Premier Pro CS5 with AVCHD on long form project?

[stevedocmaker]

I'm soon to embark on editing a feature-length documentary. Much of the source footage will be shot in AVCHD format. I know that CS5 can handle raw AVCHD just fine, but I read once on this forum that this can present problems on a long-form project due to long load times. Has anyone experienced this?

My alternative would be to convert the AVCHD to ProRes or Cineform first, but it would be nice to stay in the native codec at least until color grading.

 

[Demistate]

Regardless of what format you're in you'll want to think about the following:

1) You'll be able to edit the entire feature without using many effects for color, noise reduction, crops etc. in one project
2) You'll want to split up your projects into multiple project files if you find your self putting effects on EVERY clip like trying to color grade the film entirely in Premiere Pro. You'll export large video files, and reassemble for your final deliverable.
3) You shouldn't transcode your original media unless you find AVCHD to be too slow for your editing tastes. It should be fine in any CUDA accelerated CS5 system.
4) Try to avoid Subclips as they don't transfer around very well, and you cant import them into other project files if you attempt to split your project file up at the end for color grading/ audio mastering.

 

[stevedocmaker]

Thanks for the input!

There are posts on some other boards about a chroma bug using AVCHD and CS5. This may have been an issue only with interlaced formats, I can't tell from the discussions. Does anyone know if the bug been fixed, or is it not an issue with progressive footage?