Splitting video problems

[dkolars]

XUbuntu 12.04, Avidemux 2.5.4 --

Shot video with Canon Vixia HFR100... Videos are .MTS

Avidemux cannot deal with .MTS (plays at half speed, stutters, even with Safe Mode), so...
Converted videos to .WMV with WinFF.

Open a .WMV video in Avidemux (188.5 MiB)
Cut & save a clip from video (39.7 MiB) --

BUT, clip is 8:11.... The part I wanted and thought I saved was 2:58.     

So, at 2:58, the video freezes, but the audio continues!!
 

Clip too large to e-mail, so must split

Split clip into 2 clips (18.6 & 18.4 MiB)

Play 1st clip -- does same thing... video stops where I cut it, but the audio continues.
Video stops at 1:29, clip is 2:58, same as original, so the sound is the entire clip I created.

Play 2nd clip -- same thing...  video stops at cut, but audio continues.
Video stops at 1:26, clip is  2:51, rest of sound is the part I'd cut when I created the original clip!

Huh?

Avidemux has always given me problems, but this is over the edge...  I haven't used Windoze in years (former NT tech), but I'm looking at going back to do video... Linux doesn't cut it for video editing, and I now have about 16 hrs. of video to edit in the next 3 weeks...

Any help?  Thanks!  DK   

PS -- any way to set the default screen to 1:2?  It's started opening in a larger size EVERY TIME and the controls are not visible!  thanks.

[Jan Gruuthuse]

upgrade to avidemux 2.6.4: avidemux Cli/QT 2.6.4 64-bit deb download ubuntu