AVCHD Editin in Edius 4.5

[wes10]

I would like to know if anybody else is having a similar problem. I recently bought a sony HDSR8 video camera which records in avchd. After searching the internet for appropriate editing packages that will handle this format. I read that Edius 4.5 will do this.

I downloaded the trial package to see if this software will do this. When adding my avchd file to the project which was set at the HD settings, I brought the file into the timeline, but when I clicked on play, it played for a few frames and then a "Playback stopped" message appeared.

I then tried it a different way, and this was to render the file first. It then played the file quite OK. It appears that it seems that I have to export the footage as a Canopus HQ AVI and then bring it in again.

I am hoping someone understands what I am saying and have some answers for me.

[shueardm]

Yes, this is perfectly normal.

The generic AVCHD file is very very very very (get it) compressed and takes a shi* load of CPU power to decode. By converting it to the Canopus HQ codec is the best way to edit. You will not lose quality and you will be able to edit on any decent computer quite easily.
Other program like Vegas will edit natively for longer buyt they are not processing full frame/fps video at all. SO while Vegas will be easier to edit natively you don't get real preview. I hope that helps.

[wes10]

Thankyou shueardm. It was exactly what I needed. I have just converted the file and it looks perfect. It has not lost any clarity at all.

For another question. Do you know where is the best place to purchase a copy of 4.5 considering price of course.

[ezzagood]

problems with avchd editing

i have also have the same problem and tried the same way to fix it ( rendering the avchd file in time line ) but this is a pain in the *** , i was understanding that 4.5 would let you edit in native format ie avchd i think grass valley should not advertise there system to edit and preview in avchd if it dosn't do it, i know you can convert it to with converter 3 i have done that in the past but as i stated i want to keep it in native format, now sony vegas dose but it is a **** editing system ,, to cluncky , pinacle dose to but never show effects properly and also cluncky so at this stage i am not to happy even though edius is a good editing system
nic

[Bluetongue]

That is the problem with AVCHD it is so highly compressed you need the fastest computer you an afford and that will still have problems.
The same occurs with Native HDV but on a reasonable computer it can be converted on the fly to HQ and then it is a breeze. Other NLE's need the same work flow of capture and convert to make editing easy
All NLE's will have the same problems or not show the true HD in the Monitor, welcome to the real world of HD

For "was10" on the Gold Coast, I don't know who the agents are in Brisbane but I am sure Mark Shueardm from Adelaide on his post above can help.
Click on his web site for more detail
Regards Barry

[Ron Evans]

True, Vegas 8 does not have a HD output when editing but I don't think that matters for most editing. One can cut, colour correct, apply filters etc ... Just can't see it in real HD, realtime from the timeline. I can't do that with Edius either as I don't have the NX card or a HD monitor. And I don't think Edius does that in multicam either. But I happily edit AVCHD and HDV in Vegas 8 and HDV and DV in Edius. The difference is that Vegas 8 will play realtime preview quality for me to see what I have done for AVCHD, HDV and DV but Edius will only do this for HDV and DV ( in my case). I use Vegas 8 for audio anyway ( and to capture HDV etc) so using both NLE's is no problem. Use whatever works. Vegas is different as it come from a DAW background not a video background. Think of it as an audio editor and things start to make more sense. IT can do things the other NLE's can't like shift the audio by audio clock not video frame sync for example allowing alignment of multiple video tracks for audio and video sync, make a mixed audio track then bring back into Edius with a nice clean, in sync audio track to work with. I do this all the time when I have a multicam shoot with 4 consumer cameras that will not hold audio sync. I can then mix the best audio from the cameras and the H4 and H2 audio recorders and sync them all up before creating a mix I like.

Ron Evans

[GrassValley_BH]

The difference is that Vegas 8 will play realtime preview quality for me to see what I have done for AVCHD, HDV and DV but Edius will only do this for HDV and DV ( in my case).

You hit the fundamental design difference on the head here.

Except in the case of bitlayering for J2K and proxies for P2/XDCAM, there's no "preview quality" in EDIUS - it's full-quality all the time.

Not to say that either method is better than the other, it's just different. EDIUS is geared toward WYSIWYG.

[Ron Evans]

Have to agree Brandon. Use what works. Edius is my main editor for the speed and multicam, which is by far the best implementation compared to CS3 or Vegas 8. Since both my daughter and I now have AVCHD cams the family videos are all HD(AVCHD or HDV from my FX1) and Vegas is the most effective at dealing with AVCHD at the moment. Rendering to any other format takes time one way or another, pay in time before or after editing!!!!!!! My latest SR11 has a beautiful image so I think AVCHD is here to stay for awhile and I hope all the NLE's will have fast implementations to deal with the format even if the PC spec is a fast quad to do so or even hardware acceleration/encode/decode. That's OK too.

Ron Evans