Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with software and editing

Video Editing Software for Travel Videos

mary8nne — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:42:13 -0800

Can anyone suggest a simple Non-Linear Video Editing Software for Windows XP? One that can accept and output variety of Formats. For editing together Videos (MJPG) taken on a Canon Digital photo Camera. I've been messing around recording a few travel videos on my Canon Isus Camera which seems to take 640x480 MJPG Video (30fps). I thought it might be fun to Edit some together and add music tracks to them (and remove the current sound track where is it just wind noise).

Its not really a serious endeavour so looking for cheap / freeware editing apps for Win XP.

I've tried Windows Movie Maker but it will only allow export as DV (huge files) or this .wmv (WMV9 proprietrary format?) and is a bit chunky - but I did like the graphic time-line you get with WMM compared to the editing in the dark of AVIdemux.

Stained Glassy Collages?

soelo — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:30:09 -0800

What software can I use to make a photo collage using non-rectangular photos? I'd like to make a photo collage similar in layout to the cover of Sims 3 using triangles instead of diamonds. I currently use PhotoScape and have access to but haven't used PaintShop, but I am willing to try some other software if it can do what I want.

I'd like to be able to create my own layout using triangles (or any other non-rectangular shape), select pictures to insert and be able to resize and rotate to get exactly what I want aligned in the triangle. It will look a bit like stained glass with pictures instead of a solid color between the leading.

Is there some Windows compatible software that will let me do this easily? If it's spendy but has a free trial, I'll try it. I'd be willing to do the cropping and rotating before trying to insert the pic into the layout.

Editing Software for HD Video?

not_on_display — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:33:54 -0800

Looking for software with which I can read and edit raw .m2ts video files and later export them as mpeg/avi/whatever. I recently bought a Canon Vixia HF-100 videocamera. It saves the video on an SDHC card as .m2ts files. I'd like to be able to manipulate and edit the raw files without first having to convert them into another format, figuring there would be loss of quality in the conversion. (Is quality loss even an issue? It shoots in nice-quality HD.)

I have a Mac and a PC; the PC has a much better video card, so I'd prefer to use that. Windows Movie Maker does not recognize m2ts files. I don't have the iLife suite on the Mac, so no iMovie.

I would more likely lean toward freeware or open-source software, but I am not above piracy, arrrr. (...unless editing suites are inexplicably cheap to buy.)

Thanks!

Challenging Video Editing Software for PC Question

noir — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:56:42 -0800

Challenging Video Editing question: If I wanted to take video from a multiple number of different sources (off DVD's or maybe Blue-Ray) and produce a single video from those sources (say each video has its own quarter of the screen), which editing tool(s) would be best to perform these tasks? Software must be PC. By best, I mean: * relatively simple to learn, * open source, or relatively inexpensive * produces good quality, quad-screen videos in high enough resolution to look good on typical home televisions, not just computer screens. *Makes it easy to add your own music tracks or soundtrack, or it can use audio from any of the 4 videos as well, preferably both.

Help me edit a specific sound out of a home video (DV-AVI)

jluce50 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:32:17 -0800

Is there free video editing software that can edit audio as well? If so, how do I remove a specific sound from my video? I was planning on asking for suggestions on video editing software, but I realized that's been covered and it's not really specific enough for what I need. I basically need two things, 1) video editing software that can edit sound as well (or just some method to edit sound in a video) and 2) some advice on how to edit the sound (see below). Oh, and my budget for this is no more than $0. Well okay, $5.

Here are the specifics. Don't need anything fancy for video editing. Cutting, splicing, standard effects, etc. will suffice. It should be able to accept and save in DV-AVI. As far as advice on sound editing: In this particular video my tripod was making intermittent creaking sounds when I moved the camera and it's quite distracting when watching the video. I'm desperately hoping there's a way to edit the audio track(s) and suppress/remove the creaking sound. I can try to mask it with music or something but I still want to be able to hear the other sounds in the video. I'm somewhat familiar with Audacity if that helps. Please tell me I'm not SOL...

Thanks!

Video editing software for Win, Mac or Linux

forthright — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:01:57 -0800

Please help me choose newer video editing software for my current situation and needs. In the past I have used Nero Vision Express but that old version does not work on Vista. Plus, I now have multiple PCs (a new dual core Vista tower, a Mac Mini and an old HP 1.6 ghz Tower running Ubuntu).

I am willing to spend some money, but not more than I have to (e.g., don't want to buy 2 or 3 tools if one tool could do it all for less total cost). Of course one option would be to upgrade to the newest Nero.

I am very very Windows knowledgeable, but less so on Mac or Ubuntu. I mention those in case the best solutions exist for those architectures. I am *not* very video knowledgeable (at least not compared to many folks, though I kind of understand codecs).

The tool(s) should be able to input AVI, MPG, WMV, etc. and allow me to edit portions from each to create an overall video, or DVD chapters, or (unless it's pushing my luck) iPod video files. I do *not* currently need any HD capability. I *do* want something reliable, not some hacked together GUI front end to some command line utilities (unless the latter is well thought of and used by many). I want to be able to easily set my cut points, save/preview the project, leave it to encode and/or burn and walk away with confidence.

I did a trial of DivX Author and it seemed user friendly and inexpensive, but not feature rich. The old Nero I own (ver 6) was feature rich (or bloated) and (IMHO) had a poor user interface.

Yes I know, I found plenty of info on Google or dvdrhelp (too much, in fact). But I am asking for kind indulgence from those of you knowledgeable in this kind of thing: would you summarize the current state of affairs given my current situation and needs? Or recommend a product overview or tutorial that answers my question that I didn't happen to find?

I suspect the fact that I am willing to spend money helps, and I have three platforms to choose from (Win, Mac, Linux), but am not willing to spend more than $200 or $250 USD total, so that limits me somewhat.

Once I've Already Shot the Video, Can I Crop the Bottom Half of it and/or Zoom in On My Subject?

thewhynotgirl — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:26:57 -0800

How can I a) crop off the whole bottom half of a video, b) zoom in on my subject after I've already made the video, or c) hide the face of someone in the video? While I'm asking, how about taking a video made on a Canon (designed for stills, so their video actual size is small, which means it pixilates horribly when you put it on youtube) and making it stay actual size when placed on the web? I'm on a windows notebook and hoping any of this is even possible. Thanks! What's happened is that I've found myself in a position where I will be videoing and publishing daily, and I am no expert on video. That's fine, because I can learn.

But in the meantime, I will be starting with videos that are already made, and I need to get them good enough to publish. In some of the cases, I need to hide the identity of people or locations in the already-made videos (nothing nefarious, just don't have permission for the already made ones for the people/places), and in the canon stuff, just need to make them look decent. I'm sure my ignorance shows here, but I pick up quickly once I know what to do!

I cannot switch to mac or final cut pro at this time cuz those funds aren't in the budget for this not-for-profit thing, but any pointers on windows software/techiniques/common sense would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

My dad wants to turn his home movies into DVDs. Might win an Oscar, you can never tell.

IvyMike — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:49:56 -0800

What's the best Windows software package to edit video and create DVDs? My Dad's got a bunch of tapes from his JVC GR-D72U digital video camera. He has proven to me that can transfer the data into the computer, but the bundled software he has has never been very easy to use nor has it been reliable at being able to create DVDs.

What's the favored Windows solution at the moment? He doesn't need to do anything particularly fancy, but being able to cut scenes together, add music, put little "Happy Birthday" text on the screen, and create DVD menus from templates are probably all things he would want to do.

Also, keep in mind that the fewer times my dad calls me from two time zones away with crazy questions, the better. (I would normally provide support via VNC, but I suspect that won't work well during video editing.)

And yes, I know that one answer is "Get a Mac and iMovie", but that's out of the question for now. Maybe next time.

Shooting time-lapse video?

robbie01 — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 01:05:43 -0800

I want to shoot some time-lapse video. No video camera or editing software purchased yet. I want to shoot a couple of time-lapse videos. Specifically two commonly seen shots: a sunset-to-sunrise progression in a static location, and one of those driving-in-a-car down the open highway shots.

I haven't purchased (and have never owned) a videocamera, though of course I've used several before, nor do I own yet what I think will be my editing platform (a MacPro desktop running Final Cut Express HD). When I do go to the pull the trigger on a video camera, I'm kinda eyeing one of the consumer-grade HD-capable models from Sony. I expect I will need a crap-ton of hard drive space as well, especially if I'm shooting HD.

Anyway, the main question is: how does one shoot time-lapse video? Is it a function of the camera, or is it done via software in post-processing?

I understand that the most popular format for digital video is tape-based MiniDV, which brings me to my first quandary: can you capture an entire 12-20 hour sequence onto a single tape? Or do you have to bite the bullet and do a tape change or two midway through the shoot?

Or do most/all cameras have a special mode that will only capture 1 frame every x seconds, or a "slow-motion" record that would play back the video in hyperspeed when watched at regular speed?

I imagine it's preferable to use AC power for the camera to avoid battery issues.

If it's better (or preferred for practicality) to achieve time-lapse effects with software, can most of the major editing packages create the effect easily, or is there a special niche software application designed for this purpose?

Any other caveats I should be aware of in shooting time-lapse? (other than obvious ones like use a tripod, don't move the camera, and expect lighting conditions to change.)

Any hardware/software purchasing tips differing from my proposed setup (a Sony HD video camera and a MacPro running Final Cut Express HD) are welcome.

crop/resize tool

Tryptophan-5ht — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 03:12:43 -0800

im looking for a free, and simple program to crop and resize photos, then optimize for the web. im making a website for my sister in law which will require continued photo updates. Im doing this pretty much for free so Id rather be without the continued obligation of resizing/optimizing pictures years from now.

she is a n00b and really busy so it can't have a massive learning curve, or require too much time/effort.

suggestions?

Free or Cheap Photo Software

Miko — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 12:37:55 -0800

Is there such a thing as free photo editing software? My 6-months-free-with-computer deal ran out, and Microsoft Paint isn't worth a plug nickel. All I really want to do is resize and crop pictures easily. If there's nothing decent available for free, then I'd be interested in the dirt-cheap category of software, too.

Which laptop is the best for multi-track audio editing?

punkbitch — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 13:00:10 -0800

Laptops (again). I want to buy one. Specifically, I want to know which laptop is the best for multi-track audio editing (and why). Aditionally, which software should I use if I want to create stories "pro" enough for radio journalism? Do I have to get pricey studio stuff? Finally, when people out there submit already-produced audio stories to say BBC, NPR, PRI, Pacifica . . . is there a simple way to send the files via email? What kind of file would it have to be?

Newsletter layout editing responsibilities

achmorrison — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 13:25:50 -0800

I have been hired to layout a newsletter for print and for publication online. There is an editor who compiles the articles, edits for length, and etc. In this situation, who should be responsible for the copy editor duties? I find that it is a pain to finish the layout and then hear back from the editor that there are several spelling, punctuation, and line break mistakes that need to be corrected (which is generally hard to do in DTP software). Is it unreasonable of me to expect that the copy-editing should be done by the editor and not the layout person?

Adobe Premiere Elements/Vegas Movie Studio; what can you tell me?

soplerfo — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 06:28:11 -0800

I'm looking for opinions on Adobe Premiere Elements and Vegas Movie Studio + DVD. I know that both have been discussed individually to some extent on Ask.Me but I'm now looking to buy one of the two and am hoping for some more direct comparison. Both seem to do the basics of editing very well and are priced the same. I've tried both demos, so I’m familiar with both. I think I'm leaning towards Vegas Movie Studio at the moment, as it seems to run a bit smoother on my crappy computer. Is there anything IYHO that I should consider that might make one a better buy than the other?

PIII 500mhz win2k/winxp (yep, old). I’m mostly just hoping to do basic editing/splicing/color correction of video from a firewire-connected Canon DV cam.

DIY Video

mattr — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 12:53:28 -0800

Just say for instance - I had an MP3 (or some MP3's) and I wanted to create my own video, maybe with bits of video footage from a variety of sources, and some 'slides' or 'captions' - and then burn that whole thing to a DVD that I could play in a nightclub. What would be good software (Win XP) that could facilitate this for me?

Are there any text editors for the Mac that will let me write in full-screen mode?

josh — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 20:09:48 -0800

Are there any text editors for the Mac that will let me write in full-screen mode--i.e., with, say, yellow text on a black background, and no menu bar, dock, desktop, and so on? I've found this one program called Ulysses that does it--but I can't stand how it makes me work in projects, instead of editing single documents one at a time. Im looking for other suggestions.

Cheap good camcorder, or else!

Feisty — Sun, 19 Sep 2004 20:00:12 -0800

Digital Camcorder / Digital Video Camera: Looking for a quality review/comparison site. Also, any recommendations? Below $1000, primarily automatic over manual, recording family indoor (some children's sports). Thoughts on simple video editing software to DVD, method of transfer, anything else I should keep in mind?

Editing multi-page tiffs?

normal_molly — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 11:29:15 -0800

Multi-page tiffs: I'm currently working on a project which involves scanning letters from microfilm onto a laptop. We save letters with more than one page as multi-page tiffs for logistics reasons. What I'm wondering is if there is a way to edit the individual pages after the fact (cropping, brightness, contrast etc. basic stuff)? Preferably free/inexpensive software.

Does anyone have any suggestions for an all-in-one photo editing/FTP/weblogging software?

TuxHeDoh — Wed, 28 Jul 2004 08:21:55 -0800

Does anyone have any suggestions for an all-in-one photo editing/FTP/weblogging software? I know how to do all the steps manually, but am having a very hard time teaching her how to do it all. Wanted features - photo cropping, auto levels, thumbnail creation, ftp, and hopefully some sort of utility to generate weblog posts with image url and popup code. Does that make sense?

Best DVD authoring tools?

skallas — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 03:56:59 -0800

DVD authoring tools. What are you guys using? Whats the best "bang for the buck" software out there for casual (non-professional) work? I'm really getting sick of running video and audio through virtudub and tmpgenc. I'm looking for a one stop solution. I'm eyeing the Nero Suite. I'd love to hear what other people are using or if Nero is worth buying.

Online Photo Albums

sugarfish — Mon, 03 May 2004 18:38:34 -0800

What software do you guys use for online photo albums? I've just gotten a new digital camera and I'd like something that, ideally, can take all the photos I have in a given directory and throw them up on the web in an album. It would be even better if I can add captions and allow comments. We are running Linux at home, and I'm looking for something easy -- I'm no programming goddess. Thanks!

Is there any software that will let users edit a wiki-like document without requiring a central server or network access?

jeb — Thu, 29 Jan 2004 12:58:10 -0800

Know of any software that will let multiple users edit a wiki-like document without requiring a central server or network access? [...] It has to run on OS X. In general, some Wiki software would be fine, but I don't want to be tied to the web to use it. A user should be able to use it on a plane and then synchronize his changes with the other users when he lands. There are a lot of different note-taking programs for OS X that seem good (dylanthink, boswell...) but I can't find any info on the webpages about multiple users editing the same knowledge repository at the same time and merging it, CVS-style. It seems like there would be tons of stuff like this, but I spent quite a long time googling and I couldn't find anything.

Any ideas?