noob looking for good editing software

[lordmajax]

I am looking for a software program that will let me substantially edit my recordings. I want to edit video captures by both dv and vhs. I was wondering what people use and is there a software program that is widely accepted to be one of the best? I like to create animated menus, chapters, and alot of other tasks. I will generally burn these vids to dvds.

[lordsmurf]

Adobe Premiere

[guns1inger]

Vegas 6

[lordmajax]

wow, these programs are listed as $700 and $500. How about something more affordable.

[edDV]

Descibe the type of editing, effects and filters you intend to use.
Also your method of capture.

Each program has pro/con

[reboot]

Vegas movie studio 4. (cheaper, yet functional)

[jimmalenko]

Animated menus and chapters are both features of your authoring tool, not your editing tool

I actually prefer the free AVISynth\VirtualdubMod combo for editing\filtering, as you can make all the changes you require then just load this script into your encoder, and there's no need for intermediate files or anything. You can pretty much use the one basic script for all your files, then just tweak your filter settings to taste, and let VirtualdubMod automatically insert the trim commands for you based on where you set your in and out points.

I get the feeling your definition of "good editing software" is much different to the resident Pro's here ... and given that you never specified a price range to start with, one can forgive them for ponying up with the big guns.

[guns1inger]

HE asked for software that was widely accepted as being the best, not what was affordable. He ask, we answered. He should have asked the question he wanted the answer to, not the one he did.

[lordsmurf]

wow, these programs are listed as $700 and $500. How about something more affordable.

How about reading more? The limited versions of these programs (Elements) is only $100 or so. And the full ones need not costs more than $200-300 on sale, academic, clearance, wholesale. Even less if you buy used off eBay.

And then, you ask about "editing" and then go on to talk about authoring. So what are you wanting to do? Edit or author?

[lordmajax]

Well, okay. I'm a noob at all this. I put noob in my title. I'm not a computer enthusiast so I don't have hours and hours to look over these programs. I don't know the difference between editing and authoring. I need a widely used program that the majority of people could afford. I don't want to have to have a phd to use the program. I need to create an animated menu using pictures from the actual dvd or or a short clip as the menu background. I also would like to create different size fonts and colors of the titles. I have Nero 6 and it leaves alot to be desired. I will be taking a couple of vhs tapes and merging them into one dvd so I will need to create chapters. I'm going to be buying a video converter kit. Hopefully I can use another software to edit the short clips and then burn them.

[mwkurt]

Try Pinnacle Studio 9...Don't go past rev. 9.3.5. It seems to be able to do what you need and won't cost you an arm and a leg.
Mark

[Richard_G]

What you are looking for is a simple DVD authoring package that allows simple edits, not editing software at all. If you want something that will give perfectly acceptable results but at the same time is easy to use, try downloading the 30 day free trial of Ulead DVD MovieFactory from www.ulead.com.

As you are running Windows XP, you already have (or can download) Windows Movie Maker 2 on your machine. That will do any prior editing of footage that you have captured.

[lordmajax]

Richard_G thanks for your post. That was great information that I bet will be helpful to alot of people. I will probably purchase Ulead. Movie maker is okay also.

[FSCfilm]

definately Pinnacle studio 9, very simple yet full of great features and user friendly options. Perfect for a first time non-linear editor.

[BJ_M]

Vegas movie studio 4.

most stable of any of the apps listed so far for oen thing, another it is a great app