Hi,
I am not sure where to post this because it covers a couple different topics. And please forgive the newbie questions I am very new to video editing *grin*. I have some Jr Robotics coaches sending me videos from all over the country so that I can edit them into a demo for everyone to use. I am not sure what format I want to capture the MiniDVs in. Here are the specs on what I need to do:

1. I have some MiniDV tapes and some AVI files coming in.
2. I am capturing the MiniDVs on a Mac using Imovie.
3. I will be editing them on a PC
4. I would like to have a quality good enough so people can pop them in a DVD player or use an LCD project on them. (not quite sure how all that factors in)
5. I have a 40 GB external drive for 3 hours worth of MiniDV tapes
What kind of format, resolution and bitrate do I want to capture the MiniDVs to?


Also I need a little advise on software. Here is what I would like to do:
1. Be able to add animated text over top of clip and created animated text as its own clip.
2. Have 2 audio tracks (one music, one the sound from the clip) and be able to fade between them.
3. Edit it on a PC (I have a 3x boot system with Linux and windows, so either platform is fine)
4. Simple transitions/wipes between clips
What software do you suggest?

This video is going to be used to help middle school kids learn about the FIRST Jr. Robotics team and hopefully get kids from all over the world involved in robotics. Thank you so much from all of us!!

Carla
Coach, Blue Cheesy Flamingos
FIRST LEGO League Team[/b]