34 replies to this topic

[Mike Hilscher]

Adobe <3 Is my favorite software I use CS3, but they make decent stripped down versions that are less expensive.


Oh and Dell sells refurbished computers on their site. You can get some great deals on Dual/Quad core computers.

[GFFmatt]

Adobe <3 Is my favorite software I use CS3, but they make decent stripped down versions that are less expensive.


Oh and Dell sells refurbished computers on their site. You can get some great deals on Dual/Quad core computers.

Hey Mike-- Since you have the Fox 40 logo I must ask, do you work for F40 News?

[Doug Moore]

microsoft moviemaker? free with windows.
imovie? free with a mac.

Agree on the iMovie suggestion. It's perfect for family use - accessable & feature-rich-enough.

[JLS]

Agree on the iMovie suggestion. It's perfect for family use - accessable & feature-rich-enough.

interesting tidbit. I'm having trouble finding it online at the moment but I believe its "Star Wars Revenge of the Sith" they used imovie while behind the scenes etc because it was quick, simple and powerful to do certain things in a hurry. I don't believe that parts had their final edits done on it or anything... just that they used it. If I remember right you can even see them using imovie on a computer while they are showing the dvd extra "Behind the scenes" where anakin's big battle is.

Sorry, TOTALLY off topic but just thought that some imovie users might find that interesting...

[M.E.G.]

Just got back in from Shasta, so I have more video to work on. Thank you for all the replies. I will test drive some recommendations and let you know how it goes.

For what it is worth, I am running a XP(sp3) with an Intel Core 2Quad @2.33GHZ and I have 3.24 GB of Ram. From what you all have said, it looks like my computer can handle the editiing. Let me know if I am wrong.

M.E.G.

[seriesrover]

Yup MEG you shouldn't have any problem with that setup. If you're wondering what to add next put more memory in - but that what you have should do fine. CPU is plenty.

[JLS]

Yup MEG you shouldn't have any problem with that setup. If you're wondering what to add next put more memory in - but that what you have should do fine. CPU is plenty.

One thing that alot of people overlook or don't understand is that with a 32 bit OS you are limited to 4GB or ram. Bad part about windows is that your OS hogs all that for the most part so it only allows your program to access 2 GB of that. About .3 of that gets eaten up somewhere else giving you access to a max of 1.7 GB with 4 GB or ram installed. Only way around this is to modify your system to use the 3GB/Switch but that causes many stability issues and only gives you at MOST 1 GB more but no guarantee.

So you want to reach your 4 GB limit to take full advantage to as much as you can but pumping your system full of ram on a 32 bit OS is...

Mac users are a little more fortunate with this. Our 32 bit OS Versions such as Tiger still limit us to 4 GB or ram... but we actually get to utilize most of it.

Anyways, whether or not your system specs are good enough will be determined by whether or not your happy with how fast its doing things. If you get the software and you don't mind waiting a little bit while it runs its processes then your good to go. If you can't deal with it then its time for some upgrades

[Dave Burrell]

anyone know of a good video editing app that runs under linux?

[uberman]

anyone know of a good video editing app that runs under linux?

I use Cinelerra (http://cinelerra.org)

[Inwit]

So tell me, what is everyone doing with this video editting software. I take all of my videos and copy them from the camcorder to a hard drive on my dvd recorder (not computer equipment) that is connected to the TV. I can then create a playlist (basically editting out blank spots or unwanted footage), then I can copy the playlist from the harddrive onto a DVD-R. Then if I want multiple copies, I take the DVD to my computer where I can quickly make multiple copies to send to the grandparents. What kinds of things can you do with video editting software on the computer?

[JLS]

add in photos, music, transitions, effects. Work with multiple layers of video as well as audio. Add text. Create great looking custom dvd menu's. Mix and Match video from several different tapes. etc. All done with great ease in comparison.

If all you care about is getting your dv tapes onto a dvd then a dvd recorder can do just fine in alot of cases but if you want to get creative then you need some video editing software

Things have changed quite a bit. Used to be a nearly impossible thought to get the same software as used in major motion pictures. Now a consumer can purchase Final Cut Studio (or others) for under 2 grand and have the same video editing package they used to edit a long list of oscar nominated movies such as Cold Mountain. Sure there is a few more devices involved then just that one piece of software but it just shows how exciting the video editing software has evolved over the past few years.

[Dave Burrell]

So tell me, what is everyone doing with this video editting software. I take all of my videos and copy them from the camcorder to a hard drive on my dvd recorder (not computer equipment) that is connected to the TV. I can then create a playlist (basically editting out blank spots or unwanted footage), then I can copy the playlist from the harddrive onto a DVD-R. Then if I want multiple copies, I take the DVD to my computer where I can quickly make multiple copies to send to the grandparents. What kinds of things can you do with video editting software on the computer?

me personally, I like to make movies that tell a story from all my photos and video footage.

I edit my video footage (and photos) into sections (chapters of the story) that are somewhat entertaining and interesting and I create titles that lead into scenes to tell the viewers the story or location etc, Then I splice it all together with transition effects such as dissolve, or fade and a few other special title effects and such and viola, I have a complete story about a trip, event, etc.

the number one goal when making home movies is to try to not bore the audience to death with boring or mundane scenery, you gotta make the movie into a good story that is interesting... and be sure to add a nice music sound track and/or audio tracks to make it really interesting.

[Inwit]

me personally, I like to make movies that tell a story from all my photos and video footage.

I edit my video footage (and photos) into sections (chapters of the story) that are somewhat entertaining and interesting and I create titles that lead into scenes to tell the viewers the story or location etc, Then I splice it all together with transition effects such as dissolve, or fade and a few other special title effects and such and viola, I have a complete story about a trip, event, etc.

the number one goal when making home movies is to try to not bore the audience to death with boring or mundane scenery, you gotta make the movie into a good story that is interesting... and be sure to add a nice music sound track and/or audio tracks to make it really interesting.

Thanks, sounds interesting but it also sounds like a lot of work. Does any of this software also work on improving picture quality? the first thing I would be interested in doing would be to clean up footage that was originally done on 8mm film back in the late 50's through the late 70's. It was compiled several years ago onto VHS and more recently copied on to DVD. I would love it if I could run it through some signal processing filters to "clean it up" and as it is all soundless, maybe put some soft music in the background or better yet, have my Dad do a voice over commentary.

[GFFmatt]

So tell me, what is everyone doing with this video editting software. I take all of my videos and copy them from the camcorder to a hard drive on my dvd recorder (not computer equipment) that is connected to the TV. I can then create a playlist (basically editting out blank spots or unwanted footage), then I can copy the playlist from the harddrive onto a DVD-R. Then if I want multiple copies, I take the DVD to my computer where I can quickly make multiple copies to send to the grandparents. What kinds of things can you do with video editting software on the computer?

...we do stuff like this:

http://video.yahoo.c...047310/13413227

http://video.yahoo.c...006147/13317873

http://video.yahoo.c...886253/13022765

http://video.yahoo.c...554275/12195733

http://video.yahoo.c...552969/12192266

http://video.yahoo.c...009346/13326366

http://video.yahoo.c...559832/12210545

[GFFmatt]

Thanks, sounds interesting but it also sounds like a lot of work. Does any of this software also work on improving picture quality? the first thing I would be interested in doing would be to clean up footage that was originally done on 8mm film back in the late 50's through the late 70's. It was compiled several years ago onto VHS and more recently copied on to DVD. I would love it if I could run it through some signal processing filters to "clean it up" and as it is all soundless, maybe put some soft music in the background or better yet, have my Dad do a voice over commentary.

Inwit,

Cleaning up old footage is a bit tricky, but a few things can be done to see if it improves the quality. Just depends on the type of footage. To your last comment, one of the things we do for folks is taking their old footage (say, your VHS version of the 8mm film) and create a custom DVD with music, edited scenes if need be and commentary. In fact, I just finished a nice documentary on my grandmother's life and my family's original ranch settlement in Oregon. With old newspaper clippings and scrapbook-worthy items, photos, music of the time and my grandmother's commentary to narrate the film. Its a great idea for family reunions and just priceless when you think about how lineage is lost over a few generations.

-Matt