Anyone editing .m2t files?

[rokclimr]

I'm about to start editing a project that will require capturing around 55 hours of footage. Obviously .m2t files would save me a ton of space. Has anyone edited any big projects with .m2t instead of HQ? Anything I should watch out for?

Thanks!
Brad

[STORMDAVE]

What are your PC specs?

[rokclimr]

Hey Dave,

I'll be capturing and doing some editing with my laptop:

ASUS S96S Santa Rosa platform
Core 2 Duo T7500 2.2GHz 4MB 800 FSB
2GB DDR2 667 RAM
80GB SATA 7200RPM system

The majority of the editing will be on a new desktop that I'll build in the next couple of weeks. I'm open to suggestions on it.

Thanks!
Brad

[STORMDAVE]

I think you can do one or two layers (max) on that laptop...give it a try, find some .m2t files off the web and load it up in Edius 4 demo and see how it goes. m2t files are VERY processor intensive, so not even a Quad Core like mine will save it from being a pain.

[rokclimr]

Thanks Dave!

Do apps like Boris FX and title motion handle the .m2t files fine?

[kwshaw1]

I just finished editing a three-camera HDV project on a similar laptop using external hard drives, and while it was a pain at times I got through it. The biggest problem was trying to use the multicam feature, which was too sluggish to do much under these conditions.

Edius could really use a "graceful degradation" feature like Sony Vegas or Final Cut Pro, in which editing can continue with reduced preview quality instead of just grinding to a halt trying to display full quality.

[STORMDAVE]

Thanks Dave!

Do apps like Boris FX and title motion handle the .m2t files fine?

I think it will within Edius?
Are you just going to use it as transitions or filters as well? Maybe scrubbing in the Boris window will be a bit sluggish.