AVC: More Format Wackiness

OK, so we are just figuring out how to edit with the HDV format when Sony, Panasonic, and JVC spring the AVC format on us. This high-definition format comes in two flavors AVCHD and AVC-Intra: the first is consumer-oriented and the second Panasonic is putting into its professional line. The AVCHD format is not being used on tape but on hard drive, flash memory, and DVD camcorders. Its supposed to be more efficient than HDV, but in the consumer mode works at lower data rates. Panasonic announced a new camcorder AJ-JPX2000 in December that records AVC-Intra onto P2 cards (like the HVX200). AVC-Intra records 10-bit video and is supposed to be better and more efficent than the DVCProHD format.

What got me going is this tutorial on how to edit AVCHD, which I found via DVGuru. Sounds laborious and its Windows-only. It will be interesting to see what Final Cut does to support AVC. I do like the idea of shooting onto off-the-shelf SD memory cards, as opposed to the pricey P2 cards, but who knows when it will be practical.