I have an HF100 and an AMD dual core 5400+ with 3 GB ram. Oddly, my PC is able to play native AVCHD. Also, it can play AVCHD that is edited by Pixela (the bundled software), but the editing is pretty choppy, but it's doable.

Should I buy Vegas Pro 8c? I am fine with it if it's only as choppy as Pixela, but if it's worse, then I don't want it. I am too cheap to buy a new computer, so that option is off the table. Also, does anyone know if Vegas 8c smart renders Canon AVCHD output, or do you lose quality on the render? Thanks.

You can download the trial of Vegas Pro @ Sony:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/vegaspro

It's fully functional for 30 days, so you can find out for yourself how it works with your pc.


Here is the trial for Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition/which also can handle AVCHD from the HF100:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/download/trials/moviestudiope

Thanks. I already downloaded the trial and it would always crash on me, however, I've heard that happens to a lot of folks. Once they got the real version it doesn't crash, it seems. Maybe I can try platinum, but I'd rather pay $100 for the BHP Sony Pro upgrade from my Sony Pro Version 5.

Has anyone else had luck with Pro 8c on a dual core with HF100 AVCHD?

If you can upgrade your version 5 for 100 bucks, don't think twice.

I already downloaded the trial and it would always crash on me, however, I've heard that happens to a lot of folks. Once they got the real version it doesn't crash, it seems. Maybe I can try platinum, but I'd rather pay $100 for the BHP Sony Pro upgrade from my Sony Pro Version 5.

I'm pretty sure that the 8c trial is the exact program as the purchased version.

If you do buy it and your pc can't handle it, you could always make proxy files that will be easier on the hardware:

http://www.vimeo.com/groups/vegas/forumthread:2987

Problem is, I'm pretty sure I did the trial of a previous version of (maybe Vegas 8b?), and when I try out 8c they say my trial has already expired.

I think I will probably get the upgrade, but if anyone has had experience on a dual core with AVCHD with Vegas, I'd appreciate a report.

Thanks for that Vimeo link. Looks like I can use proxy if I can't use the native files. What do you consider a good/cheap converter from AVCHD to HDV?

Problem is, I'm pretty sure I did the trial of a previous version of (maybe Vegas 8b?), and when I try out 8c they say my trial has already expired.

I think I will probably get the upgrade, but if anyone has had experience on a dual core with AVCHD with Vegas, I'd appreciate a report.

Thanks for that Vimeo link. Looks like I can use proxy if I can't use the native files. What do you consider a good/cheap converter from AVCHD to HDV?

I use a Quad core , 3GB RAM and AVCHD is very slow to render.

I'll be giving Vegas Platinum a try sometime in the next 3 weeks.
I was going to purchase Magix Pro X but it went up another $50 (should have bought it when it was $100 cheaper, oh well)

slimoli, that's odd that it takes a long time. I think that means that it is transcoding your data, which I don't want. It is converting it to another format. When I use the bundled software with my HF100 or Videostudio X2, it takes very little time (on my dual core) because it only renders the cuts, and everything else is a "straight-pass-thru". You may want to check your settings unless I am wrong and Vegas Pro DOES transcode AVCHD.

unless I am wrong and Vegas Pro DOES transcode AVCHD.

No. It doesn't transcode.... it simply re-writes all the information even when it doesn't need to. At present Vegas lacks the ability to "smart render" (or in other words to COPY blocks of frames that have not changed).

There will be no (or i should say almost no) degradation on parts that have not changed since it is simply rewriting the same info... it just takes longer that way.

Admittedly it would be nice to have "smart render" in Vegas and I suspect that it will one day happen. But it's not really that high on the list of priorities since Vegas is a real NLE and most who buy it do so in order to edit to the point of actually changing things at the frame level.... which of course will always require full renders.

If you're simply interested in doing straight cuts though and nothing else then there are more efficient products that you should look at.

If on the other hand you want to have a look at what programs like Vegas are REALLY used for then take a peek at this video:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/video/video.asp?file=commercial/whyvegaspro&title=Why+Vegas+Pro%3F&VideoPref=fastwm

slimoli, that's odd that it takes a long time. I think that means that it is transcoding your data, which I don't want. It is converting it to another format. When I use the bundled software with my HF100 or Videostudio X2, it takes very little time (on my dual core) because it only renders the cuts, and everything else is a "straight-pass-thru". You may want to check your settings unless I am wrong and Vegas Pro DOES transcode AVCHD.

My settings are correct and Bigbarney already said it doesn't smart render AVCHD (it does with HDV). When Vegas is rendering (re-writing some parts) my Vista CPU gauge goes up to the end but RAM memory doesn't seem to be a problem even with only 3GB. I also have to say that my projects are very long, over 2 hours footage. Loads of cuts, transictions,audio editing, color correction and some slow motion. For people who just want to cut and add audio Vegas would be overkill but for the price you can get it now you should go for the BMW instead of a Corolla. Learning curve with Vegas Pro can be very steep, you wont learn everything in few days, but it's nice to have an editor without the limits of a pure consumer product.

Thanks for the smart render info. I really don't do much more than simple cuts and fades and audio tweaks, and I have a lot of experience with Vegas Pro 5 from the MiniDV days. However, I have tried almost every other cheaper AVCHD program, and I am not satisfied with any of them. VSX2 introduces stutters on all edits for HF100 AVCHD, PD7 does not give me good quality, Nero does not give me good quality.

I actually find the best cheap editor to be the one that was packaged with my HF100 - pixela. It is the only one that doesn't degrade quality. However, it is a truly bare-bones editor.

This is why I am interested in Vegas 8c (aside from the fact that upgrading for former Vegas Pro users is only 100 bucks). Can you guys confirm that the quality of Vegas 8c-rendered AVCHD is pretty much indistinguishable from the raw camcorder files?

As I said, my only worry is that my Dual Core AMD 5400+ will be stressed out, and I can't demo 8c because my demo of 8b has run passed the 30 days.