So I recently purchased a Sony HDR-SR1 blindly.... (sigh) I know, bad decision, right? I let the employees at Circuit City convince me that it was the newest and best camera around - even though it definetely isn't.

Regardless - I went out and took some awesome footage that I need to edit in Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5. Of course, there are no programs that currently edit AVCHD or Sony's proprietary .mt2s - so I used Sony's craptastic software to convert the files to MPEG-2 (this is a REALLY slow process for those who haven't done it).

The mpeg's play great in Windows Media Player - they look sharp and the quality is still better than if I had taken it with my old mini-DV camera. The video remained widescreen formated but in 4:3, meaning with the two bars at the top and bottom (as if you were watching a widescreen DVD on a regular TV).

As soon as I import any of these video clips into Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 they suddenly skew. The 'theatrical style' black bars dissapear and the program I guess attempts to stretch the video out to fill the screen.

How can I fix this? I assumed that the video would look the same in Premiere Pro as it did in WMP?

Don't be sad, SR1 still has its advantage:

1, 3.5 inch LARGE LCD
2, manual focus ring is just what lots of people want but not appear on later camcorder

thanks! I really do like the camera a lot, the quality is pretty awesome and I like the large touch screen. of course, all of that is useless if the video I'm taking can't be usuable in some form..

Ulead's VideoStudio 11 is supposed to be able to edit AVCHD material. If you have a fast internet connection you could download a trial version of it and give it a try. HERE (http://www.ulead.com/vs/)

I used VideoStudio 9 with regular SD material and was happy with the results.

Good luck. I like a lot about the SD1 but I won't get one until I know I can archive and edit it.

EDIT: I thought this was about the SD1 not the Sony. But I guess the same thought applies.

you can archive the footage fine in it's raw format - there's an option to "burn to disc" right from the camera to the computer. The problem is utilizing and working with the video. Maybe Ulead can convert the AVCHD to a .avi that will allow me to work with it.

I don't think that will solve the 'widescreen' issue - I've already got projects in Premiere that I need to insert these clips into. The clips (when converted to MPEG using Sony's software) look fine in Windows Media Player but are skewed when I put them in Premiere.

I would get the free trial Ulead VideoStudio 11 download and capture the SD1's footage directly into that program. There might not be any extra steps.
No harm trying.

I know your software is good but it may not do AVCHD - try THIS (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?forumid=72&catid=644&threadid=1278787&enterthread=y) thread.

I only need archives if the archived files can be edited w/o any negative repercussions.

EDIT: I thought this was about the SD1 not the Sony. Would Sony's Vegas suite (Sony MovieStudio) do the job? It can be downloaded on a trial basis as well.

Again, good luck.

When I said "Sony's software" I meant that software that came with the SR1 video camera. I don't think that having Vegas would help because the plugin for Vegas that allows you to work with AVCHD only works if you have a Vaio computer (which I don't have).

I'll check out Ulead - somebody also recommended to me trying out Nero 7 Ulta Enhanced.

Even once I convert it, I still think I'll have the same "widescreen" problem.

Looks great in Windows Media Player, but then squishes when put into Premiere. I have to use Premiere to edit this footage, I already have hours invested in existing projects into which this video is being integrated.

I have to use Premiere to edit this footage, I already have hours invested in existing projects into which this video is being integrated.
I had 100 hours invested in editing a piece when I used Ulead (9). I had trouble with the rendering (last) part and until I found the offending file (a stitched JPEG) I was loath to switching horses, but I would have if I couldn't have produced what I wanted to see.

I think Ulead is a good program to try. I still do small projects with it but I'm not sure what I'll edit with next time. I am trying Vegas moviestudio but I find it takes more "actions" to perform a transition. It does allow for more Global effects and the transitions are better. But I like to cut fast when I can. I refine cuts until they flow the way I want. I do think Sony Vegas is excellent, I just need to keep working with it until I know it better.
I have also read that Sony AVCHD users are having problems with Vegas 7(!).

Hope you find what works.

....Vegas that allows you to work with AVCHD only works if you have a Vaio computer (which I don't have).



This is completely false... vegas runs on any pc and you can do avchd edit on any machine. It IS NOT limited to Vaio computers. The only limits are that you still can't write back to the cam, and Vegas for the moment only works with Sony avchd cams.

There is also Pinnacle studio 11. It edits Avchd pretty well... its limitations are no write back to cam, and 5.1 surround sound gets downmixed to stereo on capture.

There are also limitations in Ulead.... be dammed if I can remember what they are though... visit the website.

I don't think that having Vegas would help because the plugin for Vegas that allows you to work with AVCHD only works if you have a Vaio computer (which I don't have).

What?!? So to use Vegas with AVCHD, you have to own not only a Sony camera but a Sony computer too? And I suppose the resulting discs will play only on a Sony Blu-Ray player connected to a Sony HDTV? :rolleyes:

What?!? So to use Vegas with AVCHD, you have to own not only a Sony camera but a Sony computer too? And I suppose the resulting discs will play only on a Sony Blu-Ray player connected to a Sony HDTV? :rolleyes:

Again.... this is completely false. Vegas and its avchd edit runs on any standard pc and supports both vista and XP. It IS true that Vegas for the moment only works with Sony cams. The sony avchd and panasonic avchd are slightly different breeds and sony felt that they needed to support their customers first (who can blame them). They have stated that they will be issuing a patch at a later date to cover the other cams.

Vegas does not support EITHER hd format at this time, but a vegas created dvd will play on any dvd player and can be seen on any tv. (just want to nip this in the butt so MORE FUD does not get generated.)

Again.... this is completely false. Vegas and its avchd edit runs on any standard pc and supports both vista and XP. It IS true that Vegas for the moment only works with Sony cams. The sony avchd and panasonic avchd are slightly different breeds and sony felt that they needed to support their customers first (who can blame them). They have stated that they will be issuing a patch at a later date to cover the other cams.

Vegas does not support EITHER hd format at this time, but a vegas created dvd will play on any dvd player and can be seen on any tv. (just want to nip this in the butt so MORE FUD does not get generated.)

"nip this in the BUTT"?

I'm ass-uming you meant to say BUD :D