New to Was Editor

[HoosierGuy]

I've been playing around the last few days with the Wax editor. I want to study editing and practice editing film and video. Right now I'm trying to use the video I've taken over the years with my digi cams and now iTouch4.

I know you have to convert all files to AVI. Whenever I convert my videos with Format Factory I can get the video to load on Wax but it's choppy. It's not smooth. What's the reason for this? I assume I can adjust something but I don't know what. The video I'm trying to edit is video from an iTouch4 and also Sony Cyber-shot 10.1 mega pixel. I know these are not great video shooters but before I invest in a nice camera and possibly take an editing class in college I want to start playing with the video I have now.

I've also downloaded a pay program, Aneesoft Video converter. It's a trail download. I can load smooth video with that but for some reason Wax does not pick up the audio.

Finally, is Wax past it's time? If want to learn hardcore editing is there something better to start out with besides Wax? I would be willing to pay one hundred dollars or so. I know the top of the line is the Apple Final Cut Pro and that is my goal this summer but now in the winter I want to study the basics while I read some editing books.

Thanks!

[budwzr]

There are two great books to read:

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Science-Digital-Compositing-Second/dp/0123706386/ref=sr_1_1?...5820714&sr=8-1

And

http://www.amazon.com/Filmmakers-Handbook-Comprehensive-Guide-Digital/dp/0452286786/re...5820809&sr=8-1

Both of these are software neutral and you need to get some of the concepts down before investing in software, and you're doing the right thing to experiment with stuff you already have.

Sorry I can't help with the other question, I'm not familiar.

[HoosierGuy]

Thanks for that. I'll check them out.

So am I correct that video editing requires heavy PC power? I have a dell laptop with a 1.6ghz processor and 1gb of ram. Do you think that could run
the Adobe Elements video editing software?

[HoosierGuy]

How complex is the "The Art and Science of Digital Compositing" book? I don't have a degree in computers or anything like that. Is it understandable for a newbie?

[guns1inger]

The first thing I would say is that Wax is not an editor in the same way that After effects is not an editor. Yes, you can use it to string a series of clips together, and it can do transitions, but it was built first and foremost as a compositor and basic effects package.

Final Cut Pro is just one of the higher end packages, but it is not necessarily "the best". You also have to factor into the cost of FCP all the hardware, as it will only run on an Apple computer. Anything you can do in FCP you can also do in Premiere Pro, Vegas Pro or Edius, amongst others.

Yes, editing requires reasonable amount of CPU, however you can do a lot with a little if your needs are modest. For example, HD requires a lot more grunt than SD. If you are working with standard definition footage you can get away with less CPU. If you don't require realt-time preview of complex effects you don't need as much CPU. If you are willing to wait a little longer for your final video to render . . . You get the idea. The less power you have, the more compromises you have to make. Your bigger issue is RAM, or rather the lack of. If you are running Windows XP you might get away with elements or videostudio from corel. If you can add another GB or 2 that would be better.

[budwzr]

How complex is the "The Art and Science of Digital Compositing" book? I don't have a degree in computers or anything like that. Is it understandable for a newbie?

You can read samples at Amazon, but it's not technical, neither is the other book. The compositing book covers concepts that help you to see better, and what works and doesn't from a creative perspective.

Look at the Table Of Contents, and see if anything looks interesting. If not, don't buy it.