GH2 Does changing to a new SD card disable the hack? Do file converters ruin the hack?

R

rc444

Well-known member
Hello DVXusers,

I'm having trouble with my hacked GH2. The hack records fine, but I'm convinced the hack has been disabled in post after I recently switched to a new SD card. Either that or it's the file converter I'm using in post that's destroying the hack. For the hack to work 24-7, do you have to stick with the same SD card at all times and in all situations? Will switching to a new SD card reset the camera back to 24 mbps?

When shooting with my GH2, I noticed that the "High Bit Rate" function/menu displays on my camera at *all* times (even with new SD cards). The trouble I have is not so much related to shooting, rather, the trouble I have is that *during editing*, after I've imported my GH2 files onto my Mac Pro, I go Apple-I to "Get Info" and the Inspector says that a 10 second clip is "7000 mbps" with a meagre file size of only "15 Mb" for a 10 second clip...

So it would appear the hack has been diluted down during the importing/editing process. My guess is my Mac mistakingly reads the bitrate at 7000/mbps, as it can't handle the 90mbps file and gives up, opting to export a smaller file of AVCHD consumer file size proportions instead. In theory though, the bitrate once imported should read as 90 mbps with the Apocalypse Now 444 Hack, the hack I currently use.

Maybe the importing software I'm using (PavTube MTS Converter) is perhaps diluting the clip down to 15 Mb? In reality, the 10 second clip should really be about 70-80 Mb big, yet it's only 15 Mb after its been imported. Does anyone have any theories as to why I'm losing all this quality in post? FYI, I use PavTube MTS converter to prepare the GH2 files before ingesting them into FCP7. FCP7 is unable to import my GH2 files on its own volition through normal Log & Transfer -- I rely on PavTube to convert/prepare the .MTS files for FCP7. Could PavTube be the suspect that is causing the lowered bitrates in editing?

Thanks,
Rc444
 
Last edited:
Use Stream Parser or another tool to analyze your original .MTS files.
There is probably nothing wrong with them.

Be aware that any conversion may affect your original data, be it size or quality.
 
The patch updates the camera's firmware, so the SD card you use makes no difference assuming that the card is suitable to begin with. The bit rate written to the card varies - the camera alters it depending on the situation and which patch you are running. As long as the footage looks good and you can grade it, don't worry about bit rate.
 
It sounds like your Mac work-flow is the problem and needs to be sorted out. ( I'm not a Mac guy so I can't help you here )
 
rc444 said:
Hello DVXusers,

I'm having trouble with my hacked GH2. The hack records fine, but I'm convinced the hack has been disabled in post after I recently switched to a new SD card. Either that or it's the file converter I'm using in post that's destroying the hack. For the hack to work 24-7, do you have to stick with the same SD card at all times and in all situations? Will switching to a new SD card reset the camera back to 24 mbps?

When shooting with my GH2, I noticed that the "High Bit Rate" function/menu displays on my camera at *all* times (even with new SD cards). The trouble I have is not so much related to shooting, rather, the trouble I have is that *during editing*, after I've imported my GH2 files onto my Mac Pro, I go Apple-I to "Get Info" and the Inspector says that a 10 second clip is "7000 mbps" with a meagre file size of only "15 Mb" for a 10 second clip...

So it would appear the hack has been diluted down during the importing/editing process. My guess is my Mac mistakingly reads the bitrate at 7000/mbps, as it can't handle the 90mbps file and gives up, opting to export a smaller file of AVCHD consumer file size proportions instead. In theory though, the bitrate once imported should read as 90 mbps with the Apocalypse Now 444 Hack, the hack I currently use.

Maybe the importing software I'm using (PavTube MTS Converter) is perhaps diluting the clip down to 15 Mb? In reality, the 10 second clip should really be about 70-80 Mb big, yet it's only 15 Mb after its been imported. Does anyone have any theories as to why I'm losing all this quality in post? FYI, I use PavTube MTS converter to prepare the GH2 files before ingesting them into FCP7. FCP7 is unable to import my GH2 files on its own volition through normal Log & Transfer -- I rely on PavTube to convert/prepare the .MTS files for FCP7. Could PavTube be the suspect that is causing the lowered bitrates in editing?

Thanks,
Rc444
Click to expand...

Just to clarify; you only need to hack the GH2 once and the SD cards are then used only to store video.
I wasn't sure from your post if you were updating the firmware all the time, just mentioning it if that were the case.
 
This is why the hack is not meant for everyone. You install it and you don't see a difference so you start worrying that you are doing something wrong or that your camera is broken. In reality you won't see a difference at all with the hack unless you know what you are looking for AND you are using it in a situation that taxes the codec.

You are so much better off returning the camera to its original settings and working on your post processing skills than trying to figure out why the hack didn't improve your footage.
 
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