Best entry level dv software

L25 wrote on 1/9/2005, 9:08 AM
I have an actor friend that wants a very simple program that he (and his 9 year old son) can use for family videos as well as his acting reel. I have worked on his reel, but he wants to be able to make different versions himself.

Vegas Movie Studio™+DVD ($100.) seems to be the obvious choice. I see no reason for him to consider any other sub $100. programs. Are there any others he might compare?

Thanks

Jeff


Comments

garo wrote on 1/9/2005, 9:37 AM
I had the unfortunate experiance of trying both Pinnacle and Roxio programs before happily stubbling upon Vegas - very straight forward and simple to use. Don't scare them off by telling them all the great stuff yoecause a friend has it and needed some tutoring on it and found it very "Microsofty" i.e. they try to make it so simple that you can't figure out how to accomplish the simple stuff without some kind of "Guides" Presets etc.

Go for the Vegas ......

:-)

//Garo
Orcatek wrote on 1/9/2005, 9:42 AM
Have them try windows movie maker, its free. If that meets his needs, then he's done.

I've tried them all and ended up with Vegas. I did like Pinnacle Studio when it wasn't crashing (not very stable once you push it).

L25 wrote on 1/9/2005, 10:05 AM
Thats a good idea, he just got a new XP computer, so its probably loaded, thanks.
busterkeaton wrote on 1/9/2005, 11:44 AM
<edit>

Movie Studio is an excellent, excellent program for the price.

Also if wants to do an edit in Movie Studio and then give it to you to do more work in Vegas, you can. Vegas can read Vegas Movie Studio project files. It doesn't work in reverse though.


randy-stewart wrote on 1/9/2005, 11:54 AM
I think Buster meant to say "can" read Movie Studio files, however Movie Studio can't read Vegas created files/veggies. Also, once you've edited and saved the Movie Studio file using Vegas, you can't edit it again using Movie Studio as it is now saved in the Vegas format. So, recommend saving the Vegas edited file under a new name.
Randy
garo wrote on 1/10/2005, 12:24 AM
uuumm, can you run that past me once again? Do you mean .veg file format? Rendering a file from Vegas into mpeg or wmv or even .avi would not exclude it from editing in MSMoviemaker? I've looked at MovieMaker in the context of "entry level dv software" and consider Vegas easier to learn as it is more straight forward and intuitive.

Plus you have to consider this and the other Vegas forums into the equation as any questions (or topics!) are discussed thougouly (sp?)

//Garo
farss wrote on 1/10/2005, 12:33 AM
You could also throw into the mix Avid's Express DV freebie.
Never tried it myself but you cannot grumble about the price.
Now who said we're a biased bunch?
Bob.
busterkeaton wrote on 1/10/2005, 12:49 AM
yes, that was a typo, I edited my post.
busterkeaton wrote on 1/10/2005, 12:50 AM
I was talking about the project files