Thanks, Larry. That did work.

I am still unable to get the quality I get using Pixela by using Nero. I have tried many combinations of video options, but, no matter what I choose, once I trim a video in Nero, I lose quality. (If I don't trim a video, Nero produces perfect quality, even if I combine multiple videos (that were edited in Pixela) into one AVCHD disk). I also notice that I never get 100% smart rendering of video once I trim a clip.

Here are options I have used that don't seem to give me good quality:
Video Mode: NTSC
Nero Smart Encoding: Enable
MPEG4 AVC settings: Normal and Highest Quality
Quality Setting: High Quality and Custom
Sample Format: Automatic or Custom
Bit Rate: (when choosing custom) 17,000 kbit/s
Resolution: 1920/1080
Encoding Mode: 1 Pass and 2 Pass
Audio Format: Automatic

Can you tell me exactly what your settings are to get perfect HF100 AVCHD video after editing/trimming? Thanks.

Nero AVCHD Settings
 

Hello Peter - I have tried the same combinations as you and come up with the same results.
Nero "smart renders" if you are simply combining untouched clips together.
If you do even a basic cut or trim on a single clip - Nero transcodes.

No response yet from Nero tech support as to why. I am still looking for a tool that will allow me to do basic cut edits on the AVCHD files without going thru the transcoding process.

Please let me know if you have found any AVCHD editing tools that will do that.

--Chris

Hi Chris, the bundled software with the hf100 does it perfectly, but only with hf100 avchd.

Corel VS11.5 or higher, it will smart render over jump cuts. It will also do its best to smart render the parts of clips outside its transition effects. But sometimes at the end of transition effects, it glitches when switching back to smart render. A fix is awaited!

Hi Mike. Unfortunately there is a well-documented issue with VS11.5 and VSX2 Pro at least for the HF100. They create stutters before and after ALL cuts/trims of ALL clips. This can be difficult to notice unless you're looking for it or if you have a smooth pan. Sometimes the jerkiness of handheld footage masks the problem. Many people have verified this happens even without transitions or other fancy edits.

Ah. Yes, I see this is referred to on the Corel forum, with no fix yet, though there do seem suggestions it is in XS rather than 11.5. I haven't noticed this issue on my HG10 or SD1 output with 11.5+.
It's not associated with the silly problem they have where the input clips are all UFF but their default o/p is always LFF unless you change it, is it?! They seem to get fields a bit confused here and there...

Hi Mike, I have noticed the stutters on 11.5+ as well. If you do a very slow horizontal pan, and then splice/trim it with VS, you will see stutters before and after the splice/trim. However, I doubt you'd see these stutters on still shots or with hand held footage.