Video editing

[ShinRa]

I didn't know where else to turn than to the knowledgable hl2.net forum goers. I'm determined to advance my skills in movie making, and I'm under-taking a huge project, choreographing fight scenes, dialogue, murder scenes, etc etc. However, I know that windows movie maker wont make the cut this time around like ive been able to skate by with it before.

This movie is going to have alot of sounds, effects, transitions, etc etc, and I need a decent program to edit all of this with. Ive tried pinnacle, ulead, and sony vegas and i either cant get into them or they just run like SHIT on my computer, which is an amd fx-57, x1900xt, 2gig xms ram, etc.

o im curious, how big is the learning curve for adobe premiere? its seems overwhelming and complicated, but is it something i can dig my hands into a learn little by little? or do i need to take classes and get books for it? and if not adobe premiere, does anyone have any other program suggestions for editing videos at an amateur-semi professional level? thanks in advance!

 

[Shasta]

Sony Vegas. It's very intuitive, and there are heaps of sites with tutorials on them to help you learn all sorts of tricks you might not have learned by experimenting. Also, there are heaps of free plugins and effects floating around out there for it.

 

[Stigmata]

If you can get your hands on a Mac somehow, Final Cut Pro is ridiculously intuitive, save for about four little things I'd change.

Otherwise, Sony Vegas. It's the closest to Final Cut's awesomeness that I've seen on a Windows machine.

 

[ShinRa]

ok problem, ive probably used the wrong one then cuz i couldnt figure it out. theres like 500 sony vegas's out there. which is the most up-to-date one that ur talking about?

 

[Shasta]

Er... 500? You've done something wrong. I use Vegas 6.0c.

 

[ShinRa]

ok 500 is a bit much, but 6.0c? thank you! are u experienced with vegas? i dont mean to impose on you but if i had a question or something had me stuck would u be able to help me?

 

[Ennui]

Premiere is good, you can learn your way around if you put a day or two into it. I agree with Stigmata though, Final Cut Pro on the Mac is my favorite.

 

[spookymooky]

I've done some great things with premiere, and figured it out very quickly.

 

[ShinRa]

does premiere have the effects that vegas has? like vegas has a black and white effect i could really use where u can pick how much of the video is black and white, like 50% for instance, where u can get a Sin City effect, and itd be really useful for my movie. im not liking vegas too much. the preview mode doesnt work, and the track setup is kinda quirky. im trying to get used to it, but im gonna wait to see what u guys say about preimiere.

 

[Shasta]

Preview works just fine, actually. Although, as it only took you a day to get it, I'm guessing that you just downloaded it illegally instead of buying it, so who knows what you have.

 

[Jammydodger]

Here's a post that a member called Crash_Nemesis made on our forums, he's in the industry so he knows what he's talking about

Hey thre Jammy....

Sony Vega will do just fine I guess, I mean your not looking to make brodcast compliant vids are you? Cause if you are then I'd suggest moving over to Adobe Premiere Pro 2 or if you have the stomach and the know how, Avid HD... lol (JK - Im involved in the film industry and AVID is insane... not to mention it'll set you back a couple hundred K just to get a proffesional setup going.)

As I was saying, Sony Vegas, Pinacle Studio and windows Movie maker are all designed to do one thing, splice your clips, stick em together, add some funky font and and over track that runs throughout the clip... and walla. In terms of effects and adding grading and colour correction / bluescrren chroma key and what not... I would not suggest these programs as they are more for home use. So if you wish to go for a more proffesional editing experience and want to be able to slow down your edit with effective slow motion without losing quality and irrtitating interlace flicker, or you wish to grade your shots to emulate film as well as feel like film then I'd recommend you go for the industry entry standard editing suite for short films or music videos which would be Adobe Premiere Pro 2 or if you have a Macintosh, Final Cut Pro 5... I Prefer Final Cut Pro... WOW, what a user friendly editing system... Very proffesional and in depth... you can pretty much do anything with it...

Ok... I've said to much and blabbered on and probably went off topic... My bad...

If you need any help with editing Jammy... Feel free to ask...

Hope that helps

 

[Shasta]

That is either a really old post, or the guy is an idiot. Vegas 6 is MORE than capable of producing broadcast quality video. I know for a fact, because I am in broadcasting, and have actually had to use Vegas to produce a few segments, and a couple of ads too, one crazy week. Sure, we don't normally use software based editors like Vegas, but it has what it takes to get the job done. I have even seen films edited with Vegas (using its HDV, 24p and pulldown removal rendering capabilities) that turned out just fine. As for colour correction, chroma keying and intelace flicker, your buddy has no idea at all, and i would say he should have learned how to use it before commenting, but it's all right there in front of you. You can't miss it. Interlace flicker only comes from not knowing what you are doing, and getting your recording, rendering, and/or output settings wrong or mixed up, so he can only blame himself for that.

The only thing I can agree with that idiot on is the chroma keyer. It works, but won't give you a sharp edge around the subject unless you are a master at filming chroma keyed scenes, and shoot it perfectly. But that doesn't happen much, even in Hollywood. Having said that, I have NEVER heard of a video editing program that has a fantastic chroma key plugin. You need to use a seperate program to edit those scenes, and then import it to your main editor. Things like Serious Magic's "Ultra 2" should work well for most people.

Anyway. Your friend is a moron. Vegas, Premiere, Final Cut Pro, are all pretty much the same at the end of the day. They have their individual good and bad points, but they are basically the same. I personally like Vegas the best out of these software editors.

 

[Fliko]

Wait, if they are all the same at the end of the day, then how is Vegas 6 more capable at producing broadcast quality video...?

(Oh, and my bet is on Adobe Premiere if you are running a PC. If you got a Mac, definatly get FCP)

 

[Shasta]

Wait, if they are all the same at the end of the day, then how is Vegas 6 more capable at producing broadcast quality video...?

(Oh, and my bet is on Adobe Premiere if you are running a PC. If you got a Mac, definatly get FCP)

It's not. I said more than capable. Learn to read. I just find it nicer to use than the others. I have owned or used extensively all of them at some point. I still have Premiere (but I won't bother re-installing it). I work in the broadcast / video industry. Out of the ones mentioned here, I choose Vegas. Simple as that.

 

[Jintor]

Shasta's Evil!

(and scarey)

Personally I use Premiere Pro. Works fine for me, but I'm not as advanced as other people. Given by what you're attempting to do I find it surprising you weren't using a more advanced Movie Maker product than Windows Movie Maker in the first place.

 

[Man|-|unter]

As I don't know much more abt video editing, one of my friends worked for Advertising Industry and he always talk abt some Avid xpress or press and it runs both on Windows and Mac.

 

[ShinRa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8PKcRlyaK4

Go check that video out, I made it in windows movie maker. It's a funny music video, i think most of you will enjoy it, starring my best friend. Actually, i WANT you guys to go watch it and let me know what you think. I want to do something on such a grander scale and im starting to think premiere is the way to go.

 

[AKIRA]

dude...use Premier Pro (the latest version) and Adobe Premier After Effects.

If you want to learn more, and have ANY question about premier or premier pro visit:

www.wrigleyvideo.com

they have really good video tutorials on various effects and a great forum community who can answer virtually any question you have.