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What AVCHD Lite records
AVCHD Lite is a 720-line profile in the AVCHD family, used by some compact cameras and still cameras. Clips are commonly stored as MTS or M2TS files inside an AVCHD camera folder, with playlists and metadata alongside the video. The filename alone does not tell you the scan type, frame rate, audio layout, or exact codec profile.
AVCHD Lite uses long-GOP compression, which is efficient for recording but can be more demanding to edit than an intermediate codec. Treat the camera folder as the source of truth and avoid renaming or separating files before testing an import.
Identify the camera folder and recording mode
When possible, copy the complete card structure and inspect the PRIVATE, AVCHD, BDMV, and STREAM folders together. Confirm the clip resolution, frame rate, progressive or interlaced scan, audio channels, and whether a recording spans more than one file. These details determine whether the destination can interpret the media correctly.
Try current player and editor support
Current players and editors support more AVCHD variants than older releases did, but support still depends on the codec profile, audio stream, folder metadata, and operating system. Use the application's camera-import workflow with the complete folder first. An isolated MTS clip may play while losing spanned-clip or metadata information.
Create a compatible copy when needed
If direct import fails or playback is unstable, create MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio for broad playback, or choose an editing format such as ProRes or DNxHD for a timeline. Preserve the source frame rate and 1280 x 720 dimensions unless the project deliberately requires another setting. A transcode creates new encoded media, so keep the original folder and verify one clip before converting a batch.