Second that. The time it takes to transcode to MXF is saved many times over with much more rapid timeline manipulation, previewing, and rendering. Be prepared though, as depending on which template you choose MXF can be 50% to 200% bigger than the original MTS file.

I've been Transcoding from Camera/AVCHD to MPEG2 (1920x1080 30Mbps) using Adobe Media Encoder. I've tried most everything but get satisfactory results with my method no matter what NLE I use. File size seems to double but it doesn't 'bloat' the way other formats I've tried have. If viewed on a Scope you may be able to tell a quality difference but the Human Eye is yet to detect any difference.

MXF as a wrapper may work for some but I tend to get better performance with multiple layers/FX and No GPU Accelleration with my chosen MPEG2 template. I normally edit at: Draft > Full.

One more vote for MXF.
I use Proxy Stream 1.5 (free script) which only works with V9 but the files work well in V11

Proxy Stream 1.5

What do you use Kelly?

I use Vegas. Dump the MTS files on the timeline and render to Sony MXF.

I used Proxy stream to automate the process. Works great.

Dave T2

Proxy Stream 1.5e works fine in VP11 64bit.

Willem.

Thanks all

Actually is it possible to convert the M2TS file to MXF. Work in that format to do al your splits / add effects / transitions. Then to simply swap in and out the MXF file back with the original M2TS file. i.e. so all your previewing and editing is quick and when you come to render you can use your original source footage.

Thoughts

Yes, you can and Proxy Stream makes it real easy by having a Switch to change between proxy files and real files.

Dave T2

For proxy editing you can try and just change the mxf extension to m2ts. I've done this when I was editing on my old P4. Haven't had to edit w/ proxys since I built my new machine so experiment.

I used to place all my proxy files wi/ the exact same name in its own folder edit and when I was ready to do the final render, just changed the folder name to the folder w/ the original files that contained the clips w/ the same names.

Experiment w/ one clip and see if it plays back ok.

Here are the steps I used when editing proxy events:in my Vegas Studio days. (;

1st, consolidate all the oringinal footage for a project in one folder we can call it "o" (Original Footage).

Create a proxy file folder in the same location where "o" folder is, we can call it "vwf" (Vegas working folder). Create the smaller proxy files in this folder. Note the proxy file names must match the original file names and convert them to the "vwf" (vegas working folder).

Open Vegas Studio and edit the proxy videos in the "vwf" folder
When you're done editing the proxy files do this:

1. Save the project and close Vegas
2. Change the name of the "vwf" folder to something like "p" (proxy)
3. Change the name of original folder "o" to "vwf"
4. reopen Vegas and render using the original files in the "o" folder.

Note that the "vwf" and original folders must be in the same sub directory for this to work properly.

I don't bother. Once i've converted to MXF i just use those files. Rendering goes many times faster that way too.

The quality loss in going from AVCHD to MXF 50mbps 4:2:2 is undetectable.