Avid Liquid 7 - solution to all?

[unrealii]

Hi All-

I'm planning on converting all my vhs tapes to dvd. I have the following hardware to help me in this:

-Pinnacle MovieBox DV - to capture - yes it really works despite the bad reviews
-Sony SVO 2000 vcr
-DataVideo TBC-100 - full frame time based correction
-AMD 64 3200+ computer, 1 gig of ram, 1 tb storage
-Nvidia 5700LE 256mb apg video card
-Dual 17" acer lcd monitors
-HP Lightscribe dvd burner

I have been doing video editing for quite a while, since 1998 iirc when I did a project during my sophmore year of high school. I've been using adobe premiere ever since. However, lately for me, dvd creation has become very important. I have had a horrible time trying to link up my edited videos from premiere pro to nero dvd, roxio dvd, and adobe encore. I'm looking for an advanced all in one solution. Pinnacle Liquid 5.5 came with the movie box dv, but its not compatible with xp sp2, so I am thinking of upgrading to avid liquid 7 for $200. I have already spent $130 for liquid 5.5 and the movie box. $200 doesn't seem too bad for what I am upgrading to. Are there any other better solutions for $200?

[aanaravs]

YOu don't need an NLE to convert your tapes to DVD. All you need is a decent capture card, some BASIC editing software and a DVD authoring software.

Windows Movie Maker can be used as a simple editor or Premiere Elements.

If you go with Premiere elements, you get a pretty decent DVD authoring option.

[unrealii]

Uh oh...you said the B-word...BASIC :P

I understand that I dont need an NLE for this project, but there will be times I will need one. I have used them in the past, still use them, but I am looking for something with better integration to other items than just video editing.

[edDV]

Uh oh...you said the B-word...BASIC :P

I understand that I dont need an NLE for this project, but there will be times I will need one. I have used them in the past, still use them, but I am looking for something with better integration to other items than just video editing.

What has been your problem going from Premiere Pro to Encore? Or the other programs?

Premiere Pro can encode your DVD MPeg2 files that can then be imported into any DVD authoring program. The Mainconcept MPeg2 encoder is as good as any in the mid price range.

[jtoolman2000]

Adobe Encore has worked flawlessly for me. Liquid,, ANY version has not. Maybe it has to do with my PC specs. Yours seem awsome. I thought liquid 7 was many hundreds??? Not $200. Are you upgrading from some other pinnacle ( Avid ) product?

[unrealii]

I'll have to get back to you on why encore gave me problems. I made a list and put it somewhere.

I bought my capture device (movie box dv) and liquid 5.5 for $130. I thought it was a steal at the time until I found out liquid 5.5 isn't xp sp2 compatible. Upgrade to liquid 7 is $200 since I have liquid 5.5. I still need to play around with 5.5 to see what parts of it are not compatible.

[jtoolman2000]

Being profficient in Photoshop and Premiere, I have no problems using Encore. I also had no problems with Pinnacle Studio so after attending a local Liquid Edition live seminar I came home totally amazed and next thing you know I had purchased Liquid 6. The guy at the seminar made it look extremely easy but I found myself trying to re learn to do things in liquid. I have even used Avid Express here at work and find that actually easier to grasp. I am quite sure it is simply my inability to learn Liquid's user interphase.

[unrealii]

When I used encore, I was dissappointed to see that I could not drag and drop my premiere timelines into encore. I had to produce everything, then let encore convert it to dvd. I also did not like the menu editor. I was making a dvd for a talent show, so I created video icons for chapter selection, in addition to different flows for scenes depending on where you came from. After horus of work, I burned the dvd and it didn't work. I dunno, that was about 8 months ago. Things may have changed in the later versions.

[edDV]

When I used encore, I was dissappointed to see that I could not drag and drop my premiere timelines into encore. I had to produce everything, then let encore convert it to dvd. I also did not like the menu editor. I was making a dvd for a talent show, so I created video icons for chapter selection, in addition to different flows for scenes depending on where you came from. After horus of work, I burned the dvd and it didn't work. I dunno, that was about 8 months ago. Things may have changed in the later versions.

I'm not an Encore user but the video could have been encoded to MPeg2 in Premiere Pro* and then Encore could have been used to make menus and author the DVD.

*export timeline - Adobe MPeg Encoder

[unrealii]

doh

thanks for the details...dunno why I haven't discovered that feature.

[unrealii]

Went ahead and purchased the Avid Liquid 7. I've read about a few problems with that software on this forum, but I am gambling that since Avid's name is on the product that it will be better. Should be here in a few days. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[jtoolman2000]

Yes, plese let us know how it works out for you. I own version 6 and updating to 7 would be ecconomical specially since Ebay has good deals on the updater to V7. I have version 6 at work and it works flawlessly. At home my other copy gives me nothing but trouble, Both machines are pretty much identical systems.

[unrealii]

I bought mine through avid for $199. Ebay was only $10 cheaper.

I'll let you know how it goes. Still haven't recieved it yet.

[jtoolman2000]

Did it come yet?