Wednesday, October 18, 2017

PE 2018: File Exports Set For H.264 Blu-ray, MPEG2 Blu-ray, Or H.264 AVCHD Formats

INTRODUCTION

Blu-ray and AVCHD burn to disc or ISO Image exists in Premiere Elements 15 (previous version), but has been removed in Premiere Elements 2018 (latest version just released). However, 2018 does appear to have some Blu-ray and AVCHD opportunities for file exports with the H.264 Blu-ray, MPEG2 Blu-ray, or H.264 AVCHD formats (See Export & Share/Devices/Custom/Advanced Settings.) The Multiplexer setting for the export dialog's selected format will determine whether or not the Timeline content exports a single file or multiple files. Generalizing, Multiplexing set for "Other Than None" = Timeline content export as single file; Multiplexer set for "None" = Timeline content as multiple files export.

ISSUE

Going from 15 to 2018, changes in available export settings were seen for Multiplexer for H.264 Blu-ray, H.264 AVCHD, and MPEG2 Blu-ray formats. Noted is the removal from 2018 of the TS Multiplexer option for these formats. No attempt was made here to go deeper into important related topics of using these exported file(s) for playback, for authoring to Blu-ray disc format on Blu-ray disc, for making quality and other comparison of Multiplexed (single file) and non Multiplexed (separated files) exports.

OBSERVATIONS

General

H.264 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018
Multiplexer choice only for None
H.264 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 15
Multiplexer choice for TS or None
H.264 AVCHD Format Premiere Elements 2018
Multiplex choice only for None
H.264 AVCHD Format Premiere Elements 15
Multiplexer choice of TS or None
MPEG2 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018
Multiplexing choice only for None

MPEG2 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 15
Multiplexing choice of TS or None

File(s) Export Related to Multiplexer Setting

Timeline video used in the tests below was 1920 x 1080/29.97 fps interlaced .mov file with PCM audio and bitrate about 47 Mbps (properties obtained from file's MediaInfo readout). The export dialog's Video tab settings were set for 1920 x 1080/29.97 fps interlaced (upper field first); Audio tab and Multiplexer tab settings were as indicated in tests below.

Premiere Elements 2018 Series
Test 1a
H.264 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018/Multiplexer = None/Audio Choice Only PCM
When Timeline exported, 4 files were obtained
.m4v (video)
.m4v.xmp (informational)
.m4v.xmpses (informational)
.wav (audio)

Test 2a
H.264 AVCHD Format Premiere Elements 2018/Multiplexer = None/Audio Choice Only PCM
When Timeline exported, 4 files were obtained
.m4v (video)
.m4v.xmp (informational)
.m4v.xmpses (informational)
.wav (audio)

Test 3a
MPEG2 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018 Multiplexer = None/Audio Choice Only PCM
When Timeline exported, 4 files were obtained
.m2v (video)
.m2v.xmp (informational)
.m2v.xmpses (informational)
.wav (audio)

Premiere Elements 15 Series

Test 1b
H.264 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018/Multiplexer = None Instead of Alternative TS/Audio Choice PCM Instead Of The Alternative Dolby Digital Choice In That Export Dialog 
When Timeline exported, export dialog Audio set for PCM instead of the alternative Dolby Digital choice in that export dialog, 3 files were obtained
.m4v (video)
.m4v.xmpses (informational)
.wav (audio)
Note: No .m4v.xmp file was obtained as obtained in 2018 comparable results. When Test 1b was repeated but with Audio choice of Dolby Digital instead of PCM, then the audio file obtained was an .ac3 file instead of .wav.

Test 2b
H.264 AVCHD Format Premiere Elements 2018/Multiplexer = None Instead Of Alternative TS/Audio Choice PCM Instead Of The Alternative Dolby Digital Choice In That Export Dialog
When Timeline exported with the export dialog Audio set for PCM instead of the Alternative Dolby Digital choice in that export dialog, 3 files were obtained
.m4v (video)
.m4v.xmpses (informational)
.wav (audio)
Note: No .m4p.xmp file was obtained as obtained in 2018 comparable results. When Test 2b was repeated but with Audio choice of Dolby Digital instead of PCM, then the exported audio file obtained was an .ac3 file instead of .wav.

Test 3b
MPEG2 Blu-ray Format Premiere Elements 2018 Multiplexer = None Instead Of Alternative TS/PCM Only Audio Choice
When Timeline exported, x files obtained
.m2v (video)
.m2v.xmpses (informational)
.wav  (audio)

Note: When Test 1b, 2b, 3b were repeated with Multiplexer = TS, the Timeline content for each exported as one file with a .m2t file extension.

COMMENTARY

In going from 15 to 2018, exporting with H.264 Blu-ray, H.264 AVCHD, or MPEG2 Blu-ray formats  in the path Export & Share/Devices/Custom/Advanced Settings
  • loss of the export setting for Multiplexer's TS option which would offer export of Timeline as the single file (.m2t file extension)
  • Timeline content exported as 4 files instead of 3 when Multiplexer = None
  • addition of a .xmp file to the list of files generated when Timeline content is exported as multiple files in the Multiplexer = None condition....See HERE for a description of .xmp file extension and HERE for a description of the .xmpses file extension.
The above details were not seen in October 4, 2017 Adobe document "Common settings for sharing" found HERE.



Work in progress

ATR