PC Video-Editing Software

[dave_o]

YES. I KNOW. FINAL CUT PRO FOR MACINTOSH IS SO RAD THAT MY PANTS WOULD BLOW UP.

But I've got so much cash in this beauty of a PC, I can't just up and buy a holy Mac. So -- what are my options for video editing software as far as PCs go?

(For the record, I produce, edit, etc. skate videos, so I'd like stuff that is pretty powerful.)

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Well, I'm giving serious thought to buying a Pinnacle dv500 DVD system with Adobe Premiere 6.5. It comes with DVD burning software and a breakout box that does composite and s-video. The only drawback is it's slightly older, as Premiere just went from 6.5 to Premiere Pro, and Pinnacle seems to be doing their own software, rather than bundling with Premiere...

If I had the cash and the right box, I'd go for AVID Xpress DV. Avid is the best editing interface out there (I've worked with Avids for 3 years now at work), but it's a little pricey, comparatively speaking, and has very particular hardware compatability requirements, which make me a little nervous about trying it with other boxes.

Premiere right now has a deal with their Video Collection - it's $799 instead of $999 until 9/30, and that includes Adobe After Effects and some other software as well. Since After Effects goes for $599 or so by itself most of the time, it's a pretty good deal.

Is that the kind of stuff you're thinking of? If you can afford it, and it will be work with your PC, AVID is the way to go - especially if you are interested in doing pro editing work - the interface is the same on the $999 Avid Xpress DV as on the $100,000+ Symphony systems.

 

[Harlequin_1998]

On a marginally related note, I've got a GeForce 4 (I think) with an s-video out port. My pc also has a dvd player. I'd like to know:
a) Is there an s-video to coax adapter out there so that I may hook my tv up to my pc?
b) Does the s-video out include audio, or will I have to somehow jack the audio from my sound card?

 

[Chaz]

YES. I KNOW. FINAL CUT PRO FOR MACINTOSH IS SO RAD THAT MY PANTS WOULD BLOW UP.

But I've got so much cash in this beauty of a PC, I can't just up and buy a holy Mac. So -- what are my options for video editing software as far as PCs go?

(For the record, I produce, edit, etc. skate videos, so I'd like stuff that is pretty powerful.)

Magix Video Deluxe 2.0+ works great for me. It does it all with powerfull features at a low price. They have upgraded to a new version called MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2004. Check it out.
http://europe.magix.com/index.php?id=411

 

[shadowlight]

On a marginally related note, I've got a GeForce 4 (I think) with an s-video out port. My pc also has a dvd player. I'd like to know:
a) Is there an s-video to coax adapter out there so that I may hook my tv up to my pc?
b) Does the s-video out include audio, or will I have to somehow jack the audio from my sound card?

a) Yep. Check your locak Radio Shack
b) I'm pretty sure it's just the video. With my GeForce 2, I convert the SVideo to RCA and the analog audio out to Left / Right RCA. This leaves me with three RCA jacks to plug into my TV.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

a) Is there an s-video to coax adapter out there so that I may hook my tv up to my pc?
b) Does the s-video out include audio, or will I have to somehow jack the audio from my sound card?

a) I think you may need an adapter box (not too pricey, I'd think) but it can certainly be done. As Shadowlight says, check your Radio Shack.
b) Definitely just video. You can buy a Y-adapter to use to split your stereo mini-jack, and then run that to your TV or stereo.

 

[Dimwhit]

YES. I KNOW. FINAL CUT PRO FOR MACINTOSH IS SO RAD THAT MY PANTS WOULD BLOW UP.

Wow, I haven't seen/heard the word "Rad" used for a LONG time.

I've heard good thing about Adobe Premier, as already mentioned.

 

[shadowlight]

a) I think you may need an adapter box....

My converter is just a cable -- works great

 

[mojo1701]

As an amateur movie director/producer (also took ComTech at my school), I recommend Premiere. It's not foolproof, but it can do most things if you're willing to work with it.

It also has compatability with Photoshop, so you can bring in pictures, and superimpose them easier (It has a hard time chroma-keying blue and green, I found. Maybe the 6.5 fixed this... I only worked with 6 at school, and my home PC isn't up to par. For next year - University - a new one...)

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

It also has compatability with Photoshop, so you can bring in pictures, and superimpose them easier (It has a hard time chroma-keying blue and green, I found. Maybe the 6.5 fixed this... I only worked with 6 at school, and my home PC isn't up to par. For next year - University - a new one...)

This is one reason the Adobe Vide Collection is good - it includes After Effects which is supposed to be an excellent compositing/FX progam (I don't have much knoweldge of it, unfortunately). After Effects is also good to know if you're looking at editing as a career, as most editing jobs I've seen advertised ask for proficiency in it...