AVCHD conversion question

[ranchhand]

I have a Canon Vixia HF10; Pinnacle Studio has a verified bug in that many folks cannot get AVCHD files to be accepted in the editing line; they will import ok, and the thumbnails can be seen in the imported file viewer, but they will not move down into the editing timeline to be worked with. I think these also have the mkv extension if I remember. I am trying to find a workaround. Ok, my question: What file format would you suggest to convert these into, hopefully with no quality loss so that Studio will recognize them? I have tried a couple of converters with severe quality loss, largely because I don't know what the heck I am doing. What I don't know about AVCHD will fill many volumes. Hope I am clear enough. Any suggestions as to format and what program suggestions?

[Baldrick]

VoltaicHD.

Or maybe time for a new editor like vegas movie studio or videostudio pro.

[ranchhand]

Yeah, I kind of thought that also, and then I read users of those programs having hair-tearing problems with them also. I spent so much time learning Pinnacle I hate to start the learning curve again. What I did, I used your recommended converter program Freemake Video Converter to convert to AVI, then converted it to type 2, and they do now import and appear in the editing line. They run fine, but the problem is that Pinnacle does not generate thumbnails now in the timeline! So that is my next step. I am gradually beating this into submission, just like I did in Version 10. By the way, that converter you posted is really good, thanks for that. I am going to try Voltaic tonight after work.