Any recommendations for video editing software?

[Ravioli]

I need some recommendations for a good video editing software! Doesnt have to be the best out there, but something simple yet good and stable. Im not going to do uber crazy videos with effects etc, just doing a simple video with text and images and music. It must include the option to put slides with fading text in! A plus if its free too so i dont have to go through tons of shit (you know what i mean) to get it.


thanks

 

[Qonfused]

I use Sony Vegas. Free trial.

 

[Asus]

Are you editing AVI/DV files or MPEG/MPEG2?

 

[Ravioli]

im not really editing, im not using any video/filmed material at all, im only gona do slides/pictures with text play with music, maybe some slight effects.

i dont know about format, as long as i can upload to upload

 

[Fliko]

Windows Movie Maker is your best bet if you want something simple

 

[Ravioli]

i know, thats what i used originaly but i needed to make some of the clips very short but the limit of how short a clip can be is limited in movie maker, which is why i need a new program.

How do i make clips fade in and out in vegas?

 

[Asus]

If you are editing (cutting frames, modifying frames with TEXT, zooming, fading etc) as an AVI and maybe encoding to MPEG later if going to DVD (preferred method) then this is not an issue. But if your file is already MPEG then see below.

The format might matter because most editors are just for AVI/DV material. With AVI files each frame has all the information it needs to display as a still picture. But MPEG files are 'streaming' meaning that they use data from previous frames to construct part of the still if you are paused (I,P,B frames). A lot of programs don't know how to cut/adjust MPG frames without causing issues (I think a proper program will only cut on I frames). I'm not sure if Vegas does. I would hope so since it is priced over $50. I know Womble's MPEG Video Wizard works well because that is what I use.

 

[Ennui]

Premiere is complicated and expensive but if you take about a day to get the basics down there's really nothing you can't do with it.