I used to use Adobe Premiere, a broadcast quality program and $$$$. It's great but $$$$$. I cannot really use it anymore because my motherboard burned out. I got it replaced with one I was told was newer, better and faster. Turns out it is not compatible with the video card that works with my Adobe Premiere. I am out of a job now so I cannot afford to have computer rebuilt again... I have MS Windows Movie Maker as part of my Windows XP, but I haven't really used it because I don't have a way to come out to videotape, DVD or motion picture film, only computer video files which do not interest me.
what platform? Mac comes with Imovie. imovie is reasonably good for a free program. I use Final Cut Pro but it is $$$ Pc there should be cheap programs out there. Maybe Avid express could be cheap enough. Perhaps there is a stripped down version of Adobe premiere kind of like photoshop elements is a stripped down version of Photshop. Here it is: http://www.adobe.com/products/premiereel/ Only 100.00$
I've used imovie and I can say that its probably the best thing you can get for the money. of course you probably don't have a Mac anyway:tb-wink:
I work at a professional film company and we use Final Cut Pro, Avid xpress, and Avid HD (there are other platforms we also use) but all of them are expensive. The FCP studio package is the least expensive on the ones I've mentioned at about $1,000.00. But we do have a Pinnacle Studio system, version 11 that runs on PC and it cost about $130.00. If you like Macs, the IMove that is part of the system when you buy a Mac, is a nice simple editing program. Traingeeboy, do you like FCP? One of our editors just gave me a demo on her Pinnacle editing program, I was impressed.
I have been very disappointed in several that I have tried, Roxio, Ulead and others. I think part of the problem was the way I was importing my video. Now my DVD burner has quit, so I'm out of business. If you guys find a good one, please let the rest of us know. For straight conversion from video to DVD, I bought a stand alone unit by Sylvania and it does fine, but does not allow a great deal of editing like fading in and out, etc. :tb-sad:
Just got a copy of Pinnacle Studio 10 on ebay for $9. OK, not the most recent release but I saved $100.Also got a Panasonic camcorder for $100 and a dvd recorder for the computer. $150 for the whole mess and I'm ready to go!
I wouldn't recommend anything other than Premiere Pro unless you have thousands to spend on software and hardware to run it. I'm going on 8-9 years experienced in Premiere and to the point that I know it like the back of my hand. My major in college is a BFA in 3D animation and visual effects, so using Premiere/Photoshop/After Effects is a major requirement for me. I took a class using Final Cut a few years back. It a very good program available to mac users but I just prefer Premiere. Mostly because the whole adobe family has the consistent user interface. If you know Photoshop, you'll already have a head start on Premiere & After Effects and vice versa. Here are your options for getting premiere: Premiere Elements - $99 (the basics of the basics) Premiere Pro (last time I checked) - $800 (commercial/production license) CS3 Production Premium (Includes Premiere, After Effects, Photoshop, Flash, Illutrator, Soundbooth, AND Encore DVD) - $1700- Twice the cost of Premiere alone but 7 times the software! You get Photoshop for images, After Effects for adding steam to your steam loco videos, Premiere for editing the videos, Soundbooth for adding sound(unless you already have sound decoders), and Encore DVD for putting it all on a DVD! Now heres the best part. I'm a student so I get discounts! If you have a student at home, THEY get discounts! And, anyone can use student licensed software, as long as you do not use the software for profit or business. Only restriction is that only students with a valid student ID may purchase the software. (this can be anything from K-12 through college, and even faculty, regardless of area of study!) Now I am NOT saying that means one can go out and bribe a school kid into buying you the student license and get away with it. Unfortunately, this can only apply to those with students in the house, or those who are students themselves. (But hey, NMRA has some classes anyone can sign up for to become a valid student! ) Student price of the Production Premium bundle is only 600 bucks! Thats the BUNDLE not just premiere. Yes thats still 500 more than just a simple Premiere Elements program, but if your eligible for the student discount and looking to edit some videos. I seriously hope you consider the bundle. In my experience, everyone always starts out with pictures, then they want video, then they get into adding steam effects to the steam locos and 9 out of 10 times, they buy each program separately for $800 each when they could have just picked up the whole bundle in the first place for a couple bucks more. *sigh* Well that was exhausting wasn't it? I feel like I should apply to adobe for a salesman job. In any case, I'm not affiliated with Adobe. That was just my two cents..well, maybe more like 22 cents. Cheers -Mark
