which video files for capturing

[MI6]

I have some questions about capturing and editing video files.
The main question is: Which video file I have to use when I am editing video files with some of video editing programs (Adobe premiere, Pinnacle..), AVI or MPEG 2 files???.When I am capturing with Premiere or Pinnacle, AVI is the only file that’s rendering in my computer.
When I want to cut some AVI file in more small parts, it takes too much time comparing with MPEG 2 files. For example when I cut some AVI clip about 3 min long, from AVI file( using VIRTUAL DUB) I go to “save as AVI“ , but it takes about 3-4 min on P IV, 1,7 GHz.At the other hand, when I cut the same clip but now working with MPEG 2 file, (with WOMBLE MPEG VCR EDITOR) it takes about 9-10 seconds which is much shorter.The friend told me that only the AVI file is good enough for video editing, (adding text, transitions, filters, music…) and later rendering the same file to MPEG file.But that request a lot of HDD capacity against MPEG 2 capturing. I usually work with INTER VIDEO WIN DVD RECORDER 5, capturing directly in MPEG 2 format (720x576) an the file is not bad. So, once again: Is there some good advantages when capturing video from camera in AVI format and later editing the same.
Best regards,
Zdravko, Macedonia.

[gshelley61]

AVI is definitely preferable for more complex editing jobs that will involve advanced transitions, narration, adding music, still photos, graphics, etc.

If you are doing simple cut and join splicing (no fade ins or outs, even), not adding any music, narration, graphics, or photos (basically just trimming and assembling the video)... then MPEG2 can be used. However, you will need a MPEG2 editor that does not re-encode (Womble MPEG Video Wizard, for example). Then you can author the edited MPEG2 with TMPGEnc DVD Author or another authoring program.

The key with using MPEG2 as a source is to avoid re-encoding... it usually results in significant loss of video image quality if you re-encode.