Best first editing software!!

[reefrat]

I've just got back from Bonaire with about 100 minutes of HDV footage from my new Sony HC5/ Topdawg rig.

The plan is to condense the lot down to a 10 minute video and put it on DVD.

I have a new Sony laptop but am very much an analog person so I'm looking for easy to learn and use editing software that will:

Allow some control of white balance and colour.
Let me download the HDV video and produce a HDV DVD...I see something in the Sony manual that the process of burning a DVD on my laptop will reduce the video to SDV???
Let me put digital stills in as well as video.

This is my first attempt at video so I don't understand a lot of the jargon I'm seing and simple, concise advise for a dummy would be greatly appreciated

 

[paulpost]

First there is no software that can control white balance but most of them can do color correction .
Second , if your laptop does not have at least a 3.6 GHz processor there is not much that you can do. I have a 2.8Ghz chip computer that couldn't manage HD so I've bought a dual chip that can do the job, at least 1Gig of ram is a must and a fast video card with 256 Mb it memory. this is just the hardware that you need for editing HD. Regarding software you can start with ULEAD video studio 10 what is entry level but can handle HD well ( I use it). If money is not an issue next step can be an apple computer that comes fully loaded with Final Cut pro a software capable to handle HD.
Now the expensive part is that in order to burn HD DVD you need a HD burner that is at least $600 but to play an HD DVD you'll need an HD DVD player that runs for $900.
I hope I didn't discourage you but there is a short cut, if you get a computer to Handel HD and a cheep software ($99 for ULEAD) after you do your editing send back to tape and play the clip from your camcorder on an HD TV.
Good luck

 

[sinistar]

Re: Burning HD (without HD-DVD or Blue Ray)

A while back I was perusing a forum related to HD cameras and DVD players. Someone there mentioned that they use a player (I-O Data AVLP2 ???) for playing back HD footage using standard DVD's. I believe this player supports playing DivX format video files in HD and it also supports upscaled output to 720/1080 devices. Obviously you won't get hours on a DVD but you could perhaps fit 10 minutes of 720p or 1080i video on a standard disc and then play it back on a nice HD-TV or Projector. Also, I think this player supports external USB and Ethernet so perhaps larger movies could be played via and external drive?

I have noticed that some of the newer DVD Recorders with upscaled outputs support the DivX format now too. Of course you still need a good editing setup to get to that point.

 

[mdmbike to scuba]

Hey paul do you use a MAC? if so I have a ? for you. Mark

 

[Empty V]

If you think you will get serious about editing even on an amateur level, I highly suggest getting a mac. The new intel macs scream and you can edit basically anything with them. Final Cut Pro is a great program that I have been using professionally for some time now and it can be simple enough for anyone to pick up. If you're stuck on a PC and learn the basics of editing tools then I suggest Avid XPress Pro. It's not as "attractive" and logical as FCP at times but is a solid system that is based on the industry standard. Plus if you are or know someone who is a student you can get a pretty great price break from the retail version with all the same functionality(I think).

Billy

 

[sharksdelight]

I've been a FCP user since its inception and a FCP trainer for sometime as well as writer of FCP related software, tutorials, books etc for the www.kenstone.net site which is the largest in the world. Most of these articles are often republished on the www.lafcpug.org site. In the beginning, there were no tutorials, books, materials of any kind. Now there is a plethora of instructional aids abounding. I could teach in an hour and a half what it took me the first year with version 1 to learn. For any Mac user, I strongly recommend Final Cut Pro and just to skip Final Cut Express or iMovie.
Even with an older G5, you couldn't go wrong. You just need lots of ram but prices for good ram has gone down a great deal.
Steve:14:

 

[billwil]

Well, there are a lot of directions you could go here...and many have already been suggested. Take heart...this is not necessarily going to cost you an arm and a leg and you definately don't HAVE to go out and buy a mac and $1300 worth of software to "do it right". There are plenty of pro editors editing on PCs using state of the art tools...either will work great. You stated that you are new to video...so take it a step at a time.

First, as was stated...its not really mainstream yet to burn HD discs. The two standards right now for commercial HD content is Blu-Ray and HD DVD; both are expensive to author right now (from a hardware AND software perspective). Unless you really, really need it, I'd suggest waiting on this...it will get cheap. As stated, there are other ways to display HD Video...for starters, you can do it directly from your laptop, directly from your camcorder (output your finished product to a new tape), or from a home theater PC or something of that sort.

Second, about the editing software. There are lot's of good options. I personally like Sony Vegas, but that's me. Unfortunately, it's a bit expensive. Luckily, if you want to keep the price down, there is a consumer version called Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INT...tSKU=SPVMS7000CN&CP=sony_search_seo&HQS=vegas) that will happily edit HD video. Also, as mentioned, Avid will do the same, but again, will cost quite a bit. Movie studio is only around $120 list...so it won't break the bank. I believe that Pinnacle has a decent entry level HD-capable editor as well.

One additional note...as for editing HD requiring a massive CPU, that's not necessarily true...it greatly depends on the codecs and the editors used. If performance becomes a problem, you can always use an intermediate codec (just a less CPU intensive, low lossy format to convert your m2t files to before editing). This usually taxes your hard drive a little more, but can get around your CPU limitations. Its also time consuming. That said, the NLE (non linear editor...the software) makes a big difference. Case in point, in Vegas 6, editing m2t files directly required massive hardware...when Sony release Vegas 7, they had greatly improved the response...and even on an older laptop, I'm now able to edit the m2t directly with no intermediate format (this presents other problems that I won't go into, but Vegas tends to try to mask these issues as well). So, what I'm saying is, it doesn't necessarily require really heavy hitter hardware to edit HD, although it can help.

Lastly, my main advice would be to try these out. Most vendors allow a trial...check out what Sony, Adobe, Avid, Pinnacle, etc., have to offer, try them out, and make your decision from there. Again, my wallet vote has been to Vegas for the past 6 years...but that's what works for me.

Good luck.

Bill~

 

[drbill]

I have been quite surprised at how well Premiere Elements 3.0 has worked with my dual core Dell E1505 laptop. It has a 100 gb 5400 rpm HDD yet has captured several hours of HDV footage without a burp. I never expected that (I have a 7200 rpm external I bought for the laptop but it is currently attached to my desktop).

However, after 25 years of being a devoted PC user and Mac basher, I think my nhext computer will be an Intel-based Mac. Will wonders never cease? You might even see me go DIR at this rate (do they allow cameras?).

 

[Empty V]

Hey Dr. B glad to see you're thinking of coming over to the other side. I was a PC guy way back in the DOS days myself. I made the switch about 6 years ago and haven't looked back. Trust me, it's a move you will not regret. No viruses, no popups telling you that your computer might be at risk, no OS updates that aren't backwards compatible (cough vista) and you can get Final Cut Express 3.5 HD for $300. That's more than enough power than an amateur editor needs. You don't need to spend $1300 on Final Cut Studio 2 if you're not going to use all of the other dealies and apps.

Vegas is an okay program but it's compression options are very weak and it's interface is kind of clunky. You can edit on any program you choose, but you need to really make sure you have the right options for compression if you plan to view your final edits on anything besides within your editing software.

Those who hate on the macs have never gotten inside one. Spend a few hours on one, you'll see why the entertainment and art industries thrive off of them. Plus you join a community where everyone helps each other out.

Billy

 

[billwil]

Empty...I hope you didn't think I was bagging on Macs...I was simply stating if he has a new Sony laptop, there shouldn't be a reason that he would need to go out and buy a Mac now just to edit...that is simply not necessary. There are +/- to both platforms...one is not just better than the other hands down...only fanboys say stuff like that.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean about limited compression options in Vegas...this is simply not true (unless I misunderstood you). I've never seen more options on any NLE...as a matter of fact, Vegas supports everything that Windows supports...it uses the directX platform, and thus can take advantage of any directshow codec installed...which is many out of the box, and there are so many (even very obscure ones) that you can install, it is virtually unlimited. Also, it has always been renowned for allowing all kinds of mixed content on the timeline...even on the same track with resolution, framerate, and codec independance without re-rendering. Many other NLEs are starting to catch up in this area, but Vegas, from a compatability and options standpoint, has always shined.

As for the interface for Vegas...it's important to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I tried many NLEs when I got into video about 7 years ago. I was dissapointed with all of them from a productivity standpoint...until I happened upon this little thing call Vegas from a pro audio company called Sonic Foundry (it since has been bought and maintained by Sony). The interface just automatically clicked for me. It is different, no question, from all of the other NLEs, but to me that is a strength. To you, that may be a drawback. That's why I suggested trying some of them to reefrat. There are many people who have seen the Vegas way of doing things (which was born out of professional audio tools) as refreshing and productive...but many people think it is more difficult (like you, presumeably). That doesn't make one of us wrong...just different. :14:

Anyway...hopefully reefrat will figure out what he wants to do soon so we can see some of that video! I think on that, we all agree.