Recent problems with video editing - would power director 10 be the answer?

Jacktravel

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Jul 07, 2012 17:14 Messages: 3 Offline

Solved by

Jul 13, 2012 06:51

I have been creating videos of my travels and holidays for over 15 years. I have used many software packages and various computers over the years. Over the last couple years I have been using VideoStudio Pro X2 which I got to know really well. When I purchased a new Hi Def Camcorder (Panasonic HDC -SD 600) and Upgraded my TV to a large screen HD. I was pleased to see that Videostudio could create AVCHD discs which I use for playback of my Video.
However some time last month my VideoStudio began to create discs that were full of pixellation and shimmer. I immediately thought it was a hardware problem and replaced the burner. The Hardware and Computer check out was quite thorough and showed no faults. The clincher came when I used Panasonic's provided software HD Writer which produced a perfect AVCHD disc. This proved the hardware ok and pointed to the software. I checked and PowerDirector 10 would seem to be the best alternative to Videostudio. But I did not want to purchase the software until I tried creating an AVCHD disc and viewing the result. However the trial version seems to have limitations and there is a problem with importing Panasonics MTS and M2ts files. I would like to find out if anybody has used my camcorder (or similiar) with PowerDirector 10 to find out how they overcame the MTS input problem and have successfully burned AVCHD discs.
Computer HP DV700 Pavillion Laptop (AMD turion 64x2) 4gig ram 107 Gig Free on local disc 711 gig free on expansion
OS Vista Home SP2

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jul 13. 2012 07:11

All vodi

Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Aug 21, 2009 11:24 Messages: 1431 Offline

Jul 13, 2012 17:20

I few suggestions:

- Windows Vista is not a good match for any HD video editor. If you upgrade you should go to 64 bit Win 7.
- For AVCHD editing you'll need at least 6 gbytes of memory. Being a laptop, your PC may not have the ability to handle a graphics card that has at least 1 gbyte of it's own.
- VideoStudio Pro X2 was a decent editor in it's day but all of the current crop of editors are much more demanding. Look at the Cyberlink specs sheet and specifically the HD editing portions for your PC at :

http://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector/requirements_en_CA.html Win 10, i7

davos

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Sep 27, 2011 03:09 Messages: 46 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 05:04

Yes I use the Panasonic HDC -SD 900 and have no problems editing and burning Dvds in PD10 Ultra.The results are great.

However burning Blu-rays on PD10 with these files leads to video/audio sync problems in my case

cheers
David

Jacktravel

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Jul 07, 2012 17:14 Messages: 3 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 05:30

I intend to purchase a high spec desktop at the end of the year so it looks as though I will have to restrict my video editing to HD Writer until then. But Davos does the Panasonic HDC -SD 900 create MT2s or MTS files and how do you import them when that file type is not included in the file type options. Do you connect your camcorder to the computer or import from the SDHC card direct (via the reader)?

davos

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Sep 27, 2011 03:09 Messages: 46 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 06:15

I think a desktop is a must for HD editing...laptops dont hack it.

The files from the SD900 are AVCHD with file extension .MTS

I use a card reader to transfer and have never linked my camera to the PC

All vodi

Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Aug 21, 2009 11:24 Messages: 1431 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 10:26

Jacktravel ,

Actually the current laptops available are quite competent at HD editing (scanning this forum will show you) but their main drawback is the difficulty of upgrades at a later time. In addition, the hard drives and DVD writers may not be as fast as you'd like. For fast HD editing a PC must have a minimum of 6 gbytes of memory. A year from now that will probably go up as software features are added.

On a desktop i7 based PC you can easily edit EITHER M2TS OR MTS files with PD10. A typical AVCHD video clip of 30 minute duration will render in about 45 minutes with a fair amount of editing added. With minimal editing the time can be less than 30 minutes. On a laptop rendering will be longer based on the hardware design.

Direct connection of your camcorder to the PC is the best and simplest way to transfer the files by simply copying them to a folder on your PC. With PD10 the folder becomes the source of all your working files. Win 10, i7

Jacktravel

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Jul 07, 2012 17:14 Messages: 3 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 14:36

I agree that desktops are best hence my decision to go that route hopefully soon. I did make some really good AVCHD videos before something went radically wrong with my software. Thank goodness it was this year and not last as I had a fantastic holiday in New York with lots of HD footage resulting in several well edited HD discs.
HD edit I see you use a connection between the camcorder and the computer to input to a folder, which if I understand you,becomes the source folder for input into PD10. I was just wondering how you connect the SD900 to the computer- USB (is it one of the high speed USBs?), Firewire or HTML or what? I would have thought like Davos input direct from the SDHC card would eliminate any external cables but perhaps the Reader conn within the computer is slower?
Finally I take it, the MTS file structure is recognised by selecting the input as from an HD Camcorder is that right?

davos

Newbie Location: Scotland Joined: Sep 27, 2011 03:09 Messages: 46 Offline

Jul 14, 2012 14:54

The SDHC card to hardrive is extremely fast.

I like it also as I usualy have a few seperate edits on the go and input files from the SD 900 to the relevant folders

I travel a bit as well and its convenient to transfer your video to whatever PC or laptop you have access to