Opinion Needed about moviemaking software

[makdad]

This is a two part post:

1. I need some opinions of some moviemaking software. I am currently using Pinnacle Studio 9 With their highest effects package. Thus far there is alot that I want to do that this program does not offer. Also, I have not had a good experience with Pinnacle.

What else is out there for Home movie making that is on the more advanced level? please provide some recomendations and links if you have any.

2. Does any one know of any software that can be used to change the file formats of movie files? Example changing a avi into an mpeg....or something like that?

Thanks for the help

Best regards,

Makdad

[ormonde]

"Example changing a avi into an mpeg....or something like that?"

1. "TMPGEnc" or "TMPGEnc Plus" (or Express)

2. "AVSVideoConverter"

[reboot]

Here's a list: http://members.shaw.ca/videojunk/all.htm
Here's a tutorial: http://members.shaw.ca/videojunk/avi2dvd.htm

[sfheath]

Jeez, that list link fired up a whole squadron of pop-ups!

[reboot]

Yeah, one day I'll get around to editing the html, sorry.

[JOHNNYGM7LSI]

Hi Makdad,
I have also used Pinnacle but have moved on to Womble Video Wizard which is quite good but hasn`t got the continuous loop backing music, you just add your own sound tracks, and also I don`t like the picture editing, colour, contrast ect, the good advantage with womble is that it recognises Vob files so you don`t lose any quality converting the files. I`m just about to try Ulead Videostudio 9 which I think only allows you to import file by DVD capture method which is not much good to me as I have a Sony DVD91E which only allows transfer by putting the dvd disc into the computer. Johnny.

[JOHNNYGM7LSI]

I forgot to mention WINAVI which I use for converting, is`t very fast and the quality is excellent

[tigerman8u]

for straight avi to mpeg 1/2 I use Mainconcept. Easy and fast.
For more control I use a combination of tools to encode the audio, encode the video and multiplex the two together.