Recommend a good video editing software?

[katz]

Can anyone recommend a good video editing software? Free would be great, but I know those tools are limited. I have a client that wants the ability to create "clickable" menus and more.

They are wanting to record several years worth of family videos on one DVD with a navigation menu.

Most of the freebies I have tried don't allow for a menu of more than maybe 4-6 titles and are very, well, "shoddy" to be honest. I suppose they work good for what they are - DVD Flick, Winx DVD, DVD Styler (crashed), RZ DVD (crashed).

WMM - could not make a menu with it, & it ended up crashing.

Right now I am trying Koyote Video to DVD (free) & it looks promising for a simple, straightforward software.

I suppose at this point we aren't really looking for the free option, but simply something that will provide a decent editing platform with maybe transitions, etc., and a good menu structure capability. Would like to stay in the $50 & under range though

I was looking at Aimersoft DVD Creator as well as a few others.

If anyone here has any experience with any particular software and you think it would suit our needs, please post up.

 

[FoolishTech]

bump for my own interest as well.

Back in the day I just used the free(ish) Nero bundled with the DVDRW to author DVD's with menus, and I know they have a more pro suite - but haven't used it since v5 I think!? Only thing I've used for simple editing in the past few years has been WMM which I've used quite extensively, and -- I'm surprised it (and other apps) crash on you -- sure you don't have a problem there?

 

[katz]

WMM - I misspoke - it didn't crash, but was very limited in menu features. It's funny that they give you a ton of transition effects to make the movie look gaudy, but something useable like a top level menu is nonexistent.

Nero - you need to use the more expensive software for editing/authoring purposes. The last vers. I used was a bundeled vers. 6, I think.

Seems I am finding beginner level & Pro level programs; nothing in a "happy medium" that doesn't require a steep learning curve.

DVD Styler came the closest to the menu/editing that we need, but error-ed during the processing. I googled, it is a common error for the pgm.

I tried several trial versions of pay software, and again, either sparse features or steep learning.

I did a little work with Sony DVD Architect Studio 5 yesterday and so far it looks like it will do what we need....but here again, you are greeted with a confusing interface that a home user would not feel comfortable with.

If anyone can recommend a beginner/mid level program without a huge interface (but menu capable) I would be most grateful.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Pinnacle is the gold standard

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/publicsite/us/home/

You want plenty of horsepower...beefy multi core CPU, TONS of RAM, and multiple hard drives with virtual memory across all of them.

 

[carrcomp]

I've always enjoyed Camtasia

http://www.camtasiasoftware.com/camtasia/index.htm

Good trial, and comes with a 60 day money back guarentee

 

[FoolishTech]

I've always enjoyed Camtasia

http://www.camtasiasoftware.com/camtasia/index.htm

Good trial, and comes with a 60 day money back guarentee

Holy expense, batman!

 

[katz]

I believe I used Pinnacle a bit years ago, I can't remember how it worked - but I see they get good reviews for it.

Unfortunately, both Pinnacle & Camtasia are out of the price range. I am working with a home user that wants to work with their vacation movie clips, Christmas/Birthday, etc. & $60.00 + is a bit steep for the simple editing that they want to do.

You shouldn't have to pay $60.00 + just to get software that will create a decent top level menu structure, which is really one of the main features they are wanting.

 

[glricht]

I've always enjoyed Camtasia

http://www.camtasiasoftware.com/camtasia/index.htm

Good trial, and comes with a 60 day money back guarentee

Camtasia is way over the top for what most of us want. If it works for you, great, but it's learning curve is up there with PhotoShop.

I have a customer that uses Camtasia to create animations from scratch, but it's way more than an intermediate-level video editing program.

 

[stro]

+1 for pinnacle.

I've also had decent luck with dvdflick, but it is pretty limited.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Well.....if they have Windows 7...there's the free "Movie Maker". Kinda basic....but the price is right.

 

[uprighttech]

Unfortunately, both Pinnacle & Camtasia are out of the price range. I am working with a home user that wants to work with their vacation movie clips, Christmas/Birthday, etc. & $60.00 + is a bit steep for the simple editing that they want to do.

You shouldn't have to pay $60.00 + just to get software that will create a decent top level menu structure, which is really one of the main features they are wanting.

So how much are you going to charge the client for all of the time you are spending trying to find them a program that fits their needs? My bill for the leg work would be a lot higher than $60. By my count you've trailed or researched at least 8-10 programs. Or are you just going to give all that time away to a home user who is too cheap to even spend $60 for a program to edit years of home movies?

 

[Freedom PC Solutions]

I use VSO convert X to DVD. It takes any video file or multiple video files and converts them to DVD. Menu creation and the whole deal.

http://www.vso-software.fr/products/convert_x_to_dvd/

 

[katz]

So how much are you going to charge the client for all of the time you are spending trying to find them a program that fits their needs? My bill for the leg work would be a lot higher than $60. By my count you've trailed or researched at least 8-10 programs. Or are you just going to give all that time away to a home user who is too cheap to even spend $60 for a program to edit years of home movies?

Sad but true...

However, I am gaining personal experience from it, so I will be able to make better recommendations in the future. I'm sure your bill would be higher, but you are most likely a successful tech with a good steady workload...I am not.

In my area, a mobile tech "takes what they can get...". It's how the lay of the land is when your area is overrun by techs, and you are servicing a town with a population maybe 6K...it is tough around here.