Free (not demo) capture/edit/author solutions

[thejaquio]

I'm looking for software that will allow me to capture digital and analog video, edit, and then author to a DVD. The catch is that I need them to be completely free--not demo versions. I've outlined some features that would make the software more useful to me. Hopefully this could be a guide for others who are looking for similar solutions. What software do you recommend?

+Codecs:
-DV
-MPEG2
-Lossless video compressor (HuffYUV)
-3GP (cellular phone video)
-MJPEG

+Capture:
-Captures DV, VFW, DirectShow
-Captures to HuffYUV, DV, Uncompressed
-Segmented capture files
-Device control would be nice, but not required

+Trim/Tweak/Linear Editing:
-VirtualDub + AVISynth = perfect solution

+Image editor:
-Ability to import/output many image types, primarily lossless w/ alpha channel
-Basic selection, manipulation, and layer tools.
-Essentially a program to create graphical banners, logos, and text

+Animation editor:
-This isn't essential, but for the sake of completeness...
-Ability to compile simple animations from individual frame images.
-Create simple special effects for clips of video (similar to AfterEffects)

+Non-linear editor:
-Ability to import/output many codecs, primarily HuffYUV and DV
-Multi-track timeline (similar to Premiere)
-Unlink audio track and edit in/out separately from video
-Titles
-Simple compositing (external images/animations for banners, logos, etc.)
-Simple transitions (cross dissolve, fade, wipe, etc.)
-Simple audio editing (gain, EQ, normalization, etc.)

+Media Encoder:
-Ability to import many codecs, primarily HuffYUV and DV
-encode to DVD-compliant MPEG2, DV, WMV

+DVD Authoring:
-Create simple menus using external images/animations with custom buttons
-Add chapters to video
-Export to Folder, DVD image, or burn DVD

+DVD Burning:
-Burn DVD capable of playing in stand-alone players
-Burn from DVD image or folder structure

If this information has already been posted somewhere, feel free to scold me, but please provide a link. Thanks.

[JohnnyMalaria]

I'd start by reading all the How-To Guides etc on this web site. They are very useful - as are the specific discussion groups for specific tasks.

I'm curious though - you really expect to be able to do all that without spending a single penny? Seems odd that you would invest in the computer, the video equipment, the DVDs etc but not pay even a penny for any of the software tools you want.

[harley2ride]

While there are some pretty impressive free tools out there, you basically get what you pay for. Buy cheap, get cheap!

[thejaquio]

The thing is...it's not my money to spend. I am a media tech at a high school, and occasionally I am called upon to help with the students' CCTV news cast. There isn't a lot of extra cash floating around a school district, and I was hoping to see what my options are for free software. If it were up to me, I'd be using Premiere, AfterEffects and Encore. However, asking for $3000 in software tends to elicit a negative knee-jerk reaction.

I already use a few free programs (VirtualDub, AVISynth), but I was hoping to get opinions from those more familiar with what is available for other phases of production.

[JohnnyMalaria]

I am called upon to help with the students' CCTV news cast.

It might help if you can reduce your list of wants to a very specific set of must-haves for the CCTV news cast. Can you describe a typical scenario?

You may even ask the school to contact companies like Adobe and ask if they would be willing to sponsor the students' efforts by supplying free - or very heavily discounted - software.