Hi.

VPX5 can handle AVCHD very well(!), especially if you select the option when starting the project to "Automatically create proxy files" AND ensure that the "lightning flash" (Enable smooth playback) below the Program screen is active - there are various options on its drop-down, including reduce frame rate and reduce resolution, which will allow any reasonably-high spec computer to successfully playback your footage.

However, I wonder what OS you're using (you say 64 bit but not which version)?  My system runs Win 7 32 bit but with an Intel Q9650 Quad-core at 3 GHz (with dynamic over-clocking) and effect or transition-heavy AVCHD can make it "labour" rather hard.  I have no experience of using AMD processors so cannot comment on how your spec relates to mine.

So, AVCHD can run smoothly (especially if you activate proxy files and the Enable smooth playback options) but the computer spec does need to be pretty "high". 

HTH

Jeff

BTW, all these options to make the playback smooth have NO EFFECT WHATEVER on the quality of your rendered footage.  They merely allow smoother playback on the timeline.

Thanks for your answer, but, just to clarify, does that mean I would need to buy a better computer to run the videos without lag? It is just I need to present a film (roughly half an hour) by tomorrow and it contains many clips so I need to preview them without lag.

Hi.

VPX5 can handle AVCHD very well(!), especially if you select the option when starting the project to "Automatically create proxy files" AND ensure that the "lightning flash" (Enable smooth playback) below the Program screen is active - there are various options on its drop-down, including reduce frame rate and reduce resolution, which will allow any reasonably-high spec computer to successfully playback your footage.

However, I wonder what OS you're using (you say 64 bit but not which version)?  My system runs Win 7 32 bit but with an Intel Q9650 Quad-core at 3 GHz (with dynamic over-clocking) and effect or transition-heavy AVCHD can make it "labour" rather hard.  I have no experience of using AMD processors so cannot comment on how your spec relates to mine.

So, AVCHD can run smoothly (especially if you activate proxy files and the Enable smooth playback options) but the computer spec does need to be pretty "high". 

HTH

Jeff

BTW, all these options to make the playback smooth have NO EFFECT WHATEVER on the quality of your rendered footage.  They merely allow smoother playback on the timeline.

I activated the proxy files, but no change still a ton load of lag :( It is annoying becuase a much more advanced software like after effects can run 1 file like this without lag

I activated the proxy files, but no change still a ton load of lag :( It is annoying becuase a much more advanced software like after effects can run 1 file like this without lag

"Activated" or "created" the proxy files?  Activating the Enable smooth playback button and choosing to use proxies can only work if those proxies have been created first.  I don't think they are created automatically.

However, if using proxy files still does not solve your problem then you will need to take a long, hard look at your computer.  I'm still not sure which OS you are running; what about antivirus/firewall/other security (it is not unknown for such programs to grab the CPU and hence prevent other apps having unreserved access to it)?  You've also not said how much HDD space you have.  This should not be an issue but you need to remember that, to play AVCHD, VPX needs to decompress it and simultaneously "play" it.

Jeff

Hi

. . . . does that mean I would need to buy a better computer to run the videos without lag . . .

In my opinion - most definitely - the minimum spec system recommednded for HD is :-

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core-Processor with 2,83 GHz (Intel® Core™ i7 recommended), AMD® Quad-Core-Processor with 2,8 GHz   RAM: 4 GB

From experience I have found that the AMD's are not as efficient with video as Intel processors and 4Gb of RAM is the bare minimum - 8 - 16 GB is better.

John

I activated the proxy files, but no change still a ton load of lag :( It is annoying becuase a much more advanced software like after effects can run 1 file like this without lag

"Activated" or "created" the proxy files?  Activating the Enable smooth playback button and choosing to use proxies can only work if those proxies have been created first.  I don't think they are created automatically.

However, if using proxy files still does not solve your problem then you will need to take a long, hard look at your computer.  I'm still not sure which OS you are running; what about antivirus/firewall/other security (it is not unknown for such programs to grab the CPU and hence prevent other apps having unreserved access to it)?  You've also not said how much HDD space you have.  This should not be an issue but you need to remember that, to play AVCHD, VPX needs to decompress it and simultaneously "play" it.

Jeff

Kk the proxy files are created and if I set the project settings down to 720p I can run fairly smoothly (still slight lag, but I can deal with it), but, now, when ever I import a video it takes about 10 minutes creating the proxy files for the video! Really annoying, to be honest after all this trouble I think I am going to get another editing software