KB) (1.8GB content). (http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/x264_SDHC_AVCHD_demo.torrent)

You'll need 2GB SDHC card (or bigger).

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/x264_demo_Viera_01.JPG

http://multiavchd.deanbg.com/x264_demo_Viera_02.JPG

Dean

[Emulgator]

Some updates about Panasonic Blu-ray player compatibility to play multiAVCHD authored AVCHD volumes from DVD+R discs.

multiAVCHD 4.1.770: Mode strict, welcome screen, carousel menu with chapter stills.

Video & Audio sources:
various AVC @ L4.0 @17Mbps +AC-3 @192kbps streams 000xy.mts from various Panasonic AVCHD cameras:
AVCHDlite 1280x720x25p flagged as frame-repeat to 50p from FT-2,
AVCHD Full HD 1920x1080x25i from GH-2.

Plays fine in old Panasonic DMP-BD50 tested under firmwares 1.3, 1.4, 1.7
Plays fine in newer Panasonic DMP-BD65 tested under firmware 1.50

Hangs in newest 3D-Panasonic DMP-BDT110, tested under firmware 1.47 and 1.65

Plays welcome screen almost ok (first second of audio seems to be missing),
then hangs before reaching first carousel menu screen.
Writes repeatedly HDMI, then PLAY on display.

Seems like Panny (hopefully unintentionally) have blown their AVCHD-from-DVD-disc implementation in their latest players.

[bred3]

Hey guys new to the forum. I am having some difficulties creating some AVCHD movies for playback on a SDHC card on my BD60. I have tried 3 separate movies and each of them have had the same result. For some strange reason the movie will play fine until just after an hour and playback stops and goes back to the menu screen. It seems to be that the movie stops once the second clip in the BDMV/STREAM folder is supposed to play. Any help would be greatly appreciated :)

[accorinti]

Hello guys,

I have a Panasonic TX-P42S20E and I am getting crazy tried to play videos from the SD-Card. I tried all the options to convert the videos with multiAVCHD, but I always get the message: no supported files

Hier all the data:

1st: the card is correctly formatted, fotos on the root are correctly displayed

2nd: with multiAVCHD I get this output:
AVCHDTN
BDMV
HDAVCTN
IISVPL
details.txt
multiAVCHD.log
multiAVCHD.mpf

in the folder BDMV -> STREAM there is a file called 0000.MTS

I tried to copy this to the to the root of sd-card, also I tried copying everything on a folder AVCHD and also private/avchd on the SD-Card, nothing, always the same error message.

3rd: on the manual it says:
Supported are files with the format SD-Video Ver. 1,2 [MPEG-2 (PS-Format)] and AVCHD (MPEG-1/Layer-2 or Dolby Digital as Audio format, vertical freq. 50 Hz)

4th: I have the last multiAVCHD version, 4.1
I tried with different source file types, mpg, mkv etc.
For the used options see attachments.

PLEASE HELP :-)

Thanks a lot!!!

[SeeMoreDigital]

but I always get the message: no supported files...Out of interest... What capacity is your SD card. And which file format has your has your SD card been formatted to?

[accorinti]

Out of interest... What capacity is your SD card. And which file format has your has your SD card been formatted to?

The card is 500MB and has been formatted with the special tool from panasonic:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/sd/index.html

File format is FAT16

You think it has something to do with the file format? But fotos are showing ok...

Could someone at least tell me the exactly folder schema on the SD-Card to correctly play videos? Should it not be something like SD_VIDEO or so? But I tried everything and I didn't get multiAVCHD to output something else than AVCHD... :-/

Thank you for your help.

[Emulgator]

Working SD Card Structure from a Panasonic GH-5
Filesystem FAT32, naming convention 8.3
<root>
DCIM
->100_PANA
-->P1000000.JPG
-->P1000001.JPG
MISC
PRIVATE
->AVCHD
-->AVCHDTN
-->BDMV
--->CLIPINF
---->00000.CPI
--->PLAYLIST
---->00000.MPL
--->STREAM
---->00000.MTS
---->00001.MTS
->PANA_GRP
-->PAVC
--->LUMIX
---->TEMP

The latter folder group are generated by a Panasonic cam.

With 500MB you are out of luck, too small for anything.
Here a 58s clip eats 200MB, so your SD card will hold just 2min 30s worth of video.