Is There A Program That Edits Without Transcoding?

[blazin-j]

I was wondering if anyone here knew of an Editing Program that would allow you to edit a video file (e.g., adding transitions, text, overlays, sound/music, etc) and to output the resulting file without transcoding it, OR to transcode it with an encoder of your choice.

Here's my dilemma: I have rendered an uncompressed .AVI animation file that I would like to edit as described above, then transcode using a standalone encoder, then author to DVD using a standalone authoring program.

I have found an encoder (Procoder 3) and an authoring program (TMPGEnc DVD Author 3) to do the backend work. I just need to find an editor that will do the front-end work without losing quality.

All of the editors I have tried (i.e., Cyberlink's Power Director and Ulead's DVD Workshop) are convenient all-in-one packages that do a nice job of editing and authoring, but I'm not happy with the encoders that come prepackaged with the software. They have limited settings, oftentimes a small menu of presets you are forced to choose from, and they usually produce crappy results. I'm not sure there is a way you can direct the program to use a different encoder.

Although it is more work to use different programs for each step of the production process, it seems to be the only way I have found to get optimal results instead of being a slave to a program that is a jack of all trades and master of none.

Has this been everyone else's experience or am I approaching the problem the wrong way?

[aedipuss]

i'd start with a better editor. vegas pro is a good choice.

it edits and then renders with a decent encoder, mainconcept for mpeg-2 to dvd files.

no intermediate step required, so there is no additional loss.

[Brainiac]

I am sort of in the same situation. I use Premiere CS3 for editing, but I don't use the built-in encoder for my final output. Instead, I frameserve to TMPGEnc Xpress 4 via debugmode's frameserver (freeware). Works like a charm.

Debugmode works with the following editors:

Sony Vegas (and earlier Vegas Video/VideoFactory versions). - tested with Vegas 8.0 and earlier
Adobe Premiere - tested with Premiere 6.0/6.5/Premiere Pro 1.0/1.5/Elements 1.0
Ulead MediaStudio Pro - tested with MSP 7.0
Ulead VideoStudio - tested with VideoStudio 8.0
Pure Motion EditStudio - tested with EditStudio 4.1.3
DebugMode Wax - works with Wax 2.0e and above

Brainiac

[aedipuss]

debugmode frameserving from vegas is a waste of time. the included mpeg-2 mainconcept encoder is as good as any you would frameserve to except maybe cce sp2 by the slimmest of pixels.

[edDV]

I was wondering if anyone here knew of an Editing Program that would allow you to edit a video file (e.g., adding transitions, text, overlays, sound/music, etc) and to output the resulting file without transcoding it, OR to transcode it with an encoder of your choice.

Here's my dilemma: I have rendered an uncompressed .AVI animation file that I would like to edit as described above, then transcode using a standalone encoder, then author to DVD using a standalone authoring program.

What kind of AVI? RGB, DV or uncompressed YCbCr can be imported and cuts edited with no or little loss. Most filters and transition processes in Premiere Pro or Vegas result in RGB conversion for the frames processed but unprocessed frames pass to export without loss until you specify an alternate export codec. For Premiere Pro with supported realtime SDI I/O, you can run in YCbCr mode with no RGB conversion using filters or transitions that can run native YCbCr.

You can also build front to back RGB or YCbCr work flows through AVISynth from RGB TIFF or similar animation still sequences.

[blazin-j]

What kind of AVI?

I'm not sure. How can I tell? I used FRAPS to capture the animation off my computer, but I'm not sure if that means it is RGB or not.

[edDV]

I don't know about fraps. When you say animation I assume a render to TGA, TIFF or other sequence of frames.

[blazin-j]

FRAPS does a variety of things, including screen captures. The result is a render of sequence of frames, saved in .AVI format. I know .AVI is a container, but is there a program you are aware of that will let me analyze if it is RGB, YCbCr, etc?

[edDV]

Try GSpot

[blazin-j]

OK, thanks edDV, that's a nifty little utility. The AVI file is RGB, specifically BI_RGB Raw Bitmap.

So, going back to an earlier comment you made, it seems that if I use Adobe Premiere or Vegas Pro as an editor, I should be able to import and edit with little or no loss. And if I use Vegas Pro, then I can use the mpeg-2 mainconcept encoder as aedipuss suggested or frameserve to debugmode as brainiac suggested or build front to back work flows through AVISynth. OK, I have my homework cut out for me....

Thanks to all for your help.

[edDV]

OK, thanks edDV, that's a nifty little utility. The AVI file is RGB, specifically BI_RGB Raw Bitmap.

So, going back to an earlier comment you made, it seems that if I use Adobe Premiere or Vegas Pro as an editor, I should be able to import and edit with little or no loss. And if I use Vegas Pro, then I can use the mpeg-2 mainconcept encoder as aedipuss suggested or frameserve to debugmode as brainiac suggested or build front to back work flows through AVISynth. OK, I have my homework cut out for me....

Thanks to all for your help.

Adobe Premiere Pro also includes the Mainconcept MPeg2 encoder with similar controls.