100% Serious about making Videos & Editing Them.Best Home PC Software and Expertise?

[PhoenixFlames]

Hi people

I have decided to do something I've always wanted to do since my Media Studies days and that's become affluent in the art of Video Editing and Production.
Between 1997 and 2000 I did help shoot videos on camera (I was an expert at "scripting, story boarding, film photography acting, sound recording" however I never got the opportunity to edit videos/sound myself.


Obviously Digital Cameras (even webcams) and Home Cinema Editing packages have come a long way.

Now I know how to film myself using a webcam and convert them into MP4, AVI Files (using a Free Independent Software Converter much cheaper than a pricey subscription). I know how to Scan Video Covers and downsize them using paint and I can brush up on my Photoshop skills.

However know I want to know how to Edit in Scrolling/Animated Titles, overlap commentary with Video Footage, put in scanned graphics/photos and end with credits and multiple overlapping sound (music, sound effects etc).


I bet there is Free Video Editing Software available from independent writers so I don't necessarily want an "off the shelf package" unless it was user friendly.

I did go into a local PC Branch but they (not surprisingly) tried selling me an Apple Laptop. Despite the extremely user friendly editing tools I simply cannot afford one.


I'm using a Laptop with Windows Vista and XP. Suggestions or help would be excellent.


PS: Not being rude but can I only have responses from people who have used such packages themselves. I do appreciate links but only if you can vouch for the Software (or you know someone who has used it themselves).

[ragtag]

There are not that many good free or open-source video editors. I guess video editors are kind of hard to write, and video codecs tend to be limited by restrictive patents. :P You won't find anything as advanced as Avid or Final Cut Pro, available for free.

There are a few options though that run on Windows.

VirtualDub is great for converting videos and doing some very basic video editing, but is quite limited as an editor.

Blender (blender.org) is a 3D program, that includes a compositor, where you can layer images and more, and a basic video editor. Last I checked though the video editor had a limit of 9999 frames. It does support multiple tracks and a number of effects, so is quite usable. Blender is a big complex program, so takes a bit getting used to working with.

Check out this site for some others.

Of the ones listed there, I've dabbled with Jashaka a few years ago...but didn't like it then....of course, it may have improved. I've also used Cinerella, which is quite a full featured editor, but only runs on Linux as far as I know.

Good luck in your search.

[PhoenixFlames]

Many thanks ragtag.

Im experimenting right now with a programme called Pinnacle Videospin which I downloaded for free.

Very basic but it has the Audio Overlap, Video Editing, and being able to cut and splice scenes. Interestingly enough I also just played an AVI video (made by someone else) and it "re-edited" the footage into seperate sections, seperating the cuts scenes and the titles (so I can add my own titles instead!


As its free I will toy with this one first before moving onto "shelf packages" but keep the suggestions coming as its an ongoing project and I am favouriting this page

[craigwanderer]

I use Avid Media Centre and Adobe After Effects for most of my video editing and effects, but one freeware tool I sometimes find myself using for quick and dirty titles is the humble MS Movie Maker. It also has scene detection like the Pinnacle program you've been playing with.

One to keep an eye out for is VideoLAN Movie Creator - VideoLAN Movie Creator - Overview - VideoLAN Movie Creator. If it's anything like the VLC Player it will be awesome for mixing and matching different codecs and formats as well as basic NLE. Being stuck with Quicktime on Avid can be a pain in the backside.

[aussieNickuss]

Originally Posted by PhoenixFlames

I did go into a local PC Branch but they (not surprisingly) tried selling me an Apple Laptop.

That's because Apple is the industry standard for video production and if you really want to be serious about it, it's the way to go.

You don't have to buy new, check out the refurbished section of the online store or check out secondhand sources. Even a three year old secondhand MacBook Pro would be more than capable for beginner video production.