Easiest basic editing program for mpeg 1 and wmv files

[Milepost]

I'm looking for something like VirtualDub that will work on Mpeg 1 and wmv files. I want to be able to do very quick editing (just chopping out sections) without re-encoding. Thanks to this board I was steered to VirtualDub for avi files which is perfect for what I want.

I know so little about this subject that I even wonder if mpeg 1 and wmv can be done as easily as avi files?

Anyway, I'm hoping you knowledgeable types can set me straight.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Krispy Kritter]

For wmv you will most likely need to work with WMM or WME.

[gadgetguy]

cuttermaran works with mpeg1 and when coupled with QuEnc or TMPGEnc allows frame accurate cutting with minimal re-encoding.

[mats.hogberg]

For wmv you will most likely need to work with WMM or WME.

I'm under the impression that WMM will reencode it all?

Some versions of VirtualDub (latest VirtualDubMpeg2?) works with wmv (and mpg1) - but as it still only saves as AVI, reencoding is unavoidable.

/Mats

[NightFire]

cuttermaran works with mpeg1 and when coupled with QuEnc or TMPGEnc allows frame accurate cutting with minimal re-encoding.

I was under the impression that Cuttermaran doesn't re-encode at all. I haven't used it for MPEG1 but for MPEG2 it is very good (I am sure it's the same for both).

[Milepost]

I've downloaded Cuttermaran and tried to load a clip. On VirtualDub I just use windows explorer and drag the file onto the screen and it loads. I've tried that with Cuttermaran and all it shows is a circle with a line across it (in other words won't load it that way).

I tried help in Cuttermaran but the website it took me to was in German. I must be doing something wrong. By the way it is version 1.68.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I want to give Cuttermaran a try and see if it will work as well on mpeg 1 as VirtualDub does on avi.

Thanks again.

[gadgetguy]

Cuttermaran doesn't re-encode at all if used in non-encode mode, but you can only edit start frames on I frames and end frames on P or I frames. If you want frame accurate editing you need to use encode mode, but it will only encode the few frames required at edit points.

Cuttermaran requires elementary streams so you have to demux your file first. I use ProjectX for this.
Edit: You can also demux using TMPGEnc Mpeg tools Simple Demux.

[Scorpion King]

I can't think of a single application that can direct stream copy WMV, or better said, I don't have one....

MPEG1 is another story. There are many available solutions like Ulead VideoStudio (my favorite).

Good luck.

[Soopafresh]

asfbin - a good one for WMV