How does Microsoft Movie Maker 2 compare to Ulead?

[joeAgain------]

(I've done a search here and not found much on this)

I've had my XP computer for a couple months now and didn't know I had MS MM2 already on it. I've been using VideoStudio7 to edit, author and burn my DVDs...and think it is really good.

But reading PC magazine(I think)yesterday, I saw an article saying VS7 was "pretty good", but couldn't compare to the ease of authoring DVDs with MS Movie Maker.

What does everyone else think about how those 2 programs compare to each other, and why, please? Is Movie Maker2 as good?

[tjtoed]

I use Movie Maker 2 to capture, edit, then save out movies from my DV camcorder.

There is some things that could be improved, but the editing, cutting, and such are great and very easy to use.

The only problem I have is what to capture as (you can either capture as DV-AVI which is huge, or you can capture at a .mov file at like 2.1 Million bits per second) and then what to save the edited movies out as...

I then run the movies through TMPGenc to get to MPEG-2.

TJ

[rallynavvie]

I thought Windows Movie Maker only produced into WMV format, nothing else. Maybe I've just got the old one?

[joeAgain------]

I guess I'm lucky to use a Dazzle Video Creator II, and capture with it already in Mpeg(either 1 or 2, which ever I want).

I'd just be importing my Mpeg-2 caps into MM2 to edit, author and burn to DVDs.

Is it better than VideoStudio7 for that?

[Amish Electrician]

Winblow movie maker only renders to WMV that sux end of story.

[joeAgain------]

OK, thanks for that info.

then I've got No use for it.

I need programs that will author DVDs that I can play on my standalone DVD player.

Thanks

[Amish Electrician]

Then check this out
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149219&highlight=

[ally]

I might be in the minority, but I find XP's Move Maker 2 great. You have to upgrade to MM2 (FREE) from Microsoft's site.

MM2 can capture in either DV-AVI (no compression) or in a compressed .WMV format. If your goal is to edit your AVI (i.e. overlay music, trim clips, add narration, add title overlays, video transitions, or video effects such as slow-mo) then MM2 is easier to use than any other editing software that I've used and it's totally free. Then use TMPGEnc to encode into a DVD compliant MPEG-2 file. I've created some excellent home movies using MM2 and a digital camcorder.

The .WMV format is great for sending out short clips via email. If you're looking for MM2 to create MPEGs then it can't do that, but that's what TMPGEnc is for after you capture using MM2.

Download the XP MM upgrade and see for yourself. I think you will find it easier to use VideoWave for editing purposes.

[Bob W]

OK, thanks for that info.

then I've got No use for it.

I need programs that will author DVDs that I can play on my standalone DVD player.

Thanks

http://www.mediostream.com/products/neodvdplus/index.html

[mpb]

Winblow movie maker only renders to WMV that sux end of story.

Uh, NOT end of story. I output AVI files every day with WMM2.

It will only let you do this if you feed DV-AVI files INTO it, or photos. IF you are importing MPEGs, doing your own analog captures, etc, then yes, WMV is the only output option you get.

WMM2 is actually really great for general purpose use if you have DV. Whether a camcorder, a 1394 bridge, whatever. If you are doing analog-to-digital-passthrough capturing at all, WMM2 is a perfectly functional editor, splicer, etc.

You then run your AVI file through TMPGenc to make it an MPEG1 or 2 file.

However, WMM2 is not as versatile as Adobe Premiere. Obviously.

[fingernailX]

MM2 also allows you to burn to cd a wmv9 file in highmat format. I have not been able to determine if it will burn to DVD+- R but if so HDTV captures can be converted to wmv9 hi res, hi bitrate and saved on a 4.3 gb disc giving near HDTV disc playback w/o blue ray


from www.highmat.com

Panasonic will support HighMAT in future versions of the company’s CD and DVD players. They demonstrated products at the January 2003 CES event that will ship later in the year

[Proud Dad]

First off, I'm new at this ...

I have an Adaptec PCI card with which I capture via Movie Mill.

I then use WMM2 to edit and add titles and such (I agree - it's great for that purpose). It then saves the finished product as a .wmv file which cannot be recognized by Sonic MYDVD or Ulead DVD Movie Factory.

I see lots of posts in these forums referring to TMPGEnc, which I have yet to get a copy of. Will it convert .wmv files into MPEG2?

[dcsos]

Yes you can use Windows Movie Maker to do Non-Linear Editing.
But as others have repeatedly posted, IT ONLY OUPUTS TO WMV
This is of no use for DVD authoring (unless quality is not important to you)
Yes there are other good uses for the program (EMAIL AVI clip,.WMV clip)
but the key to WINDOWS HYPE about making DVD's with WMM:
Microsoft has partnered with SONIC and If you look on M$ wbsite for info about making DVD's with WMM- the page clearly states according to GATES way of DOING...-you purchase the SONIC third party extras and "VOILA" your WMV can be transcoded to MPEG...
WE USE TMPG instead thank you!...If , god forbid, we should get our hands on stuff thsat found its way into MS's god-awful WMA WMV etc format (good for email tho' :-)!)

[lethaldoser]

I also use WMM and I export all of my files as DV AVI NTSC(25Mps). If you change the setting to OTHER and then go down the list you will find that you are not stuck at making WMF.

[Amish Electrician]

mpb
Uh, NOT end of story. I output AVI files every day with WMM2

Ok i will give you that but i like the one step not the two step.
Fyi DVD Architect by Sonic Foundry will convert wmv to dvd format but its slow & converson looks bad.

[kitty]

Agreed - do NOT save the output as WMF (except to email to friends) - save it as DV-AVI output. These files can then be recognized by other software for editing or encoding.

Too bad M$ doesn't allow you to use other codecs on the machine like everyone else.

[mpb]

mpb
Uh, NOT end of story. I output AVI files every day with WMM2

Ok i will give you that but i like the one step not the two step.
Fyi DVD Architect by Sonic Foundry will convert wmv to dvd format but its slow & converson looks bad.

Why would I ever have the file in WMV format? It gets captured through the firewire as DV-AVI. It gets edited in MM2, and saved as DV-AVI. Then convert with TMPGenc. Never in this entire process does it become a WMV file. Those suck.

Why is this so hard for some people to comprehend?

Possibly because the AVI save format does not show up on MM2's list of options unless the video is 720x480 AVI and/or photos. If your video contains but a single frame of 352x240 mpeg or 640x480 captured video, it will NOT let you save as a DV-AVI. That's why you probably think you're stuck using WMV.

If you do all your capturing with a dvcam, a bridge (like the canopus or dazzle bridges) or if you capture uncompressed with an analog card to 720x480, you can use WMM2 to edit to your heart's content and save as an AVI file at 720x480 with the high quality you're looking for.

It's not as versatile as Premiere for truly creating content, but it's good enough for 90% of the chop-and-save jobs out there, like TV shows and such.

[racer-x]

I never knew MM2 could Edit and output to AVI. Is it type1 or type2?
I've been using Premiere and Ulead with excellant resoults. But MM2 sounds pretty good for a free video editor.

[dcsos]

THanks for the CORRECTION...on WMM's output if you go 720x480 also
GOOD To know About Architect's accetance of WMV...sometimes you're stck with someone else's wmv and you gotta convert...before...I hadda do a TV-out charade (I hadda capture the WMV to another computer ..since I was converting to MPEG-2 before ARCHITECT)

[Amish Electrician]

Well i guess it depends on what your going to do with the file in the end.
Im putn my stuff on DVD.
MBP says
Why would I ever have the file in WMV format? It gets captured through the firewire as DV-AVI. It gets edited in MM2, and saved as DV-AVI. Then convert with TMPGenc. Never in this entire process does it become a WMV file. Those suck.
I dont like to render my vids 2 times
MBPs way step
1 cap & edit
2 render to dv avi
3 open tmpge rerender to dvd mpg2

My way
1 cap & edit
2 render to dvd mpg2
For a free program MM2 is fine for me i like to render once & move on.