Editing Programs

[greenvette]

Can someone enlighten me on what editing program to choose. I am working from Windows XP, dual core processor, 50 Gig hard drive. I don't know if I should purchase something fancy like Sony Vegas or something more simple. I want to have some pretty snazzy editing options though.

[bluegrass]

Can someone enlighten me on what editing program to choose. I am working from Windows XP, dual core processor, 50 Gig hard drive. I don't know if I should purchase something fancy like Sony Vegas or something more simple. I want to have some pretty snazzy editing options though.

How much money are you comfortable spending?

What features are important to you. Here is a list of a few to think about. If others can add to list of attributes that people look for in an editor please copy, paste and add to mine.

1. ease of use and easy to learn.
2. speed of rendering.
3. good previewing of what your edits look like.
4. color correction.
5. extensive output formats.
6. ability to edit HD.
7. 24p
8. Cost - under $200, $200 - $500, $500 - $1000.


No matter which one you choose, I would recommend adding a second hard drive either before or with the software. You may as well add at least a two to three hundred gig. You can go external or possibly an internal, SATA is the best if your primary is alread a SATA.

[greenvette]

One thing I would like to be able to do is the following:

Is there a way you can film a person talking in one shot then, after that shot is done, pan your audience for another shot? In post-production would it be possible to show the individual speaking then make a shot change to the audience but still have the audio from the speaker running?

I am trying to simulate having a multi-camera type of setup, can this be sort of thing be done in an editing program?

[Frank]

greenvette,

Almost any editing program shouuld be able to do what you are suggesting. All you have to do is unlink the audio from the video and overlap them appropriately.

[bluegrass]

One thing I would like to be able to do is the following:

Is there a way you can film a person talking in one shot then, after that shot is done, pan your audience for another shot? In post-production would it be possible to show the individual speaking then make a shot change to the audience but still have the audio from the speaker running?

I am trying to simulate having a multi-camera type of setup, can this be sort of thing be done in an editing program?

An example of how I would do it in Pinnacle Studio would be to bring in the two segments you describe. Lets assume that the audience segment has been clipped to the length you want. I would freeze the audio track than split the speaker clip into 3 pieces. One will be the front end, the middle one will be deleted and you'll cut and move the audience into its place, but you need to make sure that the audience clip is exactly the same frame length as the one middle speaker one you deleted. When you unlock the sound it would than play through the audence pan and be synced up with the last part whcih is the speaker clip that was split.

Let me tell you that the type of edit you gave an example of, I would consider advanced, and not something your common family taper would be doing. I'm not saying that type of editing could'nt improve family videos a lot but it is unlikey a typical user shooting just family videos will be trying to do.

[Terfyn]

Bluegrass Go to Studio 10+ or 11+. Put the cutaway on the overlay track at the point you want and for the length you want. Its done!!! and you dont need to worry about exact number if frames. The overlay will appear instead of the main track, sound can be controlled with the volume controls. This is in addition to PIP and chroma key.
For multiple camera look. Any shot can be pulled into the overlay track and will overlay the main video. Transitions can also be used at the start and finish of the clip.