No smooth playback of video, help!

leakej · 05-30-2009, 03:42 PM

Hello all,

I just purchased a JVC Everio GZ-HD320 camcorder and am having trouble with the imported video. My first problem is it doesnt have a firewire output so Im using the USB port. Once the video is imported, when viewing the video through the provided software its all jittery. When I bring the videos into Vegas, same thing, jittery video. I thought maybe it was my PC not being able to handle the HD video as this camcorder does full HD but I tried it on my laptop with the same results. It plays fine in the camera. I can only assume it has to due with the import process. Theres no (none that I have found) mini-a USB to firewire cable which is what I have on my video card and I dont have an HDMI input on my PC so Im forced to use the USB. The laptop has an HDMI input which Im going to try but I just dont know what else to do. Thanks in advance for the help.

**blah789** · 05-30-2009, 05:03 PM

How are you getting your files on the PC? There's normally two ways to do it: 1. copy the files 2. stream them and record them (just like you'd do with a VCR I guess).
1. is better because you're copying the files intact. If done that way you should get TOD files. 2.'s disadvantage is a. you may be recompressing the video (which could result in loss of quality), and b. if the processor of the receiving PC is too weak, or the bandwidth of the link (firewire, USB, whatever) is insufficient, you're going to get dropped frames (at worst it'll stall or freeze).

According to the manuals from here
http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp...Id=141&page=10
you can only stream and record if you were using firewire. So I think it's good you're using USB. Question is, when using USB, are you trying to import via given software (powercinema NE according to the manual, or are you using some other means? BTW looking for an additional drive in Windows Explorer and copying the TOD files from there to your hard drive should be fine too.

Lastly, it could simply be your PC is underpowered. Right-click your taskbar and pick task manager, then look at the performance tab. Then play your video. Does CPU usage jump to 100% while frames get dropped and the PC becomes unresponsive? If so, your CPU is underpowered. HD video is very processor-intensive. There's not much that can be done besides get a better processor. As a last shot, try VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org). Some the bundled decoder in VLC might play it with less of a hit on CPU usage.

**blah789** · 05-30-2009, 05:06 PM

Actually a second peek at the manual suggests the videos are MPEG-2 (as opposed to H.264 as I was originally assuming). H.264 is super-processor-intensive, MPEG-2 not so much so. However MPEG-2 files aren't as tightly compressed (files can be large). In fact the manual says the video could take as much as 27Mbps for bandwidth. If your hard drive is old and slow (like say from the days of 40GB hard drives), you could try defragmenting to speed up disk access.

leakej · 05-31-2009, 11:04 AM

Well Im using the camera software via USB. I only have three options to import, USB, HDMI and component, there is no Firewire option which Vegas looks for when importing video so I cant stream and record like I did with my old mini-tape cam. I plugged that right into my video card, maybe thats what the problem is? I cant do that with this camera as all I have is the firewire input on the card and I cant find a USB to Firewire cable. The software is PIXELA that comes up when you turn the camera on and reads the files. i have the option to Back-up, record to disk, upload to YouTube, Export to library or play back on a pc. Ive tried all with the same result, bad import. The files it creates are .mts files. Now Vegas can open them but it doesnt do any good if the import was bad. I can see the quality is superb but its jut very jittery and unwatchable. Here are my specs:

Athlon 64 FX 2.6GHz
3GB RAM
2-250 GB HD
ATI Radeo X800XT, 256 mb
XP SP3

The laptop I tried is an Asus:

Intel Duo Core 2.20GHZ
2GB RAM
230GB HD
Vista 32bit
GeForce 8600 1013mb RAM

I will try checking my processor to see if its taxed when playing the video or even when importing the video. Thanks.

leakej · 05-31-2009, 11:35 AM

OK did the Task Manager and watched my CPU usage spike at 100% so it looks like my computer just isnt up to par. But the laptop should be with duo core right? I will have see if the CPU spikes on that as well. Might just take the camera back since it does me no good if I cant use the video.

**blah789** · 05-31-2009, 11:48 AM

.mts is mpeg transport stream. Like I said, are you streaming and recording, or copying the files as they are? When you're connected via USB, go to my computer, and see if there's a new drive letter. If so, browse around, and copy back some of the files in there (not sure what extensions they'd be, but I'd guess TOD. Could be mts too I guess.)

Try playback with VLC media player. Also check CPU usage prior to playback (is anything else hogging the CPU at the same time?)

leakej · 05-31-2009, 02:01 PM

Ah, .MTS now I know. Well I would guess copying since Im not actually playing the files then hitting record on my capture program. So the software that came with the camera just dumps them to the PC. And I was mistaken on Vegas not importing via USB, it does. I imported using Vegas instead of the JVC software using the AVCHD import option hoping it would work but it did the same thing. It too just copied them to the PC (no play and record) with jittery results. When I connect the Everio camera it shows up as drive and I tried grabbing the files and dropping them to my PC but still same result. CPU usage is normal before playback, nothing taking system resources. I will try the VLC player and check CPU usage while importing. Could I have a bad USB connection? Maybe try different ports? I dont get a message saying this device could work faster plugged into USB 2.0 which I've seen before on some thumb drives.

I just cant see JVC putting out a consumer camera for the average 'Joe' to use and require such a high end system to view the files. Appreciate the help.

**blah789** · 05-31-2009, 02:43 PM

import usually means record. and AVCHD means H.264 (AVC is advanced video coding) high definition.
If you play the file in VLC, go to tools, codec information, and report back what it says.
Once again, what is the extension of the files on the drive that shows up in My computer?

leakej · 06-01-2009, 12:58 PM

Ok under the Everio disk in My Computer there is an AVCHD, DCIM, EXTMOV and Private folder. The AVCHD folder has four folders: Back-up, ClipINF, Playlist and Stream. Nothings in the Back-up folder, ClipINF has .CPI files, Playlist has one file which is only 9kb and Stream has all the video files with .mts extensions.

The VLC info is:

Stream 0: Codec h264
Stream 1: Codec a52

I first went off the media imported via Vegas then copied the files straight from the camera to my PC by dragging and dropping. I did notice the camera was being accessed when playing the files through the JVC software, maybe why it was so jittery but the Vegas imported files still did it. Now it only took 15sec for Vegas to import the files so it didnt record but rather copied the files just as if I copied files from one HD to another. So maybe our idea of Record are different. I think of your original analogy for Record, like a VCR. Anyway, hope this can shed some light on the problem.

**blah789** · 06-01-2009, 02:48 PM

OK that clarified it. The files are indeed copied, and they're in the format .mts (MPEG-2 transport stream - that's the container), in H.264 video, and AC3 audio.
I'm also fairly certain now that it's an underpowered processor. H.264, especially at high definition, is extremely processor-intensive. I can't tell how powerful of a system you need, but if you can take some samples around to other ppl's computers and play them, it might give you some ideas.

http://forum.videohelp.com/topic357820.html
Some things to take into consideration:
- Different decoders have different levels of optimization. If you played H.264 HD contents in QuickTime, you'd find it horrendously slow. VLC is an improvement. I haven't tried it with ffdshow-tryouts nor CoreAVC. (In all cases my PC is waaay too old to properly play it anyway - I have a single-core, 32-bit, 2.1GHz PC from 2004).
- Some decoders can offload some of the decoding to the GPU (graphical processing unit - the chip on your graphics card). You may need to have proper drivers for your graphics card. Usually graphics card with HD in them (for example radeon 2600 HD) will have that capability. But it needs to be supported by the player and/or decoder. Look in the advanced settings.

**zuluclayman** · 06-02-2009, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leakej

I just cant see JVC putting out a consumer camera for the average 'Joe' to use and require such a high end system to view the files. Appreciate the help.

Unfortunately leakej that is exactly what is happening - with the advent of high definition video many people are being caught out with older systems that either won't play the video properly and/or won't edit/render the files properly because of the high CPU usage (as Blah says: they are incredibly processor intensive) and high file size of the footage captured at high definition - bit like still photography with my digital SLR RAW files coming in at 8-15MB per image

leakej · 06-02-2009, 08:49 AM

Thats what I was hoping wasnt the issue but seems my system isnt up to par. The laptop should be as its a high end system but I shouldnt have to jump through hoops to get it working so I will return the camera. Looks like Im back to mini-dv. Thanks for all your help and time.

05-30-2009, 03:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	No smooth playback of video, help! Hello all, I just purchased a JVC Everio GZ-HD320 camcorder and am having trouble with the imported video. My first problem is it doesnt have a firewire output so Im using the USB port. Once the video is imported, when viewing the video through the provided software its all jittery. When I bring the videos into Vegas, same thing, jittery video. I thought maybe it was my PC not being able to handle the HD video as this camcorder does full HD but I tried it on my laptop with the same results. It plays fine in the camera. I can only assume it has to due with the import process. Theres no (none that I have found) mini-a USB to firewire cable which is what I have on my video card and I dont have an HDMI input on my PC so Im forced to use the USB. The laptop has an HDMI input which Im going to try but I just dont know what else to do. Thanks in advance for the help.

05-30-2009, 05:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,235 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! How are you getting your files on the PC? There's normally two ways to do it: 1. copy the files 2. stream them and record them (just like you'd do with a VCR I guess). 1. is better because you're copying the files intact. If done that way you should get TOD files. 2.'s disadvantage is a. you may be recompressing the video (which could result in loss of quality), and b. if the processor of the receiving PC is too weak, or the bandwidth of the link (firewire, USB, whatever) is insufficient, you're going to get dropped frames (at worst it'll stall or freeze). According to the manuals from here http://camcorder.jvc.com/product.jsp...Id=141&page=10 you can only stream and record if you were using firewire. So I think it's good you're using USB. Question is, when using USB, are you trying to import via given software (powercinema NE according to the manual, or are you using some other means? BTW looking for an additional drive in Windows Explorer and copying the TOD files from there to your hard drive should be fine too. Lastly, it could simply be your PC is underpowered. Right-click your taskbar and pick task manager, then look at the performance tab. Then play your video. Does CPU usage jump to 100% while frames get dropped and the PC becomes unresponsive? If so, your CPU is underpowered. HD video is very processor-intensive. There's not much that can be done besides get a better processor. As a last shot, try VLC Media Player (http://www.videolan.org). Some the bundled decoder in VLC might play it with less of a hit on CPU usage.

05-30-2009, 05:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,235 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! Actually a second peek at the manual suggests the videos are MPEG-2 (as opposed to H.264 as I was originally assuming). H.264 is super-processor-intensive, MPEG-2 not so much so. However MPEG-2 files aren't as tightly compressed (files can be large). In fact the manual says the video could take as much as 27Mbps for bandwidth. If your hard drive is old and slow (like say from the days of 40GB hard drives), you could try defragmenting to speed up disk access.

05-31-2009, 11:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! Well Im using the camera software via USB. I only have three options to import, USB, HDMI and component, there is no Firewire option which Vegas looks for when importing video so I cant stream and record like I did with my old mini-tape cam. I plugged that right into my video card, maybe thats what the problem is? I cant do that with this camera as all I have is the firewire input on the card and I cant find a USB to Firewire cable. The software is PIXELA that comes up when you turn the camera on and reads the files. i have the option to Back-up, record to disk, upload to YouTube, Export to library or play back on a pc. Ive tried all with the same result, bad import. The files it creates are .mts files. Now Vegas can open them but it doesnt do any good if the import was bad. I can see the quality is superb but its jut very jittery and unwatchable. Here are my specs: Athlon 64 FX 2.6GHz 3GB RAM 2-250 GB HD ATI Radeo X800XT, 256 mb XP SP3 The laptop I tried is an Asus: Intel Duo Core 2.20GHZ 2GB RAM 230GB HD Vista 32bit GeForce 8600 1013mb RAM I will try checking my processor to see if its taxed when playing the video or even when importing the video. Thanks.

05-31-2009, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! OK did the Task Manager and watched my CPU usage spike at 100% so it looks like my computer just isnt up to par. But the laptop should be with duo core right? I will have see if the CPU spikes on that as well. Might just take the camera back since it does me no good if I cant use the video.

05-31-2009, 11:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,235 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! .mts is mpeg transport stream. Like I said, are you streaming and recording, or copying the files as they are? When you're connected via USB, go to my computer, and see if there's a new drive letter. If so, browse around, and copy back some of the files in there (not sure what extensions they'd be, but I'd guess TOD. Could be mts too I guess.) Try playback with VLC media player. Also check CPU usage prior to playback (is anything else hogging the CPU at the same time?)

05-31-2009, 02:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! Ah, .MTS now I know. Well I would guess copying since Im not actually playing the files then hitting record on my capture program. So the software that came with the camera just dumps them to the PC. And I was mistaken on Vegas not importing via USB, it does. I imported using Vegas instead of the JVC software using the AVCHD import option hoping it would work but it did the same thing. It too just copied them to the PC (no play and record) with jittery results. When I connect the Everio camera it shows up as drive and I tried grabbing the files and dropping them to my PC but still same result. CPU usage is normal before playback, nothing taking system resources. I will try the VLC player and check CPU usage while importing. Could I have a bad USB connection? Maybe try different ports? I dont get a message saying this device could work faster plugged into USB 2.0 which I've seen before on some thumb drives. I just cant see JVC putting out a consumer camera for the average 'Joe' to use and require such a high end system to view the files. Appreciate the help.

05-31-2009, 02:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,235 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! import usually means record. and AVCHD means H.264 (AVC is advanced video coding) high definition. If you play the file in VLC, go to tools, codec information, and report back what it says. Once again, what is the extension of the files on the drive that shows up in My computer?

06-01-2009, 12:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! Ok under the Everio disk in My Computer there is an AVCHD, DCIM, EXTMOV and Private folder. The AVCHD folder has four folders: Back-up, ClipINF, Playlist and Stream. Nothings in the Back-up folder, ClipINF has .CPI files, Playlist has one file which is only 9kb and Stream has all the video files with .mts extensions. The VLC info is: Stream 0: Codec h264 Stream 1: Codec a52 I first went off the media imported via Vegas then copied the files straight from the camera to my PC by dragging and dropping. I did notice the camera was being accessed when playing the files through the JVC software, maybe why it was so jittery but the Vegas imported files still did it. Now it only took 15sec for Vegas to import the files so it didnt record but rather copied the files just as if I copied files from one HD to another. So maybe our idea of Record are different. I think of your original analogy for Record, like a VCR. Anyway, hope this can shed some light on the problem.

06-01-2009, 02:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
blah789 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,235 OS: Windows 2000 SP4 and Windows XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! OK that clarified it. The files are indeed copied, and they're in the format .mts (MPEG-2 transport stream - that's the container), in H.264 video, and AC3 audio. I'm also fairly certain now that it's an underpowered processor. H.264, especially at high definition, is extremely processor-intensive. I can't tell how powerful of a system you need, but if you can take some samples around to other ppl's computers and play them, it might give you some ideas. http://forum.videohelp.com/topic357820.html Some things to take into consideration: - Different decoders have different levels of optimization. If you played H.264 HD contents in QuickTime, you'd find it horrendously slow. VLC is an improvement. I haven't tried it with ffdshow-tryouts nor CoreAVC. (In all cases my PC is waaay too old to properly play it anyway - I have a single-core, 32-bit, 2.1GHz PC from 2004). - Some decoders can offload some of the decoding to the GPU (graphical processing unit - the chip on your graphics card). You may need to have proper drivers for your graphics card. Usually graphics card with HD in them (for example radeon 2600 HD) will have that capability. But it needs to be supported by the player and/or decoder. Look in the advanced settings.

06-02-2009, 08:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
leakej Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 15 OS: XP SP3	Re: No smooth playback of video, help! Thats what I was hoping wasnt the issue but seems my system isnt up to par. The laptop should be as its a high end system but I shouldnt have to jump through hoops to get it working so I will return the camera. Looks like Im back to mini-dv. Thanks for all your help and time.