Solved .mts to .mp4 issues Handbrake and VLC

Derek,
I have watched your tutorials on Handbrake, watched other YouTubes on Handbrake and VLC and have done many experiments converting my .mts files to .mp4 and importing into MSP17 with all kinds of weird outcomes. I had to do some sound correction on the .mts files in Sound Forge and did that before converting to .mp4 so I thought that might have been the issue. I went back to my original, unaltered file (00001.mts) and tried making it an mp4 many different ways and had many different failures. Some lost audio all together but the video looked great, others had audio, but the picture was pixelated, some looked fine when I just opened them outside MSP17 but once I added the file in the preview window and did a preview it just had an awful buzz and no real audio. I tried the audio auto passthru so I didn't re-compress the audio and I tried it the other way. Issues on both.
The first clue something wasn't right was when I turned the Sound Forged files into mp4 files, imported them into media and tried to drag and drop into the timeline. They didn't go smoothly but finally did. Once I imported the native mp4 files from my other 2 cameras and tried to sync the audio to do multicam editing, it just wouldn't sync. I finally uninstalled Handbrake and re-installed and the same with VLC because both converters are having these issues. I'm sure I am just not selecting something correctly or am selecting too much. In the interest of saving time, could you just tell me what you would select for the 00001.mts file in Handbrake and I will re-run that before doing my Sound Forge fixes? Both my VLC and Handbrake were just downloaded and are the newest versions, no updates available.

Any file I alter with Sound Forge I give a .3 on the end to tell myself I altered it (ex; 00001.3.mts) so you'll see the original file's media info and the Sound Forged file's media info.
I am also providing the media info for files from my other 2 camera which are native mp4 files so you'll know what all has to work together in multicam editing. All are Cannon cameras, A cam is 29.97Fps, B Cam is 29.97Fps, C Cam is 59.94Fps.
The final output is an hour and a half long and will just be for the customer but they have relatives in another country so it might get shared on YouTube or some other platform, so I web optimized or whatever the selection was for that. We want the best quality video and audio and don't necessarily care if the file size is large. If they can't share it on YouTube they can just send a Dropbox Transfer link or Google Drive link so file size isn't a deal breaker. 

In Handbrake/VLC, I did select constant and same as source on frame rate.

A Camera original file
General
ID                                       : 0 (0x0)
Complete name                            : 00001 - Copy.MTS
Format                                   : BDAV
Format/Info                              : Blu-ray Video
File size                                : 1.91 GiB
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 23.8 Mb/s
Maximum Overall bit rate                 : 24.0 Mb/s
Recorded date                            : 2024-03-30 17:32:44-06:00
Writing application                      : Canon

Video
ID                                       : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : 27
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 22.7 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Interlaced
Scan type, store method                  : Separated fields
Scan order                               : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.365
Stream size                              : 1.81 GiB (95%)

Audio
ID                                       : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                                 : 129
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 256 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -66 ms
Stream size                              : 21.0 MiB (1%)
Service kind                             : Complete Main

A Camera Sound Forged file
General
ID                                       : 1 (0x1)
Complete name                            : 00001.3 - Copy.MTS
Format                                   : MPEG-TS
File size                                : 1.97 GiB
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 24.6 Mb/s
Recorded date                            : 2024-03-30 17:32:44-06:00
Writing application                      : Canon
FileExtension_Invalid                    : ts m2t m2s m4t m4s tmf ts tp trp ty

Video
ID                                       : 256 (0x100)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : 27
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 23.1 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 22.7 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Interlaced
Scan type, store method                  : Separated fields
Scan order                               : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.372
Stream size                              : 1.85 GiB (94%)

Audio
ID                                       : 257 (0x101)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name                          : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                                 : 129
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 256 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : -5 ms
Stream size                              : 21.0 MiB (1%)
Service kind                             : Complete Main

Menu
ID                                       : 4096 (0x1000)
Menu ID                                  : 1 (0x1)
Duration                                 : 11 min 26 s
List                                     : 256 (0x100) (AVC) / 257 (0x101) (AC-3)
Service name                             : Service01
Service provider                         : FFmpeg
Service type                             : digital television

B Camera original mp4 file
General
Complete name                            : MVI_0001.MP4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42 (mp42/avc1/CAEP)
File size                                : 21.2 GiB
Duration                                 : 1 h 26 min
Overall bit rate                         : 35.2 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 1 h 26 min
Bit rate                                 : 34.9 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.562
Stream size                              : 21.0 GiB (99%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 1 h 26 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 256 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 156 MiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21

Other
ID                                       : 3
Type                                     : Time code
Format                                   : QuickTime TC
Duration                                 : 1 h 26 min
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Time code of first frame                 : 23:04:52;20
Time code, striped                       : Yes
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:40:21

C Camera original mp4 file

General
Complete name                            : MVI_0620.MP4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42 (mp42/avc1/CAEP)
File size                                : 3.96 GiB
Duration                                 : 16 min 11 s
Overall bit rate                         : 35.0 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.2
Format settings                          : CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=30
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 16 min 11 s
Bit rate                                 : 34.7 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 59.940 (60000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.279
Stream size                              : 3.93 GiB (99%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 16 min 11 s
Source duration                          : 16 min 11 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 256 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 29.5 MiB (1%)
Source stream size                       : 29.5 MiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-03-30 23:35:25



Thanks!

I regularly use Handbrake to convert my 1080 50i Bluray files to 1080 50p.  The quality is indistinguishable from the original.  I suspect you don't have correct Handbrake settings.  Several of your files are interlaced so it's important to get them deinterlaced correctly.

In Handbrake's Filters Window -   Interlace Detection - Default,   Deinterlace - Decomb and   Preset - Bob.  Bob is important so you get two different frames from each original interlaced frame.

In the Video window the framerate needs to be twice the interlaced framerate i.e 50 for PAL and 59.94 for NTSC and Constant framerate. 



 
 

Thanks Eric! I am re-running Handbrake with your setting suggestions and will import the media again to see how it works. So, I make sure to understand.... is the frame rate being doubled because by deinterlacing we are basically splitting one frame into 2? Brilliant! In Derek's Handbrake tutorial he explains constant quality and the encoder tune/profile/level settings. His suggestion made sense for what I am doing so I am hybridizing your settings with that fine-tune of his. My settings are.... Quality to 'constant at 22', tune to 'film', encoder profile to 'auto', and encoder level to 'auto'.  Hopefully that will still get to where you were steering me.

Yep, that didn't work. Same issue. Looked great when I opened outside MSP17 but when media was added to MSP17 the audio was just loud static. Re-ran Handbrake with more of your settings, let it auto populate the AC3 file info and selected the AAC(avcodec) codec for audio, set to 256kbs and that worked. It has good audio in MSP17 and video, it allows the 3 cameras to be synced by audio. Everything seems fine except when playing through video on the timeline there is a lag in the playback window, and it just crashed MSP17. I brought it back up and there is still a lag in playback. As I poked around in some settings, I found ruler markers or something of that sort set at 29.97fps. I did set the project to match the media settings of the new mp4 file (A camera) which is at 59.94fps. I did select constant frame rate and it does show 'progressive scan' but it also says 'variable frame rate mode ' so not sure what that means. I converted the original file twice the same way to make sure. Do you think that could be an issue? I did not see any way to change those ruler markers to 59.94. A camera is now 59.94, B camera is 29.97, C camera is 59.94. There is also some deinterlace method setting which is set to 'blend fields' shown in the screen shots below. The options are "none, interpolate, or blend". Not sure if that might be an issue.
Another odd thing that is happening in MSP17 is that after all 3 camera's video files have been synced by audio in the timeline and I have none of them selected, I try to mute one video or audio file and it selects all of them. I even looked to make sure they weren't grouped and they are not. 

I am only using the audio from A camera and editing multi-cam with all videos. The B camera is the best camera of the 3, with a much better sensor and likely a lot more video info, but it wasn't the main camera. Not sure of that matters in how they work together. 

General
Complete name                            : I:00002.7.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                                 : mp42 (mp42/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 611 MiB
Duration                                 : 11 min 22 s
Overall bit rate                         : 7 509 kb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50
Writing application                      : HandBrake 1.7.3 2024021000

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.2
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 11 min 22 s
Bit rate                                 : 7 236 kb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 59.940 (60000/1001) FPS
Minimum frame rate                       : 59.920 FPS
Maximum frame rate                       : 59.960 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.058
Stream size                              : 589 MiB (96%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 164 r3107 a8b68ebf
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=18 / lookahead_threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=1 / keyint=600 / keyint_min=60 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=22.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 11 min 22 s
Source duration                          : 11 min 22 s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 256 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 20.8 MiB (3%)
Source stream size                       : 20.8 MiB (3%)
Title                                    : Stereo
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1
Encoded date                             : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50
Tagged date                              : UTC 2024-04-16 06:24:50


  
   


Thanks again! This is so much closer to working right.

 

Okay.

Playback lag - that could be your pc not coping too well.  What is its specs?

Framerate should be constant.  Did you tick the Constant box in Handbrake?  Anyway the variation is very minor show shouldn't be a problem with that file.

Interlaced/Progressive - your mp4 files ex Handbrake are progressive so interlacing is not involved.

As for the ruler time etc I've never touched them.  VMS17 sets them up from the project template chosen.  I'm PAL working with 25i and on checking find mine is set at SMPTE EBU (25fps, video).  You could try "Time & Frames".

Yes, I clicked constant frame rate in Handbrake. I made the same file a mp4 twice just to make sure I set everything right and got the same outcome.

I right clicked on the A camera file and created a proxy file for that in the project media window, preview is at auto, and it helped some with the lag but not much. It still acts as if all files on timeline are linked somehow. When I try to mute one track it mutes all of them.  I haven’t worked with proxy files so I’m a bit wary of that. There will be a bunch of 20 second or less clips at the end of my project (35 of them) so I’d hate to have to do that for all of them. Can you proxy only the larger files and leave the rest alone? There are 10 files for A camera, 1 file for B camera, 6 files for C camera that would need proxy files and the 35 tiny snippets on the A camera I would hope to leave those alone.

My computer is a souped up gaming desktop so don’t think the lag is it not coping.Intel core i7-8700k CPU @ 3.7GHz (times 12 I think), NVidia 1080ti graphics card, 32GB ram, 64bit, Optane memory, Windows 10pro, with NVidia Studio driver.

Thank you again Eric. Your suggestions straightened out the file conversion to mp4 issues, NVidia just released a new studio driver update for my GeForce 1080ti graphics card today. Last night I made a proxy file for the A camera file used as the match media file and used with other camera files to audio sync all cameras and that helped the playback some but once I installed that NVidia driver update the playback smoothed out. I guess it has some effect on the preview window. 

I poked around in right click settings on the timeline tracks and selected insert/remove envelopes, 'volume'. This put a check by 'volume'. Now it lets me mute one track at a time or select as many as I want instead of clicking one and all get muted. This seems backward. I figured the default would be to only select one at a time and you would have to engage something to select all at once. 

Anyway.... looks like I'm up and running. Now I just have to teach myself about using proxy filles and what to do with them when I am ready to render. 

Hi Vidchick & Eric

I've just done a speed read of this thread.
Forgive me if I say something you have already worked out.

Go back to basics first.
I can't remember the History for VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 17, but I do remember there being problems/bugs when using AC-3 Dolby Digital video, before the program was retired.
I think they were fixed, because my .mts videos with AC-3 audio, are all working OK.
However, if I am remembering correctly, the problem with AC-3 Dolby Digital audio not working properly in MSP17, was partly being caused by Windows 10 ???
I have VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 17 installed on Windows 11 - .mts video with AC-3 audio working 100% OK.

Check Windows Updates
Make sure all your Windows updates are installed.
I can't remember Windows Update in Windows 10.
Run Windows Update.
In Windows 11 (I'm sure Windows 10 is similar), there is an Advanced Options section.
Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft Updates is turned ON.
Run Windows Update again.
Open Advanced Options and look for Optional Updates.
Sometimes Microsoft hides important .NET updates here.
Install anything like that, if you see them.

Check Movie Studio version
Make sure you have Build 223 installed for VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 17.
Open Movie Studio and go to Help / About, to find build version.
If your build version is lower than #223, go to this link to get Build 223.
www.magix.com/us/support/my-service-center/product-downloads/
Your serial number is also shown on the About page in Movie Studio.

Alternate solution to get Audio working in Movie Studio
On the rare occasions when I can't get audio in a video file to work properly, the best option is to convert all audio streams to .WAV format.
If you can open your .MTS video files in Sound Forge, you can render the Audio File only into .WAV format.

Start a new test project.
In Movie Studio, import only your Video File.
Using Drag and Drop from Windows file Explorer, right-click on one of your video files and drag into Movie Studio.
When you let your mouse button go, select Video Only - Add Video Across Time.

Now drag and drop the .WAV audio file version - now you should have working audio.

Can't convert .MTS video into .WAV audio with Sound Forge ?
If you can't convert the AC-3 audio into .WAV using Sound Forge, let me know and I'll share an alternate program with you, to perform this function.

I'll stop for now and wait to hear back from you.
Let me know if the converting to .WAV audio works for you.
I will post a 2nd message about Handbrake in the morning (my time).

Regards
Derek
 

My MSP17 is build 223. I looked at Windows optional updates but none have anything needed here, they are just mouse, speakers, etc. I do have the advanced turned on and nothing there. My Windows updates are all updated but one keeps failing, says I need to open some partition and re-size or something complicated.  error message is 0x80070643 on update (KB5034441) I looked it up and this update has been a problem for everyone. 

After getting the settings right in Handbrake for the .mts to .mo4 conversion, creating the proxy file, and updating the GeForce 1080ti video card driver things look smooth in the preview window and I have good audio. I was trying to use your tutorial suggestion of the audio pass-thru so I didn’t re-compress audio and never could get settings right in Handbrake or VLC. I also didn’t understand about the de interlacing/doubling frame rate, etc. so Eric got me straightened out on that. 

I think for now I need to create proxies for every file in my multi-cam project (unless I can create proxies for the just largest files and just leave the 20 second files alone) and work on how to get that Windows update …4441 to work. The Alien tech guys can help with that. My system does not meet minimum requirements for Windows11.

Good to know on the ac3 issues in MSP17. It’ll keep that in mind if I have other audio issues.

Thanks again! You always educate me!
 

One quick question… I will be applying what I learned here to make .mp4 files for 45 files, 12 of which I have to do Sound Forge corrections to the audio on. Does it matter if I make the .mp4 file from the Sound Forged file or the original file then do the Sound Forge corrections? I can do it either way so better to know now.
Thanks!