Should I come over to VideoFactory

SuddenCraving wrote on 4/9/2002, 4:18 PM
Hello . . . . I am (was trying) currently using VideoWave by MGI with a Dazzle bridge to make VideoCD's from my analog camcorder. Well, after realizing that thr program does not actually have that ability and that after a whole slew of other issues, I decided to change. I heard about this program, and I am looking for some more information on it. I realize the program is rather feature rich for its price, but I just need confirmed that it can do the following

-Work with my capture device
-Put my videos in the correct format for VideoCDs
-Burn the CD
-Make it easy

I have no expierience with video production, so please try to keep it simple. Also, the capture device is not in to high ranking, because I figured well, if I am gonna buy new software, why not a new device. So, if you have any suggestions as to which device to use, please include that here also, and if you know it is compatible with the program, that is a plus. My computer is less than 6 months old, and I am running XP home edition. My main goal is to capture video from my camcorder and burn it to a video cd. I think that lays it out pretty clear, please let me know if you need more.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/9/2002, 6:08 PM
VideoFactory's capture program works with most any capture device, but some better than others. Right now the preferred capture device is the Canopus ADVC-100 converter unit which sells for about $300 (sorry!), and it requires a firewire card ($35 or so if you don't have one) and firewire cable ($25). Yes, this is a little pricey, but it just plain works and works well. There are other devices that are a bit cheaper, but most are reported in here as being problematical at best.

If you're planning on an upgrade to a DV camcorder anytime in the near future, many of them have a "pass through" mode that allows the camera to digitize analog video. This would let you save the money you might spend on a converter and spend it on a nice camera instead.

Editing is definately a dream. It's basically as easy as dropping clips on the timeline and dragging them around. Burning a VideoCD takes just a few clicks. I've made several and they've all worked perfectly.

Please feel free to ask if you have any more questions. Hopefully you'll be joining us soon! :)
Grazie wrote on 4/10/2002, 12:33 AM
As portrayed in that well known film (Where Sally Met Harry?) clip in the diner:

"Yes - yes - yes ..... YES! YES! Yessssssss!" - (say no more eh!)

Anyway that's my opinion - And the folks here on this Forum are so darn helpful!

In VF I can do so much more than other editor packages (I do have MGI-VW5 and Pinnacle-Studio7). The learning curve on VF is hefty, I found the VF manual did not do credit to the software's talents and versatilities. Pull up the Vegas Video manual from the Sonic Foundry site and have a gander at it. I found this very useful. SF also has some "ONline Tutorials" for either VF or VV, can't remember, there worth a look at too!

VF is fairly forgiving, so have a play with it. See my post on "Intuitive Frame Searching & Pseudo Stereo", this will give you my novice's appproach to exploring video editing and what it could do - Yes I am a novice and also from the "Dark Side!" - VW5 has it's value....... having now used VF2.0 I still have to see what they are. Yeh I also think my hair on my head is starting to grow back - not really that's just wishful thinking.

Best Regards

Grazie
Psiman wrote on 4/10/2002, 3:47 AM
VF is good, don't get me wrong, but, be prepared to spend weeks and weeks trying to get it to work properly. And don't go deleting your existing editing software as you may well need it.
Grazie wrote on 4/10/2002, 10:05 AM
Yup - Psiman, can't agree with you more! I use my Studio7 to send tape.

ronaldf wrote on 4/10/2002, 10:46 AM
The perfomance of any of the editing software is dependent on the hardware and setup of the base computer. I fought StudioDV for a year. In my fustration I tinkered with VideoStudio and VideoWave. They didn't match StudioDV. I then tried VideoFactory. I loved it, that was until I tried to print to tape and ran into the file size limitations of Win98SE(VF1.0). On one project, I edited in VF and imported those files into StudioDV to output to tape. I then decided to bite the bullet and spend the money to get a higher end editing system. I got a Canopus DVRaptor with Premiere 5.1c. What a joy to use. After learning how to do the basics with Premiere, I could edit and produce a master tape fairly fast. I was then seduced by the new faster processors. I decided to build a new computer. I did follow the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" rule. I kept my reliable computer in its stable configuration. I built a new computer from the ground up. I bought a used DVRaptor so I wouldn't have to disturb my reliable system. The new system would lockup after editing for a short time. I tweaked and tweaked and still couldn't solve the problems. With nothing to lose, I pulled out the Raptor, installed WinXP pro, threw in the StudioDV firewire card and installed VF2.0c. Everything worked fine. I even tried the demo of VegasVideo. It worked also. I haven't tried the Raptor with XP yet. That is next. If it doesn't work then I am going to set up the new computer with VegasVideo and a firewire card for my next editing system. My old Raptor system will go to my daughter and son-in-law so they can edit all the grandchildren videos that they are now creating. Vegas and VF are great products. If you get your system setup right, they will serve you well(as do the other NLEs setup properly). I frequent many of the NLE forums and have found that they all have individuals that have a hard time getting everything to work right. They also have individuals that have no problems at all! Of the low end editors, I liked VideoFactory the best.
Stiffler wrote on 4/10/2002, 12:43 PM
""VF is good, don't get me wrong, but, be prepared to spend weeks and weeks trying to get it to work properly. And don't go deleting your existing editing software as you may well need it.""

VF worked great for me the very minute I downloaded it (except for a driver I needed). VF is a very refreshing to work with after spending weeks and weeks trying to get VideoWave to work. One of the best parts of VF and VV is this forum. If you have a problem, SF and alot of others are there to help you.

SuddenCraving...take the leap to VF and don't look back!
kcarroll wrote on 4/10/2002, 1:40 PM
I agree with Stiffler. The only problem I had was the level of security on the VF software. Because I was in the process of throwing away the Dell supplied capture hardware, and at the same time exorcizing Windows ME, I wound up having to call Sonic multiple times for activation numbers. Once the change over was complete, however, VF has been a joy to work with.

I use the Canopus ADVC-100 and an Adaptec 1394 card, and I was able to upload analog and digital video, process it and then download to VHS tape right from day one.

There may be better hardware and software out there, but VF and my hardware does everything I want.

kcarroll