Ok here we go again

[sjj1805]

I transfered the video from the camera to the computer USB. The video is is upperfield first, 24bit 1440x1080 16:9 29.970 frames/sec.
I have changed it to mpeg 2, 1440x1080. I have changed the field from upper to lower ext.. , I have left it at NTSC DVD, I have tried a lot of different things so far.

Like Ken has already pointed out - but just to re-inforce the message
you must NOT alter the field order it should remain in Upper Field First.
Field Order is determined by the SOURCE and NOT your intended output medium.

A video will also appear choppy in the PREVIEW window - it is as the names implies a preview and is quickly thrown together by the software. When you actually render (create) the edited video, the machine will take quite some considerable time to perform this task, more so with High Definition (AVCHD etc) formats than with SD (Standard Definition).
Render out a small extract of your video and you will see what we mean.

[Ken Berry]

And to reinforce the message again, just this morning I have been doing a HDV project of only 8 minutes on my Quad computer. I have added music, titles, voiceovers and cross-fade transitions. Playing back in Project mode, the video was incredibly choppy -- just as you describe. And remember this is on a Quad. But I was not greatly interested in that as I know the VS preview window all too well over the years. In any case, I was more interested in getting the audio levels correct. And then I actually rendered the project to a final HDV file, and it played back smooth as silk.