good video editing software.

[Jason Poulin]

I'd like to shoot a video for my band (just something to release on-line) of us in the studio recording our upcoming album.


Can someone recommend a good editing software for this?



Thanks


Jason

[A101]

Final Cut Pro on Mac.
Even iMovie should be ok if you're not planning on doing extensive video/audio editing.

[simonv]

Vegas on PC

[jdjustice]

First things first: Mac or PC!

Then specs.


I can only answer for the Macintosh.. if you own a Mac that you purchased in the last two years then your computer came with an application called iMovie HD that is extremely simple to use with drag-and-drop functionality. You would use iMovie to do the editing, which is very intuitive, and then use its sister program iDVD to create a DVD if so needed. But if you are just releasing it over the internet you just need to compress the finished file into a format suitable for web viewing. I believe iMovie will compress your finished video into one of several formats for streaming/web viewing, the coolest of which is a codec (compression/decompression algorithm) named H.264 or Sorenson AVC. This is a pristine and beautiful quality compression format that was accepted as an international standard. iMovie and iDVD come as part of the iLife '05 and iLife '06 programs, which if you don't already have them, you can buy the iLife '06 suite for just $79. Yes, $79. And it comes with GarageBand and iPhoto too so you can create titles for your film and accompanying music (but I assume you are producing the music on a more complicated program than GarageBand).

Again, if you are using a Macintosh there are some more flexible choices that are a bit more expensive, from Apple Final Cut Express (which retails for $299) all the way up to the CREAM-OF-THE-CROP of ALL video editing programs, Final Cut Studio (which, at $1299, comes with Final Cut Pro 5, DVD Strudio Pro 4, Motion 2, and Soundtrack Professional). Final Cut Pro has eclipsed Avid in professional video editing around the world.

Other Mac programs to consider for video are Audiodesk Discreet Cleaner 6 (a codec program) and possibly Adobe After Effects 7 for special effect rendering and compositing.


If you are on Windows I don't know what to tell you except that Adobe Premiere Pro sucks and you would regret buying it. I think Sony makes a video editing suite, either called Vegas or some other silly name.

Links:

http://www.apple.com/ilife/
http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/
http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/

http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/


Hope this helps -- if you aren't using a Mac you might want to consider getting one if you are going to be doing this sort of thing on a regular basis; Final Cut Pro is the best video editing software money can buy!

J.D.

[jcschild]

for windows:
in order of ease of use and playing well with audio

Sony Vegas 6 + DVD it has made huge strides in becoming professional software.
laid out like a sequencer is so very easy for an audio guy. (does HD)
i used to think of this as cheap and sleazy now its pro class.

Liquid 7. effects are rendered immediately in the background a little more difficult to learn but powerful (does HD) my second fav.

Avid Xpress Pro HD. more difficult to learn more widely accepted as "pro"
tech support is costly. 90% of comercials you see on TV is done with Avid.

Adobe: the most taught in schools however the hardest to learn, difficult to work within. does not get along with others and will NOT do real time previews which really sucks. u have to render out then look at it and say oh... i dont like that effect.. back to the raw footage. as expensive as Avid.

conversely, Adobe After effects rocks as does photo shop and illustrator.

personally if it were me i would go Sony

Scott
ADK

[Mixocalypse]

Yes if your on a Mac you have iMovie for free. You can do some great editing in that. Simple transitions and effects. the off to idvd or DVD studio pro.
If thats not enough, on Mac again is Final Cut Express and if thats not enough you've got Final Cut Pro.

Lots of great software on the PC aswell.

So many choices...

[Jason Poulin]

great!

Thanks for the replies...

I work on a mac at home and I do have all that iStuff...

Never even thought of trying it. Will now!

thanks


Jason

[Albert]

iMovie is really pretty amazing for the price. If your editing needs are not too complex this might be enough for you.

Just be aware that iMovie 4 and earlier have the 2 gig file size limit. So if you need to record or import video files larger than that you'll need iMovie HD (part of iLife 05), or iMovie 6.

[kennyd03]

I love iMovie as well. It allows me to post movie files to clients with my music to it, where before I had to rely on them to pop an mp3 or aif into their system to check it out.

-Kenny D

[Ray Sigmond]

I also agree that if you are using a PC, Vegas 6 with DVD Architect is the way to go.

[HeatWAVS]

Originally Posted by Ray Sigmond

I also agree that if you are using a PC, Vegas 6 with DVD Architect is the way to go.

I third that... I've been doing video production for about 2 years and I'd be lost without Vegas.

[Albert]

I just came across a freeware video editor for Mac OSX that seems good. It's called HyperEngine-AV, and you can download it here:

http://www.arboretum.com/

[kudzu]

If u put a shift in, Final Cut Pro is very rewarding ... I'm no Speilberg, but I offer a filming / editing / finished DVD (quicktime movie) service along with audio production for bands ... it has proved quite lucrative. Most newly released CD's have a "bonus DVD" feature, many done with Final Cut Pro (or iMovie).
Word of warning tho ... u need a powerful Mac to let Final Cut Pro "sing" ... a G5, loadsa RAM ... 16 Mb cache HD (preferably 10,000rpm) ... Get into it ... its FUN

http://www.macprovideo.com/ tutorials are a brilliant way to learn ... helped me loads ... well worth it