Sony Vegas Movie Studio+DVD 8 Platinum Edition

$89.99 - $30.00 (mail-in rebate) = $59.99

I was on the fence about buying this software, but for that price I figured why not.

That price is OK for this software. But if you're buying it to edit AVCHD video, keep in mind that it doesn't output in AVCHD. It edits AVCHD and then converts it to inferior Standard Definition files that will play on any standard DVD player. If that's what you want, it does a good job of it.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Do you think they'll change this in a new version?

I don't have an HD TV or a HD DVD player at the moment, but I'm sure I'll be getting one in the near future.

Right now would have I to buy the Pro version to be able to output AVCHD?

I'm sure they will. And Sony should give all the registered owners of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 8 a free upgrade. Because that's what we thought we were getting in the first place. I'm sure they won't though.


Ok, just be sure you get a Blu-ray Disc Player (BDP) or a PS3. Not a HD DVD. They don't play AVCHD.


Yes. And sometime in July all registered users of Vegas Pro 8 will be elligable for a free upgrade that will allow you to add thumbnail menu's and burn AVCHD DVD's directly from DVD Architect Pro.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Cool.

I plan on getting a Sony HDR-SR11/12. I should have gotten the SR12 at Best Buy when it was on sale for $1190.00. Oh well. Abe's of Maine has a good price, but I'm always fearful of buying something expensive online. I feel better when I know I can drive down to the store and talk to people face to face if a problem arises.

With Movie Studio 8 I can edit the AVCHD video and burn it to DVDs that will play on most any DVD players? I would like to have the AVCHD video archived so I can burn it to blue ray someday. I'll be buying a PSIII in the near future too.

I agree. I like to buy a big purchase like that at a store I can take it back too if something goes wrong. Costco sells the SR11 for $1049.00 I believe. I have no experience with Abe's of Maine, but I would check them out thoroughly before making a purchase like that with them. I have had great service from Amazon and B&H. Amazon has the SR12 for $1299.00 with free shipping FWIW.


You will be able to burn AVCHD DVD's directly from the SR11/12 using the DVD burner in your computer. Make copies of these as they will serve as a archive. They will also play in full HD on your PS3 when you get it. Also, backup the camcorder to a hard drive (or two) using the software that comes with the camcorder. Install all of the software, it will make your life much easier.

Movie Studio Platinum 8 does a nice job making SD DVD's out of your AVCHD. Those DVD's will play in any DVD player that will play DVD+/-R's. I take it you don't want to shell out the bucks right now for the pro version. I don't blame you, that's a lot of money and you don't have anything to play AVCHD on right now. Sometime within the year I'm sure when the next version of Movie Studio Platinum comes out it will output AVCHD and may even burn to blu-ray. It's all coming, we just have to be patient.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Thanks much for the replies.

I will probably buy the Sony VRD-MC5 direct burner for vacations, etc. I'm hoping this can burn AVCHD video to SD or HD DVDs. I need to do a lot more research before I buy this though. Do you know much about this burner?

My next PC will have a Blu-Ray burner on it most likely... which will be helpful.

Yes, I have a VRD-MC5 and I highly recommend it for these camcorders. You can burn AVCHD DVD's (using standard DVD's) via USB directly from the camcorder without the need for a computer. These are actually better than the ones you can burn from your computer because they don't have the dreaded 1 sec. gap between each scene that you get for some reason when you burn using a computer. They just play seamlessly when played on a PS3 or BDP, yet they still contain all the individual files that serve as chapters if you want to skip forward or back. Individual files are created in the camcorder every time you stop and re-start the camcorder. These serve as chapters that you can skip through. These DVD's serve as archive media and can be added to your computer's HDD easily by using the "Picture Motion Browser" software that comes with the camcorder.

If you want to make a SD DVD on the MC5 that will play on any standard DVD player, all you have to do is connect the camcorder to the MC5 using the A/V cables that come with the camcorder. Then just press the Record Button on the MC5 and the Play button on the camcorder and it will record your video in real time. The A/V out on the camcorder automatically converts the video to SD. So you can also use these cables to output SD video to SD TV's, DVD Recorders, and even VHS VCR's. Talk about an easy way to leave Grandma with a copy of your video.


A Blu-ray burner is nice. But you won't get any better HD from it than you will already get from the AVCHD DVD's. What you will get though is much more record time possible because a BD-R is good for 25GB of storage (50GB on a dual layer). 25GB will give you well over 3 hrs. of record time verses 38 min's. for a standard 4.7GB DVD.

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Ernie
Sony HDR-SR1 AVCHD HDD User

Thanks again for the replies. Very helpful.

My son should be born within the next 3-4 weeks, so I need to get moving on this ASAP. I _could_ borrow work's JVC Everio... it does a decent job (for the purchase price), but I would like to have these moments in HD for future viewing. I'm sure all of my TVs will be HD in a year or so. But the in-laws will probably stay SD... will be nice to be able to burn both HD and SD DVDs from the same AVCHD files. Sounds like the MC5 will do that for me.

I've been making a PC on Dell's website and it's been coming out to about $2k *ouch*. Quad-core, 4 gig (Corsair), dual 512 8800 video cards, 10k rpm HD, blu-ray burner. That system should do a good job editing AVCHD video. Bad thing is I have heard many bad things about Vista, so I wanted to get a new system with XP Pro, but I guess June 30 is the last day you can get a new system with XP installed.

I just can't spend $4k on everything at once. The wife would kill me! Haha.

Thanks again!