I just purchased a Canon HG20 AVCHD video camcorder. I have the USB cord and uploaded the software it came with -- Pixela Image Mixer 3 SE Ver. 3 -- but for some reason, I'm not able to upload the footage to my PC. I contacted Canon, and they basically blew me off and told me to contact Pixela... Please help! Any advice is most appreciated!
My knowledge in video editing is limited, but here's what I could dig up.
m2ts is also referred to as AVCHD, (MPEG4) a high-def Interlaced format which most computers cant render properly since most computers render in progressive format. You have to convert it to MPEG2, AVI, WMV, MOV or other movie file types in Progressive mode, a process known as "Deinterlacing" in order to edit it. Depending on how big the file is and how fast your computer is this could take several hours. Also, you cant view AVCHD files on normal televisions, you need a high-def TV.
If you want to edit high-def videos with post-effects and music etc, for dvd or blue-ray, you'll need a more powerful computer. The "recommended" minimum is a 64bit dual core processor, windows vista 64 bit, a seperate 500Gb or bigger hard drive and at minimum, 3-4Gbs of RAM with a high-def TV monitor. (1080i) Rendering High-Def videos is process heavy and can take up to 12+ hours to render a single 30-60 minute video with post-fx like music, logo's etc. The reason you need a 64bit processor and 64bit windows is because regular XP and Vista wont recognize more than 3Gb of RAM.
You could get by with a 32bit dual core processor and 2 gigs of RAM on windows XP, it's just going to be slower. You will still probably need a high def monitor if your going to edit in high-def mode.
High-def is new technology to mainstream consumers. Supporting technology hasnt caught up yet including most software--however most of what I read stated that Sony Vegas Platinum can do this pretty well.
Your camera is capeable of recording in progressive mode. You'll have to read the manual on how to do this. This will record it in standard mode which is not high-def. (For future reference)
To sum it all up, the camera's technology is more advanced than most PCs. I downloaded AVS Video Converter and converted the AVCHD, (MPEG4) a high-def Interlaced format to HD Video 720p: WMV9, 7000 kbps....... on the drop down screen of the AVS program. I now can view my videos in Progressive Standard mode with NO choppy play back or problems. Please note that 720p is a non digital standard Television view.
Hope this helps.
The software is very specific on what order you connect camcoder to PC.
1) Turn on your PC
2) Plug the power to the camcoder
3) Set the camcoder to video replay mode (the blue play icon)
4) DO NOT TURN ON YOUR CAMCODER yet
5) plug the USB cable to your PC
6) TURN ON the camcoder now - almost when your camcoder makes the blink sound, your computer will recognise the camcoder!
If this does not work, try shutting down your PC, and your camcoder. Try again
Follow up to my solution for PC to recognise your Canon HG20 camcoder. (Note: You will of course need to also install the software that came with the camcoder.)
Once you have downloaded the videos from your camcoder using the software provided "ImageMixer 3 SE", I found that using another video editing software has more features and is easier to use to create my own moveis and DVDs. I purchased Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 - not expensive at all. I am using Windows Vista Premium 32bit, 2gb memory with NVIDIA 8600GT 256MB video card and Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz processor - pretty common configurations nowadays - by far not any super gaming or video editing PC!
The video editing was very quick and I had no performance issues. The video quality produced on DVD replayed back on my TV was very high quality, of course this is thanks to the camcoder's ability to record the videos at such high quality and precision. My settings were on MXP/CineMode
Enjoy
Jack
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After 10 hours wading through forums the issues was resolved on my system ensuring that the camcorder is plugged into a USB2 port. I made the mistake of assuming that the front ports were until I checked them. The only other differing thing is my camcorder is the HF200.
Great camer/corder **** instructions and support from pixela.
Hope this helps
I've lost count of how many times I've heard people complaining that the software hasn't caught up with the hardware. That’s the case we stand with AVCHD camcorder. And seems the only thing we can easily do with the AVCHD video is to play it on an HDTV, direct from the camcorder. Isn’t there any easy way to playback and edit the AVCHD (m2ts, mts, ts, trp).
If you have not been able to take advantage of the AVCHD file format or still got no luck to get it out into the world to playback and edit. AVCHD Converter for Mac should be the matured software you’ve always been looking for. The software includes all the necessary codecs needed to transcode the AVCHD to .mov, mpeg-2, mpeg-4, DV, avi, mpg, wmv, flv, asf, 3gp and mp3, etc so that they can be workable with Quicktime, iMovie, Final Cut Express/Pro on Mac.
AVCHD Converter for Mac is able to run both on Intel Processor and PowerPC, and the smart built-in player can easily playback AVCHD files on Mac with high visual quality. Mac AVCHD converter has simple yet powerful video editing capacity that allows you to trim, crop, add effect and merge files into one. You can also adjust aspect ration to widescreen 4:3 or16:9, and tweak resolution, bit rate, frame rate, depending on your project.
Guys,
Don't panic OK. Download all the necessary softwares and you will have a Image Mixer player downloaded. You don't need to delete all the other players as well from your comp. so don't panic...
After you downloaded the Image Mixer Player go to your files in the camera with computer and in STREMS folder you'll see all your movies. Click any of them and probably it will say the files cannot be played, do you want an Internet solution...you click OPEN WITH and select Image Mixer player VOILE LA!!!! Later on download a XILISOFT converter which can convert your MTS files virtuaally to all the others.... SALOMAT BOSHED!!!
Don't know if any of u guys already sloved this problem. I just bought it this week, and was having the same problem like u guys few minutes ago. It's ok to upload the pictures, and can't upload the videos from the camcoder. The anwser is , when u're uploading the video u have to plug in ur camcoder to the power outlet. So stupid!!! It works now. Don't know why Canon ppl doesn't even know this. I wend to Canon's website in China, it shows this solution there tho.
Hi,
I had the same problem with a new HG21, and as Gotago (Solution 6) suggested, a change in USB port gave instant success!
Thanks for removing the frustration! (Only wasted about 3 hours!!).
Alan
I just went to the software support page and updated the new software and it worked.
I had this problem. my computer won't recognize the camera until i plugged in the compact power adapter. So in addition to the USB cord, plug in the Compact Power Adapter after you've chose pc/printer on the camera (it's in the instructions). It wont work if you don't do it in the right order.
I changed the USB port and it finally recognized my Canon Vixia HG20
I agree(Solution 6) , i just free download it and have a try, really a good one, thinks!
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I am having the same problem. It's like the computer doesn't see the camcorder. Is there a driver I'm missing or a setting that I forgot? The manual says something about "first time connecting to a computer" but doesn't go into any details.
i'm having the same issue. so far i have found that the USB cord works for photos taken on the camera, but cannot be used for videos. i think the mini HDMI plug is what is needed, so another cord will need to be purchased in order to upload video to the computer. I had the same issue with an older canon camcorder. i don't know if i'm right, though.
I have the same problem with Canon Vixia HG21 camcorder - the software it comes with (ImageMixer™ 3 SE Ver.3) does not really work - it goes "not responding" every time I want to download video files from the camcorder to the comp. Why??? Shouldn't Canon provide some good soft with its products which are not cheap at all?
The video from camera is very slow when shown with the image mixer software. Something is not compatable. Using windows Vista.
I have the same problem, very slow. That program is very difficult to download and do any editing. Looking for something else we can put the files in for editing.
I´ve got the same problem. Tested two different computers, with different OS and both times windows crashes. I´ve also tried to copy the videofiles from the camera into the computer and that was no problem. But the problem is when I try to use for example Pinnacle studio 12 or Adobe Premiere CS3 the video will freeze but the sound continues. This is not good for Canon´s reputation and it is not going to get them better reputation referring to the software developer Pixela who don´t even has websupport.
A parallell; You buy a new car and the steeringwheel dosn´t work. You contact the car factory for help and they just ask you to contact the company that made the steerinwheel. Not OK in car-business but obvioulsy in Canon camera-business!!
I have experienced same problem. Canon told me the USB should be USB2 or the camera won't be found. I have several USB2 ports on my computer and have connected to all of them I believe and none work. I am very dissapointed in this camera and shocked that Canon would produce such a shoddy camcorder.
I did get a small section of video downloaded to my laptop (a new HP Pavillion DV 9000) using the software that came with the camera but it took all night to do so. Completely unacceptable for anyone living in the real world.
Is one of the worst software that I ever seen.
Full of bugs and most of time not working at all.
I have a new HP pavillion and have not been able to download from the HG 20 to the computer. I called pixela support once & they said take any other dvd playing software off the machine.
I haven't tried that yet, as I didn't want to remove the hp software originally installed.
CRsailor
i'm contemplating buying the dvd burner accessory so i can rip the videos to my computer directly from a dvd. i am extremely disappointed with this camcorder. what should have been the simplest thing in the world has now become a major pain in the *** and possibly a waste of $600.
I have the same issue. Bought the camcorder in November and now five months later still cannot successfully download good qualtiy video to my computer.
I have 3 differeent computers some XP professional , one vista - all with the processor requirements etc.
It took me several days to get the software to recognize my camera - you have to be very careful what order you install the software and connnect your camera for it to "see" your camera.
I was able to do this with all three computers eventually after many many installations and reinstallations of the software. The problem now is that any playback of the video either on the Pixella player or on Pinnacle is very rough and choppy. Sound seperated from video and video is so choppy that it seems like many frames must be missing.
After 5 months I have almost run out of hard drive on my camcorder and cannot save any footage. I have called Canon who told me that if the video runs well on playback on the camcorder it is not a Canon issue it is a Pixella issue.
Pixella says to turn off internet connections, uninstall virus software, uninstall any video editing or dvd burning software. Will try all that but don't have alot of hope.
This is very user UNFRIENDLY! Do not buy this camcorder -- looks good in the shop but is pretty much useless once you buy ti and try to save any video!
Same as above. I can't get the computer to see the camera. All I want to do is get the video off the comcorder. Surely there is a driver out there that can do this. HELP!
Can't upload video from Canon Vixia HG20 camcorder to a mac
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