Non-music software advice please.

[Neil B]

Well, you guys are all techie minded so a bit of advice please to a Windows 7 user.
I'm quite a Luddite over some techie things - for instance my mobile phone cost me £7 UK a few years ago & I use it no more than 10-20 times per year (the odd text & phone call)
Don't have a laptop, ipad or anything like that so I'm out of touch>

Firstly, I want some movie editing software. Basically I have a compact camera that takes MP4 video footage. New camera & quite impressed with the video stability & quality.
All I want to be able to do is to cut bits out of the footage (shakey or boring bits) and assemble a final "holiday" memory. Not bothered about fade-ins or outs although they may be useful.
I would like to add a bit of text for locations for instance. It would be useful to move the clips around from several different "takes" on different days too.
The final thing I want to do is to burn to DVD to view on TV through a DVD player
Don't want to pay too much and I also realise that there is a lot of free software out there. However, a lot of free software can be "buggy"
So what are you using? What do you recommend?

Secondly, I want a package to convert PDF's to MS Word (Docx etc) and probably vice-versa.
Same applies - don't want to spend a fortune and am wary of free software.
Any recommendations please?



Thanks
Neil

[jksuperstar]

Since you already have Windows 7, look at Windows Live Movie Maker (it's already on your PC, and free). It's pretty simple, without too many features (just what you want).

The only not-so-obvious thing is burning a DVD, here's the instructions:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... r-burn-dvd

[Neil B]

Thanks for that. In fact it isn't installed so I've downloaded & am having a play
Neil

[hubird]

Neilman, I can recommend Magix (only pc), about 60 euro for the latest version, older versions probably for half of that.
Missing that program is the only thing my brother regrets after his convertion to Apple
You can add audio tracks to it, the sound editing possibilities you will know to handle at first look.
I did edits on the audio recordings my brother made along his video recording of immense crane populations in the wild.
I was able to filter out the sound of driving trucks on the highway far away, with a noise cancelling feature.

Not strong enough to get you in touch again, you would need a Final Cut Pro for that, but it's a start

[dante]

I can vouch for Magix - that's what I used to make the Scope promo here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1Oe-B6G2c

[Nestor]

I die for Vegas Pro, my horse for everything movie related: very simple, very powerful, very fast, no nonsense interface, direct and intuitive for anyone even not willing to learn.

[garyb]

yeah, Vegas is very good and there are plenty of inexpensive options with Vegas.

[hubird]

yes, but the price is not in line with Neil's conditions...

[garyb]

$100, not much.

but windows movie maker might be plenty.

[hubird]

Vegas Pro 12 Edit, cheapest version, advise 299,95 euro, is what I found...
Or you meant Movie Studio 13 Suite, 109,95 euro, from the same house
Nestor?

[bosone]

i used cyberlink powerdirector to make my holyday movies and my music videos (see in the "Music" section some recent example... )

simple, easy, cheap , and has everything that i need!

[Neil B]

Thanks everyone - very helpful

I played around with the windows live movie maker but didn't like it.
Enjoyed your demo videos - thanks guys - very useful in showing what can be achieved.

Goggled & went to the Magix & Cyberlink sites.
Magix looks great and their demo videos were good - more than I need. However, there were no screen shots tutorials that really grabbed me - even on You Tube
Cyberlink site had some great demos & tutorials re stretching the timeline etc and I think on the basis of this I'll probably go for the Cyberlink Powerdirector 13. I liked the look of the package in the demo video - seemed just what I need.
Not sure whether to go for the Deluxe, Ultra or Ultimate though. Probably the deluxe is all I need.

Comments?

Neil

[hubird]

shit, I lost

Show us a result ASAP

[bosone]

Thanks everyone - very helpful


Cyberlink site had some great demos & tutorials re stretching the timeline etc and I think on the basis of this I'll probably go for the Cyberlink Powerdirector 13. I liked the look of the package in the demo video - seemed just what I need.
Not sure whether to go for the Deluxe, Ultra or Ultimate though. Probably the deluxe is all I need.

i have the ultra one because there was an offer when i bought it, but it was less than 80€ i remember...
i never used all the theme designers addons they gave me, so don't be fooled by that content!

[Neil B]

I've ordered the Ultra version too - got a reasonable deal at £68 / 86 euros.

Never mind Huub - you only lost by a whisker. No promises about how long it'll be before I show you a result. Probably never as I scrapped my website so have nowhere to upload it!

Thanks for your help everyone.

[Nestor]

I've ordered the Ultra version too - got a reasonable deal at £68 / 86 euros.

Never mind Huub - you only lost by a whisker. No promises about how long it'll be before I show you a result. Probably never as I scrapped my website so have nowhere to upload it!

Thanks for your help everyone.

Of course you have, open an channel in Youtube and you have all you need and even more...

[fra77x]

i use virtual dub for simple video editing. Open source and very good.

http://www.virtualdub.org/

[Neil B]

Quick update

Started using the Cyberlink Powerdirector Ultra.
I like it - very intuitive & easy to get going with. Has a Cubasey feel in some respects, so it's nice to use.

Thanks for all your input.