i recently obtained a copy of Superman III in HD its in the MKV format. I created a BDMV folder and certificate for the file using TsMuxer with AVCHD option. Then burnt the file using Imgburn for playback. I did all the correct settings like UDF2.5 etc but on playback i only get sound and no picture.i followed the guide on the site and im all out of ideas
You've obviously got the UDF settings right so that's fine so keep that as is. And yes, you must end up with a BDMV folder. Any conversion program like tsmuxer will give you a CERTIFICATE folder too, but you can discard it for the burn. Yes really.
The problem is that panasonicBD players will only play back EXACT resolutions. So any file (converted or not) must be either 1920x1080, 1280x720 etc etc. Any slight deviation and the panny won't play it back 'cos it basically throws all it's toys outta the pram or will only playback the sound. Tsmuxer preps it for the burn but doesn't pay any attention to this. Remember this only seems to be Pannys.
2. So your file needs to be "uncropped" to the correct resolution. I use, uncropmkv (free) for the uncropping and multiavchd (also free) for the final mux. These are sister programs both written by "Dean". A very clever guy. Tsmuxer would also do after you've uncropped it. You can get the uncropmkv here http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=145905. The post is from Dean himself. Read the whole post for an overview but it's easy to use, almost automatic. Just drag the file in and click on the uncrop drop down, he's put a screen shot anyway on the post, the program selects the closest exact resolution to the resolution of the source file. At it says in his post, It may require you to make sure you have avisynth installed and ffdshow, maybe haali media splitter too (just google them if you need to download) but chances are if you're in to this movie file stuff you'll have it already and if not, it's all free anyway. Queue it and then click start. The conversion will take about 1hr per Gb.
3. Once you've got your outputted file at the correct resolution use MULTIAVCHD the companion program to the one above. You can get it here http://www.videohelp.com/tools/multiAVCHD. You might have to type it in the search box on videohelp. Dean's post had a link to it to somewhere. This is what you can use to do the muxing. It's very easy to use again (but it requires constant updating) and has lots of different output options, e.g. for HD content on memory stix and such. I don't use any of it's menu creating functions 'cos you don't need them. Once you've loaded the file, the one you'll want is the output as "AVCHD compliant DVD player". Also with this program, if you have eac3to installed, you can get it here (might have to search again) http://www.videohelp.com/tools/eac3to, you can convert (if your original file has it) a dts soundtrack to DD ac3 or DTS-MA to DDHD etc etc, if you want. Although you don't need to as dts is AVCHD compliant!!!!! Despite the fact that loads of experts told me it wasn't. Anyway, If you don't want to mux with this, then use txmuxer instead. But this always works better for me. This process of muxing only takes about 20 mins as you know. I have a feeling though if it DOES have a DTS soundtrack tsmuxer won't be able to deal with it but I am not sure/can't remember. Try it, but it will definitely be OK with MULTIAVCHD.
4. Burn ONLY your BDMV folder on a UDF partition 2.5 or higher on a dvd-r. Not a dvd+r!! But a dual layer dvd+r will work too if the file is too big.
OK, don't be daunted by having to download new software and codecs. All these programs/codecs are very small, free, easy to find and have no inherent ads or links. And also are very easy to delete! I've been through a lot of blank discs working all this out but now I got it nailed. And you will be permanently set up for conversions to AVCHD for your panny. Good Luck!!
And, yeah I forgot. Later versions of NeroVision, I think v9 and above handle AVCHD building. It do a conversion job for you but here's the problem with Nero.
1 You have to mux it first then use the m2ts file in the "stream" folder to import into Nero as it doen't recognise mkv files.
3. There is some bug in Nero which means that all the output BDMV folder contents' file extensions have to be renamed. Boring! Can't be bothered to type each one to explain, but if you do use Nero once you have the converted BDMV folder compare it to a muxed file that you have and you'll see the difference and what you have to rename EVERY file in EACH folder to. It'll will tell you the file may not work but just go ahead and then burn only the BDMV folder in the normal way (UDF 2.50 or higher).
Hi Villify; I wanted to thank you too for all this info, I came to this forums looking exactly for a way to convert mkv files to AVCHD format to play in my BD30; I've tried other methods and they don't work. I'll try your and get back to you with the results. Just to clarify many of the conversion are too big for a DVD5; is it OK to use a DVD+R DL?; and what method do you recommend for burning the ACVHD DVD?
Thank you.
Hi, just learned something from doing my first conversion from mkv to AVCHD with Villify's process; when doing the "uncropping" be sure that you disable the VobSub filter in Haali Media Splitter by opening the splitter properties, choose Compatibility-Autoload VSfilter and set it to No; otherwise your final uncropped mkv file will have harcoded subtitles, and like me you'll have to do it again and it took 2 hours.
Will be back here reporting when I finish, still if anyone has a Panasonic BD30 and know the best way to burn the AVCHD DVD so if will work perfectly I'd appreciate the info.
Thanks.
I use nero to burn the BDMV folder (which is inside the AVCHD folder created by MULTIAVCHD). Burn it as a UDF file type rom at partition 2.5 or higher. I don't use imgburn but I think you can use that too. Same settings though.
When you're selcting the ouput type in MULTIAVCHD make sure you select the button which says "AVCHD compatible dvd players". Takes about 20 minutes to mux it. Then you're ready to burn.
I never came across that hardcoded sub problem before so didn't mention it. Anyway, sometimes each of us gets thrown a curve-ball - it's how you deal with it that counts and it sounds like you did fine.
Hi Villify, thank you for everything; I've burned 3 movies in SL DVD-R successfully but I just burned my first in a DL DVD+R and my Panny won't read it. It doesn't recognize it as anything, I burned it in UDF 2.50 with Nero, maybe it's my DVD Writer or the Disc or the burning speed; what have you used?
Another question maybe you have had the situation, I have an mkv with 25fps do I have to convert it to 23.98 or can I just leave it like that?
Thank for the help!
The +DL problem could be the manufacturer of the disk (unlikely) I use memorex and it works fine. Or could be that bd30s don't play that type of media with avchd files on them in which case use tsmuxer to split the file in two and burn two separate discs. Pain in the ass but better than nothing for those big files. I have a bd35 so that could be the difference that favors me.
25fps it a European standad i.e PAL video. NTSC is 23.976(24fps). I haven't come across an MKV with that frame rate before as HD resolutions are all the same. There's no pal or ntsc differentiation when it comes to countries, unlike standard DEF. Anyway I think you'll need to convert it but that opens up a world of hurt 'cos I think when you do, the audio is going to go out of sync. However there are programs to convert the audio like popcorn mkv audio converter. Like I say it would be new territory for me so I would need to experiment.
Double check the resolution of the stream in that avchd folder that you burned for the +dl disk that your panny didn't play. Make sure its an exact hd resolution like I mention above. My gut tells me that it should work so I think there's something you're overlooking.
