i require an editing program...

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I would like to make a music video.
My audio source is a song which will be ripped from a cd (not like this rly matters...)
My video source should be several short clips from about six dvds.

Any recommendations for ... preferably free... software?

I'm sort of a n00b when it comes to editing, but if i can get my hands on a nice user-friendly program i'd be ready to G-O.

[guns1inger]

There a few different free methods to do this, but it depends in part of how complex the editing it going to be.

If it is simple appending (just adding clip 2 to clip 1 etc) until you get the rigfht length, then drop the audio over it in place of the original, virtualdubmod or virualdubmpeg2 can do it easily.

If it is more complex editing, with overlays etc., and you still want it to remain free, AvidDV Free might be an option. Convert the clips to DV using virtualdubmod and the Panasonic DV codec, then edit and add the audio. You may have to output as DV and convert it to something else later in virtualdubmod.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

It's probably not gonna be too complex. Just several short clips. Probably most of them being under 10sec. And I'm sure i'll make use of fade in/out which i can easily do in vdub. although since i'm sure there's going to be tons of short clips to be added, i'd prefer to use one that's specifically made for editing. I suppose vdub could do the job, but it's gonna require alot of.... hmm.

[guns1inger]

For a longer list of free editing options, start here

http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=256

[redwudz]

I use VirtualDub Mod for the video and Audacity for the audio, both freeware.

[ahhaa]

I'd recommend trying AvidFreeDV, because it has precise control of both video and the audio. This won't be your only project, will it? Avid has volume levels, slomo rendering, frame accurate inserts, and DV output as well as AVI. There are several more features that aren't available in any consumer level suite. Also, I'm guessing that it won't be available much longer, so the d/l might be worth it for the future. And... it doesn't conflict with Nero!

Be sure to view (& d/l) the Flash tutorials- they really help. Also MediaSift for Avid, which does for vid parts what Picassa does for stills.

http://www.avid.com/freedv/

[yoda313]

I would also recommend windows movie maker. It can take video and audio and mix it. It has fade options too. You get a timeline to work with. You have seperate lines for video and audio - it also lets you do a voice over track for a commentary like effect if you show wish. And wmv is a good platform for internet video. Though divx is probably more univseral.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I'd recommend trying AvidFreeDV, because it has precise control of both video and the audio. This won't be your only project, will it? Avid has volume levels, slomo rendering, frame accurate inserts, and DV output as well as AVI. There are several more features that aren't available in any consumer level suite. Also, I'm guessing that it won't be available much longer, so the d/l might be worth it for the future. And... it doesn't conflict with Nero!

Be sure to view (& d/l) the Flash tutorials- they really help. Also MediaSift for Avid, which does for vid parts what Picassa does for stills.

http://www.avid.com/freedv/

It probably won't be my only project. However, it does seem that it's probably the only one in the near future. There is one or two others I have in mind, but... yeah.
And according to videhelp's tool search, Avid Express DV (the non-free version) is $1000. Either that's a typo, or the free version has got to be extremely limited in comparison. Hopefully it will be able to get the job done. Basically all i need is combining clips, adding audio, and doing a few fade in/outs

[edDV]

I'd recommend trying AvidFreeDV, because it has precise control of both video and the audio. This won't be your only project, will it? Avid has volume levels, slomo rendering, frame accurate inserts, and DV output as well as AVI. There are several more features that aren't available in any consumer level suite. Also, I'm guessing that it won't be available much longer, so the d/l might be worth it for the future. And... it doesn't conflict with Nero!

Be sure to view (& d/l) the Flash tutorials- they really help. Also MediaSift for Avid, which does for vid parts what Picassa does for stills.

http://www.avid.com/freedv/

It probably won't be my only project. However, it does seem that it's probably the only one in the near future. There is one or two others I have in mind, but... yeah.
And according to videhelp's tool search, Avid Express DV (the non-free version) is $1000. Either that's a typo, or the free version has got to be extremely limited in comparison. Hopefully it will be able to get the job done. Basically all i need is combining clips, adding audio, and doing a few fade in/outs

AVid Free DV is effectively limited to DV format in and out and is targeted at movie style tight trim cuts editing. Not much there for audio other than uncompressed tracks. Make sure that is what you want.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I'd recommend trying AvidFreeDV, because it has precise control of both video and the audio. This won't be your only project, will it? Avid has volume levels, slomo rendering, frame accurate inserts, and DV output as well as AVI. There are several more features that aren't available in any consumer level suite. Also, I'm guessing that it won't be available much longer, so the d/l might be worth it for the future. And... it doesn't conflict with Nero!

Be sure to view (& d/l) the Flash tutorials- they really help. Also MediaSift for Avid, which does for vid parts what Picassa does for stills.

http://www.avid.com/freedv/

It probably won't be my only project. However, it does seem that it's probably the only one in the near future. There is one or two others I have in mind, but... yeah.
And according to videhelp's tool search, Avid Express DV (the non-free version) is $1000. Either that's a typo, or the free version has got to be extremely limited in comparison. Hopefully it will be able to get the job done. Basically all i need is combining clips, adding audio, and doing a few fade in/outs

AVid Free DV is effectively limited to DV format in and out and is targeted at movie style tight trim cuts editing. Not much there for audio other than uncompressed tracks. Make sure that is what you want.

DV format only, huh. probably not what i'm looking for then...