editing m2ts files

OCVQ wrote on 8/9/2009, 9:01 AM

So I just bought a Panasonic HD camcorder and have used the software that came with it to download the m2ts files to my computer. My current version of Vegas Platinum 8.0 apparently doesn't support the files (the program just hangs up when I try to import).

Do I understand correctly that all I need to do is upgrade to the latest version of Vegas Platinum? Then I can edit, render, etc., just like I used to with AVI files? If so, when I render my completed project, can I still choose to render it to an avi or mpeg file? I guess if I do that I lose the full HD resolution, right? Then maybe it's just as easy for me to use one of the conversion programs out there to convert my original m2ts files to avi and then just edit those.

Any thoughts?

Comments

Markk655 wrote on 8/9/2009, 11:22 AM

m2ts are AVCHD files. A new Panasonic camcorder would imply 1920x1080 ("full HD") files. Make sure computer is fast enough to edit these files directly. If not there are a number of ways to convert files where you can retain some (or all of the HD quality). V08 did support Sony AVCHD files (slightly different than Panasonic's. If V08 does not work for your files, try downloading the latest version of V09 trial version. Easy to uninstall if you decide not to go that way.

Keep in mind that you do not "capture" files like you did with tapes. You can just drag files from your camera onto your PC for editing. If V08 has "import from AVCHD camcorder", you can do that too.

So, I would try out V09 (should be on sale soon as some of us expect V10 relatively soon. If that doesn't work for you eitheer use Eugenia's proxy method (search this forum or her blog), or use a conversion software such as AVCHD Upshift from NewBlue.

Eugenia wrote on 8/10/2009, 12:34 AM

Make sure you have updated your Vegas Platinum 8 to the LATEST *free* update version. The latest free update supports AVCHD better than the original 8.0 version. However, still, not as well as Platinum 9 does. Anyways, first make sure you have the latest 8.x version installed.

OCVQ wrote on 8/10/2009, 6:21 PM

Thanks for both responses!

OCVQ wrote on 8/13/2009, 7:06 AM

I did have the latest version of 8.0 but it wouldn't handle the files. I downloaded the trial version of 9.0 and it is allowing me to import the m2ts files, however the preview skips many frames making good editing impossible. Does anyone else experience this or is my computer in need of an upgrade? It skips consistently in both clip preview and on the timeline playback.

Any further thoughts? Thanks all.

OhMyGosh wrote on 8/13/2009, 7:29 AM

Hi OCVQ,
What are your systems specs? Have you tried changing the preview to Draft (Auto)? Let us know. Cin

Eugenia wrote on 8/13/2009, 2:31 PM

Use the tips here:
http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2008/12/19/sony-vegas-hints-and-tips/
If it still skips, then you must upgrade. Get any modern system with 3 GBs of RAM, and you should be in business.

OCVQ wrote on 8/13/2009, 4:30 PM

Here's my specs:

Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz processor with Hyperthreading. 2 GB of RAM, 500 GB SATA Hard Disk for rendering

I haven't tried previewing in draft mode yet.

Eugenia wrote on 8/13/2009, 6:20 PM

Don't even bother. That PC is not fast enough for AVCHD. You should have checked here with us before buying an AVCHD camera, as AVCHD is known to be slow to edit. HDV works perfectly with a P4 at 3 Ghz (I have the exact same PC you see, so I know), but AVCHD will preview at 3 fps no matter what you do.

You have the following options:
1. Buy a new, modern PC with at least 3 GBs of RAM. (~$600) Email me directly if you need more guidance about what to buy.
2. Sell the AVCHD camera and buy an HDV camera (I would suggest the Canon HV40). (~$700)
3. Buy Cineform's NeoSCENE ($129) to transcode to Cineform AVI and then edit that. Full HD Cineform is as fast as HDV to edit.
4. Use Proxy Files (free): http://eugenia.gnomefiles.org/2007/12/12/proxy-editing-with-sony-vegas/ Cumbersome workflow, but it works, and you can edit fast (exports will be slow though).

OCVQ wrote on 8/14/2009, 5:26 PM

As disappointing as it is, I appreciate your candid response with all the options. My husband is an IT guy so no worries on what to buy... he's been telling me forever that if I just let him spend a bunch of money he'll build me an awesome video editing machine. :-) Guess I'm gonna have to do it now. I'd been putting it off because the current specs were working fine up until now.

I think I'll go for the conversion software... so you think Cineform is the best to do it? I know there are others out there (some cheaper with lower system requirements) but I hear there can be problems with audio. Any further thoughts?

Eugenia wrote on 8/14/2009, 10:34 PM

If you buy a fast machine (faster than 2.4 Ghz Core2Duo, and 3 GB RAM) you don't need conversion. You edit the AVCHD files as is.

OCVQ wrote on 8/14/2009, 11:06 PM

But didn't you say it will preview at 3 fps no matter what I do?

Eugenia wrote on 8/14/2009, 11:40 PM

No, please read more carefully. I said "it will preview at 3 fps no matter what you do" in your *current* P4 3Ghz PC. With a modern PC it will be fine.

lofreequency wrote on 8/25/2009, 9:45 AM

"3. Buy Cineform's NeoSCENE ($129) to transcode to Cineform AVI and then edit that. Full HD Cineform is as fast as HDV to edit."

Will these AVI's then be compatible to edit with Vegas Pro 6? thx :)

I just bought a panasonic hdc-sd9 (killer closeout price!). I'm trying out Vegas Home Studio 9 Platinum demo. It handles the m2ts files as far as laying out in the timeline, but yeah skips in the preview. Have rendered anything yet.

I'm at the point now of decided to buy either Vegas Home Studio 9 Platinum or Cineform's NeoSCENE (if it works with VP6). I'm also trying Vegas Pro 9 and having aweful issues with memory errors when rendering. I think VP9 is more than I need especially for a $235 "upgrade." I'm not in the market for a new computer right now unfortunately so trying to deal with what I have.

I can live with preview skipping in Vegas Home Studio 9 Platinum if things will still render out with my current computer. thx

Or would I be OK just rendering the m2ts files to mpeg2. Panasonic's HD Writer software can do this as part of the import.

Eugenia wrote on 8/25/2009, 1:38 PM

>Will these AVI's then be compatible to edit with Vegas Pro 6? thx :)

Cineform NeoSCENE will work with version 6, but you can keep your Pro 6 and use Platinum 9 for AVCHD editing.

>I can live with preview skipping in Vegas Home Studio 9 Platinum if things will still render out with my current computer. thx

If the skipping is not too much, just go for Platinum 9, and edit directly, without transcoding to any other format.

>Or would I be OK just rendering the m2ts files to mpeg2. Panasonic's HD Writer software can do this as part of the import.

No, you will lose quality.

lofreequency wrote on 8/25/2009, 2:09 PM

Eugenia said:

"Cineform NeoSCENE will work with version 6, but you can keep your Pro 6 and use Platinum 9 for AVCHD editing.

If the skipping is not too much, just go for Platinum 9, and edit directly, without transcoding to any other format."

Thanks! This is the scenario I'm hoping will work myself...adding Platinum 9. I still like VP6 for most of my needs, but with the new camera (I also have an Aiptek Action HD) I'm looking for something a bit more efficient to edit these vids ( I usually convert the Aiptek files to x264 to edit in VP6). I'm down to 4-5 days on my trial of Platinum 9 and am hoping give it more of a workout with the m2ts files before then. I've only had the Panasonic for a couple days so am in a bit of a scramble mode researching all this stuff and experimenting. lol

jodp02 wrote on 8/25/2009, 7:53 PM

I know there is a lot of discussion about system specs and such but I was wondering if it was just a Vegas thing. I have a Canon HF S100 and the editing software that came with it, Pixela, previews the AVCHD files just fine when I am working in the timeline. No real slow preview at all. I have a Vista 64 bit system with a 2.3 ghz quadcore AMD Phenom processor and 6gigs of RAM. Still Vegas edits almost the same as it does on my Centrino duo Vista computer with a 1.8ghz pocessor. What Gives? I mean like I said Pixela works fine.

Eugenia wrote on 8/25/2009, 9:30 PM

Simply, Pixela uses a more optimized decoder.

jodp02 wrote on 8/30/2009, 2:09 PM

So then, does this mean there is a chance that the next version of Vegas may be able to handle AVCHD without all the "stuttering" in the preview.

Eugenia wrote on 8/30/2009, 2:54 PM

Not really. The v9 is already the "optimized" version of Vegas regarding AVCHD. v8 was much worse.

OCVQ wrote on 8/31/2009, 3:11 PM

Back with an update to the original post here... I got my bigass computer upgrade (Core i7 920, 12 GB ram, ATI Radion 4870 with 1 GB ram, two 500 GB SATA hard drives striped in a raid zero, ASUS P6T deluxe motherboard) and so far the ACVHD vid clips preview perfectly with my trial version of V9 (testing before I buy). Hoping my system is future-proofed for a couple of years now!