Hey all,

After doing some searching, it would seem the recommended option is to convert AVCHD video into DNXHD before starting a project.

Kdenlive does seem to handle me AVCHD OK (Cannon HF100) but it imports some of the videos with just audio, no video. The Cannon splits its files after they get to a certain length/size when recording, it seem to be these files that Kdenlive does not like.

Anyway

I started transcoding some files, but they only transcode at 15FPS max!! Is this normal? I am using a i7 @2.6Ghz with 6GB RAM, so would expect this to go a bit faster. Changed the threads = to 8 as well, but no luck on that

Last question, is 120mbps the minimum DNXHD will go to? Tried some lower values but ffmpeg errors out

Cheers

Your conversion rate is normal. I just tested on my i7 system, and I get just a little more than you, and I am going from and to GigE to NFS.
If you convert to progressive (add -deinterlace), then you can go as low as 36M. Here is a table of the supported combinations:
http://www.itbroadcastanddigitalcinema.com/ffmpeg_howto.html#Encoding_VC-3

ah ha, thanks very much for confirming things, has been bugging me all week this stuff

I had selected 1080i because the source video is interlaced, seems fine and dandy adding the option you suggested and instead outputting to 1080p and 36000 bitrate.

Will give that a try now, kdenlive was still stuttering through videos during transitions and when I can flicked around in a video a bit, so hopefully the lower bitrate will help, the source is only 17000 ish, so 36000 should be plenty good enough.

On your i7, do you set threads to 4 or 8? Mine may be a little slower as I am running from a USB drive (may be related to the stuttering also, will test that next). Appreciate you testing that on your also, many thanks for that