Video editing help needed

[Ar-Pharazon]

I have recently been using Windows Movie Maker to edit video already ripped to .wmv format into a "greatest hits" kinda thing. So far I have saved into another .wmv file and an .avi file.

It looks good in this format watched on the computer. But when I tried to burn this to DVD with Roxio to watch on my TV, it looked like crap. The video in question, 3 stooges shorts from original remastered DVD collections, is as clean as can be.

I also have Pinnacle Studio 11, which I don't think much of. It came with a video capture device I bought a year ago.

What programs are there that can do a better job of this (editing from file or DVD, layout and re-recording to file or DVD)? Preferably not freeware, but I don't need some high end commercial/professional thing either.

I use Magic DVD Ripper to convert to .wmv, my original plan was to be able to watch TV episodes I already own on DVD on the computer. The new plan is to be able to re-record edited stuff onto DVD to give to others to watch. I also have Magic DVD Copier, so if I want to do DVD to DVD copying, I'm already there in that respect.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

First, take a look at the quality you are saving you movie at. No matter what program you use, this will cause you the same problem.

You are probably saving at "Best for viewing on my Computer" preset? Which is similar to VHS quality. Scroll through the options and choose DVD quality.

As far as other software, Sony Vegas is not bad, plus there are reasonably priced versions.

 

[jgdst]

Same recommendations as above... I always ignore the suggested options by Movie Maker and go for the best quality I can.

I'll also recommend Sony Vegas... If you can find a good deal or don't mind splashing out a bit, you can also produce anything up to full 1080 HD quality video. However, I've found that higher quality videos made in Sony Vegas don't always play well on Media Player... I'd recommend DivX or VLC for alternative players in that case.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Capture uncompressed if you can afford the disk space. When you save your edited version, do your compression there, or archive uncompressed and transcode with virtualdub or similar for publication.

Every pass through a codec will reduce the picture quality somewhat, so make sure you start with the best possible quality.

Otherwise, same as above.

 

[JustAFriend]

Hands down, go spend $50 and get Sony Vegas Movie Studio with DVD Architect.
(I've seen it on sale for as little as $39, so hunt around....)

Dead easy to use and has been a 'no fail' movie editor for me.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

double post.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Regarding the save quality in WMM, these are the choices:

They're all .wmv format except the highlighted one, just different quality levels.
I saved in the one below that one, but didn't get good results.

Any apps that can pull the clips directly from the DVD, without having to convert the first time?

 

[farmkid]

I've never used Magic DVD Ripper, but a quick look at the website indicates that it can rip the DVD to the hard drive without transcoding it. If you just want to make a DVD of highlight clips, the best way is to simply rip the DVD to the hard drive first without transcoding. If each episode is a separate .vob, then you can use those files directly in your DVD creation software and clip off the parts you don't want. If an individual episode is spread across multiple .vob files, or if the entire DVD is one title with bookmarks for each episode, then you will need to use something else to extract the individual episodes to .mpg files (don't reencode, just exrtract mpg2 video files from .vob files). DVD2MPG will join .vob segments and save DVD video files to .mpg files without reencoding.

If you haven't already, you should check out the VideoHelp website. You can find programs, guides, and advice there to do just about whatever you want to.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I did try reading that .vob file with something, maybe it was pinnacle or another app. I'm redoing 1 disc into this format and will try it again with WMM just to see if it works there.

On the subject of apps, these websites seem to rate CyberLink's PowerDirector & Corel Video Studio above Sony Vegas Movie Studio (then again, the one site rates Pinnacle Studio #4 and I know that one is no good):
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2332211,00.asp
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Anyone ever use either of these?

To add, I tried bringing the .vob file into WMM and got the following:

 

[farmkid]

I haven't used either of those, so I can't comment on them. If I understand right, you want to take clips of episodes, or perhaps your favorite episodes, and put them on a DVD, right? If that's the case, you don't need a full-blown video editing program (which does transitions, effects, color correction, etc. in addition to trimming and DVD authoring). You just need a DVD authoring program that will allow you to trim video clips (which most will).

Use DVD2MPG (find it in the tools section of VideoHelp) to convert the .vob files to .mpg files and use those .mpg files directly in your DVD authoring program. Then trim off whatever parts you don't want. If you have Nero, as many people do, then you have Nero VisionExpress. It's not a high power program, but it's easy to use and perfectly appropriate for this job. This way, you don't have to do any conversion and you will maintain maximum video quality, in addition to avoiding the hours of conversion time necessary for converting from MPEG2 to something else and then back to MPEG2.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Putting the clipshow on DVD is one of the things I want to do. I still plan to get one of the aforementioned apps though, since they're not too much money. Having the finished stuff playable on the computer is important too.

 

[farmkid]

In that case, here's my own experience with the software I've used. I've used Nero VisionExpress, Sony Vegas Movie Studio, and Pinnacle Studio, (none are the current versions, however). I find Nero the simplest to use, and I actually use it the most because it is so easy, but it has only basic capabilities. It has some prepackaged transitions and can make basic changes to color/brightness/contrast/etc. and make basic menus, but not much else. Pinnacle is more capable, and not much more complicated, but it can be a little clunky at times. Also, I don't like the way it makes the DVD file structure. It puts all the video into one title with bookmarks for the different videos. The others I've used make each title a separate title on the disc. Sony is by far the most capable, but also the most complicated to use. The learning curve is considerably steeper. Once you learn it, though, you will like it better.

 

[Icemizer]

Go spend some real money and get Final Cut Pro Studio if your a mac guy or I would say Pinnacle Liquid 7($499) and then get DVDIT Pro HD($499) and all your editing worries will be over.