Please recommend a good, not too expensive video editor

Ecuadorian · 4 Jun 2011, 01:01

I've been editing in Windows Live Movie Maker. Everything in it is great, except that video quality suffers after editing. I've tried increasing the bitrate, but it still degrades the video... This only becomes worse after converting from wmv to mp4 for support on more devices.

My current video workflow is:

-Render High Definition TGA/PNG sequence from LightUp/L*mion
-Assemble sequences into MP4 video clips with VirtualDub and the x264vfw codec
-Edit in Windows Live Movie Maker
-Convert to MP4 using Handbrake
-Give both the WMV and the MP4 edited files to the client, and also the unedited sequences in both MP4 and JPG format (Converted to JPG with VirtualDub).

Any suggestions are welcome. I'm currently happy with Movie Maker, except for the final quality, so I don't need a lot. My main requests would be:

-Ability to open TGA/PNG sequences directly without needing previous conversion
-Ability to detect hard scene changes in the sequence, and automatically split the sequence into clips
-Save to both MP4 and WMV
-Must handle 720p and 1080p videos of up to 6 minutes without trouble.
-Fast preview.
-Ability to burn Blu-ray discs would be a nice bonus.

Khai · 4 Jun 2011, 01:09

I don't know if it's got all the features you listed but -

http://www.lightworksbeta.com/

Lightworks Beta.

solo · 4 Jun 2011, 01:12

http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/v2/

Gaieus · 4 Jun 2011, 06:22

That LightWorks looks interesting, thanks, Khai. Do you know anything about the price? I see it is in Beta now and can be downloaded for free but what about a final version? (The "Store" has not opened yet).

Pete, that's a good link, too, thanks.

I am currently thinking on Corel Video Studio Pro 4. The price is different from what is in that comparison chart however ($ 79 would be the upgrade price). Currently it is also on sale ($ 59 instead of $ 99 - and the upgrade is $ 39).

It can do all what Miguel listed.

That CyberLink PowerDirector 9 Deluxe is cheaper however...

Khai · 4 Jun 2011, 13:21

here's the announcement on Lightworks -

@unknownuser said:

"Back in April 2010, we announced our plans to take Lightworks open source. We always said the first step would be to make the application freely available so that a large community of users could start becoming familiar with it. We are very pleased to have reached this first milestone. Now you can freely download the most intuitive and advanced editor available. This is not a trial download. From here forward, you will always be able to download and use the latest version of Lightworks for free.

Some time in the middle of 2011, we hope to reach our next milestone - releasing the source code to any developer who wants to build upon what we started. We wish we were ready to do that now. However, before we can release any source, we have several hundred thousand lines of code to review to make sure it's all cleared for opening up. We are making progress but we are not there yet.

In the meantime, we invite you to get familiar with Lightworks, an Academy and Emmy award winning professional-grade editor with over 20 years of history in the film and broadcast industry. Having cut hundreds of films such as Pulp Fiction, The Departed, Centurion and Shutter Island, it includes a full feature set of editorial tools -- from advanced trimming and media management, to stereoscopic support and realtime effects including multiple secondary colour correctors. Lightworks has an advanced effects pipeline, utilizing the power of your GPU. And with support for up to 2K workflows with realtime effects, it is the most advanced editing application available. "

Gaieus · 4 Jun 2011, 21:02

Thanks, Khai. This is indeed impressive!

Ecuadorian · 4 Jun 2011, 21:08

@gaieus said:

It can do all what Miguel listed.

Thanks, I'll check it out immediately.

I had a hard time trying to figure out Lightworks and the demo of Sony Vegas Pro.

Gaieus · 4 Jun 2011, 21:37

Well, I have also installed LW but I seem to get lost. Maybe later...
It also freezes a lot (and cannot even replay a 19 sec movie - with nothing else added! - without lags)

brodie · 8 Jun 2011, 20:09

I used to use Adobe Premiere Elements which was quite nice for most work and I think it was like $99.

Since then we got a new adobe suite which included the full version which does more stuff but isn't as user friendly as Elements.

-Brodie

Ecuadorian · 13 Jun 2011, 03:07

Thanks everyone.

I'm now down to two options:
Corel VideoStudioPro X4 (32 bit)
PowerDirector 9 Ultra (64 bit)

I'm currently testing Corel, and although you can import an image sequence, it's treated as individual slides in the timeline instead of a videoclip. I found the exporting counter-intuitive, but still easier than with others I've tried, except WL Movie Maker.

Now to download PowerDirector...

pilou · 13 Jun 2011, 16:52

Maybe an free old one
WAX

Ecuadorian · 22 Jun 2011, 16:13

Update:

So I ended up deciding for Corel. I ordered the thing, the charge is already in my Paypal account, but all I got from the Corel online Store was an error message.

Now trying to contact them...
Grr.... They have no online chat. Time to dust my spoken English skills and call them.

Rich O Brien · 22 Jun 2011, 16:39

First the iPod epic and now Corel. Did a black cat cross your path? Have you walked under any ladders?

Your the second unluckiest member here...

Ecuadorian · 22 Jun 2011, 16:46

And I haven't told you about the time when I ordered Lumion... The $1K+ charge appeared dozens of times in my PayPal account and my bank kept calling me about those charges. The whole thing took a while to clear up. And to make things worse, the local customs said I had to pay $380 for the import of the #@&! USB dongle. I complained to the Lumion guys so much about the dongle thing that they now use online activation.

Now returning to the Corel case: I got tired of waiting on the phone, but I found a way to send them a message using the form found here:
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1284151700373

Ecuadorian · 22 Jun 2011, 16:48

Second? Who's the unluckiest member?

Gaieus · 23 Jun 2011, 05:51

Sorry Miguel as it was me who suggested Corel. However good to see your progress in this matter as I am also planning to buy it so it may depend on what you experience here.

Ecuadorian · 23 Jun 2011, 23:01

Well, they replied today and said they would forward my case to someone else. Fortunately, I still have days left in my 30-day trial.

No prob, Csaba. I liked Corel the best of the ones I tried, but online purchases do not always go as smoothly as one would wish.

Ecuadorian · 24 Jun 2011, 20:41

Update: This morning I received the serial number from Corel.

So, for just 50 bucks (If you delete the "download insurance" from the shopping cart), I got what I wanted.

Thanks for your recommendation, Csaba.

Gaieus · 26 Jun 2011, 22:08

Ah, good. You were my lab rat - now I may also consider it.

What is "download insurance"?

Ecuadorian · 27 Jun 2011, 01:14

Supposedly, they give you another chance to download the installer for 2 full years.

It makes no sense, really, as you can always download the trial version again and just unlock it. In fact, I didn't have to download anything after receiving my serial number and going through the activation procedure.