[laser]

I'm thinking of buying a Sony HC1E Hi-def camcorder.

I'm presently using Pinnacle Liquid 6.1 to edit standard definition footage and have downloaded several clips from a HC1E camcorder to check the picture quality and make sure my PC is fast enough to play the files, which it appears more than capable of doing.

I've attempted to import the m2t files into Liquid 6.1 but it appears that version 6.1 does not support .m2t files. So my questions are:

1. Does Liquid 6.1 support .m2t files?

2. If Liquid 6.1 does not support .m2t files can they be converted to MPEG2 format (hi-def) which version 6.1 does support?

3. Can the HC1E output hi-def files in MPEG2 format as opposed to its native .m2t format (which is basically MPEG2 anyway)?

Avid Liquid 7 does support.m2 but I don't particulary want to upgrade and spend the extra £200-£300 which it would cost unless I absolutely have to. I could change to using Sony Vegas but I'm more than happy with Liquid 6.1 and don't want to go through the process of learning a new NLE software app either.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[senu]

I use both LE 6.1 and AL7 concurrently and: Upgrade was £119 . I think its a pretty reasonable upgrade even if it doesnt at first appear to be a "revolutionary" one. The SP2 appears to have greatly matured it : initial bugs ( esp with DVD authoring) are now ironed out and it comes with Title Deko Pro on the install DVD.
Sony Vegas 6 + DVD ( which I (also) have as a complimentary copy but havent mastered yet ) costs more than the upgrade and needs to be "learnt" ( I must say it looks interesting but Im yet to make the time to use it properly)

As for the import of .mt2 files for 6.1, I wouldnt know as I have no HC1( like you Im aspiring ) and havent tried with AL7 yet.
But 1 or 2 people Ive spoken to said they had to convert m2t to HDVmpeg2 for 6.1 which was not the case with LE6 so your suspision is probably right.
As an aside why not speak to DVC ? They are very helpful even if they are not getting a sale off you. If anybody would know they would.

Im sure sample footage exists somewhere to try..anybody know where?