Video Editing Software

[musicator]

Does anyone know of, or better still have experience of, a Video Editing Software Suite that doesn't cost the earth, actually 'does what it says on the tin' works first time out and crucially will give me a minimum of 2 Video and 2 Audio tracks to work with.
I've already bought and tried 3 such suites,although none could offer the 2 Video & audio tracks, but they all seem to suffer some problems or crash just when you're in the middle of a tricky operation, and at 83 years of age I really can't be bother with trying to work with software that is not reliable so if you can help I would be most grateful.
Thank you
musicator

[redsox_mark]

Have you tried Sony Vegas Movie Studio/Movie Studio Platinum? I have found it reliable and powerful, has 4 video and 4 audio tracks. Both under £50; the Platinum version has additional features like high def and ac3 audio; that is the one I would recommend.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiope

[Richard Jones]

Yes, I agree with Mark.

I started with Platinum before upgrading to the Pro version and can thoroughly recommend it. Like most things there is a learning curve but once you get the hang of the basics it's very intuitive. It has a surprising number of bells and whistles and is very versatile. Used with Sony's DVD Architect it makes a complete package for capturing, ediiting, fiddling, rendering (into a choice of formats including NTSC and PAL, widescreen and 4:3, MPEG2 and AC3 etc., etc.,) and, of course, burning.

Good Luck.

Richard

[senu]

I agree with the above 2 posts
I have , until recently been involved is user testing most of the software in the market and can generally give pros and cons .
I havent used Adobe Premiere ( after the Pro ) version. and Avid Liquid remains at Ver 7..
Pinnacle Studio Plus has a great GUI and is very cppable..when it works.. Until ver 9 it used to be fickle and unstable, Ver 10 and 11 have been much better but it is limited in tracks
Ulead Video Studio is perhaps more stable but is limited in tracks and some fin dit tries to be too helpful .this can stifle creativity as its manual settings are buried under layers
Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum actually has very easy to follow interactive tutorials Called "show me how") and does have the no of tracks you need. It also have a good online user forum for queries
It has an initially unfamiliar interface which can put you off but if shown ( I was at a Video show seminar) It is quite enjoyablle to use
Its disadvantage is that it share a lot with the Pr o version such that many features are greyed out
This may or may not bother you YMMV but because I have both I simply use the pro version for even very simple Projects

Adobe Premiere Element is generally stable and vers 3 and 4 are easier to use than earlier versions but it seems to have hardware requirements which put it aat a disadvantage compared to SVMSP
It odea have the advantage opf a familiar GUI to those who have used or tried Premiere before though

However thay all have a learning curve, and also likeability factor which varies from person to person
At 83 I have to admire your zest for things like this.
There are many folk 60 years younger who simply wont be bothered..
What have you used?
You can download trial version of the software in its current version but if you wish to try oder versions I no longer use and are now just sitting in my study gahering dust ) , PM me ,

[felix2]

I agree with the above 3!!! But would also just make my regular appearance to suggest Serif MoviePlus www.serif.com as an alternative too. As well as being extremely stable and running well on low spec PCs, it's very similar to Sony Vegas Movie Studio, but I (and others I've spoken to) somehow find it a bit more intuitive to use, and it has unlimited number of video and audio tracks, - but some things like audio effects, and to a lesser degree video effects and transitions, are a little more limited than Vegas.

It does also depend what you're editing - Serif MoviePlus is well overdue a new version (it's been "just weeks away" for several months!!), and the current version 5 doesn't support HD properly / at all... (So if you're just editing standard def tape DV-AVI and are interested, make sure you get it at a large discount to RRP! Serif also offer 30-day money back guarantee if you buy from them. But Sony Vegas could well be the better one for you anyway... have a look at both websites if you want and see what you think)

[musicator]

I am really very very obliged to all of you who have offerred advice so quickly, it's been quite a relevation to someone not used to these Forums etc.
I will certainly be trying one or the other of your suggestions as soon as I can digest all your helpfull comments.
Thank you all very much indeed I only hope that sometime I will be able to help someone just as quickly.
Thanks again.
Best Regards
musicator

[musicator]

I had a thread going about the best video editing software to buy and received several very helpful comments and suggestions but the thread seems to have disappeared so I can't ask all those helpful people one last question.
They have convinced me to buy the Sony Vegas Platinum software and before I do I just wanted to make sure that this will 'capture' both Analogue and Digital video 8 material and is there a preferred version, therr seems to be several, currently edition 9 seems to be the latest but I suspect many of those who helped will have been talking about an earlier version, say 8?.
Thanks for any help
musicator

[senu]

This is it . ill merge them if it helps

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by musicator

I had a thread going about the best video editing software to buy and received several very helpful comments and suggestions but the thread seems to have disappeared so I can't ask all those helpful people one last question.
They have convinced me to buy the Sony Vegas Platinum software and before I do I just wanted to make sure that this will 'capture' both Analogue and Digital video 8 material and is there a preferred version, therr seems to be several, currently edition 9 seems to be the latest but I suspect many of those who helped will have been talking about an earlier version, say 8?.
Thanks for any help
musicator

Version 8 is the latest Vegas Movie Studio Platinum version.

Digital 8 will be no problem. To capture analogue material you need some hardware - e.g could be a Digital 8 camcorder which plays analogue 8mm tapes. Or could be a device which captures as MPEG2. Vegas will be able to edit it.

[musicator]

Thanks Mark, I already have a analogue camera to play the tapes on, is that what you meant by extra hardware?
musicator

[senu]

Originally Posted by musicator

Thanks Mark, I already have a analogue camera to play the tapes on, is that what you meant by extra hardware?
musicator

No : analogue video is not readable by the PC or editable Software so capture and digitising will be required
With DV all you need is firewire for cpture to PC and with the latest HDD /SD card devises, USB
AS such hardware might refer to external ( or internal ) analogue to digital devices which will help capture, and digitise the footage for use by the software
Some Digital8 camcorders ( now no longer in production) are able to play analogue Hi 8 tapes and out put them as digital ( doing it internally)
They have firewire connectivity so capture is as with DV

[nerdherd]

final cut express 4 on mac is excellent.

[mart62]

i was going to go for pinnacle 12 but i really aint so sure now.

there is just too much choice nowadays

[senu]

Originally Posted by mart62

i was going to go for pinnacle 12 but i really aint so sure now.

there is just too much choice nowadays

Not a bad thing really . it just means you are not stuck with one if you dont like it
Pinnacle studio 12 has had a mixed reception.
I would think carefully before getting it but any other software you do get will either
be less easy to use
or
have a less logical GUI
or both!!