Help Video editing software for Windows 7

In summary: The final format on the DVD is Mpeg2 but you need some software to make the VOB files etcIf you have lots of HD space then just saving uncompressed (ie YUV420) is best.Do most video editing suites save to this format? A quick Google hints that this is a very rare format to be used in the editing process.
  • #1
DaveC426913
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I need to do some editing of videos I've got in .VOB format from a minicam.

I need to do the usual fading, video marking in and out, and inclusion of still slides.

One of the more sophisticated things it looks like I need to do is to crop dynamically over time (i.e. crop the video down to half-screen but be able to follow a speaker walking around on-stage) so that I can put the speaker up along with their slide show.

I'd like to get some recommendations for video editing software. This is for Windows 7, needs to be free or cheap (<$99).

I tried 'Video Spirit Pro' but it has some serious shortcomings.

Suggestions?
 
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  • #2
You can get windows movie maker - it's still free but it's been moved to the windows-live downloads.

For simple editing and format conversion I use virtualdub or avidemux (both opensource).
For complex conversion you can use this with avisynth - a scripting language for video streams
 
  • #3
If this is going to be burned to DVD, what format should I be outputting my files to?

I want to avoid multiple generations of conversion. From source to final to DVD.

So it's not necessarily about what format they'll be in when on the actual DVD, I'm asking if there's an intermediate format for the final files on my HD before I burn them to DVD. I don't think I want to burn my editing project directly to DVD.
 
  • #4
If you have lots of HD space then just saving uncompressed (ie YUV420) is best.
I think the windows stores stuff in it's own format. But normally the editors will just store a list of points in the original files to cut and it works from those.

Final format on the DVD is Mpeg2 but you need some software to make the VOB files etc
 
  • #5
NobodySpecial said:
If you have lots of HD space then just saving uncompressed (ie YUV420) is best.
Do most video editing suites save to this format? A quick Google hints that this is a very rare format to be used in the editing process.

Any idea how much storage ~10 hours of uncompressed video will use?


NobodySpecial said:
I think the windows stores stuff in it's own format. But normally the editors will just store a list of points in the original files to cut and it works from those.
Right well, that simply means I keep the video editing projects around until aready to burn directly to the DVD. I don't trust that, but if it works...

And it's more than cutting. I've got to dovetail video, audio and slides.

NobodySpecial said:
Final format on the DVD is Mpeg2 but you need some software to make the VOB files etc
? Why do I need to make VOB files?

VOB files are what I'm starting with, true, but if I'm outputting to uncompressed, then burning to MPEG, where does VOB fit in?
 
  • #6
NobodySpecial said:
You can get windows movie maker - it's still free but it's been moved to the windows-live downloads.

For simple editing and format conversion I use virtualdub or avidemux (both opensource).
For complex conversion you can use this with avisynth - a scripting language for video streams

Hm. I don't think this is going to be simple. The horrific job of recording I did (camera moving, speaker moving) suggests that I've got a lot of post work to do. (see diagram)
 

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  • #7
How about Sony Vegas + DVD Architect? It does a great job of editing audio as well.
 
  • #9
DaveC426913 said:
Do most video editing suites save to this format?
It's the color space that mpeg is based on - before the compression - but only takes up 1/2 the space of raw RGB.

VOB files are what I'm starting with, true, but if I'm outputting to uncompressed, then burning to MPEG, where does VOB fit in?
If you just want to save avi files on a data DVD for a computer to read you don't - but if you want to make a video DVD then you need to make the DVD structure.
 
  • #10
NobodySpecial said:
If you just want to save avi files on a data DVD for a computer to read you don't - but if you want to make a video DVD then you need to make the DVD structure.
OK, but I don't understand the relationship between VOB and MPEG2.
 
  • #11
waht said:
Check out the AVS:

http://www.avs4you.com/AVS-Video-Editor.aspx

It costs about $60, and will give you peace of mind.

I will definitely check that out. I saw a download but did not see a $ or a way to pay. Maybe after I download?
 
  • #12
DaveC426913 said:
OK, but I don't understand the relationship between VOB and MPEG2.

MPEG2 is the compression algorithm, it just contains the image pixels.

You then need a container format that tells the player the image size, frames per second etc and combines any audio or subtitle tracks. That's the .avi or .mp4 (or .wmv, .ogg, .mkv ...) wrapper.

On a DVD video disk the audio, video, subtitle data is contained in VOB (video object) files along with a separate IFO file that describes the format.
 

1. What are the system requirements for using Help Video editing software on Windows 7?

The system requirements for Help Video editing software on Windows 7 are a 1 GHz or faster processor, at least 1 GB of RAM, and minimum of 1 GB of available hard disk space. Additionally, a graphics card with at least 128 MB of video memory is recommended.

2. Can I import and edit videos from different sources in Help Video editing software on Windows 7?

Yes, Help Video editing software on Windows 7 allows you to import videos from various sources such as your computer, digital cameras, and smartphones. You can then easily edit and combine these videos to create your desired project.

3. Is Help Video editing software compatible with different video file formats on Windows 7?

Yes, Help Video editing software is compatible with a wide range of video file formats including MP4, AVI, MOV, and WMV on Windows 7. This allows you to work with different types of videos without the need for converting them to a specific format.

4. Can I add special effects and transitions to my videos using Help Video editing software on Windows 7?

Absolutely! Help Video editing software offers a variety of special effects, filters, and transitions that you can apply to your videos on Windows 7. You can easily enhance your videos and make them more visually appealing with these features.

5. Does Help Video editing software on Windows 7 have a user-friendly interface?

Yes, Help Video editing software has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and use. It offers a simple drag-and-drop feature for adding media files and a timeline for arranging and editing your videos. The interface is designed to make the editing process smooth and efficient for Windows 7 users.

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