[kieronm]

I'm new to DV editing and want to buy some software that allows me to convert my DV movies onto DVD with cool transitions, sound (original mp3's and hopefully 5.1) and titles etc. Could anyone recommend a piece of PC software that they can recommend. I've seen so many good/bad things said about Pinnacle, VideoStudio 9 etc that I'm lost for what to buy. I would imagine that I'd be a medium level user vs and absolute novice.

Thanks Kieron

[redsox_mark]

I suggest Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD:
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/Pro...ct.asp?PID=977

Though for 5.1 sound you'll need the full professional version of Vegas which is more £££...

Mark

[Snubtray]

Windows Movie Maker is free and will enable you to try out many of the editing features you seek. If you have SP2 of WinXP it should be found under the Accessories menu of Start.

MovieMaker doesn't burn to DVD though.

When I bought a Firewire card for my PC it came with a free copy of Ulead VideoStudio 8, which is adequate for my skill levels, and includes the facility to burn to DVDs as well as other video file formats.

[senu]

Sony Vegas Studio+ DVD look here
Adobe Premiere Elements2 look here

There are other personal favourites but these 2 are known to be stable, well featured and easy to use after the initial " getting to know you " phase.
I was at the recent Video Forum in Earls court and they had Seminars on the Sony line (including the full Vegas:Very impressive :as I was using it using basic NLE software knowledge). You can actually buy in the UK;just google it

There is no perfect software however and you will hear good/ bad things about all of them. Done carefully , making a narrow shortlist and downloading trial versions is a good way of assessing them yourself.Better still is see if a friend has a preinstalled one and have a play on thier system

I use Pinnacle Studio 10+ ( among others) but reckon Im one of the lucky few it doesnt misbehaved with.
When it works it has a very smooth learning curve and youll be happily editing in no time. Unfortunately I cant endorse it due to significant stability problems with a significant no of users.

Avid are ironing out its bugs and it may well be a more mature product soon. Ulead Video Studio 9 is better product from the stability point of view. A lot of people like it but I ( personally) find its User interface in need of a overhaul and used it only briefly bfore uninstalling it!

Finally a word about hardware. The recommended specs of any of the software should be taken with a pinch of salt. They tend to work better with higher specs
HTH

.

[Bearded_Malc]

Also note the specs for Adobe PE2 which on works on pentiums and high spec AMD parts.

I've posted my comments on various NLEs here and others have contributed to this thread as well. The current PC Pro has a free (older) version of Edit Studio which is useful to have but not as nice as PE.

[jspoi]

Is there a reason no one ever mentions Avid when asked this question? Avid DVXpress is a really good, stable program. It works through firewire, has incredible control over the editing process, and (as it's the industry standard interface) if you're any good at it and want to work in the industry, you already know what to use when you look for a job!

They do a free version (called Avid Free DV) on their website (www.avid.com)

Vegas, Premier, and all the other PC apps are nice pieces of software, but if you want something close to professional, go for XPressDV

Jspoi

{mod edit vonhosen - for comment that could be misinterpreted re illegal copies of software}

[senu]

Avid solutions are
Stable
Powerful
Very versatile
Industry standard
They are also rather costly and not for everybody.
I know folk who have Avid on machines at work but use other NLE at home .
Im not sure about complexity but usually, very powerful solutions with incredble control over the editing process are perhaps better avoided by neebees until they find thier feet as they have a steep learning curve.
My experience at the recent video forum ( at Earls Court) appears to suggest that Avid as a corporate entity is not interested in enty level/ intermediate users ."Big spenders are welcome" they seem to say.
Perhaps the perception is wrong but it is real and was reinforced at the Show
Avid have now bought over Pinnacle Liquid and Studio and time will tell if they modify these for the new user / High end consumer

[jspoi]

I agree with you on Avid's approach to the customer. I think they're probably about to suffer a big consumer backlash with the quality v cost of their products. Hell, I just spent £30,000 on a fully uncompressed High Def Final Cut Pro edit suite at the same price that Avid sells their Adrenaline "Kinda" High Def edit suite.

But, if the original poster is looking for some software, the Avid Free DV option is at least something worth investigating - as it's free.

I really like Adobe Premier by the way. If you're looking to spend money on something, and can't afford the Xpress DV Avid stuff, then it's a good route to go down - especially as it integrates with the other Adobe packages (After Effects for graphics, Encore for DVD creation and Audition for sound editing.)

I'm an Avid dinosaur, it's true, but it's for a reason, it's the best architecture to edit with. (IMHO)

Sorry about the illegal section in my last post by the way, my bad.

Jspoi.

[Bearded_Malc]

Doesn't avid need SEE2 (or some letters like that) so like PE2 only runs on pentiums or high end AMDs.

premiere elements is super. i use prem pro, studio. avidfree matrox &fcp, for bang per buck prem elements is hard to better, gives you loads more tracks than avid freedv

[senu]

Roy / Mark,

Unrelated but im sure you guys may have an answer to this . If you had £400 max and had to edit HD/HDV what would be your software shortlist?.

Another one: How noticable is any subtle softening effect the HCDR HC1 cmos has on PQ to make one need to save up for an FX1 for work that may have an audience beyond friends and family? ( or is that nitpicking, and its PQ is razor sharp??)
Cheers
Senu

i own a mac and they are definitely the best when wanting to do video editing. i use final cut pro and love it. it's definitely more professional than other editing programs but it's still pretty easy to use. if you want to try something simpler than you could use iMovie. it has some decent effects but it could get cheesy if used too much. both final cut and iMovie can edit high def footage in their newest versions.