Video Editing Software

[penvzila]

I would like some recommendations on software to use for fairly simple video editing. I am making a commercial for class, so i need to be able to insert music and other sounds, and of course standard frame editing tools. Also, where on the computer do most dv camcorders connect?. My video card only has TV, VGA and DVI OUT,, no inputs.

If any of you know of any freeware that will accomplish my goals, please share. I would like to avoid buying some huge package, or making a friend download it.

 

[penvzila]

I will try to go to a friend's house and download Ulead MediaStudio Pro on their broadband. Anyone use that here?

 

[akar]

Adobe Premiere

 

[lan]

Premiere is too costly for this.

You'll need a firewire card and cable to do the capture from DV cam to computer.

That Ulead software should be fine for you.

 

[andrzejpw]

I used the 30 day trial version of premiere for my video for french class last year. So many special effects, I was guaranteed an A.

 

[LobsterSan]

Adobe Premiere is often found for free. *nudge*

Not that I condone anything like that. I'm just making an observation.

If you have a Mac, then the obvious answer is iMovie. Free and easy to use. If you want to get more tricky, then Final Cut Pro is the ultimate answer. FCP is used in the professional industry. Um... and it can also be found for free. *nudge*

 

[dariusf]

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterSan Adobe Premiere is often found for free. *nudge*

I call this software evaluation. But ALL the software I use professionally and make money with I buy. If you have FTP account with few hundred MBs free, maybe some could 'magically' appear there?

Not that I'm implying anything

 

[dngl]

Go for Vegas Video 3.0. Easiest to use and also the most powerful.

Premiere is antiquated. It is stuck in 1999.

Ulead is what I started on. It's strictly middle of the road.

 

[penvzila]

Buying any software is out of the question. I have a friend with a good cable connection and a access to an elite DirectConnect hub, so I'll see what i can do there. What about Microsoft Movie maker, or whatever it's called? ITs an 8mb download from microsoft. It sounds like it's all i'll need.

 

[penvzila]

Do i just need a firewire port for vidcap or do i need a special video capture card w/ firewire ports? OR is there any price difference?

 

[akar]

Just a regular firewire port.

 

[dariusf]

Yes, just firewire and a drive capable of transferring 5MBs/s sustained or you will be dropping frames. As for the software all I use is Adobe Premiere. Vegas Video is a nice program. Have fun.

 

[joe]

I use Premiere 6.0, and it works out well, other than wanting to export widescreen to tape. I need to score a copy of Vegas Video 3, but I'm poor, and I cant find a reputable source to DL it from.

 

[penvzila]

My drive has a 8mb/s seek. Is this good enough for 5 mb/s sustained?

 

[joe]

Most video capture cards (as far as I know) come with a benchmark program that will give your transfer rate a few tests and let you know how good it is. I know I had a lot of problems until I got a Promise RAID card and set 2 drives up to work as one.