Can I convert AVCHD to "regular" DVD thru Vegas?

Fast Eddie wrote on 4/20/2008, 9:04 AM

I purchased a new Sony Handycam and read everything but the bright yellow warning that told me not to record in HD if I want to share the videos on a regular DVD for folks who do not have a "Blu-Ray!"

I need to get these files into "regular" DVD format? I have Vegas Platinum - but am a "rookie" grandfather just wanted grandkiddo videos to share.

Mant thanks!

Comments

rs170a wrote on 4/20/2008, 9:14 AM

Platinum can read AVCHD files so drop them on your timeline and make a regular DVD like you want to.

edit: Be advised that, if your computer isn't "strong" enough, it may struggle when trying to deal with AVCHD files.

Mike

Fast Eddie wrote on 4/20/2008, 9:20 AM

Thanks Mike! -

If I may bother you - or ask you to send me to the correct forum - at least 50% of the time when I try to import a clip the Vegas Platinum the program "locks up" just by clicking on the clip file. I have a 2.2 Ghz processor and 1G of RAM - my IT folks told me this was plenty of firepower for this.

Any advice?

RogerB1 wrote on 4/20/2008, 10:16 AM

The render setting should be "Widescreen DVD". That will produce a MPEG 2 file that is SD and perfect for a burning a dvd. It works great. I have a Canon HG10 which is AVCHD.

Laurence wrote on 4/20/2008, 11:28 AM

Then there is the really easy way:

Connect your analog video outs from the camera to the analog ins of a stand-alone DVD recorder.

rs170a wrote on 4/20/2008, 1:37 PM

I have a 2.2 Ghz processor and 1G of RAM - my IT folks told me this was plenty of firepower for this.

They were wrong.
I learned a long time ago that most IT folks know very little about the requirements for editing.
On the System Requirements page for Movie Studio, it says:
800 MHz processor (2.8 GHz recommended for HDV).
I'd suspect that your 2.2 Ghz processor is a part of your problem.
Since AVCHD is more stressful to a computer than HDV, I'd bump that minimum requirement up even more.
Also, you'll find that your machine will run much better with 2 gigs of RAM than 1.

Mike

Terje wrote on 4/21/2008, 4:01 AM

my IT folks told me this was plenty of firepower for this

As someone else said, your IT folks were wrong. If you want to comfortably edit AVCHD in high def (for down converting to DVD) you are going to be a lot happier if you have a newer dual-core CPU (or better) with 2G of RAM. I have edited some AVCHD om my dual core, and I have to admit I'd be happier if it was a Quad core.

LSHorwitz wrote on 4/21/2008, 6:15 AM

Not until I purchased a quad core machine did AVCHD editing begin to work smoothly. I previously ediuted HDV format on a single 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 Dell with no problems but AVCHD brought that machine to its knees. A dual core machine is better but still not really very good at AVCHD.

Larry

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/21/2008, 7:25 AM

Your IT people were wrong, hence the reason we created AVCUpShift. Converts to a format that slower, older computers can manage very well.

Jeff9329 wrote on 4/22/2008, 10:36 AM

- at least 50% of the time when I try to import a clip the Vegas Platinum the program "locks up" just by clicking on the clip file.

Is this a sign of too little processing power?

Terje wrote on 4/22/2008, 4:56 PM

Is this a sign of too little processing power?

Difficult to know. May or may not.

Matt Houser wrote on 7/16/2008, 1:05 PM

Larry,

What was your Dual and Quad core PC configurations?

Was the clock speed if your quad slower than the dual? If so, did you still get better preview response editing AVCHD?

...Matt