Cinelerra compile/installation advice/help?

[oldcpu]

I want to install and use an Open Source non-Linear Editor on my Linux PC, and from what I have read "Cinelerra" may currently be one of the most capable (open source) NLE packages for Linux. Unfortunately, when I investigated what I needed to do to install, I discovered the "recommended" variant of "Cinelerra" (more stable, with most features) is a CVS version, of which I have no idea how to install. [Its unusual a CVS version is more stable].

Tarballs for the non-CVS variant are available from the standard Cinelerra page:
http://heroinewarrior.com/cinelerra.php3/

The software "fork" CVS Cinelerra web page URL is here (where there is also a strange CVS download page):
http://cvs.cinelerra.org/

I am running SuSE-9.3 (and there are no precompiled SuSE-9.3 rpms that I could find for cinelerra-2.0).

Please and suggestions on how to go about learning how to download and install a CVS version? ... I do not see standard tarballs on the CVS site's web page (for ./configure, make and make install) so I am at a complete loss on how to proceed.

[oldcpu]

I eventually figured the CVS out. .... But I'm still struggling to install Cinelerra. ... Basically the typical dependency complications, where one gets about 3 to 4 levels deep in sorting out dependancies, only to find one has to remove some package that one would rather keep. In my case I have to remove my current versions of audacity and vlc if I want to install Cinelerra. ... I can always try to re-install/compile audacity/vlc (after I get Cinelerra intalled and the dependencies sorted) but I can see this will be painful.

[oldcpu]

I gave up on compiling Cinelerra on my SuSE-9.3. Too many dependencies to resolve, and I didn't like the compromises associated with the dependencies. I've wasted far to much time on this, so I am going to shelve this project, at least for a while. Maybe I'll try again in a few months, IF I upgrade to SuSE-10.0.

[oldcpu]

I gave up on compiling Cinelerra on my SuSE-9.3. Too many dependencies to resolve, and I didn't like the compromises associated with the dependencies.

I decided to try a different approach. ... This time download a Live CD that has Cinelerra installed, and play with it on the LiveCD. Then if I decide I like it, I may try again to install.

I read that Cinelerra is on the "dynabolic Live CD", and I am downloading that live CD now.

I also downloaded Mediain Linux Live CD (debian based). It has Jahshaka-1.9, kino-0.75, Step Motion (2005 version), but does not have Cinelerra. I had previously determined that "Kino" insists on input files being DV format (from a camcorder). I didn't have any luck with "Jahshaka", and it is possible that it too requires input files being in DV format.

I want a NLE (non-linear video editor) that will edit the small movie clips from my Digita still camera.

There was a version of LiVES on Mediain Linux, although since Mediaian linux does not have mplayer installed, I am not sure how useful that LiVES installation is. ... But I have LiVES already installed on my SuSE-9.3, so I do not need to rely on a Live CD to check out LiVES.

[oldcpu]

I read that Cinelerra is on the "dynabolic Live CD", and I am downloading that live CD now.

My PC boots ok to the dynabolic live CD. The packages on that CD aren't "state of art", but they are functional. Packages include:
- cinelerra v. ???
- LiVES-0.9.1
- avidemux-2.0.22
- JahShaka-1.9
- kino-0.6.5
- transcode
- ffmpeg
- audacity-1.2.2
- ReZound-0.11-beta
plus many other packages.
http://www.dynebolic.org/
Playing with such a live CD is a good way, I think, to get experience with a package, before going through dependency "hell" to install it on one's own PC's distribution.

[oldcpu]

I decided to try a different approach. ... This time download a Live CD that has Cinelerra installed, and play with it on the LiveCD. Then if I decide I like it, I may try again to install.

I read that Cinelerra is on the "dynabolic Live CD", and I am downloading that live CD now.

Another live CD (for video editing) I read about is pho. It can be found on:
http://garbure.org/pho/

[BabaG]

you might want to look into kdenlive for the kde desktop. it's got a
nice interface, similar to cinelerra but possibly a bit more user
friendly on the install.

jahshaka is still in its most rudimentary stages. i've never had much
luck with it. i believe, however, that where it is most functional is in
the area of animating and manipulating stills into a movie sequence.

BabaG

[oldcpu]

you might want to look into kdenlive for the kde desktop. it's got a nice interface, similar to cinelerra but possibly a bit more user friendly on the install.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried kdenlive, but it would not accept the input format of my digital still camera. I also could not figure out if there was a format that I could convert the .avi video file (from my digital still camera) to that kdenlive would accept.

jahshaka is still in its most rudimentary stages. i've never had much
luck with it. i believe, however, that where it is most functional is in
the area of animating and manipulating stills into a movie sequence.

I took a small look at Jahshaka on a couple of different Live CD's that specialize in multimedia (pho and dynabolic). It appears to me that Jahshaka might only accept DV format. It definitely does not like the video format from my Canon digital still camera.

I am think LiVES and Cinelerra may be my best bet. .... I have LiVES installed on my SuSE-9.3, and I can run a rather old version of Cinelerra from the Live CDs that I mentioned. Both LiVES and Cinelerra will accept the Canon .avi digital still camera video format. However it looks like the learning curve for both packages could be steep.