Video editing and production software

[maxamillion]

I'm in the process of starting my own business, www.YourHighlightFilm.com and I was wondering what video editing software do you guys use. I like Ulead video studio 11 and Showbiz DVD.

I'm thinking about purchasing Adobe Premier Elements 4, but I've heard its pretty complicated. Do any of you guys use it?? Do you like it?

Any other suggestions for a good production software?

[maxamillion]

Anyone use Final cut pro, its like $1200

[tinker]

For that try Premiere or Vegas(preferred by most), little less.
For DVD creation I would check DVD Lab Pro.

[filmboss80]

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. You've actually started promoting the business on the web BEFORE carefully selecting and mastering the tools essential to best serving your customers? Not a healthy start-up measure. And some of the software you mentioned is consumer-level stuff that any home user can buy instead of paying you for services -- especially if you're not any more familiar with the software than your potential customers. If you think Premiere Elements is complicated, you're already WAY in over your head.

I don't mean to sound so harsh, friend, but...my goodness! You need to work on becoming a pro BEFORE you hang your shingle.

[maxamillion]

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. You've actually started promoting the business on the web BEFORE carefully selecting and mastering the tools essential to best serving your customers? Not a healthy start-up measure. And some of the software you mentioned is consumer-level stuff that any home user can buy instead of paying you for services -- especially if you're not any more familiar with the software than your potential customers. If you think Premiere Elements is complicated, you're already WAY in over your head.

I don't mean to sound so harsh, friend, but...my goodness! You need to work on becoming a pro BEFORE you hang your shingle.

Sounds like someones a little jealous of my work. . . . . sorry FILMBOSS, am I treading in your water??

[Cornucopia]

Thanks for bringing a little levity to my difficult day. Ha, ha!

Your prices are SOOO way out of line, even for "pro" work. I can think of 25 different companies (2 that I've been affiliated with) that have been doing this kind of thing for >10 years and they charge max $1/pix (goes down if you have more). You really haven't done your homework. And you REALLY shouldn't be dissing somebody who obviously has more experience than you trying to give you good advice.

You've got to learn to walk before you can run.

Scott

[maxamillion]

Hey Scotty it was a joke, loosen up dude.
And can you supply links to those 25 websites who charge less then $1 a picture?
I'd really like to see this.

Here's a quick few that charge quite a bit more then your $1
http://www.dvdphotographs.com/packages.htm
http://www.dvdscrapbooks.com/prices.html
http://www.pictopix.com/price.php

Thanks for your 2 cents scotty

[filmboss80]

It is amazing how someone could misread a post so badly. I was trying to help you out because you obviously haven't a clue about the business area you intend to pursue. You are not treading in my water. I'm with a commercial studio with a worldwide DVD distribution base, pal. I have a slight idea about what the hell I'm doing, and thought I'd help others in this business. I really would hate to see you fail, but if you're going to be so presumptive, go right ahead on your path. The question is, do you really want advice, or are you just posting on this forum in an effort to show off your little website?

[bendixG15]

Hey Scotty it was a joke, loosen up dude.......................

Waste of time trying to give you solid advice.
Go learn the hard way ............ probably not your money anyway.........

[maxamillion]

If you guys want to help so bad, which you keep saying you do, then why not stick to the questions I asked instead of telling me how my prices are too high or how I have no clue what I'm doing. I didn't come here to have my website critiqued, and I'm too busy to sit here and chit chat.
Waste of my time.

[lordsmurf]

Talk about putting the cart before the horse. You've actually started promoting the business on the web BEFORE carefully selecting and mastering the tools essential to best serving your customers? Not a healthy start-up measure. And some of the software you mentioned is consumer-level stuff that any home user can buy instead of paying you for services -- especially if you're not any more familiar with the software than your potential customers. If you think Premiere Elements is complicated, you're already WAY in over your head. I don't mean to sound so harsh, friend, but...my goodness! You need to work on becoming a pro BEFORE you hang your shingle.

My thoughts exactly.

I use Adobe Premiere CS3 and Final Cut Pro, and while I can edit, this is not my forte. I would not offer it standalone to customers, as I am not anywhere near as proficient as the "real professionals" (in that area). And I've been using Premiere and/or FCP for probably 8-9 years now.

I'm tired of every two-bit hack thinking they can do something simply because they buy a camera or computer. Guess what? It takes skills and experience. Sure, you get a few random folks that quickly pick up something (WordPress designer Brian Gardner, for example), but they are the exception to the rule. You do a big disservice to the public. I'm all for people learning, going into business, etc -- but seriously, do not put the "cart before the horse". Learn your stuff, then think about opening a business. I'd say probably 50-75 percent of my work now comes from people who tried out the "cheap price" or the "local shop", because those people f---ed it up the first time around. Very often it makes my job harder, as I have to clean up the crap they made.

Consumer software is good for consumers, but it's kiddie-ware for serious work. Sort of like using crayons on notebook paper to write a corporate memo, instead of letterhead with laser printing.


###########################


To be fair, though, I do teach classes on this topic (online and offline) -- learning the basics of editing. Sure, they make books and you can find free info online, but nothing beats one-on-one with "homework" to test your skills. I don't want to advertise here, but you're welcome to contact me privately.

Understand that I do not wish to be mean or discouraging. Just know this is a point of contention in any industry that now relies on technology. The "Best Buy" mentality has too many folks thinking they can do everything themselves.

If this is what you want to do, I wish you well. But you've got to learn BEFORE the business opens, it is highly unethical to practice on your client's work.

[maxamillion]

Smurf you take your job waaay to seriously, but thanks for the constructive criticism blue

[lordsmurf]

I just added something to my previous post. Go read it.

The VERY REASON that I am good at what I do is because I do take my work very seriously. I'd rather not do something at all than do something half-assed.

You're also going to need several thousand dollars minimum in start-up costs if you want to open this as a business eventually. Software, hardware and business expenses weigh heavy on the checkbook. A more-professional website, a marketing plan, and several other concepts (that I do not discuss for free) will be required to have any degree of long-term success.

[maxamillion]

are you implying my business is half-assed blue? Its by no means perfect, but keep in mind ITS TWO WEEKS OLD. You have to start somewhere and I created, designed and implemented every single element of my business.

Thanks, but no thanks

[filmboss80]

Lordsmurf, like you, I've tried to pass on what I've learned after many years in the biz. I first noticed this site years ago when I was trying to help others starting out. In teaching them to be resourceful -- even with limited resources -- I found a wealth of information and tools from this site that I began using myself, even though I had the budgets for costlier avenues. But in trying to pass on sage advice, every so often you encounter someone who is simply not TEACHABLE. There are smug, know-nothings who think they know it all and have to end up suffering the consequences of their own arrogance. Fortunately, they are few and far between in this forum.

I think I read recently that you became a moderator at this site. That's fitting. I've gleaned a bit of wisdom from guys like you from time to time. Though I'm much closer to retirement than start-up, I, for one, never want to stop learning.

[maxamillion]

The only one of you who has even remotely responded to my thread in a manner which suits its topic, Is Smurf. So please, if you don't have anything constructive to say, don't post in my thread, go make your own.

thank you

[guns1inger]

I have just visited your website, and to be honest, I would not go any further than that as far as engaging you to do work for me. What turns me off ?

1. Free web host. Makes me think you are a fly-by-night outfit. If you actually pay for a domain and hosting, you appear to be more solid and reliable. I know you are trying to keep establishment costs down, but if it costs you credibility, it isn't worth it.

2. The layout is obviously template based, but the heading are awful. Tacky, canned text effects either from a plugin or low-end actions. And there is no consistency between sections. It feels like you sat there and just "hey, that looks cool", and dumped it onto the page. It makes me question your eye for design, and worry about what the end product may look like. You might also want to do another proof read and make sure everything looks as it should.

3. The samples. All feel like they have come from an automated slideshow product using the built-in, cliched transitions. There doesn't appear to be a great deal of planning or though into how they have been put together.

4. Finally, you might want to look into copyright law before you get yourself into too much trouble. Your samples use copyright music, and your website talks about combining your favourite music with your photos. Unless your favourite music is royalty free or an original composition, this is illegal. You can just use any music off a CD, even if you or your client owns it. While this would probably attract the average Joe, it immediately makes me suspicious of your experience and industry knowledge. It also puts you very much at risk.

Most of this is very easily remedied, but until it is, it makes you look like every other 2 bit video/photo transfer outfit. And as we know here, most of them are a complete rip-off with little or no real skills and a lot of pirated software making slideshows and DVD menus for people. You do not want to end up in the same bucket if you are serious about what you are setting out to do.

[SCDVD]

When I was a small child, I had a little boy's daydream that in my young mind seemed quite reasonable. My daydream was that I devised a way to save myself in a life-threatening situation. I envisioned myself standing on a car that was falling from the sky. I reasoned that I could save myself by jumping off the car just before it hit the ground. As I considered it, my idea seemed quite reasonable. The only "small" detail that I overlooked was if I were falling at 100 mile per hour and jumped up at 1/2 mile per hour, I would still hit the ground at 99.5 miles per hour! Although I didn't realize it in my youthful mind, my little "oversight" meant that my idea was doomed to failure.

In a similar vein, the "small oversight" that you are making is that you don't know what you are doing. FIRST, learn a professional skill and AFTER you do, then go into business. And spare us your punk-ass 'tude!

You got some very worthwhile and well intentioned advise from some very qualified people with a great deal of experience and all you did was dispense a dose of lip!

[maxamillion]

Thanks for the honesty gunslinger, I can appreciate that. Now it’s my turn, this may help you understand a little more.
1. I did pay for a domain. You can't beat free hosting, especially when your first starting out and your average Joe doesn't even know what the difference is between paid hosting and free hosting.

2. You can criticize my design all you want, it works for now. Proof read?? Where are the mistakes at?

3. All my samples seem to be automated and without a great deal of planning?? Take a look at this 13 minute wrestling highlight film.
part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7aAVJ16USs
part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FCgZ2FV8Qc
and this promo video http://www.vimeo.com/1653994

Then shove your foot in your mouth, because you couldn't produce something half that clever.

Good day and goodspeed

[guns1inger]

Front page, paragraph one. Team's Highlight Film : Note the apostrophe required to denote ownership

Paragraph Two. upload your photos online : Note no apostrophe required as this is a plural.

And so on.

My comments were constructive. Take them personally if you want. Insult away for all I care. You came looking for help, then get upset when you don't like the help that is offered.

I am happy you are happy with your own work. Again, I see nothing there that would convince me to use your services. There appears to be no attempt to restore the quality of the footage, or even apply basic anti-shaking to the handheld stuff. The editing is sub-Michael Bay ADD, and the effects range between funniest home video and canned transitions.

So far, the work you have offered, the web site you are using to promote yourself with, and the tools you are using are all at the home user, do a favour for friends level. And there is nothing wrong with that. We all have to start somewhere. The advice you are being offered here is to help you take it beyond favours for friends and into commercial viability.

Best of luck.

[maxamillion]

If I"m happy with it (2 week old website) then that's all that matters. Business is good. The point is: that everyone here got off topic, once again I didn't come here for you guys to critique and criticize my website.
So please discuss video editing and production software: nothing else

(if you feel the need to discuss my website any further then feel free to start your own thread)

[guns1inger]

So please discuss video editing and production software: nothing else

OK then. Your choice of software is purely amateur-hour home-video league.

If you are serious then you need to consider Sony Vegas Professional, Adobe premiere CS3, or a whole platform change so you can run Final Cut Pro. If you really like Ulead products then you could look at Media Studio pro. Then you need to learn how to use it without all the pre-canned transitions and plugins.

You need to learn virtualdub and avisynth for restoration and stabilisation work.

You need to learn a good authoring application.

[Hippie459MN]

So please discuss video editing and production software: nothing else

OK then. Your choice of software is purely amateur-hour home-video league.

If you are serious then you need to consider Sony Vegas Professional, Adobe premiere CS3, or a whole platform change so you can run Final Cut Pro. If you really like Ulead products then you could look at Media Studio pro. Then you need to learn how to use it without all the pre-canned transitions and plugins.

You need to learn virtualdub and avisynth for restoration and stabilisation work.

You need to learn a good authoring application.

Some good advice there. Ene though this is not my thread, I thank you.

[VincenzoAI]

I believe he must have gone out of business. There has been very little added to the vimeo site and the last added was a year ago. Although very late to this thread I took the trouble to look through many of the samples provided and find myself uplifted... 'cos I was suffering a small crisis of confidence and now feel much better about my skills! All the advice offered is true and with integrity. I know this as I have now had the experience to know the difference.

[kimco52]

I just ran into this thread and read all the comments first. Then I went to his website. Front page still has spelling errors and incorrect words (personnel for personal, for example).
With as many errors as I noticed on the front page, I would not consider using them even if I had not read all the previous comments. If you cannot take the time to make sure your advertising and display is correct, how can I trust your product to be good and accurate? Or that you took time to get the detail correct?

He was given good advice. He obviously did not take it.

[bigass]

Interesting stuff!

It's been fascinating to read how a clueless know-it-all can turn well-meaning people against him so thoroughly. One must wonder if this fella ever made a buck.

I've been considering doing some slideshow-making as a part-time income stream, after putting together a presentation for my wedding with a little advice from the folks here at videohelp.

http://www.vimeo.com/7193017

And I've practiced on some music videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvjJhmwh9tw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x21e2GVLb1s

I'm pleased enough with my editing chops, but my website-making skills are still stuck at 1997 levels. I'm considering posting bold warnings on any prospective site announcing, "Do not judge my work by my web site. I'm offering video production, not web design."

Having said that, I have no idea how I'd go about marketing such a service. Even if I'm turning out a beautiful product, I haven't a clue how to sell it.

[bigass]

... and after looking at the guy's videos just now, I echo the comments of VincenzoAI -- I feel greatly reassured of my own competence. I don't know if it's a style thing or a technical thing, but I find the OP's videos mostly unwatchable, and the spelling errors unforgivable.

[kimco52]

OK, I just looked at the guys videos he was bragging about and I'll agree with bigass.
The first one gave me a headache within two minutes.
I still agree with all the excellent advice and info given to him. From experience reading this forum over the years, I would say that you can take anything gunslinger and lordsmurf say to the bank. I'll also agree 100% with lordsmuf's comment "I'm tired of every two-bit hack thinking they can do something simply because they buy a camera or computer."

[JohnnyMalaria]

Hee-hee. Poor old grandma.

I think his videos could benefit from a greater use of effects and transitions. I don't think a dozen different ones in two minutes is really pushing the creativity envelope.

[SCDVD]

I think his videos could benefit from a greater use of effects and transitions.

Yeah. How about venetian blind and sharks teeth transitions - what a piece of work!