Best software to use?

B

Body Flight

Active member
I am starting from nothing here, and I can go either PC or MAC. (I need to purchase everything, so nothing is sacred here!) If you were starting fresh, what NLE system (hardware and software) would you use, and why?
 
Well there are a lot of things that you could use it all depends on your price range. If your willing to spend a good amount of money go for Final Cut Pro on your Mac or maybe If you dont want to spend to much then you can go with Sony Vegas. It all depends really on your budget.
 
What sort of things are important to your workflow? What formats? What sort of thigns do you want to do with it? Complex or simple? What's your budget?



- Mikko
 
Sorry - I should have been more specific in my sitauation / needs.

I do not have any of the components I will need, but I do have a budget that can buy quality. I am thinking of the HVX200, and shooting on P2. Most of the editing will be editing to DVD. Occassionally, I will be shooting /editing promotional footage for television ads.

Trying to read between the lines here... is clarkage saying that FCP is better than Vegas (assuming budget is not a primary concern)?

I need to purchase a computer for this project and can go either Mac or PC... which ever is better. Personally, I do not have much experience with video, so I want a system that I will learn fairly quickly and can grow into.
 
Yes! I believe that FCP is one of the best out there! I would recommend getting a nice Mac computer and running FCP on it with maybe some programs like Photoshop also. If you have the money for it then you will have a ton of choices to pick from but i will still recomend FCP
 
I just took a look at your website to and I was wondering what you are going to be usig this for? Are you going to be filming the "Indoor Skydivers" and giving them a DVD of it or what? Because if this is the case you may not want to be spending a ton of money on this. Or are you using this for your own personal use?
 
Sounds like prety simple editing most of the time? .. Definatly sounds like the sort of stuff that any modern decent editing program can handle.

How fast do you need to make these edits? Is it something that needs to happen "ASAP" or something that you have time to do in more detail?

- Mikko
 
I do offer basic DVD's for sale to flyers now - but there is absolutely nothing special about them. I have a few static video cameras mounted in various areas, and send the general footage by friewire through a distribution amp to several DVD recorders.

We have had a sub contrator shooting these videos for us last year, but moved away - hastily. He was using a Sony VX2000(?).

I want to start selling 'premium' videos (DVD's) again of specific customer with customized footage of their flight. The camera will be in the airflow, but probably not all the time. I am more concerned with getting good footage in all kinds of lighting situations. The main use of this system will be for customer DVD's - but I want to put together more updated 'fun' footage and promotional materials also. I'm pretty adamant about having 3CCD, and I also like the idea of the P2 work flow.

I will probably set the expectation of 1 week for delivery of these videos. So, I will not have to edit on the fly. All in all, I suspect this is typically a pretty basic editing need. I just want to be sure I have the flexibility to do higher end output also.
 
You then shouldnt spend 1,000 bucks for FCP on editing. Just stay with a good reliable program like Vegas, that is all you really need in your case. You will be able to use it for customer DVDs and for commercials, etc. Just as long as you have a pretty nice camera (which it sounds like you do) then it will look fine!

Good Luck!!!
 
You still looking at pretty short turn around times .. I'd look into a solution that works nativly with the P2 MXF system.


- Mikko
 
You can almost always get more bang for your buck getting a PC versus a mac.. hardward wise. Software-wise, they're about the same.. There's nothing you can do with Final Cut Studio you can't do with CS3..
 
I was going to ask about post and sound but it looks like your probably not going to get out of the NLE given your time line.
From my experience dealing with post on projects from a lot of different NLE's I would generally recommend one of the big two Avid or Final Cut. Both offer lower priced versions that would cover your needs and would pretty seamlessly upgrade to the higher priced spreads when you want/ need more. Given what your doing I suspect that FC is the family that will best work for you long term. The problem with all the (for lack of a better term) semi-Pro NLE's is that they often don't play well with others. So a few years from now when you want to do a fancier production with post sound etc your going to run into a lot of problems getting your stuff in from and out to other applications. Also FCP comes with a suite of applications that you will also need. Avid is the other industry standard but it isn't bundled with a bunch of apps. So to do motion graphics your going to need something like After Effects, and maybe a titling application. And you will need something that can author DVD's and maybe some sound sweetening. All that is going to cost but with FCP it's in the bundle. And both play well with others for a serious post if you need to go there some day. Avid plays a little better but not enough to compensate for all the apps you would have to add. Plus all the FCP apps have a similar look and feel so the learning curve is a bit smoother than it would be with separate apps by different companies.

And lastly Avid and FCP skills are transferable to the pricier apps. If you learn say Vegas really well and need more power or compatibility very little of your skills are going to transfer to the Avid or FCP you upgrade to.
 
I have always been a PC guy, but I want to go with the computer that will provide the best 'bang for the buck'. My personal preference is to stay with a PC, and find software that will handle what I need it to assuming the software capabilities are similar.

So far, I have recommendations for FCP, CS3 and Avid. From what little I know about FCP, I believe it is MAC only. (Yup - I'm definately a newbie here!!) For PC's, which is better... CS3 or Avid? (Or something else?) Which will easily handle the P2 work flow? Is one more capable than the other? Can CS3 be upgraded (if necessary?) as easily as Avid? Which versions should I be looking at or avoiding?

I will be learning the software from scratch, but only want to learn one...
 
Well, Adobe CS3 has just started full P2 support in Premiere, meanigng that that workflow is there to just stick your card into the computer, and edit a and burn off a DVD right there with no waiting for stuff to move around (if that's how you want to do it). It's ceratinly fairly easy software to get the basics of, and pretty powerfull underneath if you go into some depth with it.

Avid is the professional industry standard for editing (With FCP quite popular too at the higer level), and I'm sure it has proper P2 support too (someone correct/confirm/expand on this please), but I'm not sure you need that much power for what you are dooing. Please some Avid expert chime in here, I don't know much about it.


If you are allready comfterble with PCs (and otherwise opeartaing in a PC environment) then it might make sence to stay with PCs. Plus, FCP doesn't have built in native P2 support yet (In fact, it appears to have lots of pitfalls for P2 users at the momemnt from what I've seen dicussed here on the forum.)

- Mikko
 
My vote would be for premiere cs3. you already know how to use a pc, i too think you'll get more bang for the buck than with a mac, and premiere will do everything you need and way more. And if/when you want to move into more visual effects After Effects integrates seamlessly. And with native p2 support in the CS3 release of Premiere you're golden. There is a definite learning curve to Premiere (or any NLE) for that matter so just be ready to do some reading. I'm a fan of the adobe classroom in a book stuff when you get to that point. Although I've never used the premiere one, just flash and photoshop. Both taught me a great foundation though.
 
The one thing you will not get with Premiere is the ability to go out side the family easily. I don't think this will be a big deal for what your doing so it's more of an FYI. Premiere to Avid is a big pain, Premiere to ProTools requires you first move the project to Avid or a translation app. From what I hear as long as you stay in the family it's pretty smooth sailing.
 
Ok - my short list for NLE's (PC based) are: Avid, Edius Pro, and Premiere CS3. Do all of these programs support the P2 MXF workflow (well)? Do they each have different package levels that I should know about? Will the product from one of these be able to go 'outside the family' IF I ever progress to that level? Are there any "gotcha's" I should know about??
 
Same Boat

Same Boat

I have the camera, hvx200, and PC (winxp w/ intel core duo) use it to film athletes.
Need quick turnaround to make DVD's and also post clips to web.

Not much experience but I can sit down and learn, looking for easiest solution.
What about raylight to Vegas (as someone suggested to me)? If so which Vegas?
Any help appreciated.

Andy
 
I've cut p2 on both an avid and a fcp system and while fcp is a easier learning curve, avid can cut mxf natively, reducing turn around time.
 
if u want the best and got the money, u HAVE to go with:
mac,
final cut studio 6,

they r the best, no question bout it.
 
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