Clicking Sound On Audio - Maybe Avchd Related?

[CanonUser]

The issue that I have is when I play my captured video files from my new Sony HDR-SR11 (AVCHD files converted to MPEG in capture process) in C2009, the audio consists only of a clicking sound.

 

This sound is rather like the sound you hear when you place a playing card against the rotating spokes of a bicycle wheel!

 

The captured video files play on other players such as Windows Media Player with no issue.

 

C2009 plays older captured files that I have from an older Canon Elura camera (DVI rather than AVCHD) with no issue.

 

As a workaround, I captured video from my new Sony HDR-SR11 with the Sony supplied software and used that software to convert to MPEG. The captured files play fine on the SONY software and Windows Media Player but again, had the clicking sound when played on C2009.

 

So, the issue I have is that C2009 will not play my SONY HDR-SR11 captured files. I captured with the USB cable (I understand that this is the right way to capture from the SONY HDR-SR11).

 

I'd be very appreciative if someone could advise me as to how to get rid of this 'clicking' sound or if I am using an incorrect process for capturing, converting or playing AVCHD-converted files in C2009.

 

My preferred method would be to capture with C2009 and to not need the SONY software at all.

 

I am running Windows XP Pro on a 2Ghz Dell Laptop with 2GB RAM.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Jim, I followed the instructions for a clean install but it seemed to make no difference. I did not follow up on updating the sound or video card drivers because the files are playable with other software such as Windows Media Player – I may need to revisit this decision later if nothing else works.

Gary has been able to duplicate your problem so Audio & Video card updates are not going to make any difference for this.

 

However, do not dismiss such suggestions as you have no idea how much of the processing is pushed through these cards in video work!!!

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Stop the bike and send the kid home!

 

Very few here have HD camcorders and one of the Gurus who is an excellent source for this (ggrussell) is eating tree bark in the Pochonos…

 

If I read it right your Sony uses a memory stick??? In that case you copy files but don't really capture. – actually using your Sony supplied software is probably the best way to go.

 

From what you describe, I would guess sound card. Check to see if there are any updates for that as well as your video card.

 

Lastly I would try the Clean Install to make sure that all is will within the program suite. - XP

 

[CanonUser]

Sounds like sound advice Jim.

 

With regards to Gary's other suggestion " Try the Sony software again. Convert the file to hidef MPEG 2 with AC3 audio or LPCM audio. ", unfortunately the SONY provided software does hot have these types of options.

 

It seems like Roxio currently does not deal with the audio portion of these SONY AVCHD files. If I want to move forward and not wait for a ROXIO fix/upgrade (not knowing how long that will take) I can either (i) explore options to convert my files to a format that is acceptable by Roxio or (ii) explore other video editing software packages that already successfully accept SONY AVCHD files. At this point in time, option (ii) seems preferable to me and I'm going to surf the internet for reviews/comparisons of alternatives for capturing and editing AVCHD files with at least as much functionality as C2009 (the Videowave portion anyway because C2009 has tons of great functionality in other areas) . If anyone reading this has any advice - I'd be appreciative

 

Thank you guys for your very responsive and helpful efforts.

[ggrussell]

(AVCHD files converted to MPEG in capture process)

Most likely is your problem. AVCHD is HIGHLY compressed and needs a fairly fast CPU to decode and recode on the fly during the capture. I question why you are doing this because Videowave/MyDVD 2009 will accept the AVCHD and convert to editable format.

 

As JIm pointed out, just insert the memory stick into your computer's memory card reader and copy the .m2ts files onto your hard drive (My Videos is a good place). Then just use those files in a Videowave or MyDVD project.

 

See if that works.

 

---

I'm still online up here the NE PA mountains.

[Jim_Hardin]

---

I'm still online up here the NE PA mountains.

 

How's that tree bark tasting Gary?

 

I prefer walnut with a light dusting of moss for color…

 

Come down here to Dutch Country and we will fatten you up on Pig Stomach and Schnitz Pie!

[gi7omy]

I just had a quick look at the Sony forum and it seems you aren't on your own as a lot of posts concern the audio problem on transfer

 

However a quick spot of googling produced the following suggestions (some of them may help in the capture)

 

"AVCHD is an odd beast. Not the easiest thing to work with, but the number of supporting apps are increasing.

 

Your choices are the following:

 

Elecard AVCHD Converter Studio

 

http://www.elecard.com/products/products-p...nverter-studio/

 

TmpgencXpress v4

 

http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html

 

CoreAVC with Avisynth --> Feed to your favorite Encoder. Both ConvertXtoDVD and FAVC are really good. ConvertX has better DVD menuing, FAVC has a better encoder and is free"

 

 

[CanonUser]

Thanks Jim and Gary - unfortunately I still have not got the problem rectified.

 

Jim, I followed the instructions for a clean install but it seemed to make no difference. I did not follow up on updating the sound or video card drivers because the files are playable with other software such as Windows Media Player – I may need to revisit this decision later if nothing else works.

 

Gary, I tried copying the files directly from the camcorder to my computer (file copy). The files have an MTS extension and not an M2TS extension as you mentioned. I then tried to pull the files into Videowave (where I will be eventually editing them for a production) with Add Photo/Video. However, when I attempt to pull the MTS files into VideoWave I get a message box entitled Transcoding that says "To use this file, it must be converted to an editable format. The original file will not be affected. Would you like to convert it now? YES/NO

 

I wasn't expecting this message based on Gary's comment "I question why you are doing this because Videowave/MyDVD 2009 will accept the AVCHD and convert to editable format." Maybe I misunderstood Gary's comment because I thought I would not have to save each file to another format (which is what was happening in the capture process previously anyway.

 

I clicked No to the above message and the file does not get added to videowave. I clicked yes and got to save the file as an MPG. Then, using the MPG in videowave I get the same clicking noise on the audio.

 

With regards to Gary's comment re requiring significant CPU horsepower – I'm doing this work on an Intel Core2 2Ghz CPU with 2G RAM.

 

So – While I know a little bit more than I did previously, I am still having the problem of not being able to successfully get my video clips with audio into VideoWave.

 

Do you (or anyone else) have anymore suggestions?

 

One thing I noticed is that the old Canon DVI files that I have (which work) have sound at 16 bit, 32000Hz, Stereo and the new SONY files have 16 bit, 48000Hz, Surround. I wonder if this is significant and if there are any settings to deal with this.

 

Any and all help/advice is very much appreciated.

 

Thanks, Neville.

 

 

 

 

 

[ggrussell]

I tried the trial version of TmpgencXpress v4 and it would not convert these successfully. Still had audio problems. For a company that helped define the format, Sony doesn't seem to be using the main stream version of it. Even Sony's own software, Vegas Studio 9, has problems with it.

[ggrussell]

Videowave/MyDVD should not have a problem with surround sound files. However, neither support surround as output so you will lose that when burning a DVD or output to file. Output is only stereo.

 

Could be a codec problem or sound card issue. You could email me a short clip to see if I have the same issue.

[CanonUser]

Thanks Gary, file on its merry way to you via email.

[ggrussell]

Got it -- unfortunately, bad news. I get no sound whatsoever. However the file opens fine in another video editor that I own. So it isn't the file.

[CanonUser]

I updated my version of Quicktime but as you probably expect - no changes in Videowave and these files – I still have the same issue.

 

I'm surprised that this issue has not been raised previously by SONY-AVCHD/C2009 users as both have been on the market for a while. Do you know if other SONY-AVCHD users are having actual success with Videowave? Perhaps they recorded in SD mode and not HD mode?

 

It sounds like I have to abandon thoughts of using C2009 with these files until Roxio issues a patch. I suspect I may have to wait several months or even until the next full version release. Waiting even one month is too long for me.

 

Do you have any "PLAN B's" that you could suggest to me. For example (i) an alternate AVCHD editing tool or (ii) a conversion method (preferably a batch process) for converting these files (albeit to a possible lower grade) for subsequent editing in C2009.

 

Thanks for offering to raise this issue with Roxio, I suspect your voice would be heard louder than mine!

 

Your on-going interest and help are very much appreciated.

 

 

[ggrussell]

Try the Sony software again. Convert the file to hidef MPEG 2 with AC3 audio or LPCM audio.