Movie editing software - recomendations please

[macattak1]

Hi. Sorry so long. I know some of you are just cringing at this nebulous question. But please bear with me. I have spent hours just finding this site... If I missed a link to comparos or something please let me know. That is what I would really like!

I found one review that covers about 10 apps and is actually from this decade. This is from at http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ However, I am not sure of their policy, ulterior motives, etc. But it did help...make me more confused.

So, I want to:
Move about 20+ High and Super 8 tapes to DVD.
Spend a little money. <$100
Not burn up a lot of my own time importing, editing out, converting, burning.
Would like one program that does it all well, but am fine with two.
Might as well have HD for future.
Want high resolution capability. I.e. am hearing that Vegas now has limited resolution?

I have worked with Vegas 7 some and made one DVD and turned out fine. But that was trial and now time to pay for something. I can go free, but there are enough opinions on pay for sw let alone all the opinions on free stuff.

I will not start out being some editing maniac. However, I would like an app that will allow me to do some decent editing.

So, PowerDirector, Premiere, Pinnicle, Vegas, what?

Would really appreciate any help, opinions, comparisons, etc. My inclination is to jump on Vegas 7 or 8. But the resolution issue concerns me. PowerDirector sounds good.

WinXP Sp2
e6750
4 gigs ram (3.5)
8800 GTS 320

Thanks

Peace and Blessings

[guns1inger]

Vegas 7 is HD compatible, but you wont get it for under $100. Movie Studio Platinum also does HD and retails for US$119, so street price is probably well under $100.

If you really want to minimise the amount of encoding and editing then just get a DVD Recorder with a HDD and encode and edit there. It is far faster than doing on a PC. If you take the PC route you will have the capture time, which is real-time, edit time, rendering time, and authoring time. You will have much greater control over the finished product, and it will most likely be of much higher quality, but it will take many times longer.

As for the site : I would take what is says with a grain of salt. It has no credibility.

[macattak1]

NewEgg has Vegas 8+ DVD Platinum for $95 +$5 shipping. Which would you rather have? Any info on resolution or quality limitations?

Thanks.

[macattak1]

I have looked at the set top boxes. But I do have more editing to do than that. And I do want the best quality I can get via my PC that I just built and some decent software.

If I spend $300 or so on a set top box my wife will ask me why I built a new computer while holding a frying pan behind her back...

Peace and Blessings

[guns1inger]

Vegas Movie Studio 8 info : http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=447

I use Vegas, so this is the way I would go. Premiere Elements would also be worth considering, however if you have Vegas experience then this should be easy to pick up.

[Bjs]

Under $100

DVD MovieFactory 6 Plus... http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

Or

Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus ... http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm
(includes , Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound tracks creation)

Check on pc specs for HD editing