Video Editing Discussion

[DavidTO]

You can discuss all aspects of editing here. Software. Hardware. Aesthetics. Whatever.

:thumb

[ChrisJ]

DVdate (http://paul.glagla.free.fr/dvdate_en.htm) [paul.glagla.free.fr]

This program does other stuff, but what I use it for is to quickly get the date recorded for an AVI file.

Just drag an AVI file to the program and it gives you all kinds of useful info including the Datecode.

The version I'm using is 5.3.6 En. So I haven't tried his latest...

Note: This is a Windows program.

[Vixx]

You can discuss all aspects of editing here. Software. Hardware. Aesthetics. Whatever.

:thumb

Hey guys, new to Smugmug (came from Phanfare, the 2.0 release pretty much killed it for me). Just bought a new Canon HG10 (price is too good and can't stand tape or memory sticks).

What software are you guys using and having a good time with for video compilation (scene transistions, effects, audio tracks, etc)? I cna't stand the windows version, but it works. We'll see how it handles HD...

Thanks!

[ChrisJ]

The only software I found bearable on the PC is Sony Vegas (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=447). I have the DVD/Platinum (something like that) edition, not the Pro version.

Multiple audio tracks, nice transistions, and it incorporates still images well.

I think my version is two points behind the current, and still perfectly usable. It requires .net Framework.

Oh, and welcome to Dgrin! :wave

[DI-Joe]

I use Premiere CS3 and I absolutely love it. I do all my audio work in Steinberg Nuendo 3, and Soundbooth.

But then again, like photoshop, i've been using premiere for ages and I just am not feeling the other options. I don't use it necessarily becuase it's any better than the others, it's just what works for me.

[darkdragon]

I use only Mac & Final Cut Studio now.

Before i switched to Mac I used Adobe Production Studio on the PC. It is a great setup, but Premeire is still a bit unstable (could only handle clips up to 6 minutes long, longer then that for one clip would crash the app).

I have tried Sony Vegas but can't stand it.

The key thing to do is download trials for everything and see what YOU like working with. Everyone works differenetly, that's why there are so many apps out there.

[DI-Joe]

...(could only handle clips up to 6 minutes long, longer then that for one clip would crash the app)....

That sounds like an isolated issue, I regularly deal with clips longer than that from CGI renders. I'd conjure it's a source or hardware/software fluke.

[darkdragon]

That sounds like an isolated issue, I regularly deal with clips longer than that from CGI renders. I'd conjure it's a source or hardware/software fluke.

I hope so! Can only give my experiance with it though, for what it's worth. Currently editing some stuff for someone else on his machine with Premiere Express (i think thats what its called) and so far no problem with longer clips, i think 15 min is the longest so far. :thumb

[ian408]

So I've been looking at edit packages. On the PC, I'm used to Premier. I don't
care for it (and it's a pretty old version) so I thought I'd look at FCP. I guess
you can only buy this in bundled form now?

[DavidTO]

So I've been looking at edit packages. On the PC, I'm used to Premier. I don't
care for it (and it's a pretty old version) so I thought I'd look at FCP. I guess
you can only buy this in bundled form now?


Final Cut Express (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/)

[ian408]

Final Cut Express (http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/)
I thought about that. But I want some of the features of FCP.

Whoops. Forgot to cut more. I'd hoped there was a source for it still.

[DavidTO]

I thought about that. But I want some of the features of FCP.

Whoops. Forgot to cut more. I'd hoped there was a source for it still.


What features?

It's been years, maybe 3 or more, since you could buy FCP as a standalone product.

[TylerW]

That sounds like an isolated issue, I regularly deal with clips longer than that from CGI renders. I'd conjure it's a source or hardware/software fluke.

yup. I almost daily abuse Premiere pro into handling footage segments 40-60 mins in length. Handles it just fine.

What version are you using?

[darkdragon]

yup. I almost daily abuse Premiere pro into handling footage segments 40-60 mins in length. Handles it just fine.

What version are you using?


I was using Premiere pro 2 on my PC. On an edit I just finished for a client, his machine has Premiere Elements, but I don't recall the version. That one crashed 3 times on me, but I already CTRL+S after everything I do - so I never lost any work.

No idea why I have bad luck with Premiere, oh well.

[TerryLP]

I used to have a number of crashes with Premiere Pro 2 also. Then I upgraded the amount of memory that I have and that solved my problem.

[TriggerHappy]

Hi all,

I'm having trouble uploading videos to my smugmug site from my mac, and am wondering what works well for other people? What software are people using to capture video and edit and upload to smugmug?

I'm using iMovie HD to capture from my Sony HDV camera. I edit in full HD res and then export to quicktime, web size. Quicktime movie plays fine on my mac, but after uploading using the latest MacDaddy uploader, the audio is garbled for the first 2 seconds, and then silence.

Is anyone successfully using iMovie HD? Is anyone using Quicktime Pro? I see people are using Premier and Final Cut Pro, both a bit out of my amateur, just messing around with basic editing, price range.

Cheers,
Sheila
:D

[nmh]

Quicktime movie plays fine on my mac, but after uploading using the latest MacDaddy uploader, the audio is garbled for the first 2 seconds, and then silence.
Have you checked on what codecs you are using vs. what is recommended?

[Rando]

I use iMovie '08

I share clips to the media browser and use the mac uploader to send to smugmug.

[jayegirl]

I use Pinnacle. I am told others are better but I am used to using Pinnacle. I also have Sony Vegas Platinum and have slowing been working on figuring it out more. My husband has been slowly transferring our old VHS home movies to DVD. The Sony application imports those video files where the Pinnacle will not. My husbands copies are just for archiving and I import the video with the hopes of someday making a movie for the grandparents of the highlights from years past. For now, between those two programs, I get by.

[vaio2006]

Avid Media Composer:
http://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/mcSavings.asp

Its the best! and pricy....

[vaio2006]

Hi all,

I'm having trouble uploading videos to my smugmug site from my mac, and am wondering what works well for other people? What software are people using to capture video and edit and upload to smugmug?

I'm using iMovie HD to capture from my Sony HDV camera. I edit in full HD res and then export to quicktime, web size. Quicktime movie plays fine on my mac, but after uploading using the latest MacDaddy uploader, the audio is garbled for the first 2 seconds, and then silence.

Is anyone successfully using iMovie HD? Is anyone using Quicktime Pro? I see people are using Premier and Final Cut Pro, both a bit out of my amateur, just messing around with basic editing, price range.

Cheers,
Sheila
:D
iMovie HD works fine for all basic projects. There nothing wrong with it.
Obviously, I can't use it for my projects or my professors will kill me, but if you're just cutting and using simple transitions, its great and simple software to use.
Its kinda ironic, because one of my professors at Emerson was like... "I use iMovie to edit my home videos all th time"

[DavidTO]

Avid Media Composer:
http://www.avid.com/products/media-composer/mcSavings.asp

Its the best! and pricy....


If you're on a PC, yes, but if you're on a Mac, Final Cut Pro kicks butt. :deal

[vaio2006]

If you're on a PC, yes, but if you're on a Mac, Final Cut Pro kicks butt. :deal
I have both Final Cut and Media Composer... but still love using Media Composer, Adobe AE + ProTools!
I dont know, theres something about Final Cut that just doesn't seem "quite there"

[jfriend]

I just bought a Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera which produces .m2ts files in AVCHD format. I'm looking for something that can natively edit those files (on Windows Vista) and can produce a good HD format that Smugmug can read (Smugmug won't take the .m2ts files out of the camera both because it doesn't handle the codec used in the Sony AVCHD and because it doesn't handle the 5.1 sound).

I'm looking for basic video editing and format conversion. I'm hoping to spend no more than $150, but would spend more if I had to to get something good. I don't expect I need really advanced features, but I would like to do basic scene editing, chopping, combining, be able to save the resulting video to lots of formats (for Smugmug, you tube, DVD, blue-ray disk, a format that Flash can play, etc...). Since all my video is intially in AVCHD, I'm hoping for something that doesn't have to do a length conversion on the video (with the resulting time delay and disk space consumption) before starting to edit it.

I had read the Pinnacle was one of the first to support native AVCHD editing so I check out their offerings. From the comments I've read, it looks like their software is horribly unstable and they've had a reputation for that in prior versions. Of course, I have no way of knowing if those issues would happen to me, but it doesn't look good in reading about it.

So, then I looked at ULEAD and I read about serious performance problems when working on AVCHD video.

Several of the previous threads had pointed me to Sony Vegas Platinum and I figured that at least I could be confident that it would read Sony AVCHD video. So far, it looks like my best choice.

I have a very old version of Premiere Elements that I once tried to use for constructing DVD slideshows and I was not impressed with that product back then so I'm not included to look at the current versions.

Any other thoughts out there? Is Sony Vegas Platinum a good choice?

[ziggy53]

I just bought a Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera which produces .m2ts files in AVCHD format. I'm looking for something that can natively edit those files (on Windows Vista) and can produce a good HD format that Smugmug can read ...

Several of the previous threads had pointed me to Sony Vegas Platinum and I figured that at least I could be confident that it would read Sony AVCHD video. So far, it looks like my best choice.

...

Any other thoughts out there? Is Sony Vegas Platinum a good choice?

That's what I have read also. I don't have anything in AVCHD yet so I haven't tried it. I do have an older version of Vegas Video that I have used for DV SD. The Vegas user interface is, well, unique and takes a while to become familiar with it. Stability and speed are nice.

I think you can get a demo/trial version of the current software so I think that might make a good test for you.

The features list looks appropriate but you just never know until you (or somebody) try a project.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiope/features

Basic training videos might give you some more hints to suitability:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/support/trainingvids.asp?prod=moviestudio

[jfriend]

That's what I have read also. I don't have anything in AVCHD yet so I haven't tried it. I do have an older version of Vegas Video that I have used for DV SD. The Vegas user interface is, well, unique and takes a while to become familiar with it. Stability and speed are nice.

I think you can get a demo/trial version of the current software so I think that might make a good test for you.

The features list looks appropriate but you just never know until you (or somebody) try a project.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/moviestudiope/features

Basic training videos might give you some more hints to suitability:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/support/trainingvids.asp?prod=moviestudio

Thanks ziggy. I think you're right that the trial version is a good way to go since it's impossible to tell how good something is from the spec sheets. It's good to know that performance and stability are good because those were the major dings with the other players.

[I Simonius]

MOD: oops I think i have posted in the wrong place again - sorry!

I have borrowed a camcorder to video an event next week but cannot get iMovie HD to recognise it - help!

I have to edit the video. otherwise it wouldn't be a problem as my friends PC will burn it OK onto a dVD and that plays ok on my mac, but neither of us can edit it:dunno

As I understand it I need to have a firewire-in cable but the camcorder has s-video out ( so the shop I asked told me) and there are no s-video to firewire adapters that I can find:scratch

I have asked shops and as many people that I can , including daughter's fiancees, friends with PCs and/or camcorders and the local MacUsersGroup, but no answers so far:cry

any thoughts anyone?

I have a dual 2.3 ppc mac with 10.4.11

thanks

[jfriend]

I have borrowed a camcorder to video an event next week but cannot get iMovie HD to recognise it - help!

I have to edit the video. otherwise it wouldn't be a problem as my friends PC will burn it OK onto a dVD and that plays ok on my mac, but neither of us can edit it:dunno

As I understand it I need to have a firewire-in cable but the camcorder has s-video out ( so the shop I asked told me) and there are no s-video to firewire adapters that I can find:scratch

I have asked shops and as many people that I can , including daughter's fiancees, friends with PCs and/or camcorders and the local MacUsersGroup, but no answers so far:cry

any thoughts anyone?

I have a dual 2.3 ppc mac with 10.4.11

thanks

What exact model video camera is it?

[darkdragon]

I have borrowed a camcorder to video an event next week but cannot get iMovie HD to recognise it - help!

I have to edit the video. otherwise it wouldn't be a problem as my friends PC will burn it OK onto a dVD and that plays ok on my mac, but neither of us can edit it:dunno

As I understand it I need to have a firewire-in cable but the camcorder has s-video out ( so the shop I asked told me) and there are no s-video to firewire adapters that I can find:scratch

I have asked shops and as many people that I can , including daughter's fiancees, friends with PCs and/or camcorders and the local MacUsersGroup, but no answers so far:cry

any thoughts anyone?

I have a dual 2.3 ppc mac with 10.4.11

thanks

I think you will need a converter box similar to something like this:
http://www.synthetic-ap.com/tips/firewireconverters.html

If anyone can get the raw footage off the cam and burn to DVD then I think you could just load the DVD footage (if it is files like MPEG not video_ts/dvd conversion) into iMovie that way. :dunno

[I Simonius]

What exact model video camera is it?

I don't have it here at the moment but it says sony Hi8 on the side `i remeber- any use?

[I Simonius]

I think you will need a converter box similar to something like this:
http://www.synthetic-ap.com/tips/firewireconverters.html

If anyone can get the raw footage off the cam and burn to DVD then I think you could just load the DVD footage (if it is files like MPEG not video_ts/dvd conversion) into iMovie that way. :dunno

well i tried that and I was able to copy the DVD onto my mac but iMovieHD doesn't want to play with it :cry

looking at the video formats on SM help I see it is thios one that comes off the DVD and that it's not supported:cry [vob MPEG2 PS format (VOB) No}

[darkdragon]

well i tried that and I was able to copy the DVD onto my mac but iMovieHD doesn't want to play with it :cry

looking at the video formats on SM help I see it is thios one that comes off the DVD and that it's not supported:cry [vob MPEG2 PS format (VOB) No}


You could try downloading a trial version of Adobe Premiere and see if that will recognize it.

[ziggy53]

I don't have it here at the moment but it says sony Hi8 on the side `i remeber- any use?

Hi8 is an older analog format and, yes, it will only have S-Video and Composite video output, as well as analog audio. It predates the digital video formats.

If you want to edit the video on the computer it will have to be digitized. I believe the best format for that is either direct into the computer using an A/D card or using a DV camcorder as a converter and transfer device. At any rate you want a video format on the computer that has discreet frames, not a DVD format. DVD format is a dialect of MPEG 2 and does not use discreet frames. It is a delivery and presentation format.

Discreet video formats might include AVI and MOV and DV. While DV is both a wrapper and a codec definition, AVI and MOV are simply wrappers and would also require a video codec. I suggest staying with DV.

If you can borrow a DV camcorder that has video inputs, that's probably the best method. It will have an IEEE-488 connection (firewire) and either allow conversion from the analog source on-the-fly or you might have to record the source video onto DV cassettes first, which might not be a bad idea.

It's also a good idea to first noise filter the analog video because DV has a fixed data rate and if you don't filter the noise, much of what you record will be noise. I suggest a high-end VCR that has video DNR or Faroudja video noise reduction to do the filtering.

Once you get the DV files on the computer it should be easy to find a suitable video editor, but it may not already be on your machine.

Likewise there are many DVD burner software available that can handle DV video as the source.

Next time, just use a DV camcorder and save yourself a lot of trouble when you want to edit on the computer.

[I Simonius]

Hi8 is an older analog format and, yes, it will only have S-Video and Composite video output, as well as analog audio. It predates the digital video formats.

If you want to edit the video on the computer it will have to be digitized. I believe the best format for that is either direct into the computer using an A/D card or using a DV camcorder as a converter and transfer device. At any rate you want a video format on the computer that has discreet frames, not a DVD format. DVD format is a dialect of MPEG 2 and does not use discreet frames. It is a delivery and presentation format.

Discreet video formats might include AVI and MOV and DV. While DV is both a wrapper and a codec definition, AVI and MOV are simply wrappers and would also require a video codec. I suggest staying with DV.

If you can borrow a DV camcorder that has video inputs, that's probably the best method. It will have an IEEE-488 connection (firewire) and either allow conversion from the analog source on-the-fly or you might have to record the source video onto DV cassettes first, which might not be a bad idea.

It's also a good idea to first noise filter the analog video because DV has a fixed data rate and if you don't filter the noise, much of what you record will be noise. I suggest a high-end VCR that has video DNR or Faroudja video noise reduction to do the filtering.

Once you get the DV files on the computer it should be easy to find a suitable video editor, but it may not already be on your machine.

Likewise there are many DVD burner software available that can handle DV video as the source.

Next time, just use a DV camcorder and save yourself a lot of trouble when you want to edit on the computer.

so much information:huh *whimper* - but thanks...just get a DV camcorder.. wish it were as easy as that.. I have had three offered but none are DV, at least I don't think they are .. how can you tell?

None have firewire that much I do know:wink

[videospot]

I just bought a Sony HDR-SR12 HD camera which produces .m2ts files in AVCHD format. I'm looking for something that can natively edit those files (on Windows Vista) and can produce a good HD format that Smugmug can read (Smugmug won't take the .m2ts files out of the camera both because it doesn't handle the codec used in the Sony AVCHD and because it doesn't handle the 5.1 sound).

I'm looking for basic video editing and format conversion. I'm hoping to spend no more than $150, but would spend more if I had to to get something good. I don't expect I need really advanced features, but I would like to do basic scene editing, chopping, combining, be able to save the resulting video to lots of formats (for Smugmug, you tube, DVD, blue-ray disk, a format that Flash can play, etc...). Since all my video is intially in AVCHD, I'm hoping for something that doesn't have to do a length conversion on the video (with the resulting time delay and disk space consumption) before starting to edit it.

I had read the Pinnacle was one of the first to support native AVCHD editing so I check out their offerings. From the comments I've read, it looks like their software is horribly unstable and they've had a reputation for that in prior versions. Of course, I have no way of knowing if those issues would happen to me, but it doesn't look good in reading about it.

So, then I looked at ULEAD and I read about serious performance problems when working on AVCHD video.

Several of the previous threads had pointed me to Sony Vegas Platinum and I figured that at least I could be confident that it would read Sony AVCHD video. So far, it looks like my best choice.

I have a very old version of Premiere Elements that I once tried to use for constructing DVD slideshows and I was not impressed with that product back then so I'm not included to look at the current versions.

Any other thoughts out there? Is Sony Vegas Platinum a good choice?

I know total video converter (http://www.effectmatrix.com/total-video-converter) can convert m2ts file to any formats file you need.
And maybe you can also try this tool total video2dvd ( http://www.effectmatrix.com/total_video_to_DVD_Author/index.htm)

[jfriend]

I know total video converter (http://www.effectmatrix.com/total-video-converter) can convert m2ts file to any formats file you need.
And maybe you can also try this tool total video2dvd ( http://www.effectmatrix.com/total_video_to_DVD_Author/index.htm)

When I look at Total Video Converter web site, it doesn't list m2ts as a supported format. And, I know that many things that say they support m2ts can't handle the Sony variant that my camera produces. Do you have other information or experience that this actually does work with m2ts or with my Sony camera specifically? I'd love to find something that works.

[Seymore]

I just shot a Quicktime .MOV with the DW's P&S Nikon and need to edit the 243M file down to a manageable size. Are there any free vid editors out there that can dice a vid? I only need about the first 2-3 mins.

Oh, almost forgot to mention... Running W2k.

Thanks...
(didn't find anything about this in a DGRIN search)


UPDATE: Found MediaCoder v0.7.0.4399... works great! :ivar

[Andy]

I just shot a Quicktime .MOV with the DW's P&S Nikon and need to edit the 243M file down to a manageable size. Are there any free vid editors out there that can dice a vid? I only need about the first 2-3 mins.

Oh, almost forgot to mention... Running W2k.

Thanks...
(didn't find anything about this in a DGRIN search)


UPDATE: Found MediaCoder v0.7.0.4399... works great! :ivar

No clue if it works on your ancient operating system, but folks are happy with MPEG Stramclip: http://www.smugmug.com/help/video-sharing

[ian408]

Are there any free vid editors out there that can dice a vid? I only need about the first 2-3 mins.

There's also the freebie add on from Microsoft.

[Marc Muench]

No clue if it works on your ancient operating system, but folks are happy with MPEG Stramclip: http://www.smugmug.com/help/video-sharing

MPEG Streamclip "ROCKS"

Andy suggested this to me awhile ago and I have been using it since. Since it is free you may want to give it a whirl:thumb

[SamirD]

I found another great basic editor and converter that required no installation and no plugins:
http://www.winpenpack.com/main/download.php?view.734

I was able to export to avi with xvid video codec, and mp3 audio codec and SM liked it. :clap It reduced a 60mb file to around 15mb, which is about right for MPEG1/2 coversions. It was fast too. And it can be even faster when you can edit right in the application.

[suchit]

Hi8 is an older analog format and, yes, it will only have S-Video and Composite video output, as well as analog audio. It predates the digital video formats.

Just wondering could he not just plug the Hi8 into a D8 player? Then use the FireWire to pick the content as .AVI? I have a D8 and I use it with D8 (but I know it can take Hi8 tapes too as Hi8). So once you have the .AVI you can convert it or do what you like and export it to H.264 with AAC and that works well with SmugMug.

[SamirD]

Just wondering could he not just plug the Hi8 into a D8 player? Then use the FireWire to pick the content as .AVI? I have a D8 and I use it with D8 (but I know it can take Hi8 tapes too as Hi8). So once you have the .AVI you can convert it or do what you like and export it to H.264 with AAC and that works well with SmugMug.The d8 players work as both analog and digital systems. They provide analog output for those formats and digital for those. I don't think they can do any internal conversion.

[PilotBrad]

Lately I've been taking more and more video with my 7D, and I need to find a software package to piece together my cinematographic masterpieces. :wink

I'm strictly an amateur, and would like something that is easy to use, but produces high quality videos. I don't much care for all these fancy special effects, and I have no desire to produce DVDs, but I do want the ability to do simple transitions, and fading titles and credits.

I've downloaded trial copies of Vegas Movie Studio HD, Pinnacle Studio HD and Cyberlink's PowerDirector 8, and after a few initial tests my results are mixed.

I've found that Pinnacle Studio HD is the easiest to use, but I have been unimpressed with the output quality when compared to the other two.

Cyberlink's PowerDirector was fairly simple to use, and it's output quality seemed slightly better than Pinnacle Studio HD's, but still not as good as that of Sony Vegas Studio. I also found that I was having a hard time modifying the behaviors of the transitions, but it might simply be that I don't know how to do it.

Sony Vegas Studio HD clearly produced the best quality output (see below), but I found its interface and dialogs very confusing and I am not sure I have the time to devote to learning it. With the other two apps I was able to add titles and transitions simply by trial and error, but with Vegas Studio I couldn't figure it out on my own.

Pinnacle and PowerDirector were very easy to use and are solidly in the consumer camp, while Vegas is a few steps ahead with regards to its capabilities, but is perhaps too complex for my needs.

Can any recommend anything in between?

A question about quality...
I was quite surprised to see a differnece in output quality between Pinnacle/PowerDirector and Vegas Studio even though similar output paratmeters were chosen. For example, I output videos from each in WMV format at 720p 30fps (for streaming to my xBox) using the same video bit-rate. In addition, both PowerDirector and Vegas Studio both tell me they are unsing the Windows Media 9 encoder. The videos from Pinnacle and PowerDirector were dark, while the video from Vegas seemed to be of a higher quality with better contrast even though I applied no image/color corrections to it. Perhaps it's simply a lack of my understanding of the software and process, but if they are using the same or similar encoders how is this the case?

PS - I am going to give Corel's VideoStudio Pro X3 a try next.

[PilotBrad]

Here are some examples of the quality differences...

This was produced from CyberLink's PowerDirector 8. I brightened the scenes a little but they still aren't as bright as the video from Vegas Studio.
<object width="640" height="360" ><param name="movie" value="http://www.bradoliver.com/ria/ShizVidz-2010012201.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="flashVars" value="s=ZT0xJmk9ODUwMzk0Njc3Jms9bURWVGEmYT0xMTk4MTYzNV9D N0pTUiZ1PWJyYWRvbGl2ZXI=" /><embed src="http://www.bradoliver.com/ria/ShizVidz-2010012201.swf" flashVars="s=ZT0xJmk9ODUwMzk0Njc3Jms9bURWVGEmYT0xMTk4MTYzNV9D N0pTUiZ1PWJyYWRvbGl2ZXI=" width="640" height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>

From Sony Vegas Studio HD. No alterations, only spliced and output.
<object width="640" height="360" ><param name="movie" value="http://www.bradoliver.com/ria/ShizVidz-2010012201.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="flashVars" value="s=ZT0xJmk9ODUwMzg2MDMyJms9ZGI4NEMmYT0xMTk4MTYzNV9D N0pTUiZ1PWJyYWRvbGl2ZXI=" /><embed src="http://www.bradoliver.com/ria/ShizVidz-2010012201.swf" flashVars="s=ZT0xJmk9ODUwMzg2MDMyJms9ZGI4NEMmYT0xMTk4MTYzNV9D N0pTUiZ1PWJyYWRvbGl2ZXI=" width="640" height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>

Now that I've figured out how to view these both at the same time, I think I am reversing my opinions somewhat. I still think the Vegas Studio video is higher quality (when the orginal 720p file is viewed on my monitor), but the colors are better in the video from PowerDirector 8.

[ziggy53]

While Sony Vegas is totally unlike other video editors' user interface, it can be extremely useful and fast once you learn the interface.

I recommend you at least review a few introductory tutorials to give you the basics. While the following are related to Vegas Pro 8, I think the interface is similar enough that you should gain some insight into your product.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRD-DrWy1Ac&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwS1lCudxwM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQniBJiu_kU&feature=related

[PilotBrad]

Thanks Ziggy, there is some great info there, but I am still not sold on Vegas. It's powerful, but some of its dialogs and option boxes are IMHO not user friendly at all. In the short-term I think simple is better for me.

I've been playing with these video editors and learning a lot. My first thoughts were that I wanted an editing package that would handle the native 7D files, but after doing a bit of research, I'm not so sure editing these compressed files is such a good idea.

Yes I know, I want it both ways... simple and high-quality. :D

I found that Vegas Studio, Pinnacle Studio HD and PowerDirector 8 all handled the native 7D files with relative ease, but Corel's VideoStudio Pro X3 crashed frequently. This was disappointing because I felt that Corel's software was potentially what I was looking for; more powerful and polished than Pinnacle or PowerDirector, but more user-friendly than Vegas.

I the installed MPEG Streamclip and converted the native 7D MOV files to MP4 (100% quality), which Corel was able to handle without issue and which produced some really fantastic high-quality results.

The conumdrum I face now is whether or not it is important for me to be able to edit the native files, or if I am willing to accept the added step of converting to a more edit-friendly format. Tradeoffs!

Some links I found interesting and useful...
http://vimeo.com/forums/topic:23548
http://buildyourown.wordpress.com/2010/04/15/how-to-transcode-mov-files/
http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/frame_rate_conversion.do

[ziggy53]

I just installed Corel's VideoStudio Pro X3 (VSP X3) yesterday and I'm just starting to play with it. I was resisting even looking at it because I thought I needed more functionality, but the more I look at it the more it would suit many video projects. (This was formerly a ULead product and I liked both it and the more advanced MediaStudio Pro in the past.)

This software is for Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP with latest service packs.

VSP X3 has the ability to load 1 - primary video track and then up to 6 additional "overlay" tracks. The overlay tracks can be used for video PIP or similar but it looks like they can also be used in a multi-camera shoot as well.

Normal video with audio can be split, putting the audio onto the Voice Track. This can be useful in correcting or adjusting the audio using filters. * (See note.)

Transitions are easily created on a single track by sliding one video segment onto another, creating an automatic transition. Once created the transition may be adjusted or replaced at will.

Trimming video and audio seems very simple and logical and there is a multi-trim tool that allows a single stream to be chopped into usable segments.

The inclusion of SmartSound technology (they call it "Auto Music") is extremely welcome allowing the rapid composition of custom length music for intros, exits, audio transitions and audio stingers. (This feature alone is probably worth the price of the package.)

Most importantly, the Canon 5D MKII MOV files are supported implicitly. Import and export video are well supported with an uncommon abundance of file types, codecs/compression and wrappers.

Altogether this is very impressive stuff for short format video and at a very reasonable price. ($60USD full version.) Long format video is probably better left for more advanced software, but I may try a bit of it if I purchase the software.

-----------------------------------

* (Note: I found a bug in this audio splitting process. If you do much audio filtering you are much better off to split the audio from the video, delete the video track, saving the audio as a WAV file. Then create a new project and reintroduce the video/audio, split the video and audio again but this time delete the original audio track and load in the new WAV file with the filtered/corrected audio. If you try to just split the audio and video and work on the audio track with filters, the bug is that the audio track can pick up a new time-base, resulting in audio instability. Specifically, if the video is standard 29.97fps and you apply audio filters to the split audio track, the audio can become 30fps. At least that happened to me.

To be fair, I was using 2 different audio filters, from different manufacturers, so I was not totally surprised that there were problems. The work-a-round I applied was fast and worked properly.)

[PilotBrad]

Ziggy, what OS are you using? I ask because I'm intrigued that you seem to be able to edit 5D MKII files without issue, while the app crashes if I attempt editing my 7D files. I'm on Win7 64-bit.

On a related note, I've been looking at Vegas again. I found this training DVD (http://www.vasst.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=36&category_id=28&manufacturer_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=66) which might provide me the knowledge to start using Vegas Studio. For $50 it might be worth a shot.

[ziggy53]

I have Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, Version 6.1, Build 7600.

Corel software is also typically sensitive to the video card and driver.

I have an nVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT video card with driver version 8.17.11.9621 and 1GB RAM.

[ziggy53]

You might try downloading and installing a "codec pack" like "Windows 7 Codec Pack":

http://download.cnet.com/Windows-7-Codec-Pack/3000-13632_4-10965840.html

I also have Quicktime version 7.66.71.0, 32 bit installed.

I have ffdshow installed.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow/

I have DirectX 11 installed.

[PilotBrad]

Thanks Ziggy... I'll give the codecs a shot.

I guess you're the lucky one... Win Movie Maker AND now Corel work for you, but not me. Maybe I should fix all this by upgrading to a 5DMKII. :D

BTW, I've been trolling the Corel forums, and it seems like any time someone hit issues with MOV files, the recommendation is to covert to another format.

[ziggy53]

... BTW, I've been trolling the Corel forums, and it seems like any time someone hit issues with MOV files, the recommendation is to covert to another format.

Converting the video is always an option. It does tend to lead to faster degradation of the video through re-compression.

You might want to get the utility freeware, "GSpot". Although it's an unusual (potentially unfortunate) name for a video utility, its purpose it to identify the codecs that a video file "expects" from the computer, and it helps to identify missing and broken codecs (both audio and video).

Basically, you install GSpot onto your computer, run the software and drag a video file onto the GSpot window. The software reviews the video file and many times it will correctly tell you what codecs the video file needs to run and, more importantly, whether your machine has working codecs to support the video file.

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/
----------------------------------------

If you should need to convert the file first, I used to recommend "Super" freeware for video conversion, but I have not gotten that to run on Windows 7 yet.

I found another freeware title, "WinFF" which does run on Windows 7 for me and it has a simpler user interface as well. I haven't used it for anything critical yet, so I don't know how conversion quality compares at default settings but initial video impression is that the quality is pretty good at least. (It's just a front for FFMPEG so you should be able to get the same ultimate quality from it that FFMPEG can produce.)

http://winff.org/html_new/

[PilotBrad]

Converting the video is always an option. It does tend to lead to faster degradation of the video through re-compression.
I thought it was the other way around... that the native video files from the 7D or 5DII should be converted to a format more suitable for editing. Have you checked out the link from Canon I posted above?

I am familiar with GSpot (the software), and I've been using MPEG Streamclip on Win7 without any issues. I find it much easier to use than Super, which I've played with in the past.
http://www.squared5.com/

I had tried to convert the files (to uncompressed MOV) using MPEG Streamclip and the Avid DNxHD codec, but Corel VS crashed using those files as well. In the end I converted to MP4 and it worked fine.

On a related note, I was able to get Window Live Movie Maker to recognize the native 7D MOV files by installing the K-Lite Codec pack. This is great because there is nothing easier than WLMM for producing quick and simple videos to be streamed to the XBox.

I'll experiment with the other codecs above and see if they help with Corel.

[ziggy53]

The Canon linked article is mostly correct but a little misleading. Like the author of the article, Philip Bloom, I too am disappointed to see camera manufacturers using such compressive and relatively edit unfriendly codecs for video capture. Unfortunately, the last consumer codec that had discrete video frames (a video stream that did not use either inter-frame dependence and/or inter-frame compression) was the "DV" format which did use lossy compression per frame to achieve a constant (standard) bit rate, but it maintained discrete video frames. (Some modern digicams also use M-JPEG codecs, which are discrete frames, but they use such high compression rates that they are not considered usable for quality video.)

Unfortunately MP4 is (generally using) another inter-frame compressor and will lead to transcoding/re-compression artifacts.

The article mentions the ProRes codec which is a more video edit friendly format, but not PC/Windows friendly. I am not aware of a Windows friendly, lossless codec for Windows at 1080 resolution, but for SD resolution you can use HuffYUV.

Any modern video editor software that can handle the Canon MOV files has an internal decoder/encoder that writes temporary files to allow frame accurate editing and transitions. As long as the software correctly reads and translates the video file, you don't need another video format which will only degrade video quality through additional re-compression (although I agree that it may be necessary if nothing else works).

[ziggy53]

It looks like the Lagarith codec can handle 1080P if you want a lossless compressor for Windows applications. The resulting file sizes will be enormous, but with minimum loss in visual quality.

I haven't tested it yet, but others are showing promising results.

[PilotBrad]

Great info Ziggy, thanks! I'll continue to experiment.

I've also had success with Corel by converting the files to AVI (can't remember the codec I picked), but the files grow by 10X and they put a bit of hurt on my PC.

I'll have to experiment more, but one thing about Corel VS that I haven't been too happy with is it's abilty to render out the 7D's 60fps video at 50% speed (30fps). When I did this with Vegas Studio I got very silky smooth slow-mo, but with Corel the video has an ugly and annoying flicker or choppiness to it. As you have pointed out, I could be loosing something in the process of converting for Corel.

[Netgarden]

Thanks so much for all this information.
I am now having time to experiment with some videos I took with my 7D this year, and with my newer W7 Dell XPS, .MOV files were a pain, I couldnt figure out the codec problem, read soemthing about downloading Quicktime editing/source online software and it includes the codec. [havn't done it yet, but MovieMaker on W7 just doesn't work for the 7D movie files.]

I appreciate your work on this, and you have totally answered the questions I came to type today! ;~):thumb

Started videoing Raptor nests and although some are too light, I need to do some color editing, sizing and hopefully some improvement of byte size.
I'm liking it enough to do more of it, but the added file conversions was not appealing.

And thanks Ziggy for the codec links!:bow Looking promising after all!

[Dogdots]

I've been using my point and shoot camera to video tape our new puppy. Only problem is....I want to get some photos from it and don't know what software program I need to do so. If I remember correctly my Photoshop Elements 4 did it, but I could be wrong.

I would download my Elements 4 and try it, but I can't find it :scratch

Any help would be greatly appreciated :D

[ziggy53]

What operating system is on your computer and what video format does your camera record?

Alternately which camera (if you don't know the video type)?

[Dogdots]

What operating system is on your computer and what video format does your camera record?

Alternately which camera (if you don't know the video type)?

Hi Ziggy --

I'm on Vista -- and my camera is a Canon Powershot A610. Wish I could tell you what video type it is. I've not a clue.

[ziggy53]

All I could find on the Canon Powershot A610 is that it saves AVI files and appears to be some dialect of motion JPG compressor. Maximum resolution is 640 x 480.

I found a fairly nice frame grabber to image file utility in freeware that claims to be Win XP and Vista compatible. I tested it in Windows 7 and it does not play nicely, but I have a Windows 2000 running in a virtual box on the same machine and the utility is fine in that environment. Since it's freeware I suggest that you try it to see if it works for you.

It's called "ImageGrab" and it's available at:

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/imagegrab_en.htm

A very useful mini-tutorial at:

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/imagegrab_en.htm#filmerit1

It comes as a "zip" file that you just unzip to a folder and run from that folder. There is no installation that I detect.

Once you run the software, you load in your video file, move to a frame you want to extract, and then just press a single button to save the video frame to a BMP files (Into the "My Pictures" folder of the Win 2000 machine). Altogether very handy for a freeware application.

[Dogdots]

All I could find on the Canon Powershot A610 is that it saves AVI files and appears to be some dialect of motion JPG compressor. Maximum resolution is 640 x 480.

I found a fairly nice frame grabber to image file utility in freeware that claims to be Win XP and Vista compatible. I tested it in Windows 7 and it does not play nicely, but I have a Windows 2000 running in a virtual box on the same machine and the utility is fine in that environment. Since it's freeware I suggest that you try it to see if it works for you.

It's called "ImageGrab" and it's available at:

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/imagegrab_en.htm

A very useful mini-tutorial at:

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/imagegrab_en.htm#filmerit1

It comes as a "zip" file that you just unzip to a folder and run from that folder. There is no installation that I detect.

Once you run the software, you load in your video file, move to a frame you want to extract, and then just press a single button to save the video frame to a BMP files (Into the "My Pictures" folder of the Win 2000 machine). Altogether very handy for a freeware application.

Ziggy -- this is just wonderful. Thank you so much :D :D :D

I will give this a try. I'm running Vista so hopefully Vista will be my "friend" today :D

I don't like the 640 x 480 image size. Will I be able to print out a good 5x7 print?

[Dogdots]

Just downloaded it and gave it a try...worked wonderfully. So easy and simple. Now I just have to take a look at the photos I grabbed.

Thanks again Ziggy :D

[ziggy53]

... I don't like the 640 x 480 image size. Will I be able to print out a good 5x7 print?

640 x 480 is also called "VGA" resolution and no, it's not very much by any modern still image standard. Worse, many cameras allow some motion blur during video capture, believing the blur allows smoother looking video. The blur tends to make poor looking stills.

Some video is also "interlaced" and you might be able to make better still image grabs using the "deinterlace" setting, although this reduces vertical resolution by half.

The best still images are captured from video that has a high shutter speed and is shot using a "progressive" capture and has high resolution, like 1080 x 1920, and video shot in good lighting with low ISO. If you do all of this you will achieve pretty good 2 MPix still images.

Unfortunately the Canon Powershot A610 has almost none of these capabilities so it's not a good candidate for still image captures from the video files.

Note that the still captures from the Canon Powershot A610 will look fairly good on the computer screen and on a TV screen. Some people also use these low resolution images as part of an image montage.

[Dogdots]

640 x 480 is also called "VGA" resolution and no, it's not very much by any modern still image standard. Worse, many cameras allow some motion blur during video capture, believing the blur allows smoother looking video. The blur tends to make poor looking stills.

Some video is also "interlaced" and you might be able to make better still image grabs using the "deinterlace" setting, although this reduces vertical resolution by half.

The best still images are captured from video that has a high shutter speed and is shot using a "progressive" capture and has high resolution, like 1080 x 1920, and video shot in good lighting with low ISO. If you do all of this you will achieve pretty good 2 MPix still images.

Unfortunately the Canon Powershot A610 has almost none of these capabilities so it's not a good candidate for still image captures from the video files.

Note that the still captures from the Canon Powershot A610 will look fairly good on the computer screen and on a TV screen. Some people also use these low resolution images as part of an image montage.

I just edited some of the photos from the video. Just what you mentioned is so true. Not good.....no printing that's for sure. As for the motion blur -- I did see that show up in a photo that surprised me. Never knew it did that.



We do want to get a good video cam where I can grab photos from. Thank-you for letting me know what is needed. Just off the top of your head do you know of any video camera's that would be ok?

This Canon Powershot is an old one. What I used before my Rebel XTi. Now I remember why I passed it along to my son :D

Thanks Ziggy :D

[ziggy53]

The things that make for good video do not automatically make for good still images. For now I do recommend separate devices for the best in each category.

If your still image demands are just for snapshots to 5" x 7" in good light there are some interesting developments. The JVC Everio GZ-X900, for instance, can take still images simultaneously while doing 1080i video, or it can be used as a still camera with even more resolution. While it doesn't really do stills as well as a good digital still camera, in good light it should be able to produce respectable 5" x 7" images.

Remember I said "in good light". In poor light it fails fairly badly so it really is important to provide adequate and appropriate lighting for both video and stills, and that means continuous burning sources of light. Think Hollywood HMI lighting for best results. Not cheap, not easy, sometimes nearly impossible, and certainly not convenient.

Still, the GZ-X900 has a lot going for it, gets pretty good reviews and doesn't cost an awful lot compared to what it can do in good hands:

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZ-X900-Camcorder-Optical/product-reviews/B001UHMTG0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

But low-light is sad:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/JVC-Everio-GZ-X900-Camcorder-Review-36765.htm

[Dogdots]

The things that make for good video do not automatically make for good still images. For now I do recommend separate devices for the best in each category.

If your still image demands are just for snapshots to 5" x 7" in good light there are some interesting developments. The JVC Everio GZ-X900, for instance, can take still images simultaneously while doing 1080i video, or it can be used as a still camera with even more resolution. While it doesn't really do stills as well as a good digital still camera, in good light it should be able to produce respectable 5" x 7" images.

Remember I said "in good light". In poor light it fails fairly badly so it really is important to provide adequate and appropriate lighting for both video and stills, and that means continuous burning sources of light. Think Hollywood HMI lighting for best results. Not cheap, not easy, sometimes nearly impossible, and certainly not convenient.

Still, the GZ-X900 has a lot going for it, gets pretty good reviews and doesn't cost an awful lot compared to what it can do in good hands:

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Everio-GZ-X900-Camcorder-Optical/product-reviews/B001UHMTG0/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

But low-light is sad:

http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/JVC-Everio-GZ-X900-Camcorder-Review-36765.htm

I just read the reviews you linked to...your right about the low light. Took a look at their samples...yuck.

We just got a new pup and taking videos is much easier to do with a fast moving object :D So if I could catch a photo or two out of it I'd be happy.

I see what you mean about having 2 separate modes -- video cam for video's and then a good camera for good photos. While I do use my camera my photos are showing I'm lacking in my panning skills :cry

Have you or anyone out there heard of the Lumix. My brother has this brand camera, but I've never seen a photo printed from it.

Here's a link to one, but there are different levels of camera's in the line. I notice the resolution is low on one end.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/639338-REG/Panasonic_DMC_FZ35K_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_Digital_Camera. html#reviews

[ziggy53]

Panasonic Lumix are fairly nice cameras but not what you need to capture a fast moving puppy. You have a Canon 70-200mm, f2.8L as I recall, and it should be capable and competent on a suitable camera body.

What do you have, camera-wise?

[Dogdots]

Panasonic Lumix are fairly nice cameras but not what you need to capture a fast moving puppy. You have a Canon 70-200mm, f2.8L as I recall, and it should be capable and competent on a suitable camera body.

What do you have, camera-wise?

I have a 40d camera and yes I do have the 70-200 lens. Camera and lens are capable ... me I'm not :rofl I think what I'm afraid of is his sharp little nails. He comes running in at me so fast I'm afraid one of those nails is going to scratch my lens. Oh...I could put a UV filter on it. Just thought of that now...Sleep deprivation.

Granted a better camera would be nice...won't happen for awhile tho.

I'll give it another try. Thanks Ziggy :D

[Eddy]

Hi Ziggy..Speaking of panasonic, is worth picking up the gh-1 as a secodn camera to carry around if walking for long hours, mind you this is a good camera for video but i am not interested.

[ziggy53]

Hi Ziggy..Speaking of panasonic, is worth picking up the gh-1 as a secodn camera to carry around if walking for long hours, mind you this is a good camera for video but i am not interested.

The micro-Four-Thirds cameras from Panasonic and Olympus are certainly capable of capturing images every bit as good as the Four-Thirds cameras, and much better than most P&S and advanced digicams. (Lenses still play a significant role and lighting is even more important.)

To be honest, I am still not convinced that they are for me in that low light focus can still be a problem. I am hoping that in the next couple of generations that AF will improve dramatically in the "micro" and other mirrorless designs.

For me, for now, I am using a Canon dRebel and a lightweight standard zoom, along with a flash, in a camera holster as my lightweight "take it anywhere" camera of choice.

I have been looking at the Olympus E-600 (refurbished) and 2 lens kit, along with an Olympus FL-36R flash, to give me a very compact 2 lens kit. I would probably quickly upgrade to the Zuiko 12-60mm, f2.8-4.0 Digital ED SWD for the standard zoom however. That would make the kit a bit heavier but yield better results.

http://www.adorama.com/IOME600K1R.html

http://www.adorama.com/IOMFL36R.html

http://www.adorama.com/IOM1260.html

[WilliamClark77]

I'm biting the bullet on a t2i body either tonight or tomo along with video software to add some movement to my stills. My confusion kicks in on devising a suitable workflow ahead of time so I can order everything at once. I don't want to get ready to edit only to realize I need to spend more money I don't have. Gotta love that blue collar!

While I would love to pick up cs5, my budget will not allow it right now. I'd like to keep the software expense at or below $200.

My computer is a two year old home built xp based machine running an AMD Athlon 64x dual core 5000+ 2.81 ghz processor, 2 gb of pc6400 ddr2 ram (I have 2 more gb of pc5400 I can add if it would help. I haven't tried), XFX geforce 8600gt 256mb vid card, and several 7200 rpm hdds. I'll be ordering a 40gb ssd hard drive while I'm at it to run winders off of to see if speed improves.

I'm ASSuming my processor will be the bottleneck, making editing in h.264 without first recoding unacceptable. I currently do not have the software to try it. I downloaded several t2i raw files and Streamclip to test. I can play the raw files in Quicktime beautifully with no stuttering as well as recode them to avi files rather quickly for use in nero or windows movie maker, but neither of those support hd output, which I want. Most will be downsized for web, but some will be watched on my 73" hdtv. You can tell the difference in 720p and 1080p on it.

Herein lies my conundrum :scratch: What is a suitable workflow? Dl to my hd > convert to avi (or whatever type you think is best) > import to ??? program for editing? I'm looking very hard at Pinnacle Studio hd ultimate. It seems to offer a lot for ~$130. Anyone who uses it know if the raw files can be imported directly into it, that is if my pc can even handle it? Any other software and/or workflow reccomendations before I order? Same questions about Adobe Premiere Elements? Workflow tips with either or your flavor of choice for editing software? :dunno

Keep in mind, I don't plan on creating the next Terminator blockbuster. My videos will be mostly limited to <5 minute clips of macro stuff, family fun, educational type clips on my animals feeding with text, fades, and transitions, our dragsters and street cars, and maybe the odd short if someone I shoot requests it. The lenses I use most are my 100mm macro, 17-50 f2.8 tammy, and 70-200 f4L IS.

Lastly, what about a microphone recommendation? It will more than likely be a future purchase. A $600 unit is out of the question.

Thanks in advance for any help :bow. I am a dSLR video virgin.

Ps. I have read the thread regarding codecs. I honestly think I made myself dumber trying to process all that info! :huh

[angevin1]

Here (http://www.isoftwarereviews.com/video-editing-software-reviews/) is a list of ten editing software that won't break the bank. Most of these have a down loadable trial, and that is something I would recommend.

As far as workflow, I think it depends on the final product. converting to whatever final file type ought to be be fairly easy. Look for Online tutes to go along with the programs you trial or want to buy.

Unless I miss my guess, your biggest frustration is going to be with the old machine you are planning on working from. What it lacks is grunt-power. And video editing and especially rendering can eat a lot of power. That Machine and it's limited RAM is going to be the catch. Because of it's 32 bit base, it cannot put to use more than 3 GB of RAM if it had it. Knowing what I know, I believe I would try to upgrade my PC instead of going for the SSD. The SSD in that machine might not do much for you. Besides that, you mentioned using the SSD to load Windows into. 40 GB, windows will fit, but barely. The SSD if added would be more useful to use just for loading and using your video editing software.

A core i5, 8GB RAM and Motherboard, or even a Q8800, would be my cheapest suggestions, though it is hard to suggest to build older or less powerful stuff. Whatever you build, it should be as powerful as you can afford.

[lakewebd]

Not sure if this is a camera question or not. I got my new desktop yesterday with 8GB of Ram and Quad core processor so I'm ready to try out my video feature on the Mark IV.

Of course my computer did not come with video editing software that can handle HD files so I'm starting fresh. I had an old version of Premiere Pro which I haven't tried to download yet.

I was wondering what 7D folks are using to process there files. I have PC not Mac.

Thanks for replying.

[ziggy53]

I moved this to the Video and Action forum as that's where we currently discuss video software and hardware.

I have a Canon 5D MKII and I am running 1080p video editing on an Intel Core i5 750(2.66GHz, 4-core) processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD, NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT (PCI Express 2.0 x16), Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=163249

I tried both Sony Vegas Pro and Corel's VideoStudio Pro X3 and I wound up purchasing the Corel software for an intense 4-week long standard definition (720 x 480, DV acquisition to DVD output) marketing video and I'm very pleased at how the machine and the software held up during the process.

While the video itself is not a glory piece (and that is by design and intent), the qualities of the Corel software made it possible using 3 video tracks (2 of which were mostly used as overlay tracks), 2 title tracks, a narrative track and a music track. I also used the Instant Music capabilities (from a previous Ulead version of the software) and some special effects like the Lens effects to spice up the animated open for the video.

I have tested some 1080p video from a flyin at the local airport and I hope to start serious editing soon of that video soon. The testing has been uneventful so far and the Corel software is handling the 5D MKII MOV files natively.

Based on my experience of the last couple of months I can highly recommend the VideoStudio Pro X3 for video editing although the DVD process is not optimal and I wound up using other software for DVD authoring of the SD marketing video. (Partly it was because the client wanted menu-less, auto-start and auto-loop capabilities, which I did not find in the Corel software, or most other DVD authoring software for that matter.)

You can download a trial of the Corel software to see if it meets your needs, and purchase is a very reasonable $60USD:

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1175714228541?trkid=NASEMGglDM#tabview=tab1

I recommend getting the trial version because some folks are experiencing video card and driver issues as well as video codec issues, but I had none other than getting the latest video card drivers for my computer, which were also needed for Adobe Photoshop CS4 to display properly.

BTW, Corel has its own automated update system and it requires a high-speed Internet connection but it works pretty well and the updates are substantial and mostly helpful.

[lakewebd]

Hi Ziggy,

Thanks for the info, I will try the trial version and see how it works. My new computer has Windows 7 which is pretty great but it has so many options new to me. It's almost like there is too much "new" stuff I'm trying to learn at once.

[WilliamClark77]

Thank you very much for your input and I apologize for my lag replying. It is very much appreciated.

That's pretty much what I figured. I'm actually waiting on ups to arrive now with my cam body. *Checks window* Still not here. Dangit.

I went ahead and installed an ssd for winders to run from yesterday since I had already ordered with two 1.5 tb drives for storage, mainly for the peppy response. 45 second boot times and ~1 minute restart times are nice compared to the 7 to 8 minute reboot times before. I'm not expecting any increase in video handling capability from it.

I've been looking for an excuse to do another computer build but haven't had a reason. If this somewhat dated setup I have now proves to be as frustrating as I expect it to be I'll definately be going to 64 bit Windows 7 with a quad core cpu as budget allows.

I have an Azus p5q pro socket 775 mobo that just needs a cpu and fan. I'm unsure if I'll use it or just wait and get something that uses ddr3 ram and a newer cpu interface. I'm in no rush though. I'm sure it'll be a while before I learn the video side of a dslr good enough that I'll need it. I have enough stuff now to keep me occupied for a bit.

Thank you again. I'm anxious to get my feet wet with hd video.

[kygarden]

I might finally break down and buy some software to edit videos. I don't need anything really fancy, I'm just not happy with the conversions windows movie maker does for the MTS files my LX5 creates when shooing AVCHD.

I'd like something that makes it very easy to cut/trim scenes and move scenes around. A bonus would be being able to change contrast and things like that too.

If there's something out there for free, that's even better. Any recommendations?

Need something that mainly supports these formats:
MTS
WMV
MOV
AVI

[photodad1]

I use Pinnacle Studio 12. It's not free, around $100.00. It is easy to use. They might have a trial version.

[Gitzo]

Adobe Premiere Elements might be a good one to try as well especially if your comfortable with adobe products. I edit on AVID Media Composer at work, but if I was looking for an affordable package to cut home movies on I would consider Adobe. I have never used Pinnacle, but AVID owns them so I know there is a good team behind the product.

[DavidTO]

I might finally break down and buy some software to edit videos. I don't need anything really fancy, I'm just not happy with the conversions windows movie maker does for the MTS files my LX5 creates when shooing AVCHD.

I'd like something that makes it very easy to cut/trim scenes and move scenes around. A bonus would be being able to change contrast and things like that too.

If there's something out there for free, that's even better. Any recommendations?

Need something that mainly supports these formats:
MTS
WMV
MOV
AVI


This question is asked and answered many times in this forum. I've merged your thread with this one, which is intended for these types of questions. Please read through the thread and see if you can come up with questions that are more specific and helpful. Vague questions lead to vague answers, and most of the answers are most likely already answered! :thumb

[Clixphoto]

I'm not a complete noob. I have done some basic editing and slide shows and then burned them to DVD. What I need now is to take the next step but as most of you know it gets complicated very quickly and I have become frustrated. I want to make an HD video using Premiere Pro 2.0. I shoot video on a 5D and GoPro Hero II. I know the 5D files are supported but need to convert the GoPro files from MP4 to another supported file. What should I use? I also don't know how to set up the video as far as aspect ratios or any of the other technical stuff. I just want to make an HD video that will play on a standard DVD player and an HD widescreen TV. Can anyone get me started?

[DavidTO]

I just want to make an HD video that will play on a standard DVD player and an HD widescreen TV.

This can't be done, as DVD doesn't support HD. You'd have to burn a blu-ray.

[Clixphoto]

Thanks for that info. So how should I set up Premiere to get the best quality possible with what I have? I still want to play back on a widescreen tv.

[angevin1]

Can anyone get me started?


Yes.

Look into buying new software or a newer version. I'll take the leap that you want to move forward. Moving forward with your editing software is a component that counts. And read up on THAT software both before purchase and after. When you run into specific problems, plenty of folks can help here I'm certain.

[Clixphoto]

I was hoping to get started with what I have. I made a pretty big investment in the equipment I have. I would like to make the switch to Mac but can't afford it right now. I hate to buy software until I make the transition.

[DavidTO]

I was hoping to get started with what I have. I made a pretty big investment in the equipment I have. I would like to make the switch to Mac but can't afford it right now. I hate to buy software until I make the transition.

Sorry I know nothing about premiere. Someone should be along to help, though!

[angevin1]

I was hoping to get started with what I have. I made a pretty big investment in the equipment I have. I would like to make the switch to Mac but can't afford it right now. I hate to buy software until I make the transition.

If you were choosing Adobe for instance they'll give you license to change system types PC to MAC for instance. Correct me if I'm wrong but that software your trying to use came out in 1992. Not that someone around here isn't using it besides you, but help for more up to date stuff is going to be easier to come by.

Like you said, it becomes complicated quickly. and in that you'll be much happier getting help with ease.

Why not go ahead and download a trial version and see if the software is what you're looking for. You could try Premiere Elements if you don't want the Pro version.

Also above earlier in this thread I linked a list of editing software to check out. And Go-Pro has forums and all kinds of neat stuff to help folks using that system!

[ziggy53]

Standard DVDs may have either 4:3 or widescreen aspect ratios. Either way, they will contain 720x480 resolution. As David said, HD-720p and full-HD-1080i are limited to Blu-Ray disc or you can play via a very powerful computer from a file in those formats located on a hard drive.

If you want to render to a widescreen DVD, that should be an option with your current setup and should play on a standard desktop DVD player.

This may help:

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/PremierePro/4.0/WS03BF7479-8C7B-4522-8C75-210AD102524Ea.html

[Clixphoto]

Thanks Ziggy. Informative tutorial. I will try to be more specific with my questions as I run across problems. I think the biggest question I have now is what to use to convert the GoPro's MP4 files for best quality in Premier Pro 2.0. Supported file types listed in the user guide are ASF, Type 2 AVI, MPEG, MPE, MPG, M2V, MOV (which is what my 5D saves as), DLX, WMV, and GIF.

[angevin1]

Thanks Ziggy. Informative tutorial. I will try to be more specific with my questions as I run across problems. I think the biggest question I have now is what to use to convert the GoPro's MP4 files for best quality in Premier Pro 2.0. Supported file types listed in the user guide are ASF, Type 2 AVI, MPEG, MPE, MPG, M2V, MOV (which is what my 5D saves as), DLX, WMV, and GIF.


You've seen this, right?

http://gopro.com/how-to-prepare-source-video-files-for-editing-windows-pc/

[Clixphoto]

No I had not seen that. That is awesome. I never really dove to deep in GoPro's site besides shopping for the camera. Thank you for pointing that out.

[angevin1]

No I had not seen that. That is awesome. I never really dove to deep in GoPro's site besides shopping for the camera. Thank you for pointing that out.

I envy the Go-Pro users. All them geeks have apparently written some cool as heck Software/hacks and so forth which I wish I could use on my present system. I recently had trrouble and needed to repair a file. Not recover a file, but actually repair it. Apparently with Go-pro's in use in those eXtreme environments, they'd already had a special app to repair files when the cam becomes disconnected and corrupts the last file! so lots there!

[Clixphoto]

Ok I converted my GoPro MP4 files to AVI and was able to import them into Premiere Pro 2.0. When I put the clip in the timeline, I only get a black screen. Is this because the GoPro video was shot at a different aspect ratio than the video into which it was imported?

[angevin1]

Ok I converted my GoPro MP4 files to AVI and was able to import them into Premiere Pro 2.0. When I put the clip in the timeline, I only get a black screen. Is this because the GoPro video was shot at a different aspect ratio than the video into which it was imported?

No.

You say you put it in the timeline. I am not at all familiar with PP 2.0, but have CS5.5 and have had CS4. And in both of those once an asset is imported, you double click on the asset and it plays in the asset window and then you drag it into the timeline from there. Allowing you to take only the audio, only the Video or adjust in/out portions of each to then drag into the timeline.

So When you double click on an asset and it goes to the preview window, does it play there?

Does the clip play in Windows media player or any other player on the Desktop?

[Clixphoto]

Yes they play fine on Windows Media Player. It's a black screen in the preview panel of Premiere as well.

[TylerW]

When you're talking about your preview being a black screen as you play back from the timeline, make sure you're looking at your Program Monitor, not your source monitor. If it's your program monitor, it should say "Program: [name of your current sequence]" in the tabbed area above the monitor window.

If that's the case and you're still seeing black, you've transcoded your mp4 into an avi with a codec that premiere doesn't understand.

[DavidTO]

When you're talking about your preview being a black screen as you play back from the timeline, make sure you're looking at your Program Monitor, not your source monitor. If it's your program monitor, it should say "Program: [name of your current sequence]" in the tabbed area above the monitor window.

If that's the case and you're still seeing black, you've transcoded your mp4 into an avi with a codec that premiere doesn't understand.
Sounds right. Only other thing I can think of is if Premier has playback settings like FCP does: Image/Alpha/Wireframe. If that's set wrong FCP will show black, as well.

[ziggy53]

Yes they play fine on Windows Media Player. It's a black screen in the preview panel of Premiere as well.

Download and install the following free utility and use it to find out the contents of the new AVI file, and let us know what those contents are:

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/v26x/GSpot270a.zip

Here are the basic instructions for using the utility:

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/v26x/quick_start.html

[angevin1]

replied to you Wes~

[angevin1]

Wes, we may have discussed this, but have you considered just downloading a trial version of Premiere Pro CS 5.5?

[FaithPromise]

I finally got how to re code a video to Smug mug. I have QuickTime 7 Pro and the manual and been looking for a way to limit video to the 15 min. Max. I feeling I'm the first person to have that idea. I'm hoping that's just not true. 1 video uploaded at 749MB and on the site it was edited to 15 minutes I think. How do I control all that.:scratch

[ziggy53]

I finally got how to re code a video to Smug mug. I have QuickTime 7 Pro and the manual and been looking for a way to limit video to the 15 min. Max. I feeling I'm the first person to have that idea. I'm hoping that's just not true. 1 video uploaded at 749MB and on the site it was edited to 15 minutes I think. How do I control all that.:scratch

I believe that you are looking for a video editing software, which is used to edit the video for content and length.

It would be helpful to know what operating system you are using and whether or not your computer is up to the task of editing your video (not all are).

So post your OS details, plus the other computer details (processor, video card, RAM, HD space, etc.) and add the type(s) of video file(s) you need to work on, and we can make recommendations.

Once you have a video editor, the specifics of the process of editing will vary somewhat by the specific platform and software. Expect some learning on your part.

---------------------

If you absolutely "must" use QTP to try to edit, check out this video:

http://youtu.be/vX8bZtdjPWU