Adobe Premiere doesn't support MPG files-which program does?

[LovE-RicH]

I'm looking for a program for editing MPG videos, with which I can:
1. cut/join video
2. edit the audio, add background music...

I have Adobe Premiere and it has all I need, but it doesn't support mpg files - I'd have to convert them to avi, and that way I'd loose some video quality, right?

So which program should I use?
Thanks!

[trickyman]

MPG is an extremely compressed video format; it's not good for editing. Try converting the MPG to AVI first then importing it to Premiere for editing.

[LovE-RicH]

I see. OK, if mpg is not good for video-editing, could someone tell me if there's a good program for editing just the AUDIO in MPG movies? Like adding background music, etc...?

[freestyler]

Vegas is good at editing Mpegs

[aanaravs]

Actually, if you want to edit MPEG and have no way around it, there is a plugin that Main Concept offers for editing MPEG videos.

[qlizard]

Actually, if you want to edit MPEG and have no way around it, there is a plugin that Main Concept offers for editing MPEG videos.

To clarify, this is a plug-in for premiere and it works pretty well. Its called mpeg pro. Also the ulead products (Mediastudio, videostudio) are relatively good at editing mpeg and don't re-encode the video material unless you make a change to the video itself. And if you do, it only re-encodes that particular section.

[LovE-RicH]

Got a link to download this plug in?

EDIT: Nevermind, I found it!

[lordsmurf]

Womble MPEG VCR is an MPEG editor.
But MPEG is not a great editing format. Capture AVI for editing.

BTW, splicing is not editing:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/edit/mpeg2vcr/mpeg2vcr.htm

[junkmalle]

Womble MPEG Video Wizard can cut/paste MPEG without reencoding.

Ulead Media Studio Pro can mix audio without reencoding the video. I think Ulead Video Studio has this abiltity too.

[Muppet Meat]

Try upgrading Premiere. Premiere Pro 1.5 is the one you want. Mpeg2Schnitt is a freeware MPEG editor.
You should always edit the AVI before the footage is compressed to MPEG.

[freestyler]

The MPEG Pro plugin works well but it's quite a bit of money ($250 US)

[LovE-RicH]

Damn, I have Adobe Premiere 6.0, so the MPEG PRO plug-in doesn't work for me!
I'll try MPEG VCR. Thanks everyone.

[Cornucopia]

No, no, no...

If you have to edit MPEG video (hopefully you shouldn't), one of the best ways to go--and also free--is Cuttermaran. It's worked great for me. It can cuts/trims, inserts/merges/assembles,etc. Doesn't seem to lose audio sync either. Only downside is the need to demux beforehand, and remux afterward. TMPGEnc or something will take care of that, but hopefully, it'll get that feature at some future date.

HTH,
Scott

>>>>>>>>>>>>
edit: Sorry, I just noticed that you asked about adding background music. It can't do that. but if you edit it down and know what the final length is, you can always create a backgrouond track in your fav audio editor, save it as WAV, encode it to mp2 with TMPGEnc, and then mux it with the edited video. Sounds like a lot of steps, but it isn't really. (you'd have to accomplish those same steps anyway, just maybe from 1 or 2 apps instead of more.