Need Video Freeware Software for a Newbie

[scifix]

I’m fairly new at video editing; recently purchased Adobe Premiere Pro and obtaining a grasp on basic features. My problem now is that I need simple editing software for chopping MPEG2 movies into segments and exporting them into MPEG1 easily and quickly. I do no require other features such as transitions and text.
I also need another software for converting segments of .VOB files into MPEG1 (not the whole file just segments).
The reason that I prefer MPEG1 is because Adobe Premiere does not take MPEG2 (That I know of). My capturing card only captures MPEG1. I would use my TMPG Encoder by it’s too inconvient for me.

Note that the MPEG1 files will eventually be burned on a DVD, so I still need to maintain at least decent quality from the original source material.

Freeware is preferable
Note that I do not want to change my capturing software (InterVideo MSIPVS) because it has different options to capture without the codec hassle.

Hope someone can help!!

[scifix]

Anyone can help me???

[banger298]

look at tools (in the left hand side of the page )
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[daamon]

Hi scifix,

Welcome to the forums

To answer your question, there are a few MPEG editors that are regularly recommended (I've never used them):

VideoRedo
Womble MPEG-VCR

They appear in the "Basic Video Editors MPG" category of the "Tools" section. There are other tools, but I don't do MPEG editing so I'm not familiar with them.

Just out of interest, what are you capturing from? TV / VCR, DV cam etc.

I ask because if you can get the captured source into a DV AVI file, editing it in Premiere will be much much easier, and (as it's destined for DVD) will mean you won't lose quality by going to MPEG1 first.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask questions. Good luck...

[Richard_G]

Unless you are going to drop to VCD resolution, you need the files to be mpeg 2 if you want them to be DVD compliant (see What Is DVD at top right).

[scifix]

Thank for all your help!!

I'm capturing from a camcorder, TV, and VCR

[daamon]

Hi scifix,

For "capturing" from a camcorder, hook the cam up to the PC via firewire and use WinDV. The software is free, small and very reliable. Capture as DV AVI type 2.

I've put capturing in quotes as you're not really capturing, it's just a transfer of data from the tape in the cam to your hard drive. There's no manipulation of the data. It's a bit like transferring files from a floppy disk (CD for you youngsters ) to the hard drive. Just so you know...

As for capturing from TV / VCR - This can be done via a capture card or routed through your cam (if it has the capability) and then to the PC - again via firewire.

You say that you're capture card only captures MPEG1 - That's a disadvantge, as editing MPEGs is trickier than editing AVI. And it is also low quality when compared to the quality you get get from DV AVI to DVD, or from capturing direct to MPEG2.

You might want to look into getting a better capture card for TV / VCR. One that does full resolution MPEG2 (but editing MPEGs is still tricky) or one that does DV AVI.

As for taking VOBs and getting them so they can be edited in Premiere:

1. Download and install the Panasonic DV Codec.
2. Load the VOBs into VirtualDubMod.
3. Set the compression in VdubMod to the Panasonic DV Codec.
4. Save the VOBs to DV AVI. This can be edited in Premiere.


As an aside, for all things Premiere check out www.wrigleyvideo.com . Also, I use Premiere 6.0 and bought a book a while ago that I've found useful. Details:

Title: Premiere 6 for Macintosh & Windows (Visual Quickstart Guide)
Author: Anthony Bolante
Publisher: Peach Pit Press
ISBN: 0-201-72207-0

There may be one for Premiere Pro...

Good luck.