Importing AVCHD files

CLofgreen wrote on 8/10/2010, 1:49 PM
Brand new to AVCHD and desperately need help.

Very last minute was asked to video tape my nieces wedding. Rented a Sony handycam that creates AVCHD files on a card (bad mistake I think).

Camera worked great. I copied the files to my computer and I can view the files using VLC Media Player. They look great.

Problem is when I try to Import AVCHD Camcorder or if I try to Import Media, I get "An error occurred while opening one or more files. The system is low on memory. blah blah."

I have 16 gigs. Nothing else is open. It's a very stable system. I've tried the 2GB memory cap procedure posted elsewhere in this forum w/o success.

I've been reading here now for several hours and don't seem to be getting anywhere. Does anyone know what I can do to open and edit these files? They are .MTS files.

Thx. Craig

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 8/10/2010, 2:57 PM
I open them one at a time and render them to something else, like Sony .mxf. Then i create my project using the new .mxf files instead.
Markk655 wrote on 8/10/2010, 5:48 PM
You have a quad core cpu, right? Presumably the AVCHD camcorder is 1920x1080 and either 60 or 5i or 30p or 25p?

You should have the horsepower to edit and render. Make sure you adjust your preview window to one of lower settings for better playback during editing.

Not sure why you are getting "an error occurred opening one or more files". As per Chienworks suggestion, open them up individually. See what the problem files are.

ritsmer wrote on 8/11/2010, 2:30 AM
Maybe I misunderstood - but anyway you should not "Import to " or anything the like. Just drag-and-drop the AVCHD clips (that you have copyed using Windows Explorer to your harddisk) directly to the timeline. I do it several hours every day :-)
Markk655 wrote on 8/11/2010, 5:21 AM
Ritsmer raises a good point.. Although it is sometimes called "import", it is really just copying the files from the card to the HDD. What version of VMS are you using?

Regardless of VMS version, you could eitherjust copy/paste or drag files from the camcorder or memory card via Windows.

Additionally in VMS 9, there is an import AVCHD camcorder that basically does the same thing (and renames the files). In V10, there is a Device Explorer that allows one to do the same thing with some minor functionality enhancement.
CLofgreen wrote on 8/11/2010, 7:43 AM
Wow! Fast response. This is a great forum. Thanks all.

I am using version 9.0b build 92

I can't open them one at a time. I get the same memory error.

I can't drag and drop them via Windows Explorer either. I get this error: None of the files dropped on Vegas Movie Studio Platinum could be opened.

In the Vegas Explorer tab, I see the files but can't open or drag and drop them from there either. Also, the icon is the typical one when Windows doesn't recognize the file type. Do I need to load some special driver or codec in order for Windows to know what kind of file they are?

Craig

The files are 1080 30p and I can play with VLC Media Player.

Markk655 wrote on 8/11/2010, 8:32 AM
Sony AVCHD should be easily read by appropriate versions of VMS9 and VMS 10.

Might be a ridiculous question, but are you sure it is platinum and not just basic VMS 9?

1. Try uninstalling and reinstalling VMSP 9. if that doesn't work...

2. Try downloading the VMS10 trial. See if it works in that.

3. You can also upload a short clip for one of us to check out as well.

Generally, you may also want to run MediaInfo (free download) and check the file parameters.
CLofgreen wrote on 8/11/2010, 11:38 AM
Mark,

Thanks again for the reply.

Yes, verified it is the Platinum version per Help > About.

I opened the file with MediaInfo but not sure what I'm looking for.

I'm going to download the trial for V10. I bought v 9.0 about two months ago so might ask Sony if I can upgrade to 10.

If non of this works I'll upload a clip.

Craig
CLofgreen wrote on 8/11/2010, 2:34 PM
Vegas 10 trial imported the files just fine. I will try reinstalling V9. Thank all of you for your help.

Craig
Mike M. wrote on 8/11/2010, 3:58 PM
Perhaps it's too late to comment on this topic, but I have VMS 9 platinum as well and could not load all AVCHD or AVCSD media files (many using the mp4/h.264 combination of container and codec). Sony also verified the same issue when I sent them some files.

However, they worked with Vegas Professional 9e and also with VMS 10.
Markk655 wrote on 8/11/2010, 7:25 PM
Great to hear. Hopefully VMSP9 works better after reinstalled...
CLofgreen wrote on 8/12/2010, 12:19 PM
Unfortunately, reinstalling the software made no difference. I'm going to have to assume that mixer440 is right which is strange because it was a Sony Handycam I used. Oh well, I got a few hours use out of 9 before having to upgrade to 10.

Thanks to all for your help.

Craig