Camera and video editing software you use?

[Robert//Livingston]

Hey guys, I have a problem...

I went out last week and bought a Flip camera to use on the streets for my up close magic. Unfortunately it records in .MOV format and won't go into Windows Movie Maker....

So I took it back and got a Kodak Zi8... and again... .MOV and can't edit and what not.

I've got Quicktime Pro but it's just not a good enough editor as Windows Movie Maker.

Any suggestions?

I run Vista 64bit.

~Robert

 

[MillionaireMike]

What have you been using for your other videos? That seemed pretty good or you could wait till tonight and there will be another spammer that joins up and advertises a converter

 

[Robert//Livingston]

I've been using the quicktime pro, but I can't get any good effects or add titles/credits, no transition effects and what not.

it cuts and pastes fine, but it lacks major in other areas.

 

[Steerpike]

.Mov files are a colossal pain in the ass. They're QuickTime exclusive files. They can only be played on QT players, and can only be edited in QT pro. You have a couple of options for dealing with them.

QT pro may have an export feature. If it does, you'll want to take the unedited clip that you got straight from the camera and export it as a .avi file extension. That can be edited in pretty much any editing software.

It's possible that while porting the video off the camera you might be able to select the file extension, but that's not always the case.

Your third option is to plug a search into Google and find a freeware converter for video files that you can download.

One other file extension you might want to consider converting to is .mpg because AVI files are ****ing enormous while MPEGs are much more compact with basically the same quality.

 

[James Smith]

.Mov files are a colossal pain in the ass. They're QuickTime exclusive files. They can only be played on QT players, and can only be edited in QT pro. You have a couple of options for dealing with them.

QT pro may have an export feature. If it does, you'll want to take the unedited clip that you got straight from the camera and export it as a .avi file extension. That can be edited in pretty much any editing software.

It's possible that while porting the video off the camera you might be able to select the file extension, but that's not always the case.

Your third option is to plug a search into Google and find a freeware converter for video files that you can download.

One other file extension you might want to consider converting to is .mpg because AVI files are ****ing enormous while MPEGs are much more compact with basically the same quality.

Unfortunately MPEGs can't be edited in Movie Maker either, but they are small, and I recommend converting to .mpg before uploading to the internet.

I highly recommend a free video converter too, but do NOT get Prism Video Converter, it destroys your video and audio quality.

 

[willabbotsm]

I use Final Cut Express on my mac, it's hella great. But, since you're on Windows, I would recommend you download the program Handbrake. It converts media files. It can convert your .mov's to anything you want (avi, wmv, mp4, ect) really quickly, and can do batch conversions, too.

 

[penguincdude]

I have a flip and I love it. I've had no problem editing it in windows movie maker.

 

[CaseyRudd]

I have a Sony Digital 8 Handycam with 700x Digital Zoom and 20x Optical Zoom. It saves the footage to an actual tape, not a memory card. The quality is pretty good for a 6 year old camera. I've used it for that long, and it's still in good shape. If you really want good video that you want to edit, not just for magic but for other things too, get a Sony Webbie HD or Aiptex HD (they are like $100-$200 bucks) and are great quality.

Also, Vegas 9 Movie Studio HD is fantastic! I love it. Its only 40 bucks and it's a great editing software. You have LOADS of video effects, transitions, color gradients, maps, text, and LOTS more I cant list because I'm lazy...zzzzzz. But it's fantastic and a software you will use for a LONG time.

Invest in a better camera than what you have, because in the long run, quality counts. And editing in this day and age is important if you want a nice, decent, watchable video.

Hope the helps man, I'm saving a 7 minute long Jersey Shore Spoof as we speak, with the MTV logo on the bottom right corner and timecode and everything you would see in a tv show. And it's in widescreen too. Movie Studio HD Rocks!!! GET IT.

-Casey

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Thanks guys!

 

[zatch]

Here is an awesome video converter that converts virtually anything into anything else while keeping the same quality


http://www.erightsoft.com/S6Kg1.html

steps... scroll all the way to the bottom and click "Start Downloading SUPER"
underneath the first red box of text... click on "download and use" in blue text
scroll all the way down again and click on Download SUPER © setup file

 

[wZEnigma]

I use a Creative Vado HD with Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD 9. I have to run my videos through Movie Maker to convert them, but the quality is only a little less than the best and it turns out alright mostly.

Ian