AVCHD

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AVCHD is a format for recording and playback of high definition video. Video is compressed in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format, and audio is recorded in Dolby Digital.^[1] AVCHD and its logo are trademarks of Panasonic corporation and Sony corporation.^[2]

Contents 1 History 2 Overview 3 Media 3.1 DVD discs 3.2 Hard disk drives 3.3 Memory cards 3.4 Non-removable solid-state memory 4 Video formats 4.1 Standard definition recording 4.2 720p 4.3 1080i 4.4 1080p 4.5 AVCHD Lite 4.6 AVCCAM 5 Playing back AVCHD video 6 Compatibility between brands 7 Compatibility with Blu-ray Disc players 8 Hardware products 8.1 Canon 8.2 JVC 8.3 Panasonic 8.4 Sony 9 Software 9.1 Converting 9.2 Editing 9.3 Open Source Codecs 10 Specifications 11 See also 12 References 13 External links

[edit] History

Improvements in digital video encoding and development of tapeless video recording systems are the two key technologies that made AVCHD possible. In 1998 the Video Coding Experts Group started accepting proposals for a project called H.26L, with the goal of doubling compression efficiency in comparison to existing video coding standards for a broad variety of applications. This eventually led to the development of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format.^[3] In 2003, Sony introduced XDCAM, one of the first tapeless video recording formats, which employed Professional Disc recording media instead of magnetic tape. In 2004 Panasonic introduced P2 professional solid-state video recording technology, which used flash memory cards packaged into a PC card enclosure.

In 2005 Sony and Panasonic joined their efforts in creating a high definition format for consumer tapeless camcorders, seeing the trend toward optical disc media.^[4] The joint Sony/Panasonic initiative resulted in the announcement of the AVCHD recording format on 11 May 2006. The format was based on the Blu-ray Disc specification and allowed recording AVC-encoded video onto 8cm DVD discs. Two months later the format was amended to include other types of random access media like SD/SDHC memory cards, "Memory Stick" cards and hard disk drives. ^[5]

The first AVCHD camcorder, Sony Handycam HDR-UX1, went on sale in September 2006 and recorded on 8 cm DVD media. The first AVCHD camcorder to record onto a built-in HDD was the Sony Handycam HDR-SR1, introduced in October 2006. The first AVCHD camcorder to record to a solid-state memory card, Panasonic HDC-SD1, was released in November 2006 and later was rebranded as the AG-HSC1U,^[6] becoming the first professional AVCHD palmcorder. The first shoulder-mount AVCHD camcorder, Panasonic AG-HMC70, went on sale in spring of 2008. The first medium-sized handheld professional AVCHD camcorder, Panasonic AG-HMC150, was released in October 2008.^[7]

[edit] Overview

AVCHD (AVC-HD, AVC HD) video is recorded using the MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video compression codec. Audio is stored in compressed form (Dolby AC-3). Uncompressed linear PCM audio is not supported in any consumer devices. Aside from recorded audio and video, AVCHD includes features to improve media presentation: menu navigation, slide shows and subtitles. The menu navigation system is similar to DVD-video, allowing access to individual videos from a common intro screen. Slide shows are prepared from a sequence of AVC still frames, and can be accompanied by a background audio track. Subtitles are used in some camcorders to timestamp the recordings.

Audio, video, subtitle, and ancillary streams are multiplexed into an MPEG Transport stream and stored on random-access media as binary files. Usually, memory cards and HDDs use the FAT32 filesystem, while optical discs employ UDF or ISO9660.^{[citation needed]}

At the file system level, the structure of AVCHD is derived from the Blu-ray Disc specification, but is not identical. In particular, known Canon and Panasonic implementations use legacy "8.3" file naming convention, while Blu-ray discs utilize long filenames. Another difference is location of the BDMV directory, which contains media files. On a DVD-based camcorder the BDMV directory is placed at the root level, as on the Blu-ray disc. On the HDD-based Canon HG10 camcorder the BDMV directory is located in the AVCHD directory, which is placed at the root level.^[8] Solid-state Panasonic and Canon camcorders nest the AVCHD directory inside the PRIVATE directory.^[9] Following a standard agreed upon by many still camera manufacturers, solid-state camcorders have a root-level DCIM directory for still images.^[10]

AVCHD recordings can be transferred to a computer by connecting the camcorder via the USB connection. Many camcorders can record to removable media like SDHC and Memory Stick cards or DVD discs, which can be directly read on a computer. Copying files from an AVCHD camcorder can be performed much faster than from a tape-based camcorder, because it does not have to be done in realtime.

Just as HDV-editing once demanded an expensive high-end PC, the system requirements for AVCHD editing software currently limits it to powerful machines. Compared to HDV, AVCHD video compression requires 2-4x the processing power, placing a greater burden on the computer memory and CPU. Older computers, even those that are capable of handling HDV, are often unacceptably slow for editing AVCHD, and can even struggle with smooth playback of AVCHD recordings. Improvements in multi-core computing and graphics processor acceleration is bringing AVCHD playback to mainstream desktops and laptops.

[edit] Media

AVCHD specification allows using several kinds of recording media, in particular recordable DVD discs, memory cards, non-removable solid-state memory and hard disk drives. AVCHD camcorders do not use magnetic tape.

[edit] DVD discs

DVD discs are the original media specified in the AVCHD standard. To reduce camcorder size, only smaller 8 cm discs, sometimes called miniDVDs, are allowed. Recording capacity ranges from 1.4 GB for a single-sided single layer disc to 5.2 GB for a double-sided double layer disc.

Pros:

• DVDs are familiar to most consumers, thus considered user-friendly
• Recordable DVDs are relatively cheap
• Recorded disc can be played back in most Blu-ray players
• Discs can be used as immediate backup media, can be stored separately from a camcorder

Cons:

• The longevity of recordable DVDs is argued to be much shorter than expected^[11]
• Rewritable DVDs cost more than write-once discs
• DVDs have to be "finalized" to be played back on set-top players
• AVCHD DVDs cannot be played back on regular DVD players
• Recording data rate for DVD-based AVCHD camcorders is limited to 18 Mbit/s
• A single-sided single-layer 8 cm DVD can fit only 15 minutes of video at 12 Mbit/s data rate, 10 minutes at 18 Mbit/s data rate
• 8 cm DVDs cannot be used in slot-loading drives (indeed, they may render the drive unusable until the small disk can be removed)
• Unlike HDDs and memory cards, the DVD discs cannot grow in capacity

DVD discs quickly fell out of favor as capacity of memory cards grew while their price dropped. All AVCHD camcorders released in 2008 and later use either built-in HDDs or solid-state memory as recording media.

While DVD discs are no longer used for initial acquisition, they are becoming more popular as distribution media for playback on Blu-Ray disc players. A conventional single-layer 12 cm disc can fit up to 50 minutes of video at 12 Mbit/s data rate.

[edit] Hard disk drives

HDD was added as a possible medium to AVCHD specification shortly after the new video standard had been announced. Capacity ranges from 30 GB to 240 GB.

Pros:

• Higher capacity than other media types, which allows for longer continuous recording.
• Faster data transfer rate than DVDs and memory cards; may require less time for uploading video on a computer than a memory card.

Cons:

• Sensitive to atmospheric pressure. Most HDD-based camcorders cannot be operated at altitudes above 10,000 feet (3,000 m).
• Vulnerable to mechanical shock or fast movement.
• All HDD-based AVCHD camcorders employ non-removable disks. To transfer video to a computer the camcorder must be connected with a USB cable. Usage of an AC power adapter is often needed as well.

[edit] Memory cards

Many tapeless camcorders record to memory cards, such as SD/SDHC cards or "Memory Stick" cards. Utilizing solid-state flash technology, memory cards offer rewritable storage in a compact form factor with no moving parts.

Many inexpensive memory cards are slower than HDDs, but are still fast enough to justify switching from tape-based to tapeless workflow. With transfer speeds ranging from 10 MByte/s to 20 Mbyte/s, it takes about 1 minute to transfer 1 GB of video.^[12] Conversely, with HDV it takes one hour to transfer one hour of video (approximately 13 GB).

Historically, flash memory capacity and pricing have improved steadily since introduction to the consumer market.

Panasonic chose removable flash memory as the only media for use in the company's professional AVCHD lineup, AVCCAM.

Pros:

• Compact and lightweight.
• Do not require time for spin-up and initialization, always ready for recording.
• Not vulnerable to magnetic fields.^{[citation needed]}
• Can withstand a wider range of air pressure and humidity than HDDs.
• The camera is more likely to survive being dropped than DVD, miniDV tape, and hard disk, which all have very delicate write/record head components.
• Can be easily backed up to DVD for viewing and for long-term archiving.^[9]
• Can store mixed media content, including still images (snapshot photos or still-frame captures).
• Most new computers, some TVs and Blu-ray Disc players, as well as many video players, personal portable media players, printers, etc. have built-in card readers and can play AVCHD video directly from a card.

Cons:

• More expensive per minute of recording than a built-in HDD or DVD media.
• Compatibility issues: not all card readers can read high-capacity Memory Stick or SDHC cards.
• Vulnerable to electrical damage, such as static discharge.
• Not yet proven to be reliable archival media.
• Easier to misplace due to small form factor.

[edit] Non-removable solid-state memory

Some AVCHD camcorders come with built-in solid-state memory either as a sole media, or in addition to other media.

Pros:

• Allows making a camcorder smaller if no other media is used
• Always available for recording, in case other type of media is full or missing

Cons:

• Because it is non-removable, a camcorder must be connected to a computer with a USB cable to transfer video. Usage of an AC power adapter is often needed as well.
• Non-removable media cannot be shared, sent or stored separately of the camcorder.

[edit] Video formats

AVCHD specification allows for both high definition and standard definition recording. For high definition, all major variations are supported, including 720p, 1080i and 1080p.

[edit] Standard definition recording

AVCHD specification allows for standard definition recording, but no camcorder released to date can record in this mode.

[edit] 720p

AVCHD specification includes 720-line progressive recording mode, at frame rates of 24, 30 and 60 frames/s for 60 Hz models and 25 and 50 frames/s for 50 Hz models. Compared to HDV 720p, AVCHD allows for higher data rate (up to 24 Mbit/s vs. 19.6 Mbit/s) and uses more advanced codec (AVC vs. MPEG-2).

In the prosumer and commercial market two Panasonic models, the AG-HMC150 and the AG-HMC40 support recording at 720p, as well as at 1080i, and 1080p.

In the consumer-market, 720p recording is not widely used in the camcorder equipment, though several Panasonic still digital cameras (DMC-ZS3/DMC-FT1/DMC-TZ7) offer video-recording at 720p as a secondary feature. Panasonic's new GH1, a hybrid DSLR/video, includes 720p recording among its primary features. See AVCHD Lite below.

[edit] 1080i

Most AVCHD camcorders released to date record 1080i interlaced video. This creates issues when such video is watched on a computer or when it is rescaled. Computer monitors as well as plasma and LCD televisions are inherently progressive. Watching interlaced video on a progressive display device may produce horizontal ripples known as combing artifacts.

Deinterlacing allows getting rid of combing artifacts, but may reduce vertical resolution. Interlaced video can be deinterlaced in post-production and delivered as progressive, or it can be deinterlaced on playback. All modern flat-panel televisions have a built-in deinterlacing engine, so deinterlacing is not required if video is distributed on DVD or Blu-ray Disc. Watching interlaced video on a computer can be more complicated, but some codecs provide different deinterlacing schemes that can be manually chosen by a viewer.^[13]

Some 1080i AVCHD camcorders offer capturing of progressive video and recording it within interlaced stream, borrowing techniques from television industry. In particular, Progressive segmented frame (PsF) is utilized in some Panasonic (25p Digital Cinema) and Canon (PF25, PF30) camcorders. 2-3 pulldown is used by 60 Hz versions of Canon camcorders (PF24 mode) and the Panasonic HS300/TM300 (Digital Cinema) for recording 24 frame/s progressive video. Some editing systems and most standalone optical disc players are capable of recognizing the pulldown pattern and recovering the original frames using the process known as inverse telecine.

Progressive video recorded within an interlaced stream is recognized as interlaced by most editing tools.

[edit] 1080p

Select Panasonic camcorders are able to record native 1080p video. The most notable models are the AG-HMC150 and the upcoming AG-HMC40, which are capable of recording in all three high definition formats: 1080i, 1080p and 720p.

Of the consumer models, 60 Hz versions of the HDC-SD9/HDC-SD9^[14] and HDC-HS100/HDC-SD100^[15][16] models are capable of recording native 1080p24 video.

Neither Canon nor Sony AVCHD camcorders record native progressive video. Canon AVCHD camcorders record either native 1080i video, or progressive-scan 24-frame/s, 25-frame/s and 30-frame/s video, encapsulated within 1080i stream. Sony AVCHD camcorders capture and record interlaced video only.

With the release of the HDC-HS300/HDC-TM300, Panasonic switched from native 24p recording to the same approach that is used in Canon camcorders, encapsulating 24-frame/s progressive video in 1080i stream.

[edit] AVCHD Lite

AVCHD Lite is a subset of AVCHD format, which identifies devices that are capable of 720p recording only.^[17] The name was used first in relation to the DMC-ZS3/DMC-FT1/DMC-TZ7 cameras presented in January 2009. They are the first digital still cameras to record AVCHD video.

[edit] AVCCAM

AVCCAM is the name of Panasonic's professional video lineup employing the AVCHD codec. It employs SD/SDHC memory cards as recording media.^[18]

There are no differences in video stream encoding or in the file structure between AVCCAM and AVCHD. Professional features of AVCCAM, outlined by Panasonic it its marketing materials,^[19] such as 1/4-inch progressive CCD sensors or XLR microphone inputs or solid-state media, are not unique to AVCCAM. Many of these professional features are not unique to AVCHD either.

In similar fashion, JVC uses the ProHD name for its professional lineup employing MPEG-2 codec.

[edit] Playing back AVCHD video

Recorded AVCHD video can be played back in variety of ways:

• directly from a camcorder on an HD television set, through HDMI or component-video cable;
• burned onto writable Blu-ray disc in Blu-ray Disc format, then played on a Blu-ray Disc player or on a Playstation 3 gaming console;
• burned onto DVD disc in AVCHD format, then played on most Blu-ray Disc players^[9] or on a Playstation 3 gaming console;
• recorded on an SDHC in AVCHD format, then played on select Panasonic Blu-ray Disc players and HDTV sets and on a Playstation 3 gaming console;
• on a computer, played from the camcorder connected via USB as an external storage device (with requisite software such as media player with AVC decoder installed - see below);
• on a computer, played either directly from recorded media or from the computer's internal hard disk drive (with requisite software such as media player with AVC decoder installed - see below);

The default media players from Apple (QuickTime) or Microsoft (Windows Media Player) will not play AVCHD natively. Plugins and/or third party decoders are required.^[20] Windows Media Player shipped with Windows 7 will support native AVCHD playback.

[edit] Compatibility between brands

The implementation of H.264/AVC codec varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Canon and Panasonic camcorders use High-Profile@Level-4.1, up to the AVCHD format's maximum bitrate of 24 Mbit/s. The maximum rate of Panasonic HDC-HS300 in its highest HA recording mode is 17Mbit/s. To date, Sony camcorders have only used Main-Profile@Level-4.0, at a maximum bitrate of 17 Mbit/s. The High-Profile mode of H264 is more difficult to create and play back than main-profile. Consequently, recordings made by one vendor's camcorder or editing software may be unplayable on another vendor's equipment, leading to a frustrating user experience.

[edit] Compatibility with Blu-ray Disc players

Before the AVCHD standard was finalized, end users could master high definition content in Blu-ray format (BDMV) on either BD-R/BD-RE discs or regular DVD discs. At one point, the Blu-ray Disc Association was considering separating studio content and home-made content using different directories, namely BDMV for studios and HDMV or BDAV for home use. This idea did not seem to get a lot of traction.^[21] Instead, AVCHD is being offered as the means of distributing amateur high definition video. Compared to Blu-ray format, AVCHD discs use DVD media, simpler menus, AVC encoding only, and data rate capped at 18 Mbit/s.

As the creators of AVCHD, Sony and Panasonic are keen to support AVCHD discs in their Blu-ray players. In particular, the Sony BDP-S1, Sony BDP-S300, the Panasonic DMP-BD10, the Panasonic DMP-BD30, the Panasonic DMP-BD35, and the PLAYSTATION 3 can play AVCHD discs. Other manufacturers do not always provide reliable AVCHD support in their products. For example, the Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-ray disc player has lost AVCHD capability in the firmware update 2.3.^[22] The Samsung BD-P1400 player is able to play back AVCHD content, at least as of firmware release 1.6.^[23]

[edit] Hardware products

[edit] Canon

• HR10 (MiniDVD)
• 2007: HG10 (40 GB HDD)
• April 2008: HF10 (SDHC, built-in 16GB flash memory), HF100 (SDHC)
• September 2008: HF11 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HG20 (60GB HDD, SDHC), HG21 (120GB HDD, SDHC)
• January 2009: HF S10 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF S100 (SDHC), HF20 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF200 (SDHC)

[edit] JVC

• June 2008: GZ-HD10 (HDD, MicroSDHC), GZ-HD30/GZ-HD40(HDD, MicroSDHC card, dual AVCHD and TOD recording)
• January 2009: GZ-HD320 (120 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HD300 (60 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HM200 (dual SDHC)
• February 2009: GZ-X900 (SD/SDHC card)

[edit] Panasonic

• HDC-DX1 (MiniDVD), HDC-SD1 (SDHC)
• HDC-SD3 (SDHC, available in Japan only)
• AG-HSC1U (SDHC, comes with portable 40 GB HDD storage)
• July 2007: HDC-SD5 (SDHC), HDC-SX5 (MiniDVD, SDHC)^{[citation needed]}
• HDC-SD7 (SDHC)
• January 2008: HDC-SD9 (SDHC), HDC-HS9 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)^[24]
• April 2008: AG-HMC70 (SDHC)^[25]
• June 2008: HDC-SD100 (SDHC), HDC-HS100 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)^[26]
• September 2008: AG-HMC150 (SDHC)^[27]
• January 2009: HDC-HS300 (120 GB HDD), HDC-HS200 (80 GB HDD), HDC-TM300 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD200 (SDHC).
• April 2009: DMC-ZS3 (AVCHD Lite), DMC-TS1/DMC-FT1 (AVCHD Lite)
• June 2009: DMC-GH1 (SDHC)
• June 2009: HDC-TM30/HDC-TM10 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD10 (SDHC)
• June 2009: HDC-TM350 (64 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC, available in Japan only)
• August 2009 (expected availability) AG-HMC40 (SDHC)^[28]

[edit] Sony

• September 2006: HDR-UX1 (DVD), HDR-UX3/UX5 (DVD), HDR-UX7 (DVD)
• October 2006: HDR-SR1 (30 GB HDD)
• June 2007: HDR-SR5 (40 GB HDD), HDR-SR7 (60 GB HDD)
• July 2007: HDR-SR5C (100 GB HDD), HDR-SR8 (100 GB HDD)
• Summer 2007: HDR-CX7 (Memory Stick Duo)
• March 2008: HDR-SR10 (40GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR11 (60 GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR12 (120 GB HDD, Memory Stick)
• HDR-TG1/TG3/TG7 (Memory Stick Duo)
• August 2008: HDR-CX12 (Memory Stick Duo)
• March 2009: HDR-XR520V (240 GB HDD), HDR-XR500V (120 GB HDD Version)
• March 2009: HDR-XR200V (120 GB HDD)
• March 2009: HDR-XR200VE (120 GB HDD + GPS)
• March 2009: HDR-XR100 (80 GB HDD)

[edit] Software

[edit] Converting

• FFDshow is a free, Open Source collection of codecs, including AVCHD.^[29]
• Another product is CoreAVC, a reasonably cheap and quick h.264 decoder for Windows, which can decode AVCHD as well as a variety of other h.264 formats.
• multiAVCHD^[30] can convert MKV and other video formats to AVCHD without reencoding (if video is 720p or 1080p).
• Nero Vision can convert AVCHD files to other formats such as MPEG-2 or AVI and can import them for use in video editing projects. Nero Vision can also export Sony's M2TS format to MPEG-4 files that can be viewed by Quicktime 7.
• There is a transcoder to convert AVCHD into P2^[31], which is a format you can import into Avid's MXF file format. The transcoder was created by Main Concept and is distributed free of charge by Panasonic. Version 1.1 and earlier will convert AVCHD media from any camera, while version 1.2 and higher is locked to only work with AVCHD media created with Panasonic cameras.
• Latest version VAIO Editing Components that pre-loaded with Sony VAIO PCs can serve as a plug-in for Adobe Premiere Pro 2 to support AVC-HD import/export and editing.
• DVDFlick is a free, Open Source Application for burning to DVD ^[32]
• AVS Video Converter can convert AVCHD into a number of different formats. (mov/mpg/avi/mp4/flv/3gp/rm)
• Roxio Toast 10 Titanium on Mac OS X will convert AVCHD to any most computers formats presently available.
• HandBrake will convert AVCHD Lite format to AVI, MP4, MKV and OGM (tested on OSX; other versions available)
• VoltaicHD is available on both Mac OS X,Windows and converts any AVCHD, AVCHD Lite footage and other formats into an format ready to edit in most video editing software. Also includes 24p features.

[edit] Editing

The following video-editing software features support for the AVCHD format:

• Adobe Premiere Pro (from version CS4 onward; support not included in the trial version - activation must occur to gain AVCHD support)
• Adobe Premiere Elements (from version 7 onward)
• Apple's Final Cut Express 4, Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, and iMovie '08-'09 (iMovie is bundled with all new Apple computers; Final Cut Express and Pro are sold separately) do not support editing of AVCHD clips directly. Imported AVCHD clips are automatically converted into the Apple Intermediate Codec format, which requires more hard disk space (40GB per hour as opposed to 13.5GB per hour for Standard Definition DV), a more powerful machine (an Intel-based Mac), and a more recent OS (Mac OS X 10.5). Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 "logs and transfers" the footage from AVCHD to AppleProRes by default and also gives the option of converting to the Apple Intermediate Codec. It does not allow native transferring of the *.m2ts clips nor directly editing them. The latest release of Apple's iLife suite (specifically, iMovie) has added support for AVCHD Lite cameras and camcorders.^[33][34]

• Cyberlink PowerDirector 7 is capable of editing AVCHD natively, without transcoding, intermediate codecs or proxy files. Using a patented technique (SVRT), AVCHD clips can be edited and output losslessly to AVCHD or Blu-ray disc. PowerDirector also supports GPU encoding acceleration on both ATI and NVidia graphics platforms. PowerDirector can output the finished movie to a variety of video formats, DVD, AVCHD on DVD, or Blu-ray disc.
• Grass Valley's Edius 5.0
• MacroSystem's Casablanca S-series editors (using Bogart 2.3 onward) AVCHD on DVD or Blu-ray disc
• Dayang's Montage Extreme [ME] 1.2
• Nero Ultra Edition Enhanced (from version 7 onward) includes the Nero Vision editor and the Nero Showtime player, which both support AVCHD files. NeroVision can author DVDs in the AVCHD format.
• Pinnacle Studio Plus (from version 11 onward)
• Sony Vegas 7.0e
• Vegas Pro (from version 8 onward)
• Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (from version 8 onward)
• Kdenlive for Linux and BSD platforms

• Other developers have pledged their support but it may still take some time for the implementation.

See the comparison of video editing software for more information on these products.

[edit] Open Source Codecs

The following open source codecs can decode AVCHD files:

• ffdshow tryouts, revision 1971 May 23 2008, will decode AVC (H.264) format video.^[35]

[edit] Specifications

Video
Video signal	1080/60i 1080/50i 1080/24p	720/60p 720/50p 720/24p	480/60i	576/50i
Frame size in pixels	1920×1080 1440×1080	1280 x 720	720×480	720×576
Frame aspect ratio	16:9		4:3, 16:9
Video Compression	MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (Main Profile Level-4.0 or High Profile Level-4.1, depending on vendor)
Luminance sampling frequency	74.25 MHz 55.7 MHz	74.25 MHz	13.5 MHz	13.5 MHz
Chroma sampling format	4:2:0
Quantization	8 bits (both luminance and chrominance)
Audio
Compression	Dolby Digital (AC-3)		Linear PCM
Compressed audio bitstream rate	64 to 640 kbit/s		1.5 Mbit/s (2 channels)
Audio mode	1-5.1 channels		1-7.1 channels
System
Stream type	MPEG-2 Transport stream
System data rate	up to 24 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 High-Profile, Level 4.1) up to 17 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 Main-Profile, Level 4.0) up to 18 Mbit/s for DVD media
File extension (generally)	mts (on camcorder), m2ts (after import to computer)
Media	8 cm optical media (DVD) SD/SDHC Memory Card "Memory Stick" Built-in hard-disk or flash Media

[edit] See also

• AVCREC: a standard to allow recording AVC encoded, Blu-ray Disc compatible HD content on ordinary DVD discs.
• Comparison of video editing software

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• AVCHD Official Consortium Web site

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