MTS long term storage

[tormento]

I have bought a Sony XCD-520 cam and I'd like to backup the files it generate in a long term storage file. The file it produces is 50i so, before storing, I use NVTOOLS to get the uninterlaced version and after I use x.264 lossless keeping the original ac3 audio. MKV is a no way, since is almost unknown to professional AV edit software. I was thinking about MP4. Any better idea?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Well, MP4 is the "standard" container for H.264 and probably the most widely supported one (for H.264).

Another option would be M2TS, which is used by BluRay and by AVCHD, so any "professional AV edit software" should support it. It has more overhead though!

Also: IMHO x264 (no dot in the name, by the way) lossless mode is overkill for "long term storage". Maybe for intermediate files while editing, but not for archiving the final result.

Something like CRF ~15 should give you visually lossless encodes and save you a lot of discspace. Lossless would be MUCH bigger than the original capture...

[tormento]

I suppose mp4 doesn't support ac3 officially. Am I wrong?

[sneaker_ger]

You're wrong.

[tormento]

You're wrong.

What should I use to mux ac3 into mp4? mp4box?

[sneaker_ger]

Yes, you can use mp4box for that task. (Version 0.4.5 or higher)

[tormento]

Yes, you can use mp4box for that task. (Version 0.4.5 or higher)

I have tried yamb (that uses mp4box) and the produced file doesn't play audio in media player classic..

[sneaker_ger]

Use a not-outdated build (http://xvidvideo.ru/media-player-classic-home-cinema-x86-x64/) and the internal mp4 splitter.

[tormento]

Latest build from xvidvideo.ru. I would prefer not to use internal splitters since my intent is to create a general purpouse file for future reference/editing with other software.

[sneaker_ger]

The problem is that Haali's splitter is broken for standard compliant ac3 in mp4 and will probably never be fixed/implemented as he doesn't seem to bother and the source is not available. I don't really see your argument against the internal splitter though... :confused:
You can install the internal splitter in Windows so it can be used by other players if that makes you feel better.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I suppose mp4 doesn't support ac3 officially. Am I wrong?

It used to not support it in a "standard" way, but it was always possible to mux AC-3 into MP4 as "private" stream.

Anyway, in the current version of the MP4 standard AC-3 is one of the "officially" supported audio formats...

[tormento]

I am going to use m2ts. Any caveat?

[roozhou]

I am going to use m2ts. Any caveat?

m2ts gives you additional overhead compared to mp4 and mkv (at least 2%).

[tormento]

m2ts gives you additional overhead compared to mp4 and mkv (at least 2%).

Yes but it is editable by almost any software out there and officialy supports ac3+dts