Video editing woes
After being forced to purchase a new computer, and Windows 7 being about the only real option out there, if you need to be able to do much (unless you're up for a Mac, which at this point might have been equally as easy to transition to), I've had some major roadblocks come up in my video editing endeavors.
Previously, I had Panasonic's video capture and basic editing software to capture video from my DV camcorder. It was only really useful in capturing the video, and being as I assumed it best knew how to retain the original content without changing anything, just transferring the data to my computer, I used it purely for capture. Yes, I know that DV is outdated now. That doesn't mean everyone can purchase the latest and greatest every two years when new stuff comes out. In 2006 when I got this camcorder, it was made of awesome! I can't afford a new one, though I'd love Panasonic's HD camcorder that captures in 1080p at 60fps. Though many complain because it requires a quad core PC of uber power to edit. Ah well, I've got one of those now, thanks to the death of my previous computer. So I'd be all set. Then again, I can't buy one so it's a moot point.
Windows 7 didn't like Panasonic's DV capture software, which required some research and downloading a patched version of the software. Then I need to edit what I capture, and I do all of that in the raw avi format. I hate how much quality is lost in MPEG2, also. I wish I could've gotten a Blu-ray burner with this computer, but it cost more than I wanted to add to the price. I'm still paying it off as it is. At least that way I could just convert to whatever format Blu-ray video is in and not have to downcompress and lose quality.
All right, the point is that Pinaccle's suite, which I'd been using for years, won't install on Win 7. It says "There are known compatibility issues with this software and this version of Windows." So it won't let me install it.
Does anyone know of any type of free software out there that will let me do any level of real editing, without needing a Bachelor's in videography that is, and then output in formats that will work on DVD's? I mean, most free stuff I can find won't convert to MPEG2. It's vexing that you have to pay on top of paying on top of paying just to use a codec to encode your video so you can view it on your DVD player that you've already paid for!
It's interesting to note that from AVA Direct, custom built, my computer still only came with a trail version of Nero Essentials. It won't let me do DVD burning but for a 30 day trial period. I guess unless you get a PC in a box, using the term such as home theater in a box as we all know how 'wonderful' those are, you can't get much bundled software. That's okay, but I do want some, like with my retail version DVD burner! It's nice that the hardware companies can't even bother with including full editions of the software like they used to. If I had gotten the OEM version of the disc drive, then I wouldn't even have this. It really doesn't matter. The software is very limited and won't allow me to do what I need to.
Windows supposedly comes with Windows Movie Maker, but I don't have it on here, and I highly doubt it comes with an MPEG2 compression codec. Probably just WMP and the like. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I might just have to start saving up for the latest version of Pinaccle Studio. That stuff is pretty cool.
I will say that Windows 7 comes with a simple DVD maker that's pretty nifty if you just want to point and click your way through the process and have a fairly nice DVD as the outcome. It'll separate chapters into animated menu categories and stuff. Pinaccle Studio, whatever version I had, was from 2005, and that's just archaic in comparison. DVD menu making in that stuff sucked.
Previously, I had Panasonic's video capture and basic editing software to capture video from my DV camcorder. It was only really useful in capturing the video, and being as I assumed it best knew how to retain the original content without changing anything, just transferring the data to my computer, I used it purely for capture. Yes, I know that DV is outdated now. That doesn't mean everyone can purchase the latest and greatest every two years when new stuff comes out. In 2006 when I got this camcorder, it was made of awesome! I can't afford a new one, though I'd love Panasonic's HD camcorder that captures in 1080p at 60fps. Though many complain because it requires a quad core PC of uber power to edit. Ah well, I've got one of those now, thanks to the death of my previous computer. So I'd be all set. Then again, I can't buy one so it's a moot point.
Windows 7 didn't like Panasonic's DV capture software, which required some research and downloading a patched version of the software. Then I need to edit what I capture, and I do all of that in the raw avi format. I hate how much quality is lost in MPEG2, also. I wish I could've gotten a Blu-ray burner with this computer, but it cost more than I wanted to add to the price. I'm still paying it off as it is. At least that way I could just convert to whatever format Blu-ray video is in and not have to downcompress and lose quality.
All right, the point is that Pinaccle's suite, which I'd been using for years, won't install on Win 7. It says "There are known compatibility issues with this software and this version of Windows." So it won't let me install it.
Does anyone know of any type of free software out there that will let me do any level of real editing, without needing a Bachelor's in videography that is, and then output in formats that will work on DVD's? I mean, most free stuff I can find won't convert to MPEG2. It's vexing that you have to pay on top of paying on top of paying just to use a codec to encode your video so you can view it on your DVD player that you've already paid for!
It's interesting to note that from AVA Direct, custom built, my computer still only came with a trail version of Nero Essentials. It won't let me do DVD burning but for a 30 day trial period. I guess unless you get a PC in a box, using the term such as home theater in a box as we all know how 'wonderful' those are, you can't get much bundled software. That's okay, but I do want some, like with my retail version DVD burner! It's nice that the hardware companies can't even bother with including full editions of the software like they used to. If I had gotten the OEM version of the disc drive, then I wouldn't even have this. It really doesn't matter. The software is very limited and won't allow me to do what I need to.
Windows supposedly comes with Windows Movie Maker, but I don't have it on here, and I highly doubt it comes with an MPEG2 compression codec. Probably just WMP and the like. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I might just have to start saving up for the latest version of Pinaccle Studio. That stuff is pretty cool.
I will say that Windows 7 comes with a simple DVD maker that's pretty nifty if you just want to point and click your way through the process and have a fairly nice DVD as the outcome. It'll separate chapters into animated menu categories and stuff. Pinaccle Studio, whatever version I had, was from 2005, and that's just archaic in comparison. DVD menu making in that stuff sucked.