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View Full Version : HELP ME PLEASE! Video Editing Software

morantic
22-09-2005, 17:53
Hi there

I have just got myself a DV camera, used to borrow a friends a lot but now have my own, I love it, but I am not loving ANY video editing software on my PC, I am having a nightmare.

When I borrowed my friends I used to also borrow his Apple laptop and used to use I-Movie, and it was brilliant, I could do pretty much everything I wanted. I have a PC, and have used the free Windows one, which is alright but really basic and not really what I want, I want to be able to be more precise and also to take the audio from one clip and play another clip over it, you know, stuff like that.

I bought with my camera Movie Magix, and oh boy, do I hate it, maybe I am just incredibly thick but I can't do ANYTHING with it, not even cut a simple clip, I am just rubbish with it and want to go and bury the discs in the garden.

So, my plea to you all is?

1) Should i carry on with Movie Magix in the hope that I might get better at it
2) Buy some new software

AND if 2)
WHICH IS the best movie editing software, for windows, that is MOST LIKE I-Movie. I also want to be able to burn my films on DVD, preferably with the same software.

Any help anyone could give I would really appreciate, it is actually getting me down that I can't find a cool, simple product like I-Movie, that will do all this for me. I am even thinking of buying a Mac.

cheers
morantic.
maddogsuk
22-09-2005, 18:06
You can get a free full 30 day trial of Ulead Video Studio here (http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm) I use this and happy with the results

Avid also do a Free video editing suite here (http://www.avid.com/freedv/index.asp) Not used this.

There's also Sony Vegas Video (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/vegasfamily.asp?keycode=2204) Also free trial.

And Pinnacle Video Editing here (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Home/)

I havent used I-Movie so couldn't say which of the above is most like it.
stevejm
22-09-2005, 18:13
I love Premiere Elements, around £45 or so.
PC_Bod
22-09-2005, 23:06
Another vote for Premiere.
sideshowbob
23-09-2005, 08:02
I got on OK with Nero Vision Express (Part of the Nero bundle)
bumfrog
23-09-2005, 09:09
vegas for me, or if on a budget vegas movie studio.
bigb
23-09-2005, 09:30
must be Premiere Elements for ease of use!
IAmATeaf
23-09-2005, 14:13
Premiere Pro and Encore DVD user here. Right arse to learn initially, had to download a few online tutorials but once you figure it all out they really are the products to use. Tried Sony Vegas, VideoStudio and Power Director but they all had their failings.
bumfrog
23-09-2005, 14:26
My only main gripe with premiere is that the user interface is not very friendly at all and it's a bitch to pick up. I think most other software scores a lot higher then premiere on that front.

As for functions premiere used to be the daddy, but is now not so. Vegas/final cut and the other one I can never remember the name are all on a par now I'd reckon.
stevejm
23-09-2005, 15:31
Premiere has got a tricky interface, after reading a couple of books, and the Adobe Support Forum, it's become dead easy to use.

Being able to keyframe the status of each filter on a frame by frame basis is fantastic - and gives the exact effect you want. Have done some really cool "pop video's" of some of out footage.
bumfrog
23-09-2005, 15:57
Premiere has got a tricky interface, after reading a couple of books, and the Adobe Support Forum, it's become dead easy to use.

that's my point though. you've had to read a couple of books and use the support forum before it becomes easy to use. Not really a pick up and go product.

Being able to keyframe the status of each filter on a frame by frame basis is fantastic - and gives the exact effect you want. Have done some really cool "pop video's" of some of out footage.

agree, but that's not just limited to premiere. The other packages I mentioned will all do that.

But that's when you really start getting into video editing when you learn how to use keyframes. Especially for filters, cropping, rotating and special effects. Whatever software you use, I think that's the key that differentiates between a "home video" and something that little bit more.

If I get chance I'll stick up a bit from the last thing I did in vegas....
Niceandtidy
25-09-2005, 00:07
Premiere's great but I don't see why it's hard to pick up!

I for in, O for out, , for insert, . for overlay, space for play and stop.

Jon
IAmATeaf
26-09-2005, 10:14
On an aside, I've encoded some home video footage using the builtin Premiere MPEG2 encoder and what I've noticed is that the encoded footage has had it's brightness/contrast increased when compared to the original. I've used 2 pass VBR with an average bitrate of 5900, not used any video effects and this has me completely baffled as why the encoded footage should be brighter than the source material.

Anybody with any ideas would be greatly appreciated or maybe even an idea as to how to fix it would be welcome.
bumfrog
26-09-2005, 10:24
well, as promised some dodgy editing. I asked the person who I was doing it for and he wouldn't let me put up the final cut, so this was a rough botch up to give him an idea. Anyways, it'll hopefully show a bit of what you can do when you get into keyframing for effects and panning... It's 20meg btw....

http://www.asci35.dsl.pipex.com/Untitled.wmv
morantic
29-09-2005, 19:59
Well, I took the plunge and went for Adode Premeire Elements, it arrived yesterday and I spent a happy couple of hours editing a little 3 minute film, and it worked out fine, loads of fun to do, easy to use! thanks all for advice!
stevejm
29-09-2005, 20:08
Well, I took the plunge and went for Adode Premeire Elements, it arrived yesterday and I spent a happy couple of hours editing a little 3 minute film, and it worked out fine, loads of fun to do, easy to use! thanks all for advice!

Version 2 has just been released, give the UK Adobe Shop a call and they may give you a free upgrade.