How to edit AVCHD.MTS video on Windows 7, xp, vista?
Tutorial: 
"just bought video camera so very new to video editing etc.i have a panasonic which records in mts format have, quickly found i need to convert file format for things to work. would welcome advice on best file format to work with also recomends for good free video editing software and tips in general."
There are free opensource video-editing programs. These include Kdenlive, PiTiVi, Kino, Openshot and Cinelerra. However, these free video editor always can not be used on Windows Operating system, if you are a Mac, Linux or Unix user, you can just have a try.
In fact, The Windows operating systems include basic video editing software-Windows Movie Maker. (WMM for Windows vista and xp, WLMM for Windows 7).
Get full version 
Download MTS Video Converter trial version
Windows (Live) Movie Maker contains features such as effects, transitions, titles, credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie and can apply basic effects to audio tracks such as fade in or fade out. New effects and transitions can be made and existing ones can be modified using XML code.
Tips: Windows Movie Maker is very easy to use, works with images and videos, includes many video and transition effects and can exports to several formats, but it is too simple for advanced users and can not supports MTS camcorder video. You need to convert AVCHD MTS files to WMV, AVI, MPG etc using MTS video converter, then imported converted MTS files to Windows Movie Maker.
For advanced users, Sony Vegas is a good choice. Sony Vegas Pro 10 collection integrates two powerful applications that work seamlessly together to provide an efficient and intuitive environment for video and broadcast professionals. This comprehensive suite offers the most robust and progressive platform available for content creation and production.
Tips: Sony vegas Pro is good, however, it is a little expensive, and not totally supports MTS files. Of course, you also can use mts converter to convert MTS file to WMV, then imported to Vegas.
Finally, let us share a awesome MTS video editing software-MTS editor.
MTS editor supports edit AVCHD files: Clip(set start and end), Crop(set aspect ratio 16:9/4:3), Merge(join several AVCHD files into one), Apply effect(adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation etc), set output parameter(adjust resolution, Frame Rate, Encoder and Bitrate ), Snapshot, Rotate etc on Windows 7, vista, xp.
Step by step on edit AVCHD, MTS, M2TS files.
Step1: Download MTS editor and import MTS videos
Free download the MTS editor and install it. Click "Add files" to import MTS files, you also can choose a output format by clicking pull-down menu on the bottom of the interface, the interface is just the same as below:
Step2: Clip MTS video
Click "Clip", you can set the start time and the end time as you like. You also can use the buttons under the preview screen to trim the video.
Step3: Crop MTS video
Click "Edit" and choose "Crop", you will see a windows just as below, then you can choose the aspect ratio by expanding the pull-down menu, you can choose original, full screen, 16:9 or 4:3.
Step4: Apply effect for MTS video
Click "Effect" next to Crop, there will be a interface just like blow, you can adjust the brightness, contrast and the saturation directly.
Step5: Setting output parameter
Click Settings, and adjust the resolution, frame rate, encoder and bitrate as your need.
Related: