AVCHD Workflow VS HDV

[Steve_R]

Hello All, I was wondering if someone could tell me if the workflow difference between AVCHD to HQ and HDV to HQ? I am wanting to get an HD camera and would like to know the best consumer HD camera for use with Edius. I like the idea of having no tapes to deal with but if there is an extra step involved with getting the AVCHD to edit then Tape seems to be the way to go. If AVCHD works well with Edius does it also store your imported video in such a way that you could look at it without Edius running too just to browse your footage? One final question. I have been downloading some sample m2T footage shot with the HV-20. When I drop those m2T files onto the Edius timeline are they being converted to HQ or does that just happen when capturing footage from a camera or deck? Thanks for all your help! Steve

[drgagx]

With cards, as I understand it, you just transfer the data across and Edius will convert to HQ for editing. With HDV tapes (as with DV tapes) you have to go through the capture process in real time.

As for consumer cameras, they are still evolving quite rapidly - new upgraded versions seem to appear at about every six months or less. The latest cameras support up to c17Mbps whereas the AVCHD spec is designed to support c24Mbps. If you can wait, it might be better to see what emerges over the course of this year. The choice will widen. That is what I am doing - besides which I have a stack of DV tapes to use first because I cannot see myself going back to tape after making the conversion to cards.

[Ron Evans]

My experience with Sony SR7 is as follows. Always use the Sony Motion Browser software to import into the PC. This will backup the raw AVCHD files in the folder you set up for the Motion Browser software( default is My Pictures if you don't change). Transfer is very fast over USB2 around 1/10 realtime or so. The Sony Motion Browser software and player will allow you to play back all the files on the PC, select files to make a DVD or a AVCHD disc( that you can play on a Blu-Ray player like PS3) You can also do simple cuts editing by splitting a clip. To bring into Edius as HQ use the AVCHD utility, (first setup the directory where you want the files to go), right click on file and than select convert. The file will be converted to HQ into the directory you set up. On my AMD 4200X2 dual core this takes about 2.5 times realtime. Edius will allow AVCHD raw files on the timeline but performance is sluggish( haven't tried with 4.6 yet so may well be faster). Vegas 8 will play at normal edit speed on the timeline so at the moment my home videos, which are a mix of HDV( from my FX1) and AVCHD( SR7), I use Vegas 8 with raw files.
For simple cuts editing there is no need to leave the Sony Browser software as it will make DVD's with simple titles and menus OK for family stuff.
IF you are going to do a lot of fancy editing then HDV would be a better solution AT THIS MOMENT( next week may be a different story!!!!) I like AVCHD convenience and for family stuff would not consider a tape based system anymore. Daughter now has the SR7 and I will be getting a SR11 when they arrive.

Ron Evans

[Steve_R]

Great info guys

Thanks for the info. Its hard to wait when you have a urge to buy. Looks like maybe I will try the HV20 HDV Camera for now. I can get a new one now for 469.00. That seems cheap to me. I too have allot of DV tapes that I can use with it. The tapeless route seems so compelling but maybe I should wait. Do you know where I can find some RAW AVCHD footage to try with my system? Thanks again

[Jerry]

Thanks for the info. Its hard to wait when you have a urge to buy. Looks like maybe I will try the HV20 HDV Camera for now. I can get a new one now for 469.00. That seems cheap to me. I too have allot of DV tapes that I can use with it. The tapeless route seems so compelling but maybe I should wait. Do you know where I can find some RAW AVCHD footage to try with my system? Thanks again

Be careful if that is a Broadway photo or similiar web site. That price still seems a little low for that camera.
go to: http://www.resellerratings.com/
to check out customer ratings for particular resellers.

But, if you can get if for that, go for it.

[Blast1]

I can get a new one now for 469.00............That price still seems a little low for that camera

I agree with Jerry on that one, the average price is running in the area of $660 +/- twenty or so bucks.