So what are we using to edit?
 

Got my NX5U about a week ago and now I'm thinking about editing. Two issues seem to have come up already: ability to edit the 24Mbps AVCHD stream and the ability to use the PCM audio option. What software are you using?

Edius Pro 5.5

Ron Evans

PC version of Adobe PPro CS5 ingests both AVCHD and LPCM. I've used the lastest Cineform NeoHD with mixed results. I liked color balancing and matching with First Light (which seemed to better match my XH-A1 and NX5 than Premiere's color correction tools). However, I ran into stability problems using NeoHD build 257 it with CS5. While the most recent build (261, I think) which seems much more stable, but have not had have time to see if it resolved the instability on my system. Instead went ahead and finished the project (a dance recital shot with two AVCHD and three HDV cams) using the native streams in Premiere. What I saw was that PPro CS5 tended to bog down in the latter part of long-form multi-cam timelines (over 40 minutes) on my system (ASUS P6t D v2, 12 gB RAM, GTX 260 with MPE hardware enabled). The work-around was to divide the project up into shorter segments and use nested sequences to compile to a final timeline.

Avid MC5 also seems to work with both AVCHD and LPCM although, on my system, it is insisting I first import the files through Avid's conversion to Quicktime. I've just started to get Avid set up to run and somebody else may be able to give you better info.

I haven't tried Edius since getting my NX5, but all accounts seem positive.

With Edius 5.5 you just import your footage and drop it straight to the timeline, no need to transcode.

MC5 here. I have been using the mpeg files to mix with my PD170 though.I edit with Avid Liquid right now. I am trying to catch up with my editing so i can work(play) on MC5.I did some freelance work for a company and he edits with Edius 5.5 and produced a short show for our local station. I watch it in HD and I was amazed at how great the NX5 looked over the air. Here is a link to the show in low res. preview





Dan
Forever Moments Video Productions

I use Sony Vegas Pro 9. It works fine in SD and HD resolutions. I use dolby audio but tried LPCM also and didn't noticed any problems.

I'm saving up and hope to get a copy of Windows Movie Maker one of these days.

How are you getting AVCHD into MC5?

Perrone,

I click on file then import. Find the file and click open.





Dan
Forever Moments Video Productions

Ok, thought you were doing something fancy! :)

edius 5.5. works great!

I can't import the .mts file into FCP :-(

Thanks for the responses.
Dan, I'm an Avid Liquid user also but am moving on now that it's EOL and I have an AVCHD camera. I need a method that is faster than first converting all my AVCHD to MPEG2. Otherwise I wouldn't switch.
Cristian, have you experienced issues with using the FX (24Mbps) files?

Marc,

I am not converting the files. I write to the cards in 1080i FX mode and the hard drive in 480i 4:3 or 16:9. Did you take advantage of the $495.00 for MC4/5 for Liquid users? MC5 will import AVCHD files. I tried Edius and could not get used to it. I think MC5 makes more cents to me, but it's a personal choice. I do like there multi cam feature in Edius.

Dan
Forever Moments Video Productions

You can easily re-wrap your files to Quicktime .mov files using ClipWrap

But, you very well might run into problems working with native AVCHD files. As the super high compressed nature of the AVCHD codec is Hell on your processor.

The same goes for many computers, weather PC or MAC. As at this time you have to have some serious horsepower to edit native AVCHD media. AVCHD was designed as a delivery not editing codec.

In many cases it\'s best to convert to an intermediate for the edit.