I have been reading everywhere on the net on advice for what editing program i should buy.
I want something inbetween pro and beginner.
Some say Studio 9, but others say it is very unreliable. Same with Videostudio 8. I would like it to be quite simple to use in regards to trimming,colour correction and dvd authoring. If, there is a good program that fits the bill but doesnt author, what is an easy to use and very RELIABLE dvd authoring program?

Step 1: Buy a Mac and get Final Cut Express

Step 2: ...there is no step 2.

I totally agree with everything trespasser said.
thats exactly what i did and i love it.

I dont want to get into a Mac Vs PC debate.
I have a new PC, so i am not going out and buying a MAC simply for Final Cut Pro.
I am just after advice on PC editing programs.
Save the Pro Mac **** for someone else

Check out Avid XPress Pro. If you are a student, it is only $395 from JourneyEd.com.

As far as DVD authoring, Adobe makes one now for the PC don't they?

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

ps - btw I like what Trespasser said - but I'd get a Mac and then buy Xpress Pro. Xpress Pro runs on both PC and Mac.

Try out Vegas 5 from Sony. You can get a 30 day trial version from their website. I tried it out and I found it to be a very good program. Took me a few days to figure most of it out, but I like it alot more than Premier, which is the only other editing software I have used. It has color correction, compositing, 3-d track motion, and a bunch of other stuff I haven't used yet. If youre a student, you can also buy it for about 190 bucks at different sites.

on studica, the price is only $295

http://www.studica.com/products/product_detail.cfm?productid=7879

i never liked fce

Sony's Vegas is built on a program called DVD Architect2.0 Dvd architect is by far one of the best pc DVD-authoring programs ive seen. There is a bit of a learning curve, but the capabilities of the program are awesome.

FCP is so overated. Personally, id rather use Premiere. Premiere is pretty standard for indie editing, and the basics of it are easy to learn, but like was said before, eventually, you are going to want Avid. That is what most of the big companies out there use now. I recently got turned down for a contract job because while I knew Premiere, After Effects, and FCP nearly inside and out, I didnt know Avid.

"Pro Mac ****" ??? wow, I don't even have to point out the fallacy in that.

I would stay away from Premiere though, because it is extremely problamatic when it comes to a lot things, like exporting, and freezing problems (even on fast PC). I've used all of the top three (FCP, Avid, Premiere), and Avid is your best bet in this situation. (btw, FCP is over-rated because it's an excellent program if you learn how to use it, certainly less error-prone than Premiere in my experience).

I'd just like to clarify that Premiere related exporting and freezing problems are more symptomatic of 6.5 and older, not Pro. PPro (particularly 1.5) is far more stable.

And the DVD program adobe has released is called Encore. Only use version 1.5 of it, 1.0 is buggy as hell.

I'm not even going near the MAC vs PC end of this thing. End of post

I'm agreeing with Trespasser and ktabes on this one, however I can understand your situation [plus there's too many Mac Vs. PC debates as it is]. Last time I used my PC for editing [can barely even remember] I used Vegas and it was pretty good [a lot of transitions and things didn't require rendering]. Plus, my friend also uses it and says it has a very simple interface. I haven't tried Pro or Avid, but I would say Avid has got to be on the top of your list if you plan on getting editing software that's more advanced. Good luck, hope to see some of your work soon.

Thanks for everyones advice.
I have gone and d/l Vegas 5, and i have to admit, it will take me awhile to get to grips with it as my attention span is very low when it comes to computers. Id rather be doing something else outside, but, if i want it down, ill have to knuckle down.
BTW, i wasnt trying to start a whole MAC VS PC debate. My point was i own a new PC, so i am not buying a mac just for editing. MACs may or may not be better, but thats irrelavent, as i dont own one ( and if i had the money for one, id be buying a new camera or drumkit before it anyway).
Why are people so protective of what they own or prefer? You prefer MAC...good for you, but not everyone wants one

Final Cut Express really sucks. No keyframes! Keyframes are important! I have FCP and it rocks. It is the exact same thing except for keyframes and a bunch of other pro stuff that you should look into.

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Originally posted by angryassdrummer:
Why are people so protective of what they own or prefer? You prefer MAC...good for you, but not everyone wants one

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The SAME could be said for PC owners

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posted December 15, 2004 11:08 PM
Thanks for everyones advice.
I have gone and d/l Vegas 5

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Good man. Vegas will not let you down

I don't know how someone can diss Final Cut and expect to live to talk about it!

*slays countless villages*


I would personally stay away from Premiere. Like has been said, it is problematic. Very. But, that could just be because it's a PC thing... it runs good occasionally but blows up for seemingly no reason. Also, run away from Pinnacle crap. It's tons worse than anything from Adobe.
In my opinion, Adobe should stick to Photoshop and .pdf files.

This mac vs pc bull**** is such a waste of time. You guys act like you invented mac/final cut pro. I am not pro pc or mac, i couldnt give a ****. I have a pc, big deal, im not going to try and convert everyone to get one. I t was obvious from my original question i had a pc, so why people even bothered talking about final cut pro is beyond me. Besides, if you want to talk industry standards, you better start talking about AVID. Its just an editing program for god sake! Its so juevenile going back and forward saying this is better than that etc. BORING. OK, i have Vegas 5 now, enough talk on final cut pro. Thanks to all who took the question seriously rather than masturbated about FCP!

quote:

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Originally posted by Movieman21:
FCP is so overated. Personally, id rather use Premiere. Premiere is pretty standard for indie editing, and the basics of it are easy to learn, but like was said before, eventually, you are going to want Avid. That is what most of the big companies out there use now. I recently got turned down for a contract job because while I knew Premiere, After Effects, and FCP nearly inside and out, I didnt know Avid.

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Hmm. I guess that's true. You should know Avid. But as an editor, you should know lots of stuff, some a lot better than others.

But shows like 24 and movies like Cold Mountain are done Final Cut Pro. The only reason people use alot of Avid is because Avid was the only people that did computer editing systems, and so studios bought their equipment and got stuck in these large contracts with them. Once you have everyont trained in that one program. it's hard to justify spending money to get people to use something else. Plus Avid keeps adjusting and improving.

But Final Cut is making a dent in Avid's market that Premiere never really did, and it's becsause of a lot of the features that Final Cut has over Avid and Premiere.