I have been using Vegas 6 for some time for editing HDV footage from my Z1U. However, I recently purchased a small Sony AVCHD camcorder for family trips, etc. The software it came with allows exporting AVCHD to DVD. I can playback the disc on my PS3. Quality is so so... about 9Mbps on average, but I can get about an hour of AVCHD footage on 1 standard DVD.

I also use Pinnacle Studio 11.1 from time to time when I want to export HD to DVD which can be played back on an HD DVD player. I've noticed that with the 11.1 patch, AVCHD export is now supported with variable bit rates up to 17Mbps on a standard 4.7 GB DVD.

Now my question is, I'm interested in upgrading to Vegas 8 Pro or Studio 8 Platinum since I've been having issues with Vegas 6 and Vista, but would like to know if AVCHD export to DVD is supported. Sony's creative software website wasn't very specific; comparisons between Studio Ultimate and Pro show that Studio can read and edit AVCHD but not write, whereas Pro can read, edit, and write. Write to DVD is the question though... is it possible??

Can anyone confirm whether or not this would be feasible with either Pro or Studio Ultimate?

Thanks in advance,
James

Anyone? No ideas?

You might download the Vegas Pro 8 30-day trial and see if it works for what you need.

It has an option in the tools menu to burn a blu-ray disc & various CD formats, but not DVD. You can also export to PSP.

I rendered a test video to Sony AVC which allows me to use Picture Motion Browser to export an m2ts file back into my Sony HDR-SR1 for playback via HDMI cable.

You should be able to render it in a variety of formats and use the included DVD Architect to burn whatever DVD you need.

It is very slow, about 10 times realtime to export to m2ts, even if there are no changes. The Sony Picture Motion Browser is faster and that only uses one processor!!!!! IF you do not want any fancy corrections just cuts etc you can use the Picture Motion software. To my knowledge( there are no menus or instructions that I can find for AVCHD) DVD Architect will only make a standard DVD, no Blu Ray and no AVCHD. You can make a BluRay disc from the Vegas 8 timeline with no menus, essentially a single play backup,but that won't be AVCHD it will be transcoded, read long encode times.
I too am trying to figure out the best way of using my SR7 and have decided to get a Blackmagic Intensity and capture from HDMI and backup to HDV tape if needed. AVCHD support is not there yet. Edius has a converter but that too takes forever to convert to Canopus HQ. Both Edius 4.5 and Vegas 8 will recognise AVCHD on the Timeline but respond slowly, again not really practical in my mind hence my decision to go Intensity to mix with my FX1 clips. For family video, my reson for getting the SR7 I will just use the Picture Motion Browser software slow but still faster than the other choices!!!!

Ron Evans

You could use the Sony AVC - rendered movie in Picture Motion Browser to burn a seamless AVCHD DVD. I think Vegas Pro 8 will also let you burn a DVD for PS3 from the timeline with the blu-ray feature (yes, no menus).

A bit OT here but.. is it possible to mix m2t and m2ts on the same veg? I dun think it can be done but just asking.. we have a project coming where the SR7 and HC1 has to mixed together..

Vegas 8 and Edius 4.5 will allow you to put almost anything on the timeline and edit!!! It's the rendering that takes the time.
Ron Evans