Video Editing - Help!

[ghost]

I am trying to edit a bunch of video (interviews of relatives) to create a movie for my dad's birthday. I don't know the best/easiest way to do this task, especially since I have zero video editing experience. Did I mention, that I have put this off for some time now and the deadline is now in 19 days (10/21)?

What is the easiest way for me to create this movie? So far, all the video has been downloaded. I also downloaded a free month trial of Sony Vegas Studio Platinum. Should I just try to split the video and then combine the clips or should I try and cut up each response for each person into a clip and then just combine those how I want?

I think the second method would be easier, but the newest version of VirtualDub doesn't support ASF, which is the file type for the downloaded DV video from my camcorder. I also have a video encoder, Xvid Pro or something like that which can convert the file, but I have no idea how to use it or what's the best file type to convert the ASF to...AVI, MPG, MPG4??

Any suggestions? If I didn't give enough information, please let me know.

 

[LAktownhorn]

i kind of don't really understand any of what you just said. but this is how i would go about it:

i work on macs and would just say use imovie, but looks like you have a pc. i looked and saw that sony vegas is about the same as imovie. window's movie maker seems like it would do the job as well. you don't need anything fancy.

within that program you should be able to digitize straight from your camcorder. for example with the program i use, i would just plug my camcorder into my computer using a firewire cable. probably different with pc's though. then within the program you can control your camcorder and "digitize" what you want. i would just digitize your entire tape in 15-20 minute chunks.

then edit away within the program. you shouldn't have to worry about file types and all that ****.

then use music and have a grand ol time and hopefully blow your family away with your editing skillz.

 

[VYFan]

I have made DVDs from video lots of times. Used VideoWave for a while, and now have a Pinnacle program. All I can say is that there are lots of little pitfalls you have to work through. You have to get the right DVD (e.g. plus or negative or whatever), you have to make sure the setting on the program matches your DVD recorder (4X or whatever), and it strains the capacity of your computer. Eventually, it works and is great, but it's hard to nail the first few times. Also, the longer the video, the very much slower. I usually record from 15 to 25 minutes onto one, which matches the attention span of watching, anyway. Good luck!

 

[wherzwaldo]

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