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.

 

[Wend]

I’ve run into the same struggle finding something in that $50 range that’s friendly for home users but isn’t totally barebones. The free stuff usually limits how many menu items you get, like you noticed, and I’ve had random crashes too. For simple family DVDs, sometimes I’d use a combo, edit in one program, then try to add menus elsewhere, but it gets clunky really fast.

Recently, I started using movavi for this kind of project. It’s not overwhelming like some pro apps, and it gives you enough creative tools plus simple editing without eating up your whole day learning it. Their menu and export options got the job done and didn’t make my old PC cry.

 

[Markverhyden]

I’ve run into the same struggle finding something in that $50 range that’s friendly for home users but isn’t totally barebones. The free stuff usually limits how many menu items you get, like you noticed, and I’ve had random crashes too. For simple family DVDs, sometimes I’d use a combo, edit in one program, then try to add menus elsewhere, but it gets clunky really fast.

Recently, I started using movavi for this kind of project. It’s not overwhelming like some pro apps, and it gives you enough creative tools plus simple editing without eating up your whole day learning it. Their menu and export options got the job done and didn’t make my old PC cry.

@Kitten Kong I think we have a winner here! 12 years old........

 

[BlackstoneIT]

I reckon Davinci Resolve should get not one, but two thumbs up. I started with Cyberlink Powerdirector (paintball videos a looong time ago) but more recently embraced Davinci for editing airsoft videos. Prepare to chop down a tree to get the number of sticks you can shake at the feature set. And that's just the free version. The paid Studio version has even more goodies to unlock.
Hundreds of uploads to the 'Tubes later and I'm still (a rube in Resolve) having moments of:
"I wonder how I can do xyz?"
[quick Google]
"Oh, Davinci can!"
It is a thing of creative beauty. Delicious.

 

[Rosco]

Is this job actually making you money? I used to do this all the time, thinking it was still income. That is not the way to look at it. You are probably taking a huge bath on a job to find a program probably less than your hourly rate.

 

[lan101]

Is this job actually making you money? I used to do this all the time, thinking it was still income. That is not the way to look at it. You are probably taking a huge bath on a job to find a program probably less than your hourly rate.

I know this is an ancient thread but that's good advice. I've gotten a lot better about that over the years. If someone is looking for a certain program or something I'll gladly give them some friendly advice but if I have to do research I need paid for my time invested.

 

[Rosco]

I know this is an ancient thread but that's good advice. I've gotten a lot better about that over the years. If someone is looking for a certain program or something I'll gladly give them some friendly advice but if I have to do research I need paid for my time invested.

Wow, I did not see the age of the original thread. wowzer. How did this get to the top of my new posts

 

[lan101]

Wow, I did not see the age of the original thread. wowzer. How did this get to the top of my new posts

Someone revived it again earlier today it looks like lol...I just happened to scroll up on it earlier to notice it.