OPINIONS NEEDED: Best Editing Software for Business?

[bek]

Hello.

I work for state government and have just been invited to be on a new DVD Authoring team! Nobody has experience with authoring except for me, and I don't actually do any cutting/joining/editing type stuff, so we're pretty much all beginners.

They need an all-in-one editing solution for the PC platform. Does anyone have any recommendations? Employees would be learning as we go, so the easier the better, yet the package will have to be powerful. The budget crunch means that we can't buy different software in a year when we know what we're doing.

Thanks in advance for any help!

-Brian

[daamon]

Hi bek,

Lucky break...!!!

Here's my opinion / experience (not used anyhting else though...):

I started from zero using Adobe Premiere 6.0 (I think 6.5 is the latest, as well as there being a "Pro" - check out the website). I believe it's considered to be one of the top-end editing applications on the market.

I dabbled and explored the app to the point where I can do what I need to and am happy using it - though there's more that I want to learn. It's powerful, but fairly intuitive if you've got "that" kinda mind.

I've also bought a book that is a comprehensive guide, easy to read but not too simplistic. I'll post the ISBN number & title when I get home tonight.

A good website for info and forums is http://www.wrigleyvideo.com.

I'd say if you can cope with a steep-ish initial learning curve, it'll fit the bill and produce great things in time and you won't need to buy again later.

Cost: US$700 (I think) - I don't know how that fits your budget. I've seen people say you can get 6.0 on eBay for US$100.

Hope that helps...

[The village idiot]

While premier is a good editor, it has a cumbersome user interface and fairly steep learning curve. I would recommend Sony's Vegas Video for PC, Final Cut pro for Mac, and if you want steep learning curve and difficult but so called "industry standard" user interface, you could look toward Avid, but it would be my last choice. Also you could buy a DPS Velocity system, which will fall into the same price range as a good Avid. You can also get by with a much more lightweight editor like Editstudio for more than about 90% of your work, especially if you will be working with the DV format.

For Apple, FinalCut pro is a very good choice.

For authoring you will want something that will make real professional looking DVD's, So for PC check out Ulead DVD workshop, the Vegas DVD authoring "pluggin" or another that I can't remember its name. For Mac DVD Studio pro is the one you want, and it works seamlessly with FinalCut pro. If you want to experiment a little more you could use DVDLab, or even the freeware tools to author you DVD's, but there will of course be trade offs in workflow.

In addition to the video software you will want a good photo editing program like Photoshop, and may want some 3D animation software, like Boris Red.

For a "One stop shop" Apple would be a good choice with a G5 Dual processor, FinalCut and DVD Studio pro.

Look at places like B&H photo for complete packages.

[Ziffelpig]

Reel DVD LE for authoring(next best thing to Scenarist) and Ulead Media Studio for everything else.

[daamon]

Hi bek,

Book details as promised:

"Premiere 6 for Macintosh & Windows", written by Antony Bolante
Peachpit Press - http://www.peachpit.com
ISBN: 0 201 72207 0
Levels: Beginner (Y), Intermiediate (Y), Advanced (N)

[BJ_M]

i would exactly agree with "The village idiot" above ....

[bek]

That's great--thank, everybody! Yes, it is a lucky break for me. If things go well, I will get to learn more about video editing/authoring and get paid for it, too. Wahoo!

So to summarize, you guys would recommend these as the forerunners for the PC platform:

Sony Vegas Video
Adobe Premiere
Reel DVD LE
Avid (last choice)

If you guys think that's a good starting point, I'm going to start researching these tools and maybe try to get trial versions.

(For authoring, I lean towards DVD Workshop 2 or DVDLab (buggy from what I've seen), but am open for anything that's powerful and can output AC-3 audio, if anyone has other suggestions.)

Thanks again,
Brian

[walllh]

I am not sure what all will be required or what your budget is but you might want to look at the Video Toaster 3.

Most people think of the Video Toaster system as a high end box for video switching in a broadcast environment. You can buy the additional equipment for this but it can do eveything and more all of these other products can do.

Just a thought, but if the money is there I would at least set up some kind of demo with a company that is close by and can show it to you.

[bek]

I should also state--money is a factor, with the budget crunch and all. They will probably be able to swing a couple hundred dollars. The good news is that I think sources like Ebay may be acceptable, so maybe we'll be able to get software in that range that is decent.

[daamon]

Hi bek,

For authoring, TMPGEnc DVD Author is available on a fully functional 30-day free trial. I've found it useful as a good intro to authoring before moving onto more powerful tools like DVDLab.

Enjoy... ( With envy!!!)

[bek]

Thanks.

I tried TMPGEnc and while it provided basic functionality, I didn't care for the limitations. The managers at work would cut me to ribbons if I recommended a product that was so limited. Whatever product we decide upon, we'll probably end up using forever. I really liked DVDLab and would consider it a serious contender, except that it seemed kind of buggy. When I emailed the programmer, I'm not sure he believed my bug report. He couldn't reproduce it, but it happened consistently on my PC. Plus, I'm iffy on recommending a product written by one guy. Government is picky about having support people at their "beck and call", and about knowing the support/product will be around long term.

I may post a question later, something like "Premiere vs Vegas" just to narrow the scope a bit more.

Thanks for the advice, guys.
-Brian

[daamon]

I may post a question later, something like "Premiere vs Vegas"

Done recently:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205049

There may well be others in the same forum, or similar forums.

[bek]

That's great--thank you!

Btw, if we go Vegas, should we go Vegas 4 or Vegas + DVD?

[BJ_M]

vegas+dvd , you get the 5.1 EX ac3 encoder with it and its worth it for that alone

[Ziffelpig]

If you can afford Vegas Video you can afford to check out Reel DVD.

Drag & Drop Authoring
Drag & Drop linking of video and menu buttons
Built-in subtitle generator
Built-in real time previewing
ReelDVD supports unlimited menus and unlimited navigation options. The flow-chart-like storyboard editor allows you to visualize and implement even the most complex titles.
Add chapter points to allow quick access to different parts of the video clip
3 parallel audio tracks & 3 parallel subtitle tracks
Using the built in subtitle generator or import subtitle scripts
Built-in Dolby Digital AC-3 Encoder. Allows multiple audio formats to be used together. Convert PCM and MPEG audio over to Dolby Digital AC-3 Stereo.
Up to 999 stills, video, slide shows or still shows per project
Output to DVD-R, CD-R, hard disks or removable media
Use layered Photoshop files for menus (generates subpicture masks & menu buttons automatically)
Use 16:9 aspect ratio video for Widescreen playback
16 color palette for menu highlights and subtitles
Compatibility with Scenarist

[BJ_M]

Reel DVD is a good way to go for bussness, i agree (industry standard)--- but i should point out it has only a 2channel ac3 encoder - while vegas has 5.1 + EX -- may not be needed though for government - but nice to have ... doesnt add much to price. Also the DVDA from sony works just fine for not to complex projects that you can whip out real quick ..

so a good combo would be REEL DVD and Sony Vegas+DVDA

or

Final cut pro + DVD Studio pro

either of the above choices are used in gov. , schools , companies and for corporate and professional use all over the place ...

you really have to add on a transocder into the package -- you will find that most likely beta SP is a standard format that you will have -- so a canopus or laird or promax dv transcoder is a good thing -- or an onboard canopus dvrex (or something like it) -- you will quickly want timecode and 422 control if you have a BETA SP (promax has this) , if you work totally in DV (25 or mini) , deck control will be built in ..
if you have D5 or D-Beta or other formats -- generally you just send them out to get transfered to DV or Beta SP ..

get good hardware (meaning tape machines, firewire storage, PC, Etc ) and develop a good logging and database system RIGHT AWAY ...

good preconfigured editing machines (pc) are at BOXX , Laird , and a few other places --

[videoguys]

You have to break your solution into 2 parts.

1) Video Editing software
2) DVD Authoring

Vegas+DVD includes Vegas, a great NLE that is loaded with features and power. You get AC3 encoding and 5.1 surround sound. The DVD authroing software is good, but not great. It will get better over time.

ReelDVD is just authroing software. it will encode your audio to AC3, but not 5.1 surround. You can export filers from Vegas or premeire Pro that will work perfectly in ReelDVD.

Premeire Pro is a great NLE. You do have the option of AC3 encoding with 5.1 surround sound. This is a trila feature. after 3 times you have to buy the AC3 upgrade to continue using it. The best way to buy Premiere Pro is in a bundle. The ADS Pyro Professional includes a Pytro DV card, Premeire Pro, Encore DVD (Adobe's DVD authroing application) and Audition. AAn excellent value for around $500. With Premiere pro you also have the option of getting real-timne hardware accelerators like the MAtrox RTX100 or Canopus DV Storm.

Another option to consider is Pinnacle Liquid Edition. It has integrated DVD authoring from the timeline. It does not currntly support AC3 or 5.1 surround.

Avid Xpress Pro is going a bit higher end and considerably more expensive. It includes Reel DVD Le and Sorenson Sqeeze for encoding. Avid is the most powerful pure editor. When it comes to cutting, trimming, organizing and just good old fashion editing Avid is in a class by itself.

We've got lots of info on all these products on our website, including a comparison article of all 4. http://www.videoguys.com/RT5.html
I think you'll find this article very useful. Not only do I list the features I like best about each app, but I also list a couple I wish each one had.

Gary
Videoguys.com