MediaComposer uses QuickTime to import video from files, so basically you need to create an input filter for quicktime in order to teach MC how to read AVCHD. Most MC input shortcommings are actually QT shortcommings.

Whether you could use Premiere (the big one) the same way as Elements depends on your version of Premiere (basically they use the same core engine). Elder Versions don't have AVCHD capabilities. You need to install the Avid Codecs (look for AvidCodecsLE or PE in the 'installers' folder of your cd) and export the clips from Premiere as Quicktime

[quote user="Wm Warne"] 4. Upshift I bought a copy of that too. I was amazed how quickly the program converted AVCHD files. My joy was shortlived though ... when I tried to import into MC 3.5 I got the all too frequent message that said it was an unrecognized format. Some people say they have had success with Upshift and MC though ... maybe

Usually i use the default "Low Speed / High Quality" settings: 50 Mbps, constant bitrate, Keyframe 1, GOP Size 1, interlaced as input, but i also had success with other settings. I know there have been issues with the first versions of AVCHDUpshift, I'm running version 1.0h now. The other thing you may need to look at are your project

I'd also like to see a DVD compilation of this awesome collection of MC wisdom!

I'm using NewBlue Vasst AVCHDUpshift and achieve "slightly faster than realtime" results on the system described in my signature. AVCHDUpshift is a straight forward conversion tool: Drop the files in (even the *.mts files directly from your AVCHD camcorders harddrive or memory card), setup destination folder and format properties (once

I've been doing this a lot in MC3.0, and never noticed synchronisation problems. Basically I have two different scenarios where I use multicam editing: The first is DVD production in 576i (PAL). For this i usually "prepare" the AVCHD-Files (1080i/50) in another NLE (deinterlacing, resiszing and/or cropping), often Adobe PremiereElements7

i can't comment on your unsynch files problem, sorry. but instead of exporting to uncompressed avi you could export to avids native DNxHD format. to do so you'll have to install the avid codecs first, they are part of your mc package (at least were with 3.0). this way you'd use less diskspace an avoid the time for double conversion.

[quote user="editz"] IMO a line has to be drawn somewhere[/quote] that's surely right, but different people may draw that line at different levels, depending on their needs. in my line of work (teaching, documentary dvd production, eventual local cable broadcasting) i sadly have to cope with footage from any kind of cameras, mostly consumer

though it's late in the course of this thread i want to throw in my experience with AVCHDUpshift. it's a standalone converter that renders avchd clips into mt2, using a reasonably simple interface and straight forward "workflow" (actually in most cases it's as simple as "drag clips in and press 'upshift' "). the