How to play MTS files from your camera or camcorder in Windows

Many people already use the fantastic (and free!) VideoLAN VLC media player or Media Player Classic (also free) to play videos.  But newer digital cameras and camcorders with 720p or 1080i/1080p output are using the AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition)  output format.  Unfortunately this means you get to see a blank video or extremely choppy video when playing it back on your computer.


Here's how to play without choppiness (provided your Windows computer is relatively newer and not say, a netbook).


1) If you don't already have it, download the excellent Media Player Classic HC version (offshoot of the "original" MPC, which appears to have ceased development).  Remember to pick the "x64" download option if you are running Vista 64-bit or Windows 7 64-bit.


2) Download the ffdshow codec and install.


3) Run MPC-HC, go to View -> Options and select 'Output' under Playback.  Change the DirectShow video to "EVR" as shown below (click image to enlarge), and click Apply.






That should be it!  You should now be able to play your 1080p MTS files (and what's with the horrid folder structure?  Most users will not know to navigate down to:  \PRIVATE\AVCHD\BDMV\STREAM\ from their camera's memory card!)


Here's a partial list of cameras and camcorders (from the AVCHD article at Wikipedia):


Canon:
  • HR10 (DVD)
  • HG10 (40 GB HDD)
  • HF10 (SDHC, built-in 16GB flash memory), HF100 (SDHC)
  • HF11 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HG20 (60GB HDD, SDHC), HG21 (120GB HDD, SDHC)
  • HF S10 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF S100 (SDHC), HF20 (SDHC, built-in 32GB flash memory), HF200 (SDHC)
  • HF S11 (SDHC, built-in 64GB flash memory, wired LANC remote capability)
  • HF S21 (two SDHC slots, 64GB flash memory, electronic viewfinder), HF S20 (two SDHC slots, 32GB flash memory),HF S200 (two SDHC slots); HF M31 (SDHC, 32GB flash memory), HF M30 (SDHC, 8GB flash memory), HF M300 (SDHC); HF R11 (32GB flash memory), HF R10 (SDHC, 8GB flash memory), HF R100 (SDHC)

Hitachi: 

  • DZ-BD10HA
JVC:
  • GZ-HD10 (HDD, MicroSDHC), GZ-HD30/GZ-HD40(HDD, MicroSDHC card, dual AVCHD and TOD recording)
  • GZ-HD320 (120 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HD300 (60 GB HDD, MicroSD), GZ-HM200 (dual SDHC)
  • GZ-X900 (SD/SDHC card)
  • GZ-HM300, GZ-HM400
  • GZ-HD620
  • GZ-HM1
  • GZ-HM30 (pre-released December 2010)
Leica: 
  • LEICA D-LUX 5, LEICA V-LUX 2

Panasonic:
  • HDC-DX1 (DVD), HDC-SD1 (SDHC)
  • HDC-SD3 (SDHC, available in Japan only)
  • AG-HSC1U (SDHC, comes with portable 40 GB HDD storage)
  • HDC-SD5 (SDHC), HDC-SX5 (DVD, SDHC), HDC-SD7 (SDHC)
  • HDC-SD9 (SDHC), HDC-HS9 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)
  • AG-HMC70 (SDHC)
  • HDC-SD100 (SDHC), HDC-HS100 (60 GB HDD, SDHC)
  • AG-HMC150 (SDHC)
  • HDC-HS300 (120 GB HDD), HDC-HS200 (80 GB HDD), HDC-TM300 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD300 (SDHC, available in Europe only), HDC-SD200 (SDHC).
  • HDC-TM30/HDC-TM10 (32 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC), HDC-SD10 (SDHC)
  • HDC-TM350 (64 GB built-in flash memory, SDHC, available in Japan and as of October 2009, from Panasonic Stores across the UK)
  • AG-HMC40 (SDHC)
  • HDC-TM700/HDC-SD700/HDC-HS700 (introduced 1080p60/1080p50 modes, depending on region)
  • HDC-SD60/HDC-TM60/HDC-HS60
  • AG-AF100/AG-AF101/AG-AF102 (4/3" large sensor camera)
  • AG-AC130/AG-AC160 
  • In 2009 Panasonic introduced AVCHD Lite to selected members of its Lumix line of digital cameras:
  • DMC-TZ7(European version, limited to 30 minutes recording due to European specific taxes)/ZS3 (Rest of the world) (AVCHD Lite), DMC-TS1/DMC-FT1 (AVCHD Lite), DMC-GH1 (AVCHD for 1080p24, 720p60, MJPEG for 720p30)
  • Lumix DMC-ZS7 (DMC-TZ10 outside US), Lumix DMC-GH2
  • Lumix DMC-ZS10
Sony:
  • HDR-UX1 (DVD), HDR-UX3/UX5 (DVD), HDR-UX7 (DVD)
  • HDR-SR1 (30 GB HDD)
  • HDR-SR5 (40 GB HDD), HDR-SR7 (60 GB HDD)
  • HDR-SR5C (100 GB HDD), HDR-SR8 (100 GB HDD)
  • HDR-CX7 (Memory Stick Duo)
  • HDR-SR10 (40GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR11 (60 GB HDD, Memory Stick), HDR-SR12 (120 GB HDD, Memory Stick)
  • HDR-TG1/TG3/TG7 (Memory Stick Duo)
  • HDR-CX12 (Memory Stick Duo)
  • HDR-XR520V (240 GB HDD), HDR-XR500V (120 GB HDD Version)
  • HDR-XR200V (120 GB HDD)
  • HDR-XR200VE (120 GB HDD + GPS)
  • HDR-XR100 (80 GB HDD)
  • HDR-CX500E, HDR-CX520E
  • HDR-CX105 (8GB Memory Stick Duo)
  • HXR-NX5, HDR-AX2000.
  • HDR-XR550 (240 GB HDD)
  • Sony NEX-5, NEX-5C (without Eye-Fi support), of both models, variants with AVCHD 1080 50i and AVCHD 1080 60i only exist
  • Sony HXR-MC50E.
  • Sony NEX-FS100
  • Sony DSC-HX5V (GPS+COMPASS) , HX5V-E (European version, limited to 30 minutes recording due to European specific taxes)

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