Vegas, HC3, AVCHD

Daveco2 wrote on 11/24/2006, 9:10 AM

I assume Vegas can import the AVCHD format from the HC3 HD camera. I wouldn't think there would be any gain in resolution in the final product outputted to DVD Architecth compared to SD. Is all this correct? If so, it seems that the only reason for getting the HC3 would be to get the 16:9 format and maybe archive the HD tapes for use later when the DVD authoring software catches up via Bluray.

Any comments?

Thanks,

Dave

Comments

allyn wrote on 11/24/2006, 9:25 AM

i thought the hc3 was hdv, not avchd. i don't think movie studio can do avchd yet anyway.

your sd dvds will probably look a little better than if you used an sd camera, but you will obviously not be realizing the full potential of hd until you can write an hd dvd.

Daveco2 wrote on 11/25/2006, 6:40 AM

I have Movie Studio Platinum which says it can capture and edit HDV. I was just wondering if that meant it can capture the HC3 native AVCHD format directly or if it has to do some conversion which could cause image loss.

Once I do the editing I'm assuming I can output it back to the camera and then play the result on a HD TV.

Of course, when it becomes available, I would burn the edited material onto a HD disc, whatever that happens to be after the format wars.

Bottom line - I'd like to get a HD camcorder only if I can edit the tapes without loss that could possibly put me back at the SD level.

Dave

Tim L wrote on 11/25/2006, 7:47 AM

Allyn is right -- the HC3 is an HDV format camcorder, not AVCHD.

"HDV" is an MPEG2 compression scheme, and is fairly well established. "AVCHD" is very new, and is generally used on the newer camcorders that record to hard drive, to DVD-type discs, SD memory cards, or Memory Stick.

HDV is supported by Vegas and Vegas Movie Studio. Sony has announced that Vegas will support AVCHD at some point -- maybe next spring?

Anyway, I don't have any direct experience with HDV (at all), but the new version 7 releases of Vegas and Vegas Movie Studio apparently vastly improved support for HDV. It can definitely edit the native video files that come from the HC3, the only issue is how sluggish the editing might be on a slower computer.

Tim L

Daveco2 wrote on 11/25/2006, 7:17 PM

Thanks Allyn and Tim,

Now that that's settled, I'm looking for another excuse to hold off buying the camera. I just have the feeling that I should wait for the software to catch up and for the next generation cameras to come out.

Anyone around here done any HDV editing?

Dave