Video editing software.

[Finless]

The time when I can order (Dell) or PCWorld my new PC is almost upon me. I have given up on the idea of building my own as the prices of new kit seem remarkable cheap. I shan't be taking any extended warranties etc so .........

I will want to edit/create DVDs of analogue camcorder action as shot by myself.

Any editing software/other recommendations - I know nothing about this subject.

Tks.

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by Finless

Any editing software/other recommendations - I know nothing about this subject.

Tks.

Adobe Premiere has it all. Distributed backups can be found on the 'net.

MS Moviemaker is free and has a lot of the stuff for basic editing.
hth
Paul

[witchieblackcat]

Originally Posted by turbanator

Adobe Premiere has it all. Distributed backups can be found on the 'net.

If you want to be legal Adobe do a Premier Elements version which is much more reasonably prised and has all of the common video stuff without the super bits. I used Pinnacle Studio which was good value for money and ok if a little buggy.

I suspect that your main issues will be captuing the analogue video from the camera - I switched to a digital one being as it was so hard and video capture became easy with a firewire card.

[Justin Owen]

Software is readily available... I'd recommend Ulead VideoStudio 9, about £30 from Amazon, fantastic for the price...

More importantly, you have to decide how you're going to get your analogue footage off the camera. You're going to need a video capture card or a graphics card that has an analogue input in order to get the video onto your pc... Or use the long way of recording it to a set-top dvd recorder to dvd and then importing it from the dvd to your pc...

[Okeanos]

I use Pinnacle Studio 9, very effective and simple.

If you are going for a camera with DV out (higly recommended) then you will need 'firewire' in your next PC to record directly from the camera in the best possible quality.

[jar_uk1]

as one earlier posting said, you really need to make sure that you get a firewire connection for when you transfer from a digital camcorder in the future.

For analogue conversion I have a miglia directors cut take2 - a very nice piece of hardware which converts the analogue to digital then allows your "normal" video edit software to use the digital signal. There are cheaper units around, but I would stick with firewire rather than USB, as I have seen problems using usb to transfer video.

Re video editing software for the PC, I know very little (I normally use a mac) but Abobe, or Ulead seem to be pretty good, I think the full Nero or roxio packages include video edit software, this might be an option.

Being mischevious, I could recommend a mac...However, it is not that stupid a recommendation, all macs come with firewire connectivity, and they all come with a video editing tool (imovie) that is as good as any of the lower end PC offerings. In addition to this you could even install Windows XP if you wanted to. Plus - they look cool

John R

[Janos]

On a related note (and apologies if it's not - I'll start my own thread if it isn't).

But what's a good piece of software to edit Olympus .MOV files, stick them together, and burn them onto a playable DVD?

Janos

[Okeanos]

I've just tried Pinnacle with a .mov file and it didn't want to know.

Final cut pro or Avid are what I would recommend. I love final cut pro for its fool proof nature, I feel that anyone could use it. Avid, Ive not had much contact with but Im told that both are being used in many tv and film productions. Im not sure about prices as Ive never bought them, I just use the studio computers.

Good Luck making your decision.

Ax

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Okeanos

I've just tried Pinnacle with a .mov file and it didn't want to know.

Thanks for trying. I might start my own thread on the subject.

Janos