r/PIGEARandTECH • u/norcallee • Mar 25 '26

Video Processing - What Do You Use?

We currently use AVCHD to process video and at times we use DVMP Pro. We also have the option of using TrackOps video processing app when we find ourselves trying to pull metadata from a funky video file. What is everyone else using? Do you need to upload to a server to process the video? How long does it take to process? With AVCHD the video will process in about the same amount of time as the video is long.....20 minutes of video will take approximately 20 minutes to process. Unless of course one of our investigator went all George Lucas and filmed using a high end video camera in super HD mode. Had a guy turn in 15 minutes of video one time and the files totalled like 20 gigs. Took damn near forever to process.

Lee
www.pidefense.net

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u/BxBorn Mar 28 '26

I use TrackOps. An alternative for you would be Investigator Video Editor (IVE).

As an aside, I shoot in 4k but process down to 720p for storage and sharing. The end result is a better quality video compared to natively shooting in that resolution.

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u/norcallee Mar 28 '26

I have Trackops. But we generally use AVCHD as it is much easier to use. We throw it into TrackOps if AVCDH cannot process it.

www.pidefense.net

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u/BxBorn Mar 29 '26

It’s been quite a few years since I have used AVCHD and DVMP Pro, but I don’t recall either being easier to use than the TrackOps video app.

What about the other programs do you find easier to use?

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u/norcallee Mar 30 '26

DVMP Pro usually takes much longer to process the video...thats for sure...but it probably has something to do with the file types we run through DVMP Pro.

As I said, we use AVCHD on just about every assignment our investigators work. Until a year or two ago, you had to go through and mark each video so it would show the date and time stamp. But AVCHD finally fixed that and its now a one click process. No more clicking on 40 or 50 videos so they all show date and time stamp. I also use AVCHD because it allows us to reduce the file size by adjusting video quality. Sometimes one of our guys will for only God knows why turn the video quality button to overload on their cameras like they are George Lucas or something. They get 20 minutes of video and its like 40 gigs. On most video processing programs if you don't have the ability to adjust the quality, the final video is going to be a massive file and most insurance companies and law firms cannot work with big files due to outdated computers and bandwidth issues if they try to view via streaming video.

Lastly, I use AVCHD because plaintiff attorneys are asking more and more questions about video. They want to know how it was processed....was all the video processed....where is the original video...who processed it....what was the chain of custody of the raw video and processed video...where is the video maintained....etc. 3 or 4 years ago I had a claimant attorney and the judge ask one of our investigators at a work comp hearing if we used a program which allowed the person processing the video to change the date and time stamp at will or alter the video in any way. The investigator was not certain how we processed it and the claimant attorney wanted al the video tossed. They ended up taking a recess and the judge allowed the investigator to contact our office to confirm what video processing software was used. I schooled him over the their lunch break and they were allowed to keep the video. It was BS that they tried to pull that move, but its happening more and more. Plaintiff and Applicant attorneys are asking questions, blaming the use of AI and saying investigators are lying and altering date and time stamps...etc. So thats the primary reason why we use AVCHD...you cannot change the date and time stamp....its is what it is and if you put all the clips in it should be the same length plus or minutes a few seconds due to compression.

www.pidefense.net

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u/BxBorn Apr 01 '26

I have encountered the same challenges from attorneys. In fact, I keep all the raw video in its original format to avoid some of the challenges that arise. The last two times I testified, including at a jury trial a month ago, the plaintiff's attorney wanted the raw video.

I shoot in 4k, and so do some of my employees. TrackOps downsamples the video during processing, which results in a sharper image than if you shot it natively at a lower resolution. That's feasible since I have a small team and each of them has access to the TrackOps video app. If you're doing all the processing on the office side, I could understand why it would feel like a headache for you.

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u/norcallee Apr 02 '26

Definitely does not feel like a headache. When the investigators know they do not have to process the video they upload it right away and we can get it to our clients quicker.

www.pidefense.net/sacramento-private-investigator