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Question

Pixelation on AVCHD output from Sony Handycam

May 23, 2014 1:10AM PDT

After capturing video using a Sony HD handycam and writing out to disk in AVCHD format, the video stream starts pixelating after about 8 mins into the video. Checking video using the playback function of camera this pixilation is not apparent nor do I see it in playback mode using the PlayMemories software. Tried many things both software and hardware to determine what's happening. Does any one know if there's a setting on the camera that I need to look into? Or something else that needs changing? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Which handycam and tell more about this capture process.
May 23, 2014 1:14AM PDT

Many of these do not use any capture process but we copy the files out from the camcorder. I don't see enough detail here to write any further ideas.
Bob

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Pixelation on AVCHD output from Sony Handycam
May 23, 2014 6:42AM PDT

The video camera is Sony, Model HDR-CX230. Camera videos in high definition. I'm using Sony's software, PlayMemories Home Version 3.1.01.03120, to upload the videos to my laptop. I have tried to find an answer to the problem in the help section of the software but the problem is not addressed as far as I can see. Nor can I find anything under the guidelines for the camera. Does this clarify things?

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need more info...
May 24, 2014 8:08AM PDT

What were the lighting conditions when the video was captured? Is the symptom throughout the video window or just certain areas?

Can you provide any specifics on the computer? CPU, RAM, available hard drive space, operating system (and version) are a start. What happens past the 8 minutes - is the "pixelation" gone or is it ongoing once it starts? Can you stop playback... then resume at some later point, what happens?

Is there lots of motion (either the subject or the camcorder) or is the scene pretty much still?

What is the camcorder's video quality setting?

If you use a different media player (like VLC player from www.videoLAN.org) does the symptom persist?

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Time to make it a warranty or device issue.
May 24, 2014 8:35AM PDT

It's failing to meet your need so why keep it?

For me I'd skip the Sony software and copy the AVCHD files to a folder on my PC then play them with VLC PLAYER to avoid any corruption with Sony's app.
Bob

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Sony overload?
May 24, 2014 5:20PM PDT

Mr Proffitt is right. A lot of the software supplied with the cameras is a bit rubbish!! I have the same problem with software supplied with my Panasonic (HDWriter)

I was wondering if your laptop was becoming overloaded i.e. too little memory or poor processing power.
You could try a test recording by setting the camera to its lowest quality and see if the problem remains. Or you could just download the files and use a third party viewer as suggested above.
If either of these solves the problem then your computer is underpowered.