New Job, New Camera

[JJ Bones]

Hello VideoHelp.com feels good to be back. I've used this site over the years and forgot my login information so created a new account.

I have begun a new job and I am in charge of the video portion of our business. The camera we already have is a Canon HD VIXIA HF20 and the format that it automatically makes all the files is .MTS

I'm no video pro by any means, however I have owned my own cameras, and have a website where I've uploaded BMX videos.

Just never heard of .MTS and when I play the videos that have already been recorded it's stuttered so to speak on my computer, not sure if it's because my computer isn't up to par?

I downloaded Xilisoft MTS Converter but the video has no audio, so I'm just looking for a bit of guidance. Any reply is appreciated.

[edDV]

Your listed computer is inadequate. You need a Core 2 Duo or Quad. The more the better.

Use Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9 (or Pro), Premiere Elements 7 (or Pro CS4).

If those are still sticky on the timeline and they will be, encode to to a Cineform Neoscene digital intermediate. Then it will feel like editing DV.
http://www.cineform.com/neoscene/features.php

If you have money for a new camcorder, consider the JVC native 1280x720p HDV/MPeg2 models that do 59.94p. Perfect for hand held sports action. Start with the GY-HM100U.
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/category.jsp?productId=PRO1.1
http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101845

[JJ Bones]

Thanks for the tips. I will be recording educational classes and some home improvement type of videos with this new job. So this camera should be fair correct?

[redwudz]

.mts is similar to what's used on Blu-ray videos. It's difficult to play back if your computer isn't fairly fast, along with your video card. I would drop one of the videos into MediaInfo and see what the formats of the video and audio are. Most likely H.264 AVCHD 1080P video and AC3 stereo audio. Try playback with MPC-HC.

If your video card has hardware acceleration, that will help considerably for playback. You can use DXVA checker for finding out: http://bluesky23.hp.infoseek.co.jp/en/index.html

What is your final output format? Probably time to read up on HD video, AVCHD and H.264. H.264 is fairly hard to edit in. For direct editing, AviDemux may work for you. But you might want to use an intermediate format if you plan to output to something like DVD. Neo Scene is popular for that.

And welcome back to our forums.

[edDV]

Thanks for the tips. I will be recording educational classes and some home improvement type of videos with this new job. So this camera should be fair correct?

Your HF20 is an entry consumer cam but will be adequate for that kind of work. You will need to invest $$$ in level 6 SD cards, a good tripod and a lighting kit. The main issues will be editing as explained above.

[JJ Bones]

So if I get a faster computer this camera + editing should be a breeze?

[redwudz]

HD video editing is never a 'breeze'. HD content is highly compressed, much more than Divx/Xvid. That makes it difficult to edit. Cut and paste editing should be easy enough, though. But you will need to cut on keyframes. Those may be spaced ~300 frames apart, so frame accurate editing is very difficult. That's one reason Neo Scene is suggested.

[JJ Bones]

What is a computer recommendation for what I want to do related to this job.

Mac or PC? Certain specifications I may want? I know it's going my in depth, but I appreciate anyones replies.

[edDV]

What is a computer recommendation for what I want to do related to this job.

Mac or PC? Certain specifications I may want? I know it's going my in depth, but I appreciate anyones replies.

Either will work. The Mac would be considerably more expensive if you go above iLife. Mac converts AVCHD to AIC digital intermediate for editing.

A Core2 Quad Windows PC with Vegas Pro 9 (including DVD Architect) and Neocene would cost about the same as a bare bones iMac. The iMac would then need the $999 Studio package.

[fitch.j]

Another option is to get a new PC with a Quadro card (or Geforce 285) and then get Premiere CS5 to edit on, this way you will be able to take advantage of the Mercury plaback engine, and won't need an intermediate like NeoScene to edit smoothely. This may be a little overkill for what you are looking at but it is certainly a viable option.

Overall though yes you need to upgrade your PC for any sort of reasonable playback/editing. With a suitable PC the NLE will be able to handle the .MTS files that you have, some NLE's slightly better than others, and with different options and prices depending on your budget and preferences.

[JJ Bones]

Thank you all for your responses. They've helped me out a lot. I saw a good deal at CostCo last night, what do you guys think? From doing a bit of Google searching and your opinions I'm fairly certain that this PC will be perfect.

HP P6367C-B Computer w/ 25" HD LCD 2 YR WRNTY & WINDOWS 7
Intel Core2 Quad Q8300
8 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
1TB Hard Drive
LightScribe DVD+/-R/RW/CDRW
Win 7 Home Premium 64 bit
Intel GMA X4500 (this is the video card right? Is that good enough?)

For $999.99

[budz]

Get a HP-170t series pc directly from the HP website. It comes with a Intel i7-860 Quad core cpu which is better than the one you linked to from Costco's website. You customize other hardware you want in the pc. Starting price at $999.99.

Here's a link to it: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_s...HPE170t_series

[JJ Bones]

Get a HP-170t series pc directly from the HP website. It comes with a Intel i7-860 Quad core cpu which is better than the one you linked to from Costco's website. You customize other hardware you want in the pc. Starting price at $999.99.

Here's a link to it: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_s...HPE170t_series

I'll need a monitor as well, this deal doesn't include one. So I'll need to weigh the benefits. Better Processor but no monitor and less ram? Or is the i7-860 Quad worth about a $300 price difference from a Core2 Quad Q8300 ?

[yoda313]

Just curious as to why you will need a monitor. Did yours just die? There is no reason to get a new monitor just because you get a new computer.

The only thing being if you intend to give or sell your old one to a friend or family member.

Or are you expanding to dual monitor use to aid in video editing?

[JJ Bones]

Just curious as to why you will need a monitor. Did yours just die? There is no reason to get a new monitor just because you get a new computer.

The only thing being if you intend to give or sell your old one to a friend or family member.

Or are you expanding to dual monitor use to aid in video editing?

I've been bringing my personal laptop to work. So if we get this new workstation we'll need a monitor.

[budz]

Get a HP-170t series pc directly from the HP website. It comes with a Intel i7-860 Quad core cpu which is better than the one you linked to from Costco's website. You customize other hardware you want in the pc. Starting price at $999.99.

Here's a link to it: http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_s...HPE170t_series

I'll need a monitor as well, this deal doesn't include one. So I'll need to weigh the benefits. Better Processor but no monitor and less ram? Or is the i7-860 Quad worth about a $300 price difference from a Core2 Quad Q8300 ?

$300.00 in price difference is also the video card. The costco pc you posted uses Intel GMA X4500 intergrated video which shares ram. Dunno what programs you'll be using but the i7-860 quad is a lot faster than a Core 2 Quad Q8300. Monitors are cheap these days.

You could also get a HPE 150t series, Intel i5-750 Quad cpu, 1Tb hd, 1gb nvidia Geforce GT220 video card, 20 inch widescreen monitor and free upgrade to 6gb ram for $1129.98 with free shipping. IMHO a better deal than Costco....just my 2 cents!!!

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/cto.do#

[JJ Bones]

You could also get a HPE 150t series, Intel i5-750 Quad cpu, 1Tb hd, 1gb nvidia Geforce GT220 video card, 20 inch widescreen monitor and free upgrade to 6gb ram for $1129.98

That sounds like a better deal indeed.

[fitch.j]

The i5 is a great processor! (I have 2, both in editing machines!)

The only thing i would suggest you look at seriously is having 3 hard drives. This way you keep all of your work where its meant to be and your system will run a lot better. Personally i'd run about a 300GB hard drive for your OS and software, and then 2 Large drives for your video, one for source video and another for output video. If your not going to be having that much however then running source and output on the same idea isn't terrible at all.

Running Software from the same drive as the video your working with is not a great idea however.