Need recommendations for PC/software for editing HD video

[Chevypower]

I think for PCs either Pinnacle or Vegas Pro 8 would be both good, though I don't have much experience with Pinnacle.

[CyberVisions]

Originally Posted by rogman

Thanks to everyone for the feedback and recommendations. At this point I'm leaning towards the configuration I mentioned earlier and the Pinnacle software. It seems to have most of the features I'll need, won't have the learning curve of something more complex, and won't break the bank.

Still may try a couple free downloads though...

One thing I was going to mention about your proposed configuration but forgot -

You only have one HD mentioned for this system. If you're doing any kind of multimedia design or editing, you need at least 2. The RAM will help you avoid the problems many with one drive have, but once you start dealing with large files you want a scratch drive for your temporary files, not your primary. All my systems (desktop and notebook) have 2 internal HD's and at least 1 external.

For those that are using minimal configurations, such as just 1 drive and minimum RAM and doing any kind of media editing or design, using only 1 drive is the quickest way to burn it out. With minimum memory, the system relies on the single drive to make up the difference with virtual memory created during the edit. Anyone who's ever been in that situation has likely heard their drive running continuously, especially if you have background process hogs like Norton running at the same time. Drive MTBF's are normally designed between 3-5 years, but overtaxing like this can lower that to less than 2, depending on the drive manufacturer.

As far as drive manufacturers - Seagate and Matrox (Seagate bought Matrox, actually) are the 2 top current brands. Stay away from Western Digital. 20 years ago both Seagate and WD were the top HD leaders globally. About 15 years ago, WD's drive quality started going south, with new drives failing after barely a year. Lately they've been flooding the market with lower cost Solid State and high volume drives, but there's no indication that their quality has gotten any better. You usually get what you pay for.

Caveat Emptor.

[katharsis]

I would definitely recommend latest version of Sony Vegas to capture it all and maybe Adobe Premiere CS3 for later editing. Vegas is a bit limited in its editing features but a great program nonetheless. Been working with Premiere on and off for several years and keep coming back to it after trying Pinnacle and Ulead products.

Also your current setup is good enough to do it all, but if you are getting really serious about editing a lot of it (and I am not talking just cutting out pieces and pasting others together and having some fancy menu) you should upgrade the CPU at some point. Intel's are just better for video editing purposes.
Oh and a second drive is a must if you are dealing with big files!

Good luck

[AdvancedSetup]

A few comments, and a listing of various software packages though additional dedicated hardware would also greatly increase productivity for video editing.

• Intel Xeon processors are much faster for video editing than AMD, but a normal Dual Core or Quad Core is more within the range of a home user.
• Using a 2nd Hard Drive on another controller would be good
• Using multiple drives in RAID 10 would be best but is very expensive
• Having a GOOD video card is a must for fast video editing as well

Here are various solutions to consider for software alone editing. Based on what you've said I would think something in the Home User category would work just fine for your needs. As for Pinnacle, well it has been around for years and is a good product but support and driver issues have also plagued it for years, I've used it often but also been frustrated with it - so buyer beware is all I can say. I currently use Adobe Production Suite CS3 but it is expensive and overkill for your stated needs. As for the learning curve of Vegas I think that is over stated since I also know of 2 home users that bought it and have produced very good videos on their own without outside guidance beyond the help and Web. I've used Avid a little years ago and it too is great software but again expensive and overkill for your stated needs.

I would suggest one of the smaller/cheaper packages and try it out for a while, you can easily move up if you find that you're wanting more and if it does as you want then you've saved a bundle by not jumping onto one of the semi-pro expensive products.

The Macintosh is a great platform as well for video editing, but I see no need to switch platforms when Windows can just as easily edit videos as well these days and many Professional Videographers produce their work on Windows platforms, but again we're talking Home User in your case.


Free Video Editing Software

Microsoft Photo Story 3
Microsoft Photo Story 3

Overview
Create slideshows using your digital photos. With a single click, you can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add stunning special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile–based portable device.

Microsoft Windows Movie Maker 2.1
Windows Movie Maker

Wax
Wax

Wax is a high performance and flexible video compositing and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video compositing and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease everytime.
Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application which would appeal for home users/beginners, and as a "plug-in" to video editors/NLEs which would be more useful for professional editors. Currently Wax can work as a plug-in with Sony Vegas®, Pure Motion EditStudio and Adobe Premiere® and work for integrating with various other NLEs is in progress.

ZS4 Video Editor
ZS4 Video Editor

ZS4 Video Editor, the new incarnation of Zwei-Stein Video Editor, is advanced video editing and compositing software with over 150 built-in video effects.
ZS4 runs on Windows, Linux and OSX and is free to download and use.

Vivia - The Video Editor
Vivia - The Video Editor


Home user versions with lower learning curves

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 & Adobe Premiere Elements 7 $179.99
Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 & Adobe Premiere Elements 7

Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 7 & Adobe Premiere® Elements 7 software combines the #1 selling consumer photo- and video-editing software products at a great value, so you can tell amazing stories with photos and videos*. And now, extend the capabilities of your software with new Photoshop.com Plus** membership

Corel VideoStudio® Pro X2 $99.99
Corel VideoStudio® Pro X2

Corel VideoStudio® Pro X2 is an all-in-one video-editing software for creating high-quality HD and standard-definition movies, slide shows and DVDs. Edit video or photos quickly and easily using the Movie Wizard, or take full control with hands-on creative tools. Even paint, write or draw on your video. Burn your movies on DVDs, or high-definition AVCHD™ and Blu-ray discs. Share on PSP®, iPod® or iPhone®, upload directly to YouTube™. Watch your movies on set-top players or with the included Corel® WinDVD®.

Ulead DVD MovieFactory® 6 Plus $79.99
Ulead DVD MovieFactory® 6 Plus

PureHD™ - HD DVD and Blu-ray

• * PureHD™ Capture - Seamlessly capture from the latest high-definition video camcorders from Sony or Canon.
• * PureHD™ Authoring & Output - Produce next-generation HD DVD productions with menus.
• * Capture from either HDV or DV video camcorder, and burn directly to Blu-ray Disc to create a video disc that plays on your next-generation player.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum $84.95
Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum

Professional-Level Power for Your Home Studio
Video editing, audio production, and DVD authoring come together in a single, powerful solution. Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition software has everything needed to produce high-quality movies, corporate videos, wedding DVDs, and more. Easily edit video in almost any format including high definition. Powerful tools for video compositing, color correction, and surround sound mixing help you get feature-film results in your home studio. With integrated DVD authoring, Blu-ray Disc burning, and multiple options for online posting, you can deliver projects however you or your clients desire.

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12 $129.99
Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 12

Pinnacle Studio™ Ultimate version 12 lets you take advantage of the latest HD video editing technologies, including Blu-ray and AVCHD. All new Pinnacle Montage theme based editing - designed by professional producers and artists

Roxio Creator 2009 $99
Roxio Creator 2009

Roxio Creator 2009 is the only complete digital media software that lets family members of every age and experience level to easily create, preserve, and share their stories and passions

Pro / Semi-Pro user versions with higher learning curves

Avid Media Composer 3.0 $2,495.00
Avid Media Composer 3.0
Buy Avid Media Composer 3.0 online

The world's most powerful film and video editing software
If you're a creative editor, you want an editing tool that not only makes storytelling simple, but helps you track your project, organize your media, and pull you through the trouble spots. That's why so many professionals trust their best ideas to Avid Media Composer. Unsurpassed creative tools, rock-solid media management, and the highest quality effects and output make Media Composer the most powerful editing solution available

Avid Liquid 7 $499.99
Pinnacle/Avid Liquid 7

Avid Liquid’s powerful SD and HD video editor offers integrated DVD authoring; surround sound audio processing and 1000s of powerful real-time effects. Liquid’s integrated toolset provides all of the tools needed to create the highest quality productions and finish to tape, DVD or web streams

Sonly Vegas Pro 8 $549.95
Sonly Vegas Pro 8

Professional HD video editing, audio editing, and DVD authoring software
The Vegas Pro collection combines Vegas Pro 8, DVD Architect Pro 4.5, and Dolby® Digital AC-3 encoding software to offer an integrated environment for all phases of professional video, audio, DVD, and broadcast production. These tools let you edit and process DV, AVCHD, HDV, SD/HD-SDI, and all XDCAM™ formats in real time, fine-tune audio with precision, and author surround sound, dual-layer DVDs.
Vegas Pro 8.0c Features XDCAM HD 4:2:2 Camera Support, Fit-to-Fill Editing and Trimmer Tool Enhancements Including Source/Preview Mode; Vegas Pro 8.1 is Industry’s First Available Mainstream 64-bit NLE Software

Edius / Canopus - full line of Video Editing Software and Equipment
Canopus

Adobe® Creative Suite® 3 Production Premium $1,699
Adobe® Creative Suite® 3 Production Premium
Adobe® Creative Suite® 3 Production Premium software combines

• Adobe Bridge CS3
• Adobe Dynamic Link
• Adobe Device Central CS3
• Adobe Acrobat® Connect™
• Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional
• Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3
• Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
• Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
• Adobe Illustrator® CS3
• Adobe Soundbooth™ CS3
• Adobe Encore® CS3
• Adobe OnLocation™ CS3* (Windows® only)
• Adobe Ultra® CS3 (Windows only)

Maximize your productivity with Adobe® Creative Suite® 3 Production Premium software, the total post-production solution available for both Mac and Windows®. Tighter-than-ever integration between Adobe's all-new video, audio, and design tools — now including Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional software — offers a smooth workflow from concept to delivery. Reach the widest possible audience by delivering content to film, video, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, the web, and mobile devices.

Adobe® Creative Suite® 3.3 Master Collection $2,499
Adobe® Creative Suite® 3.3 Master Collection
Adobe® Creative Suite® 3.3 Master Collection combines

• Adobe Bridge CS3
• Adobe Version Cue® CS3
• Adobe Device Central CS3
• Adobe Acrobat® Connect™
• Adobe Dynamic Link
• Adobe InDesign® CS3
• Adobe Photoshop® CS3 Extended
• Adobe Illustrator® CS3
• Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro
• Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional
• Adobe Dreamweaver® CS3
• Adobe Fireworks® CS3
• Adobe Contribute®
• Adobe After Effects® CS3 Professional
• Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3
• Adobe Soundbooth® CS3
• Adobe Encore® CS3
• Adobe OnLocation™ CS3 (Windows® only)
• Adobe Ultra® CS3 (Windows only)

Other Video / 3D related software

Blender
Blender

Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License.

Jahshaka
Jahshaka

• Edit with flexibility and speed
• Create Effects in real time
• Animate with unlimited features
• Paint and design on moving video
• Create music with all the tools the pros use
• Work in any format at any resolution

AVIedit
AVIedit

AVIedit allows you to join and split avi files, extract frames and do whatever you want... You can capture video by number of ways, including one-frame-per-minute (web camera) option, workaround annoying 2 Gb file size limit, send your videos to printer, heavy compress it and post to your webpage. You can change framerate, duration, frame size, color depth of your videos and other properties, even without recompression and without loss of video quality. AVIedit allows you to convert avi clips to bmp and bmp to avi, animated GIFs etc.

Avidemux
Avidemux

Avidemux is a free video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks

StoryBoard Pro
StoryBoard Pro

Atomic Learning's FREE Video StoryBoard Pro is designed to give teachers, students, and home movie makers a tool to plan ahead when creating video projects

Video Help
Video Help

Video Guys - Sales {can be used to find products and information - then search for better pricing elsewhere if desired}
Video Guys

WE ARE THE VIDEO EDITING & PRODUCTION EXPERTS!
Videoguys.com is family owned and operated and has proudly served videographers and producers like you for the past 25 years. For three generations, we have been shooting footage of our growing families and have spent countless hours editing. We actually install and use the equipment we sell and we love to share our experience and expertise with you.
Whether you’re a beginner or professional, our knowledgeable Videoguys Team is available to answer all of your questions before, during and after the sale. We’ll even stand behind our recommendations with a 30-day money-back guarantee and FREE tech support – a customer service policy unmatched in the industry!

[rogman]

Originally Posted by rogman

The hard drive on my Sony SR11 is nearly full, and I'm in the market for a PC to edit the video and burn it to DVD-Rs (in AVCHD format) and later (when the prices come down) to BR discs. I'm not sure how much horsepower I'll need to edit/author the HD video. Here are the specs I'm looking at on an HP desktop PC:

• AMD Phenom X4 9850 Quad-core (2.5GHz)
• Windows Vista 64-bit
• 6GB RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT w/512k VRAM
• 750GB hard drive

Is that enough to edit 1080P video? (Without the rendering taking all night!)

Also, any recommendations for editing/authoring software? The two biggies (with support for AVCHD) seem to be Sony Vegas and Pinnacle Studio. I have an old version of Studio (8) that seemed to work great- except for the fact that it crashed all the time. Has anyone used either/both for editing HD video? Preference? Thanks!

Thanks again to everyone who chipped in their .02 cents. I picked up a copy of Pinnacle Ultimate 12 (on sale at Best Buy) for $100. I installed in on our new laptop (which was NOT bought to be the video editing machine). The laptop specs are:

• AMD TL-60 Core Duo (2Ghz)
• 3GB RAM
• NVIDIA integrated graphics card
• 200GB HD

I'll still be buying a new PC soon, but this weekend I'm going to try the capture/render/burn just to see if the laptop can handle it. I'm sure it may take awhile! I'm planning to make a regular DVD, and hopefully to try the AVCHD process to make a 1080P disc. If/when I'm able to do this, I'll post some times... just for the curious.

[xpoleartist]

Hi all,

Newbie here - Sorry to throw you all off track - i cant find a thread that helps answer this question... just learning about all of this & I have a question for you?

We have just shot some footage of a pole show in HD as we are planning to release it on BLURAY. Is there a way of making this footage into a 3D DVD?

I know on our TV you can push a button to 'watch' HD in 3D, but it's not as clear as real 3D DVDs, so just wondering how it all works?

Thank you all for your advice!

[jason_manikin]

try the 4media video editor, it can handle loads of different formats!