Very, Very first question...

[W00DY]

Hi Guys,

Well here goes... This is the first question asked about Digital Video.

I have a sony camcorder and am using Windows XP Pro with Movie Maker. When I capture the video in parts what file type should I save it as before I start editing it?

Also is there a better FREE program to use for editing movies then Movie Maker?

Cheers,

W00DY

PS: Sorry about the simplesity of this question

[UncasMS]

you should always make a copy of your original file/movie because you never know if the editing/saving/transcoding process might crash and ruin your original data.

talking of a freeware editing tool: WHAT exactly to you want to do with your data?

[W00DY]

Hi UncasMS,

I realise that you should always make a master copy of the file and that was really my question, what file type should you save this as, AVI, WMV etc...

I would like to edit my movies so they can be played on a computer to start with and I would like to add music to them also... eventually I would like to start saving them as DVD format and playing them on a DVD player, but I have to buy a DVD burner before then.

Thanks for you reply.

W00DY

[setarip]

"When I capture the video in parts what file type should I save it as before I start editing it?"

"eventually I would like to start saving them as DVD format and playing them on a DVD player"


Based on your two comments above, I'd suggest that you initially capture, if possible, in MPEG-2 format (720x480 NTSC or 768x480 PAL). This will allow you to maintain the original captured quality when you eventually convert to DVD format.


Of course, other respondents may have differing opinions...

[W00DY]

Hi setarip,

Thanks for your reply...

I also have Pinnacle Studio program which I beleive will let me save as MPEG-2.

Which Program would you recomend to use for editing video both for computer playback and DVD playback?

W00DY

[setarip]

"Hi setarip,
Thanks for your reply..."

My pleasure ;>}

[alcskid]

The free soft that I usually used for capturing video was VirtualDUB ! Use VirtualDubMOD with MPEG2 addon if you want to save to MPEG2.

[shiny#3]

yes woody!

with pinnacle studio (7 or 8)

you have a very good tool for editing videos which is almost second to none in
handling and it´s editing tools such as effects and cutting .... especially if you use the Hollywood fx gold plugin

I am not so convinced of it´s mpeg
encoding quality though I have also
heard that it has improved a lot.

Setarip is right !!!!
mpeg2 format has its undoubted
advantages but I prefer to save it
as Xvid file or Mpeg4 V3 file at high bitrate 1100 kbits/ sec multipass ,
because even with 80 GB HDD I often run out of diskspace!!

studio 7 or 8 can serve most codecs installed!!