Importing hd video to Sony Vegas

[skatechurro14]

Hey im using a samsung hd hm-h100, and using vegas for my editing program, evrytime i upoload and watch the video its really slow and veryy laggy..please help

4gb
64 bit
intel pentium dual cpu e2200 @ 2.20ghz 2.20ghz
windows vista

[Paul LS]

Firstly welcome to Muvipix

Your camcorder records in H.264 format (similar to AVCHD) which is a very compressed format and so requires a lot of computer processor power to playback smoothly. Unfortunately your dual core e2200 is not up to the job. I use a quad core processor and it is barely sufficient. If you want to work with your processor you need to convert the H.264 format to HD MPEG2. Sony (as other editors) will handle this format much better as it is less compressed.

[skatechurro14]

Ohh man what a bummer..

what program can i use ? and will it lose alot of quality?

[Chuck Engels]

You will get pretty much the same results no matter what program you use sorry to say.
It's not the program, it's the type of files you are editing along with a computer that can't handle the pressure

You can do as Paul says and convert the files to HD MPEG2 and they will edit fine and look great, so don't worry. There is just the extra conversion step, but you really won't lose much, if any, quality. Lots of folks here are doing just that and everything is working out just fine.

Now you need a good conversion tool. I'm sure somebody will suggest something for you

[skatechurro14]

Yea i guess my video will still look good cause my camera is full hd.. but i need a good convert program..

[Paul LS]

You could export the clip from Sony Vegas as HD MPEG2 or if your final export will be standard definition export as DV-AVI. Then bring this back into Vegas for editing. Although it is an extra step it will make your editing experience less frustrating.

[skatechurro14]

alright but what should my vegas properties be? 1080/60? cause thats whats recording on my csamsung.?

[Paul LS]

Yes, your project and export settings should be HD 1080-60i

[skatechurro14]

im confused

[Paul LS]

What with?

For a smooth, less frustrating editing experience it is best to convert your H.264 high definition video to a format that Vegas will handle more easily. As Vegas imports the H.264 format OK, but it is "laggy" you could use Vegas to convert to HD MPEG2 (1080-60i) and edit this in Vegas. Vegas handles HD MPEG2 without the "laggyness".

Alternatively, if your final export is to be standard definition... ie burnt to a DVD or on the internet you could export the video as standard definition widescreen DV-AVI instead of the HD MPEG2. Vegas will handle this even better then the HD MPEG2. You would need to do the conversion to standard definition at some stage. So you could do it during the format conversion.

[skatechurro14]

but wha should be my properties in vegas.. like the templaate

[Paul LS]

Go to File>Properties and in Project Properties select a video template to match your video files... HDV 1080-60i if your video is 1440x1080 or HD 1080-60i if your video is 1920x1080. I believe your camcorder records in 1920x1080 so I would use the HD 1080-60i preset.