Video editing software -- nothing too fancy

[Randall]

There have been some good threads on video editing software (http://www.aota.net/forums/showthread.php?postid=130641#post130641), but I feel compelled to bring up the topic again. While my needs are more modest than most, they do call for some level of professionalism.

We're talking about short videos for the web -- 320x240, can't imagine anything running longer than two or three minutes. Don't need any special effects, just titles and your basic fades and dissolves. My style is clean and simple.

What I do want is stuff that Microsoft Movie Maker can't do -- like L-shaped cuts, audio scrubbing and something approaching frame accuracy. Sometimes I feel nostalgic for VHS. :hrmm:

Wouldn't hurt to have envelope control over audio tracks, either.

No doubt Adobe Premiere will do these and much, much more, but this is mostly an experiment at the moment so it's hard to justify the cost (and besides, I don't think my aging PII-450 could handle it). OTOH, if we shell out money for Premiere Elements or Ulead Video Studio, am I going to be dissapointed? I want my little 320x240 videos to look like a pro job, within the limits of my talent. Don't want to be fighting the software like I am now.

What about freeware/shareware? Anything out there that can do quality editing of modest material, with minimal bells and whistles? (This is all coming from a webcam, so video capture isn't an issue.)

With the right software, I can do what I need to do. Hope someone out there knows what I'm looking for.

Randall

[Matt]

Randall, I suspect the "aging PII-450" is going to be the biggest limiting factor. I moved over to a PIII-1200Mhz after giving up in frustration when trying to edit video on an older machine. I think Ulead Video Studio is a path to explore, but I am not very impressed with its (in)ability to edit audio. -Matt

[Mandi]

My in house video editor (doesn't that sound impressive?) . . . . which is to say, the 14 year old girl :yeah: LOL - says to give this program (http://www.avid.com/freedv/) a look. The "features" page has a good side by side comparison of what's included. I confess that some of your specs (audio envelope? huh :dopey: ?) and most of the program specs are wayyyy outside my area of expertise. Need any nonconstant acceleration calculated??? (I'm taking Physics this semester, but not just so I can work it into conversation like that :teach: .) No idea what the learning curve would be, but the price is right.

I'd be a little worried about video processing being unworkable on that machine too. Consider whether or not you are a patient man, LOL! My approach has always been to put available funds towards incremental hardware upgrades, and look for open/free source software, so I'd advise some upgrades to deal with that, too. In House Video Editor works with a 2.4 P4 (overclocked a little, because the boss of her IT department loves her) and a full gig of DDR RAM. Nonetheless, she complains of slow video processing. Her video card is nothing special, I am sure that's another bottleneck she's experiencing. She's moving up to a 250 gig SATA2 drive as soon as my house is in a little better order, post-move. (Because 80+40 gigs of IDE HDD's is just NOT enough space for today's teenager . . . ) I'm curious to see if she thinks that's appreciably faster. Maybe Hanukkah Harry will bring her some more RAM, or a gliztier video card.

I trust you have something more highbrow in mind than making Stargate music videos. Not that I'm accusing anyone around here of that, or anything :rolleyes: .

Aw, nuts - forgot to update my FQ account with the new addy. I'm doing it right now, Bob :Happy: !

I think what I really need in my life, is a FEW MORE ACCOUNTS TO UPDATE!!

[Randall]

My in house video editor (doesn't that sound impressive?) . . . . which is to say, the 14 year old girl :yeah: LOL - says to give this program (http://www.avid.com/freedv/) a look. Avid freeware? Whoa. :eek:

Doesn't look bad -- I can live without real-time effects -- but it does lack the split edit feature I was hoping for. I confess that some of your specs (audio envelope? huh :dopey: ?) and most of the program specs are wayyyy outside my area of expertise. I don't know if "envelope" is the right word anymore, just a term I dug up from my sound synthesis days 20 years ago. Basically, controlling volume levels over time. Movie Maker can only set one volume level for an entire clip, plus fade-in/out, which is pretty limiting if you want to do voiceovers. Need any nonconstant acceleration calculated??? How about deceleration when my head lands on my desk? But I guess that would be pretty constant... Randall, I suspect the "aging PII-450" is going to be the biggest limiting factor. I moved over to a PIII-1200Mhz after giving up in frustration when trying to edit video on an older machine. I think Ulead Video Studio is a path to explore, but I am not very impressed with its (in)ability to edit audio. Oh, I know it's going to be limiting -- multitasking with Photoshop and a few other apps open is already painful -- but remain optimistic that the small size (length and res) of the clips will ameliorate that somewhat. And if not, maybe I'll finally get a new PC out of the deal. :rasberry:

They don't have much to say about Avid Free's audio capabilities either, but it won't cost me anything to find out.

edit: Just noticed that XP Pro is required? What the heck is that about?

Randall

[Tom E.]

Hi Randall,

If you want "audio envelopes" for voiceovers, try searching for software with audio "ducking" (automatically lowers music volume when voice is speaking).

... from my sound synthesis days 20 years ago.

Did you have a Casio CZ-101/1000 or Ensoniq ESQ-1/M?

If so, we might be lost twins. (I hope I'm the evil one :EG: )

Tom

[Randall]

If you want "audio envelopes" for voiceovers, try searching for software with audio "ducking" (automatically lowers music volume when voice is speaking). Automatic? Dang these newfangled contraptions. In my day you had to throw a blanket over the orchestra... Did you have a Casio CZ-101/1000 or Ensoniq ESQ-1/M?

If so, we might be lost twins. (I hope I'm the evil one :EG: ) No, I did all my fiddling with the sound chips in my Amigas. Probably not on the same level. :wink:

But you're free to be my evil twin anytime you want. :rasberry:

Randall

[Tom E.]

No, I did all my fiddling with the sound chips in my Amigas.I had an Amiga, although I used it for MIDI sequencing, not the sound chips. Plus, I was addicted to "Poker Squares" solitaire.

Tom

---
I know he looks like me
Hates work like me
and walks like me
He's even got a twin like me

from "My Evil Twin" by They Might Be Giants

[Randall]

I had an Amiga, although I used it for MIDI sequencing, not the sound chips. After I posted that I remembered playing around with square waves and whatnot on my Yamaha MIDI keyboard (a consumer model, nothing too impressive). Still have it in the closet, in fact. Used Bars & Pipes for sequencing. There was an Electronic Arts app I used before that, plus a program that drove the computer's own sound chips...

Sigh. That was my short-lived career as a music composer. I can't play an instrument, so moving notes around onscreen was the closest I ever got. Sort of like the proverbial monkeys and typewriters churning out Shakespeare, and we know how that turned out (http://aota.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14237). :rasberry:

One of these days I have to play around with GarageBand. Maybe the monkey will have better luck with that.

Randall