Transcoding AVCHD - Best File Format

[Rich Nicholls]

What is the best file format to transcode AVCHD to? I want to edit the files but Pinnacle runs out of memory so I think I need to Transcode them.

I'd like to keep the quality as high as possible - thats why I bought a HD camcorder.

What is the best combination of file type and software?

Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Rich

[Chris Barcellos]

Check out Cineform NeoHDV or their other products. You used to have to have a separate codec installed on system to use it, but they may be passed that now. Alternatively, check out the Cineform forum here at DVInfo.

[Bruce Foreman]

Originally Posted by Rich Nicholls

What is the best file format to transcode AVCHD to? I want to edit the files but Pinnacle runs out of memory so I think I need to Transcode them.

Any assistance will be much appreciated.

Rich

What message is Pinnacle giving you, how much memory does your computer have, and what are your processor specs.

Pinnacle specifies dual core processor at 2.4Ghz to edit 1440x1080, quad core at 2.66Ghz to edit 1920x1080.

And it does use GPU memory for some things. If I try to edit 1920x1080 it will kind of do it on my quad core 2.4Ghz machine but I get a warning that I have insufficient graphics memory to use Studio's hardware acceleration features. It will edit but some background rendering and other features are disabled.

My laptop with a dual core 2.0Ghz processor and no separate graphics card will edit 1440x1080, so for now my trick on both machines is to have a 1440x1080 intro I can drop on the timeline first (I have Pinnacle Studio set to set project preferences based on the first clip dropped on the timeline) so 1920x1080 video gets edited as 1440x1080 and I still have the higher def video to go back and re-edit when I upgrade my computer.

AVCHD can take a lot of computer "horsepower"

[Rich Nicholls]

Bruce,

I have a Quad Core Q6600 Overclocked to 3.3Ghz with 4GB Ram and Nvidia 8800GTX 768mb.

I'm running Vista 32bit, my PC runs almost everything including the latest games and I've tried editing The AVCHD in Vegas Pro trial version and it works fine with no Memory issues.

Rich