Creating video content

What's the best software out there?

[moose606]

I have started to add some video content to my ecommerce sites (I have darwin stream server). I have tried Quicktime Pro to creat and edit, but it seems very limited. Any recommendations for what I should use? I'm on a PC.
Thanks

[monkeythumpa]

I like Premier since it was all that available to me 5 years ago. It is more than I need but it is easy to learn and I am comfy with it. I edit in that and then convert to Flash video since Flash is so widely available.

I have Darwin on my server and still use Flash and a progressive download. Hopefully the open source Flash Media server will be done soon and we can stream Flash video for free.

[rocknbil]

If you have the bucks, Premiere is the way to go.

If you have **a little bit** of money, some of the Roxio packages come wih a "decent" editor.

I also have software that came with my video input card, PowerDirector from CyberLink. It's got a lame interface because it's geared for point-and click beginners and ease of use, but it actually does a decent job of capturing and editing video. It has multiple tracking, filters for transitions, color, sharpness, and hue controls, sound capture and dubbing, many other useful widgets. It can export in a variety of formats as well.

I think the "pro" version (which is an oxymoron of sizeable proportion) is only $89.

There are also free video editors out there, begin by a search of this board then on to G, but none of them will have the features of any of the above.

[pmkpmk]

I am using Adobe Premiere for many years, but it has a learning curve. For music "composing" I recently came accross the Magix product range, and already the music packages come with pretty good video functions. If the "real" video packages from Magix are as good and intuitive and fast and cheap as their music products, then this is certainly what I would suggest to a newbie.

[skydivv]

I use Sony Vegas. It's an incredible editing program and renders in most codecs that are web friendly. I also have Premier and believe me the Sony Vegas is much easier to learn. I also highly recommend Riva FLV Encoder (Riva Producer)for converting most video to the newer FLV Codec. I Produce Rich Media Video Professionally for use on websites and mobile phone applications. PC users should definitely consider using Sony Vegas.

[moose606]

Thanks for the recommendations. Sounds like Adobe Premier would be great choice. Questions...
Does the software offer compression, to reduce file size?
It is compatible with photoshop and illustrator?
Thanks again.
Jon

[pmkpmk]

Yes & yes. Don't underestimate the learning curve though.

[monkeythumpa]

You know what? I totally forgot about Windows Movie Maker. It is pretty good if you are just rearranging clips and it is free.

It does not matter how big the output file is. Flash will optimize it when you convert it to a .flv file.

[moose606]

Looks like Adobe premier is quite expensive.
I might just keep using the Quicktime Pro, at least until I can justify the purchase price. The Windows Movie Maker was a bust, as it would not export video in any other format than wmv.
Thanks.

[skydivv]

The Riva FLV Encoder can transcode the following formats. AVI. MPEG. Quicktime. WMV. and it's free. You could edit in Movie Maker or Quicktime and convert the files to the .FLV Codec. It also has some othe capabilities. It's a good program and I've never had any trouble running it. The Riva Producer VX Software Product (not free)allows the mapping of video for adding hyperlinks and additional Rich Media capabilities. Here's a link to download the free Riva Encoder. <snip> Hope this helps

Edit Reason: removed link - please see TOS [webmasterworld.com]

[edited by: limbo at 9:18 am (utc) on Feb. 2, 2007]

[danimal]

you can edit in anything, but when it comes to encoding the edited file for web use, most editing apps don't measure up... you'll probably need things like two-pass vbr capability, for instance... the microsoft windows media encoder is about the only free app that gives you pro results, but it doesn't do flash.

i think that sorenson squeeze will encode flash vbr video files, using the latest on2 codec, but it's not cheap.

[Turbulence]

Hello,

I also have a question about video content and I haven't found an exact answer in the thread so far - which way to create nice-looking, less-download-time-consuming output video appears to be the cheapest?

[edited by: Turbulence at 9:30 am (utc) on Feb. 5, 2007]