There is a new version of the Grass Valley AVCHD convert available.  We have had some issues with the previous version trying to convert a large number of files at once which appear to be solved along with several other issues.  Here is the list if fixes:

Features added in this release:

  • Improved conversion speed on multiple core systems, when multiple cores are assigned to one conversion job
  • Loading of source footage directly from AVCHD cameras or recorded media
  • Support for conversion to MPEG files with MPEG Layer 2 audio (to load onto MEDIAEDGE-LEB4 devices)
  • If one converter job works for conversion to HQ AVI, up to two FIRECODER Blu cards can be used for one conversion
  • The default destination will be changed according to your operating system (e.g. Windows Vista: 'Videos' folder, Windows XP: 'My Videos' folder)
  • Improved drop mode performance in the AVCHD previewer (drop audio is decreased)


Fixed in this release:

  • If source files are saved to different folders but have the same name, then they are dragged with 'Inherit folder structure' option (conversion fails by clicking the [No] button in the overwrite notification box)
  • If a source file is being converted, it cannot be selected to convert to other format
  • If a source file that contains an illegal frame is converted to HDV with FIRECODER Blu, timecode or rec date cannot be inherited
  • If a source file has monoural audio, conversion to MPEG-2 program stream stops unexpectedly
  • If a source file has monoural audio, conversion to HDV fails
  • If a source file has Dolby AC-3 monoural audio, the previewer outputs the audio to the left channel only
  • If both SD (or smaller) resolutions, and over 60p/50p frame rates are set as parameters for conversion to MPEG-2 program stream, and multiple cores are assigned to one conversion job, conversion fails
  • If the converter is closed via the Windows Task Manager during conversion, a system-wide failure occurs
  • When the source and exported file extensions are the same, the converter will not export a file, even if the destination folder is different than the source folder
  • If multiple cores are assigned to one conversion job, or the previewer is run on a 64-bit Windows system with more than 4GB of memory, conversion or preview stops unexpectedly
  • The previewer or converter handles specific AVCHD files (30p over 60i, 30p over 60p, 25p over 50i, or 25p over 50p) incorrectly
  • If a 24p AVCHD file is converted to HDV 1440x1080i, an application error occurs (an error message warning dialog now appears, because this type of conversion is not supported)
  • If a source duration is a few seconds (such as menu file), preview or conversion fails
  • If the source footage has no time code and it is converted to HDV, the converted file incorrectly has 00:00:01;00 as the start time code
  • If the source has no binary group and is converted to HDV 720x480/576p or HDV 1280x720p, the converted file has a 0xfeffffff code
  • If either the audio track or video track is shorter than the other, and it is converted to Canopus HQ AVI or previewed, conversion or preview will only adhere to the duration of shorter track
  • If the source has multiple dots in the file name and the converted file is registered to the EDIUS Bin window, the clip is displayed with a truncated name
The AVCHD converter works with EDIUS 5, and you will need the dongle attached to the computer to use it.