Best program for vid editing

[entropy1982]

Hey guys, my brother has a bunch of pictures and videos (small snipets) of my 16 month old nephew from the time that he was born. I'd like to make a compilation of them i guess.... i'd just like to know what the best program for something like this would be. I definitely want to add music and have a few fancy effects here and there. I would call myself a pretty advanced computer user. Thanks

 

[PseudoKnight]

I've really only used two, Adobe Premier and Sony Vegas, (unless you count VirtualDub and other small limited video programs) which you may know are the higher end of the spectrum of price and features. Of the two, Vegas would be the most appropriate. However, I'm sure price is a concern to you (cheapest version of Vegas is $45-90 and it's more limited) and there's numerous other options out there that would do just what you need and range from cheap to free. (Windows Movie Maker, for example) I can't help you on which is the best of those, though many claim WMM is simple and great for their needs.

 

[Xyclone]

Sony Vegas is awesome. :thumbsup:

 

[ZoomStop]

yeah, I would have to say that if just tossing some clips & images together with music and a few tranisitions is all that is needed then the freebie Windows Movie Maker should do the job.
Free, really easy, and stable.

 

[PoisonCandyGram]

iMovie is the best "free" program out there, but I don't know if you have access to a mac. Windows Movie Maker is garbage, but if you just wanted to make a single short compilation it may serve your needs. Pinnacle Studio 7 is a decent piece of software that you should be able to find for very cheap on ebay.

 

[Atheus]

Virtualdub is good, free, and open source.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Virtualdub is good, free, and open source.

While it's good for converting/cutting/otherwise editing, I don't think it's a good candidate for transition effects and adding sounds.

I would agree with Sony Vegas. This was originally created with Vegas.

If you want free and simpler, Windows Movie Maker is your best bet.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Ulead has a nice application to do this (DVD PictureShow, if I remember correctly), and I've had great success, personally, with Muvee autoProducer...

 

[nollonemo]

Sony Vegas rocks hot balls, but is overkill for what the OP want to do costs a buttload. However, check out Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD which is much like Vegas and the DVD Architect authoring program, but with fewer high end features. Has rebates at Best Buy. Should be a sweet package. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...6&type=product&cmp=++&id=1122652248558

 

[entropy1982]

price is not really a concern to me actually. Thank you so much for your input guys.... you guys rock

so sony vegas or premier? ... it sounds like sony vegas

 

[nollonemo]

I tried both with no film editing experience, and found Vegas easier to figure out, but both camps have their adherents. The first release of Premiere was reportedly buggy & crash prone, but I'm betting that's been sorted out by now. The Vegas users are really fanatical about it, and there's a great Vegas form on the Sony website. http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowTopics.asp?ForumID=4 W, note that if you get Vegas, you'll want to get it bundled with DVD Architect (Vegas = editing, DVDA = disk authoring (menus, etc)). As a Vegas user, I say go with Vegas (hey, I use Photoshop, I'm no Adobe-basher).

 

[entropy1982]

wow, thanks so much i didn't expect so much input

 

[John P]

Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements, and Sony Vegas Movie Studio will all do what you want and are relatively cheap.

I have used Studio 9.0 plus the most and am pretty proficient with it, it's probaly got the shortest learning curve.

I would not pay full price for any of this stuff. The stategy I use is to just pick up different software packages when they are on sale and try them out. I bought the Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0/Photoshop Elements 4.0 package from BB for $49 after rebates on BF. I think I payed like $29 after rebates for Studio 9.0 Plus.

I have played with Premiere Elements a little bit and it does some stuff Studio does not like allow you to import different media formats like *.wmv and even *.vob files from DVD folders (after using DVD Decrypter to put them on your hard drive).

I believe Sony Vegas Movie Studio is on sale at Best Buy this week. Not sure about the others.

Good luck.

 

[entropy1982]

thanks i already downloaded vegas.... ill pay for it later =P

 

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: entropy1982
thanks i already downloaded vegas.... ill pay for it later =P

:thumbsdown:


Guess this is why price is no concern.

 

[entropy1982]

it's free after rebate at best buy... i just took a shortcut =P

 

[ZoomStop]

Originally posted by: entropy1982
thanks i already downloaded vegas.... ill pay for it later =P

Pretty much figured you'd be stealing it back when you said:

Originally posted by: entropy1982
price is not really a concern to me actually

Pretty crappy way to go though man. You could have used WMM (even though it stinks) and not have been a criminal.

EDIT: oh yeah, and how the hell is a $500 program free after rebate at Best Buy?

 

[entropy1982]

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/message...=563846&highlight_key=y&keyword1=vegas

 

[Bryan]

:thumbsdown:

 

[Todd33]

Studio is garbage. I used it from 8.0 to 9.4 Plus. It's easy to use, but highly unstable and all the good stuff is locked and you have to pay more to get it.

I recently bought Premire Elements 2.0 for $58 after rebate. It's MP aware, stable and everything is included, no locked crap. It's a bit more difficult to learn, but worth the effort.

 

[Homerboy]

if you want a easy click-click method to do it use Roxio's Cinemagic included in their bloat-ware package dealie.
I use it to make videos of my kids all the time. Much easier and quicker than manually editing.
Just drag and drop clips/stills and some song, choose your "storyboard type" and hit "go"
it does a pretty good job of synching tranisitions and cuts to the music itself.

 

[Rottie]

You should try Adobe Premiere Pro..I have used Premiere 6.0 with no experience but got help by reading How to books I find Pemiere is easy to use. I have a long way to learn this nice program.

 

[pkme2]

Sony Vegas Video at home, and Canopus DV Storm at school.

 

[Homerboy]

Im telling you man, if you want a nice, simple way to make this, without tedious editing: Cinemagic from Roxio