Need video editing software recommendation

CynthiaM

I could use some recommendations for video editing software on a Windows Vista Quad Core (I7) machine. There are various things I would like to be able to do:

• Edit Flip HD video. These download as mp4s
• Capture and edit older analog video (Hi 8) and video off of DV tapes. I have done some capturing of the Hi8 using Premiere Elements; those files come in as AVIs.

I would like to keep it pretty simple. I often like to put some kind of a dissolve transition in between the clips because it just smooths the transition. I might want to use other transitions if they are simple and easy to figure out how to use. I might also want to apply an effect to a clip. Maybe make a slideshow and figure out how to do something like a Ken Burns effect.

For about the past week, I have been trying to do this using Premiere Elements 7 but not too successfully. It is extremely unstable, often crashes and sometimes crashes to blue screen. Posts on the Adobe Premiere Elements forums indicate that this software does not play nicely with mp4s and that the clips need to be converted to avi. Even with the conversion, it is still funky. And in order for me to do any editing without crashing, I have to go into msconfig and disable practically everything and reboot before editing; a royal PITA. And then I can go for maybe 45 minutes before crashing. What concerns me is that I might end up with a whole video, menus and all and that it will crap out on burning to DVD. I really don't want to hang around to see that .

So I am looking for a program other than Premiere Elements (don't forget, on a PC) that will be more stable and do just about whatever Premiere Elements can do.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Goomba2

I am happy with...
...Pinnacle Studio Ultimate v 12

Very user friendly, easy to learn, pretty much click and drag. Got mine at Best Buy. Been using Studio for 5 years now. Version 11 was messed up but they fixed it all in version 12.

Version 14 coming out at the end of the month and I will be upgrading. Lots of cool new features.

Here's a link to part of a video I did for my daughters volleyball team last year edited with Studio.

http://and1.smugmug.com/Sports/Volleyball/STHS-Volleyball-2008-Videos/8763291_W9fpj/1/#580076657_hGVFy-A-LB

Email me if you need any more info or leave a comment on my smugmug site. www.and1.smugmug.com

Take Care,
Steve(Goomba2)

CynthiaM wrote:

I could use some recommendations for video editing software on a Windows Vista Quad Core (I7) machine. There are various things I would like to be able to do:

• Edit Flip HD video. These download as mp4s
• Capture and edit older analog video (Hi 8) and video off of DV tapes. I have done some capturing of the Hi8 using Premiere Elements; those files come in as AVIs.

I would like to keep it pretty simple. I often like to put some kind of a dissolve transition in between the clips because it just smooths the transition. I might want to use other transitions if they are simple and easy to figure out how to use. I might also want to apply an effect to a clip. Maybe make a slideshow and figure out how to do something like a Ken Burns effect.

For about the past week, I have been trying to do this using Premiere Elements 7 but not too successfully. It is extremely unstable, often crashes and sometimes crashes to blue screen. Posts on the Adobe Premiere Elements forums indicate that this software does not play nicely with mp4s and that the clips need to be converted to avi. Even with the conversion, it is still funky. And in order for me to do any editing without crashing, I have to go into msconfig and disable practically everything and reboot before editing; a royal PITA. And then I can go for maybe 45 minutes before crashing. What concerns me is that I might end up with a whole video, menus and all and that it will crap out on burning to DVD. I really don't want to hang around to see that .

So I am looking for a program other than Premiere Elements (don't forget, on a PC) that will be more stable and do just about whatever Premiere Elements can do.

Thanks for your suggestions.

digidrone

Sony Vegas
I have been using it for 5yrs. The latest version will handle mp4 natively.
I believe its the best for the money and the learning curve isn't that steep.

CynthiaM

Steve:
Thanks for the response. I would like to view the video, but it is password protected and the hint didn't help. If you don't want to post it here you can send me an email or private message.

Do you know if Pinnacle will work with mp4s? I will probably wait until they come out with the new version and see if they do a trial download. At this point, I don't think I would buy anything if I can't try it out, first.

Since posting this question, I have discovered that the Roxio software (Creator 2009) does a nice job with the mp4s and I have been able to put together some simple videos. Here is a link to one highlighting the pre-game experience in Ann Arbor for the Michigan vs. Notre Dame football game:
http://www.cynthiamerzerphotography.com/Places/UMich/Campus-Videos/9642210_F6LiA

Don't forget to send me the password for your video.
Thanks,
Cynthia

Goomba2 wrote:

...Pinnacle Studio Ultimate v 12

Very user friendly, easy to learn, pretty much click and drag. Got mine at Best Buy. Been using Studio for 5 years now. Version 11 was messed up but they fixed it all in version 12.

Version 14 coming out at the end of the month and I will be upgrading. Lots of cool new features.

Here's a link to part of a video I did for my daughters volleyball team last year edited with Studio.

http://and1.smugmug.com/Sports/Volleyball/STHS-Volleyball-2008-Videos/8763291_W9fpj/1/#580076657_hGVFy-A-LB

Email me if you need any more info or leave a comment on my smugmug site. www.and1.smugmug.com

Take Care,
Steve(Goomba2)

CynthiaM

Royce,
Thanks for the reply. Have you used the Sony software for mp4s? I had read elsewhere that it will handle mp4s in their native format and it is one of the ones that I will check out.

Do you have a link to videos that you put together with the software?

digidrone wrote:

Sony Vegas
I have been using it for 5yrs. The latest version will handle mp4 natively.
I believe its the best for the money and the learning curve isn't that steep.

waygard33

I've used Pinnacle for a couple of years. It seems to handle my .mp4s just fine. Sometimes I let Animoto create a slideshow for me. The result is an mp4. I simply drop it into my movie and start chopping it up.

I have had to fight Pinnacle and computer problems but most of that is my fault as my computer was woefully inadequate and I shouldn't have been working with any HD video...but I was. Now I have a new i7 proc computer with lots of memory and a graphics card. No problems any more.

I have several videos in the screening room area which I did with Pinnacle. I think most are ATV stuff (page 9 I think).

I was thinking of switching to Sony Vegas as I was contemplating the upgrade to Pinnacle 14. Thought I would research some more. Here are links to the reviews at PC Magazine:

Pinnacle Studio 12
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2320632,00.asp

Studio Vegas
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330163,00.asp

I decided to stay with Pinnacle and pre-ordered version 14. Mainly because it's easy to use and is becoming more and more powerful.

Here's the most recent video I made with Pinnacle. It's not in the screening room:

<object width="640" height="426" ><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.smugmug.com/ria/ShizVidz-2009090604.swf&quot; /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="flashVars" value="s=ZT0xJmk9NTkzMDUxODMxJms9RDZMZ3EmYT04ODM4NjcyX2hhY3JKJnU9d2F5Z2FyZDMz" /><embed src="http://cdn.smugmug.com/ria/ShizVidz-2009090604.swf&quot; flashVars="s=ZT0xJmk9NTkzMDUxODMxJms9RDZMZ3EmYT04ODM4NjcyX2hhY3JKJnU9d2F5Z2FyZDMz" width="640" height="426" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true"></embed></object>


Finally, in the same review area in PC Mag, there is a link to an article on the top FREE video editors as well.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

Good luck.
Wayne in Oregon

CynthiaM

waygard33 wrote:

I've used Pinnacle for a couple of years. It seems to handle my .mp4s just fine. Sometimes I let Animoto create a slideshow for me. The result is an mp4. I simply drop it into my movie and start chopping it up.

I have had to fight Pinnacle and computer problems but most of that is my fault as my computer was woefully inadequate and I shouldn't have been working with any HD video...but I was. Now I have a new i7 proc computer with lots of memory and a graphics card. No problems any more.

I have several videos in the screening room area which I did with Pinnacle. I think most are ATV stuff (page 9 I think).

I was thinking of switching to Sony Vegas as I was contemplating the upgrade to Pinnacle 14. Thought I would research some more. Here are links to the reviews at PC Magazine:

Pinnacle Studio 12
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2320632,00.asp

Studio Vegas
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330163,00.asp

I decided to stay with Pinnacle and pre-ordered version 14. Mainly because it's easy to use and is becoming more and more powerful.

Here's the most recent video I made with Pinnacle. It's not in the screening room:

<object height="426" width="640">


<embed src="http://cdn.smugmug.com/ria/ShizVidz-2009090604.swf&quot; flashvars="s=ZT0xJmk9NTkzMDUxODMxJms9RDZMZ3EmYT04ODM4NjcyX2hhY3JKJnU9d2F5Z2FyZDMz" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="426" width="640"></object>


Finally, in the same review area in PC Mag, there is a link to an article on the top FREE video editors as well.<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6029383/emoji/thumb.gif&quot; border="0" alt="" >

Good luck.
Wayne in Oregon

Looks like Pinnacle will be more than adequate for my needs. Cute video.

Thanks,
Cynthia