Video Editing Software--Needs help in finding one!

[Loves Disney]

This year I want to tape parts of our WDW vacation and then turn it into a decent home "movie". We don't have any kind of editing software now and are looking to purchase one...the problem is we don't know what we need to look for in good quality programs. I also don't know what kind of software would work with our camera and our computers.

What we want the program to do is: Edit the video by adding effects, transitions, and by being able to organize the order of scenes. I also want to have the ability of adding music.

Our video camera is a Sony Digital Handycam (Digital8).

We have two different kinds of computers. One is a Windows 2000 and another is Windows XP.

Does anyone have any good video editing software in mind? If you do, please share. I would greatly appreciate any input on what some reliable names are, specific examples, where I might find good programs or even just thoughts on the topic.

Thanks,
~Loves Disney

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Sony Vegas is a good start.

 

[Loves Disney]

Sony Vegas is a good start.

What is that? If that is the name of a software, where could I find it and is it expensive?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

or if you want something simpler, Ulead DVD Movie Factory.

I personally have tried and not satisfied with the result vs time spent creating DVD using PC. So I ended up buying a Pioneer DVR-633H so I can dump all the D8 (I do it via analog so I can play around with the levels, noise reduction, brightness, contrast etc), edit the stuff I don't want, and burn it to DVD.

It's faster, it's easier, in the end it's cheaper too (proper movie editing program + decent capture card with built-in MPEG2 encoder cost more than a Pioneer DVR-633H)

 

[Loves Disney]

or if you want something simpler, Ulead DVD Movie Factory.

I personally have tried and not satisfied with the result vs time spent creating DVD using PC. So I ended up buying a Pioneer DVR-633H so I can dump all the D8 (I do it via analog so I can play around with the levels, noise reduction, brightness, contrast etc), edit the stuff I don't want, and burn it to DVD.

It's faster, it's easier, in the end it's cheaper too (proper movie editing program + decent capture card with built-in MPEG2 encoder cost more than a Pioneer DVR-633H)

Thanks! And this will work okay with our video camera and computer?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

You haven't mentioned anything about your PC spec nor have you mentioned about your video-capture card, so I can't say yes or no.

 

[Loves Disney]

You haven't mentioned anything about your PC spec nor have you mentioned about your video-capture card, so I can't say yes or no.

That I can't provide as I have no idea what any of that is...lol (I am so computer literate, huh! )

Thanks for the ideas! It really helps. I will look further into those and see what works for me!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

PS:
Ulead DVD Movie Factory 5 is US$50
ADS XPress DX2 video capture unit is $130
separate HDD at 7200 rpm for video capture, editing and swap space is about US$80
actual good quality USB2 card (not the one built-in on the motherboard) US$40
at least 1 Gb of RAM, ideally 2 Gb (I assume you have at least 512 Mb, so the upgrade is only about $40)

Total investment approx: $340
Pioneer DVR-533H (with 80 Gb HDD) is approx $400

minimum requirement for DVD creation:
Intel Pentium IV 2 Ghz or faster
Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP
1 Gb RAM
1.2 GB available hard drive space for program installation
5 GB+ hard drive space for video capture and editing
5 Gb+ hard drive space for swap-space
DVD burner
Sound Card - to preview audio
Available USB2 port from a USB2 card (not the one built onto the motherboard)

 

[Live_From_Little_Red]

Sony Movie Studio+DVD (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/Products/ShowProduct.asp?PID=977) will do the trick. Will will need a firewire card installed in your computer and firewire out from your camera in order to capture your videos. Sony Movie Studio is a very capable and easy to use product.

If you do not have a firewire capable camcorder (most recent camcorders are these days) then I would suggest maybe one of Pinnacle's Dazzle products (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Dazzle/Family.htm). These are analog capture devices that are very easy to use, the product comes bundled with Pinnacle Studio which also a very capable video editor, not as good as Sony's but still very good and easy to use.

I have both of these products and use each one where the situation warrants, although I mostly stick with Sony because of its professional level of results.

Brian

 

[Quinn222]

I use Adobe Premiere

 

[JR6ooo4]

Our video camera is a Sony Digital Handycam (Digital8).

Thanks,
~Loves Disney

What is Digital 8? Is it analog audio and video saved digitaly onto 8mm tape?
Do you use the camera to output to the computer for recording? If it is already in digital that is a biiiiig step. Especialy in saving quality.

Definately use the XP machine. (well not exactly sure about win 2000) About 4 years ago I was asked to videotape a wedding by my cousin. I edited it into a movie with Ulead Video Studio. It was pretty easy. Do a practice one or two first. Not full length, just 5 minutes. It will be good practice and will also tell you how well the computer is handling the processes. The program has side by side views (actualy top and bottom) of the video, audio from the video and additional audio tracks. It is very easy to see when a clip of video is ending to match up a song, etc.... I could easily bring down the volume of a song and bring up the video volume for a funny comment or something like that, then mix it back.

I was editing the video on a Win ME operating system. The raw video edit hit a 2 gig operating system limit (which I was not aware of). I could not finish the video without seperating it into two different projects.

Mikeeee

 

[Anewman]

Does anyone have any good video editing software in mind? If you do, please share. I would greatly appreciate any input on what some reliable names are, specific examples, where I might find good programs or even just thoughts on the topic.

Thanks,
~Loves Disney

Firewire card(If your pc doesnt already have IEEE1394)= less than $20
Adobe Premiere Elements = $50

I prefer Premiere pro or Vegas(have not used current "Sony" incarnation), but they will take you much longer to master and they are more expensive. Elements will allow you to get a taste(while doing an adequate job), so you can see if you will take the hobby further.