Trying to decide on what video software to use

[Rubystars]

Hi, I have ever only used windows movie maker in the past and so I really don't know what kind of video editing software to get.

I want to be able to do the kind of layering that I see in this video during the lip synch parts where they have a character cut out and talking while another video is playing as the background:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB92K56U1Vo

What programs would let me do that kind of effect?

[budwzr]

Yeah, that's a good example of how to use everybody elses work to aggrandize yourself.

[Rubystars]

I don't understand why you would say that! I'm giving an example of the kind of effect I'd like to be able to do (the layering) so people know what I'm talking about. The video obviously isn't mine or I wouldn't be asking what kind of program can produce that kind of effect. I'm inspired by it and would like to make something of my own with a similar type effect.

I have never used anything but windows movie maker and I don't know what type of software to get. How is this a bad question?

[Des]

Rubystars,

You want to look at video editors that will allow 2 or more video tracks. The Sony Vegas line allows 4 or more tracks -pending your budget.
Adobe Premier, Magix Movie Edit, and I'm sure many others. Been a while since I've done editing that required layers; I'm sure others can give you more solid advice and direction.

--dES

[Rubystars]

Thank you Des! It looks like in addition to having more than one track they also cut out the part of the video around the character somehow. Like just the character is there talking. I had an image in my head of taking a video of someone talking and putting them over a different background too. Like for example having someone stand there and tell a joke about something and then have a video behind them illustrating it while they tell the joke in the foreground.

[lowellriggsiam]

You might try Sony Movie Studio HD. You can give it a test drive by downloading the demo. It's a fairly easy to use linear timeline editor. Here's a picture of the interface.

[edDV]

The hard part was pulling mattes (aka Alpha) to set the transparency and edge characteristics for each layer (except the lowest).

Next most difficult is animating the layer motion to properly reveal the background elements.

The compositing requires 3-4 layers for that example if done in one pass but 2 layer compositing adds one new layer each pass.

Nothing there that couldn't be done in Vegas Pro, Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. Simpler effects could be done in Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 10 but you would need more creative use of limited layers and FX moves.

[Rubystars]

Thank you both for your suggestions. I appreciate it a lot and I'll be looking at reviews of the different products you mentioned.

[budwzr]

The hard part was pulling mattes (aka Alpha) to set the transparency and edge characteristics for each layer (except the lowest).

What they did was snap stills and take them into a paint program to cut out into PNG's. Cartoons are very easy to trace because they're mostly solid colors with high contrast and sharp edges. For the "lip-sync" you only need the ones that have lip movement, maybe 2-3.

The transitions, Ken Burns Effect, track motion, etc. are standard fare. Like you said, Vegas MovieStudio.

The work is very good, and certainly not an amateur.

[Rubystars]

Thank you