Thank you so much for the fast and complete reply. I will take a look at it later today.

First, the naming convention of you import suggests that you are using Vegas Device Explorer to import your clips. That should already combine the clips that the camera split into 4GB segments. It sounds like you might want to combine all your AVCHD clips into one large one. That would not be my workflow (but, hey, everyone's different) - you can find more info in the following recent thread: AVCHD MTS File Conversion to maintain quality
Yes, I used the Device Explorer except it basically just copied them exactly as they are stored on the the SD card. When I connect via USB and copy them they are the exact same size; only the names are different. I use NTFS which may explain why it doesn't cut it off at 4GB. I'm always curious - what is your workflow?
Next, you don't say what format you're shooting in, however, the standard advice in setting Project Properties is to use the "Match Media Settings" dialog to match your project to your source footage.
The format is AVCHD - HG 1920 if I'm looking in the right place. Also, where is the "Match Media Settings"?
Particularly, if you're shooting in 1080 60p, you'll probably want to save your own custom template for repeat use.
The first video I did was 1080 60p (the highest setting on this camera). I was able to edit it in SVP 9 with little problem. The RAW footage was very jerky but when I output it to a standard NTSC setting it was fine. The problem is I do not see any setting in Vegas for either of these formats.
The closest even in 11 is "HD 1080-60i (1920x1080, 29.970 fps)."
As far as your Render Settings are concerned, that entirely depends upon your distribution method. YouTube? BluRay? Standard DVD? Local Play?
I understand except I'm wanting to piece them together in the same quality to keep as RAW footage and THEN edit that one in my final project. For example, when I capture my tapes I name them "My Event (11-6-11) #1a (representing camera #1 one, first tape)". I want to name this "My Event (11-6-11) #2 (since there is only one file)." However, I could just name them with a, b, c, etc. but since I'm kind of like Monk I'm not so sure about that. :-)
Hope this helps and enjoy your new camera!
I am loving it! Thanks Jerry.

'I use NTFS which may explain why it doesn't cut it off at 4GB. I'm always curious - what is your workflow?"

What happens is... since the Panny will only record to a max of 4GB (the SD card is FAT32), if you record to >4GB, the camera will start a new file. The "beauty" of the Device Explorer is that it will stitch the 4GB files back to one large continuous file on your computer which is NTFS.

Other than the stitched 4GB footage, I like to work with the individual clips as recorded. Often time I only want to keep a fraction of them. Plus, I'd end up splitting one big clip once it gets to the timeline anyway. Furthermore, if I want to put multiple (or all) clips on the timeline, I merely select multiple & drag.

"The format is AVCHD - HG 1920 if I'm looking in the right place. Also, where is the "Match Media Settings"?"

Up in my previous post, I circled the "Match Media Settings" icon. Let me try to be more explicit:

1) Click on that icon.
2) Follow the dialog to find your source footage & click "open"
3) Rename the template to something that is meaningful to you and press the "save" icon.

"The first video I did was 1080 60p (the highest setting on this camera). I was able to edit it in SVP 9 with little problem. The RAW footage was very jerky but when I output it to a standard NTSC setting it was fine. The problem is I do not see any setting in Vegas for either of these formats."

Yeah, you won't find a builtin template for 1080 60p, but it's easy to create a custom template (i.e. just the custom button to the right of the builtin template). Make sure you have 1920x1080, Progressive, 59.94 fps. Then you'll want to rename the template & save it for reuse.



Unless, you have a very powerful computer, your preview will probably be jerky. As a first step, try setting your preview to "Preview (Half)" Lots of discussion on Preview in this forum, suggest a search. User "johnmeyer" has a list of principles for good preview. Look here: Wanna go faster ! (fourth post). I almost always capture in 1080 60p as it results in the best quality renders - even though the timelime preview isn't as good.

Finally, If you are interested in rendering for archival purposes, you best bet is to copy the individual, original clips. However, if you're rendering for YouTube, or Bluray, or ?? then there are very specific recommendations.

Hope this helps,
...Jerry

btw: Forum markup documentation is in the sticky, here: New Markup for Forum Posts

The subject of setting Project Properties via Match Media Settings comes up so often, I decided to make a quick Tut on how to do this:



...Jerry

Jerry,

Thanks for the amazing help. Usually I click on icons to see what they do but for some reason I never tried that one. That is a cool setting.

I enjoyed your tutorial and it is well done.

One final question (I think), why 59.940 and is that true for both of the formats we discussed here: 1080 60p and the AVCHD - HG 1920? Okay, I have one more question: how do people generally refer to these formats?

I appreciate your patience with me, I've been doing video since back in the early Pinnacle Studio days (even before Studio DV), but this is the first time I've done these formats.

"I've been doing video since back in the early Pinnacle Studio days "

Ha! Now I see why you are used to one big video file. For non-Studio readers, Studio captures DV to one continuous file but with an associated .scn file that points to the individual "scenes". When loaded onto the timeline, you see a series of separate "scenes" as though they were in individual files.

I just need to change my way of thinking. The reason I think of one big file is because I capture an entire tape that is usually 90 minutes. For example, when we record concerts we have three cameras with two tapes each (unless they are under 90 minutes). I then have either three or six videos to deal with.

It might be interesting to note that I have used virtually every version of Studio, Avid Studio, Liquid, and a whole host of other video software. I was a beta tester for many versions of Studio and Liquid and dropped out of the Liquid program when it was clear they were killing it off. That's when I switched to Vegas and have loved it ever since. I'm also going to buy the Adobe Creative Suite with Premiere and all the other goodies (more for After Effects and PhotoShop than for Premiere). Pinnacle also flew me down to Mountain View and featured me as an "Expert" on two of their web sessions. It was so cool being in their studio with all the green screen, lighting, cameras and tons of equipment. It was quite the experience.

"I'm also going to buy the Adobe Creative Suite with Premiere and all the other goodies"

VideoGuys still lists Adobe CS5.5 Production Premium Switcher for Windows for $849.00. The special offer is available until Oct. 31, 2011.

Like you, I was interested primarily in After Effects and PhotoShop.

"One final question (I think), why 59.940 and is that true for both of the formats we discussed here: 1080 60p and the AVCHD - HG 1920? Okay, I have one more question: how do people generally refer to these formats?"Hmmm... did I imply that both the 1080 60p and HG 1920 were 59.94 frames per second? If the TM900 is the same as my TM700, then HG 1920 is 29.97 frames per second. The confusion might come in because the HG1920 is interlaced and there are two fields per frame thus it is 59.94 fields per second.

I would call the "1080/60p" mode: "1080 60p" and the "HG 1920" mode: "1080 60i". Panasonic confuses the user as both formats are 1920x1080 and for some unknown reason, they refer to the progressive setting by it's height and the interlaced setting by it's width. In addition, it is a continual source of confusion because (as mentioned above) the actual frame rates are 59.94 & 29.97. Some cameras will actually shoot in 30.00 fps or 60.00 fps (my inexpensive Canon SD960 and Flip Mino HD do this). The Vegas editor must be alert to this and "Disable Resample" can be your friend.

Of course this is all from a person living in NTSC-land. PAL folks can tell an entirely different story.

...Jerry