What do you use for video editing/authoring?

bilzmale · #1 March 9th, 2010, 08:56 AM

One of the many things I like about MFT is the chance to take HD video. I cranked up my old version of Ulead Video Studio 9 but it doesn't handle audio (remember the bad old days).

I downloaded a trial of Nero 9 but it is crashing on me and I am in deep discussions with their support team. Windows media Player under Win 7 is fine for playback but what if you want to edit?

Can anyone suggest a reasonably priced editor that handles AVCHD files?

Interested in and thanks for your input.

mike_hessey · #2 March 9th, 2010, 09:23 AM

I find this a HUGE pain! My preference is for Final Cut Express (Mac) for video editting, but it can't handle GH1 video (and presumably GF1 video either, though I've not tried that). In fact most video editors I have object to the format. I asked Pana on the stand at Focus about this yesterday, so annoying do I find it. One modestly priced suggestion they made was Pinnacle Studio (Windows) - I haven't used it for some years, and found it rather too prescriptive then, but generally OK at that time. I've tried various software for converting the video to a format I can edit in FCE or an older version of Premiere Elements (I find PE quite limiting and annoying in that it seems to want to force its view of how to do things on me), with varying success.

I too would welcome advice on this, though I really would prefer to stay with FCE as an editor, as I find the mixture of flexibility, power and price, without constraining wizards suits me (a Windows or Linux equivalent would be acceptable too).

Mike

Herman · #3 March 9th, 2010, 01:23 PM

Hi Bill and Mike. Take a look at www.movavi.com, not sure it will be the right choice.
I don't shoot video (G1), but I'm serious looking for a good editor! (in need of new gear that's why)
Let us know what you think, thanks in advance.

Have a nice day.
Kind regards, Herman

steve · #4 March 9th, 2010, 01:26 PM

I've used the motion jpeg video from my GF1 in Final Cut Pro with no problem. I also did a clip with imovie that worked well.

curtisls87 · #5 March 9th, 2010, 02:05 PM

I use iMovieHD on my Mac for my Oly videos. It works just fine for me.

prayformojo · #6 March 9th, 2010, 02:09 PM

I use Premiere Elements, pretty pricey and picky about formats, but it works great with the video from the E-PL1 and I can edit clips together, add titles, and add in transition effects between scenes. Very easy to use and outputs to a file format for Youtube.

slau · #7 March 9th, 2010, 03:15 PM

I have been using the Final Cut Express 8 in conjunction with the Neoscene since I started shooting either 1080P or 720P with my GH1 June 2009.

Neoscene has Windows and Mac versions. It can do the pulldown needed for GH1 1080P and the conversion of .MTS files to .MOV files, which can easily handled by FCE. I consider the $90 (?) was well spent to buy the Neoscene. It can do a batch conversion job unattended. You can download a 30 day trail version (fully functional), before deciding to buy it or not. If you shoot video in .MTS, save yourselves some frucstratin by buying the Neoscene. Here is the link:
http://02b9121.netsolstores.com/products/NeoScene.htm

Here are some of my GH1 video clips posted at Vimeo. Mostly are short version of my video journal.
http://vimeo.com/user2284074/videos

bilzmale · #8 March 10th, 2010, 07:42 AM

Thanks for the feedback - several good prospects but I have gone with Pinnacle Studio 14 Ultimate. Covers HD and Blu-ray so seems fairly future proof. Was recommended as being more stable than some - it seems the ocassional crash happens.

mike_hessey · #9 March 10th, 2010, 07:44 AM

Thanks for suggestions.

I have had Movavi for some while, but really don't get on with it very well. Apart from frequent crashes (in the previous version, not used the latest much), I found it very un-intuititive, and splitting functionality into so many different modules was obstructive.

Final Cut Express is only up to v 4.0 as far as I know (and Apple Store shows), though Final Cut runs to higher numbers, and a MUCH higher price.

I currently use Neoscene (Mac version) to convert the format - expensive just for conversion, and VERY obstructive protection against copying (I had various problems when Snow Leopard was first launched and then soon updated, and this resulted in Neoscene deciding that I was not authorised to use the software I'd purchased). Happily it is working well at present ...

I have the previous version of Premiere Elements, not tried the latest (which was launched a couple of weeks after I'd done an upgrade), but it doesn't really suit me anyway.

Mike

ajm80031 · #10 April 6th, 2010, 07:12 PM

On the Mac, you can use the current version of iMovie to transcode the AVCHD video to the Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC), which can then be digested by either iMovie or Final Cut Express. Final Cut Pro will also transcode, and gives you the option of AIC (smaller files, but everything has to be rendered in the editor for playback) or the ProRes codec (larger files, but don't require rendering for playback in the editor).

None of the Apple apps handle AVCHD natively, so you have to transcode in every case. This is a pain, as the transcoded files take up a LOT of space. The Apple apps also require that you either transcode straight from the SD card or that you've copied the PRIVATE folder (and *all* of its contents, not just the .MTS files) to your hard disk and not have modified any of the file names. Makes archiving the video in any sort of hierarchy based on your own personal criteria (e.g. subject matter, date range, etc.) very difficult.

I really hope Apple improves their handling of AVCHD in the near future. Dealing with AVCHD video is the biggest negative for me so far with regards to owning a GH1.