Please advise me what software to use.. (editing DV)

[TheGame7]

Hi there,

I think this is the most appropriate forum for this question..

I am not sure what software to use to take my raw .avi file that I have got onto the PC from my camcorder (or VHS or sattelite TV) using the Canopus ADVC-55 (Analogue to Digital Convertor) and then to some simple editing.

The type of editing I need to do is deleting bits out, cutting and pasting in different places, i.e. changing the order of selections and as a bonus add graphics too be it a JPEG created in photoshop or some text. And how about a running clock, can that be implemented somehow for football games?

I have tried Avid at college but its far too advanced and complicated for my needs and I guess Adobe Premiere is a bit too advanced too.

Any other suggestions, or is Premiere the best one for home use for something as simple as what I need to do?

Thanks.

TheGame7

[redwudz]

VirtualDub is a simple editor for DV. You need a DV codec such as the Panasonic DV codec. You can also frameserve the edited version to a MPEG encoder such as TMPGEnc without making an intermediate copy. Saves on disk space.

[TheGame7]

Does Virtual Dub allow me to cut away or move around at frame rate?

And can I add graphics to a good standard, e.g. create a banner in photoshop and have it appear on screen?

How about fade in on screen, or is that asking too much?

[edDV]

If virtualdub isn't enough of an editor for you, ...

Any of the "basic" $99 list (considerably less street) commercial suite programs will do that including graphic overlay. All have demos. Listed in order of my preference.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Ulead Video Studio
Adobe Premiere Elements
Pinnacle Studio

[vhelp]

VirtualDUB.. is a basic and easy editor for simple edits.. cutting; joining;
frame frate change; IVTC; and a few others.

CON:
After the above basic editing features.. you are subjectly limited by
the availability of future filters (aka, add-ons)

AVIsynth.. is another basic *streaming* type editer. What I mean is, it
is not WYSIWYG output, but requires a frameserved-to-editor for output.
If your basic need is to encode your source, w/out filtering it, you
can frameserve AVIsynth scripts (*.avs) files directly into your encoder
of choise. Most people use vdub/virtualDUB with AVIsynth scripts to see
the results of there edits.

However, if this is all new to you, and you do not have the time to go
through another learning process w/ AVIsynth scripting, you can just use
vdub/virtualDUB for your basic needs.. and frameserve it to your encoder.

CON:
You have to frameserve it into an editor like window (ie, vdub / virtualDUB)
in order to see the edited (or non-edited) video images. You are also
subjectly limited by the availability of future filters (aka, add-ons)
but, you can manage your own filters through it's Filter Function engine.
There, you can create filter Functions that do the same things as external
filters (OKA, *.dll files) But, this requires some programming background
and ongoing at that. If you are not a programming (including a scripgrammer)
you might not find it so easy an editor.

Everything you asked for (thus far) can be included in both vdub/virtualDUB
and AVIsynth with a little tweaking on your own (aka, scripting/programming)

If that is not your forte, you can look into those all-in-one packages that
include various features (like those you mentioned above)

Note, the CON is what I feel is something you would conclude, as a newbie.
It does not necessarily mean it is a CON (or, negative)

-vhelp 3510

[TheGame7]

Another question:

Is SONY Vegas Movie Studio the way to go then if I want to edit mpeg 2 files (which I have encoded from my DV camera via my standalone DVD recorder, i.e. encoding on the fly via hardware to save time). For example, home videos - which to which I want to add music to the background and add some text or graphics on top as you said is possible.

However, then how do I save the video? Must I encode the whole thing again? And how does it deal with this new sound?

If that is the case, is it best to just stick with raw avis?

[edDV]

Another question:

Is SONY Vegas Movie Studio the way to go then if I want to edit mpeg 2 files (which I have encoded from my DV camera via my standalone DVD recorder, i.e. encoding on the fly via hardware to save time). For example, home videos - which to which I want to add music to the background and add some text or graphics on top as you said is possible.

No, it can be done but with considerable compromise.
I hope you didn't erase the DV originals. To salvage what you have, use a MPeg2 editor like http://www.womble.com/

However, then how do I save the video? Must I encode the whole thing again? And how does it deal with this new sound?

Yes
With difficulty

If that is the case, is it best to just stick with raw avis?

No, it is best to stick with DV format. Go back and start over.

Since your goal is effects and audio editing, you should be working in DV format. Go back and transfer-capture your DV tapes (or analog material) to DV-AVI with WinDv or another program.

Then use a program like Sony Vegas Movie studio to edit, composite and audio process. Only when you are done, encode to DVD.

DVD is your lowest common denominator "release print". Do all your work before going to DVD.

[Mister Flonk-Flonk]

Expanding on AviSynth a bit...

This may or may not be a little much to grasp for a beginner, but may be useful for anyone lurking and kicking around the idea of using AviSynth for stuff like this. Feel free to pile on or pick apart if I omit anything critical or feed ya some bum dope.

Anyways, here goes...


Install AviSynth.
Download and install VirtualDubMod.
Create a new .AVS script -

Open a new text document with notepad in Windows containing the following line:

AviSource("your_clip_here.avi")

Then save as "whatever.avs". Select "All files" from the 'Save as type' drop-down menu in the save file dialog box.

Now load this .AVS file you've created into VirtualDubMod. Go ahead and make all the scene chops using the controls in VirtualDubMod like you would normally do if using the AVI itself for source. After you've finished, press CTRL + E to open the built-in script editor in VirtualDubMod. Next, press CTRL + I to import the framesets you've selected/edited as trims.

Your script should now look something like this:

AviSource("your_clip_here.avi")
Trim(2951,13424) ++ Trim(16275,19275) ++ Trim(21326,25026) ++
Trim(28427,30777) ++ Trim(33728,145405) ++ Trim(170349,203699) ++
Trim(222758,334232) ++ Trim(348275,366441)

Next hit the F5 key to refresh and save changes made to your script.

Creating a script like this is useful for a number of reasons. You can use the thing as-is and feed it to an encoder (aka 'frameserving') and encode the entire clip, along with any filters you may add and apply to your script. Or you can use the frameset information to create other scripts to do individual segments of your source one part at a time.

Simple transitions like fades are a snap with an .AVS script as well.

Join two clips with fades in and out of each clip...

AviSource("clip1.avi")FadeIn(30).FadeOut(30)+AviSo urce("clip2.avi").FadeIn(30).FadeOut(30)

The number in parenthesis (30) denotes the number of frames the fade will span, so enter whatever works for you. Audio volume fades in and out with the video.

You can preview your edits in real time, depending on your hardware. If you have a slower PC playback may stutter, but the changes can be viewed frame by frame in an editor like VirtualDubMod.

[TheGame7]

OK, so I guess the time saving idea of using my standalone DVD recorder to encode is out of the question.

But at least it still suffices for when I am just recording a tv show for archive and then just use TMPGEnc Editor to cut away advertises - resulting in limited encoding to just where I make cuts. And then its a case of authoring a DVD for it, be it with menus or without.

Thanks for informing me (and by avi, I meant DV - my bad ) and I will stick to using raw DV format, editing then the long software encode when dealing with home videos which require the music and text.

Cheers.

TheGame7