Answers.Body: <p>AVCHD is basically just a consumer name for H.264, which in turn is another name for the ISO standard MPEG-4, Layer 10. It is one of the most significant steps forward in video encoding in recent times.</p>
  
  <p>To the very best of my knowledge, it is a codec since it is used to encode and decode video but it is also a specification.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: That is completely wrong. AVCHD is a wrapper that uses h.264 multiplexed into an MPEG Transport Stream. The confusion might stem from the fact that MPEG-4 Part 10 is also called AVC. But AVC and AVCHD have nothing in common. see the [Format Specification](http://www.avchd-info.org/format/index.html).
Answers.UserDisplayName: slhck
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Answers.UserDisplayName: RatVega
Answers.Body: <p>I think this image from Wikipedia says it best:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/AVCHD_actual_file_structure.svg/380px-AVCHD_actual_file_structure.svg.png" alt=""></p>
  
  <p>AVCHD is <strong>not a codec</strong>, but it is also <strong>not just a container</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>Just like "every other" container, AVCHD features:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Video streams</li>
  <li>Audio streams</li>
  <li>Subtitles</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>But in addition, for example:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Playlists</li>
  <li>Menu presentation (like in a DVD)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Is it simply a specification that specifies a particular combination of pre-existing technologies?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Yes.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>But this would imply that AVCHD files could also be called something else, like "MPEG4 container with H264/AC3 inside".</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>But who would like to call it that? Several other specifications take already existing specifications, remix them, and they aren't called "Open Source Container format for XYZ".</p>
  
  <p>I think it's a "one format fits it all" mentality, which is why you'll find AVCHD on many consumer devices.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2011-07-06T07:50:07.583Z
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-03-10T09:42:47.690Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: slhck
Body: <p>Is it a codec? I don't think so; I believe it uses MPEG4/H.264 for video and AC3 for audio.</p>
  
  <p>Is it a container format? Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense; there are enough out there already and it's likely that a suitable one already exists.</p>
  
  <p>Is it simply a specification that specifies a particular combination of pre-existing technologies? But this would imply that AVCHD files could also be called something else, like "MPEG4 container with H264/AC3 inside".</p>
  
  <p>So what exactly does AVCHD mean?</p>
  
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Comments.CreationDate: 2012-03-15T20:05:25.913Z
Comments.Text: This question seems more broadcast and compression specific than AV Production! Inviting experts to a new site proposal [Broadcast and Media Technologies](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/36807/broadcast-and-media-technologies) which aims to capture more architectural and theoretical views around subjects like this. Join and invite others.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dipan Mehta
Tags: <file-formats>
Title: What exactly is AVCHD?
UserDisplayName: RomanSt
ThreadText: # What exactly is AVCHD?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-07-06)
  
  Is it a codec? I don't think so; I believe it uses MPEG4/H.264 for video and AC3 for audio.
  
  Is it a container format? Doesn't seem to make a huge amount of sense; there are enough out there already and it's likely that a suitable one already exists.
  
  Is it simply a specification that specifies a particular combination of pre-existing technologies? But this would imply that AVCHD files could also be called something else, like "MPEG4 container with H264/AC3 inside".
  
  So what exactly does AVCHD mean?
  
  **Tags:** file-formats
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: This question seems more broadcast and compression specific than AV Production! Inviting experts to a new site proposal [Broadcast and Media Technologies](http://area51.stackexchange.com/proposals/36807/broadcast-and-media-technologies) which aims to capture more architectural and theoretical views around subjects like this. Join and invite others.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2011-07-06. Score: 8 | Accepted answer
  
  I think this image from Wikipedia says it best:
  
  ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/AVCHD_actual_file_structure.svg/380px-AVCHD_actual_file_structure.svg.png)
  
  AVCHD is **not a codec**, but it is also **not just a container**.
  
  Just like "every other" container, AVCHD features:
  
  * Video streams
  * Audio streams
  * Subtitles
  
  But in addition, for example:
  
  * Playlists
  * Menu presentation (like in a DVD)
  
  > Is it simply a specification that specifies a particular combination of pre-existing technologies?
  
  Yes.
  
  > But this would imply that AVCHD files could also be called something else, like "MPEG4 container with H264/AC3 inside".
  
  But who would like to call it that? Several other specifications take already existing specifications, remix them, and they aren't called "Open Source Container format for XYZ".
  
  I think it's a "one format fits it all" mentality, which is why you'll find AVCHD on many consumer devices.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2011-07-06. Score: -5
  
  AVCHD is basically just a consumer name for H.264, which in turn is another name for the ISO standard MPEG-4, Layer 10. It is one of the most significant steps forward in video encoding in recent times.
  
  To the very best of my knowledge, it is a codec since it is used to encode and decode video but it is also a specification.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: That is completely wrong. AVCHD is a wrapper that uses h.264 multiplexed into an MPEG Transport Stream. The confusion might stem from the fact that MPEG-4 Part 10 is also called AVC. But AVC and AVCHD have nothing in common. see the [Format Specification](http://www.avchd-info.org/format/index.html).  
  
  ---
  
  