So, we finally have our own home computer (we’ve been lasting on work PCs & laptops for the last few years), and I was wondering something.
On YouTube, there are hundreds (thousands?) of videos that consist of a single song accompanied by excerpts from movies and TV, recut to fit the music. Here’s a particularly good example.
So, what exactly do you need to create something like this, both in terms of computer specs (memory, etc.) and software? I imagine there are different programs that can accomplish this–what are the pros and cons of these? Back when I had access to them, I loved editing on AVIDs and miss the “cutting room” feel of assembling something–especially something that required precision and creativity. I’m not sure if I’ve got time for that kind of thing anymore, but I figured I might get my feet wet by investigating my options.
Any advice or personal experience would be great. Thanks!
If you have a newer computer you probably already have iMovie or Windows Movie Maker. WMM is pretty easy to pick up. If you’re using Windows you have a lot of choices of paid software, ranging everywhere from $50 to $500, so what you ultimately decide to use depends mainly on how much you’re willing to spend. Macs don’t have near the same range of options as far as I’m aware.
Computer specs–you don’t need a powerful computer, but it helps. Video editing really eats up your resources, and the more powerful your computer the easier and faster it is.
It gets harder if the source has to be converted. I don’t know the lastest software anymore, but the new stuff with the new equipment works well. You don’t have to spend hundreds on software, and an extra $1,000 on the hardware anymore. It’s very easy now.
As previouse posters said, there are a lot of software packages out there that will do this. I’ve used WMM more than a few times, and it actually works fairly easily. Biggest thing is your hardware, and what quality of output you’d like. Trying to render a DVD quality movie takes a hefty amount of resources, putting something out at internet-acceptable level is much less of a memory hog. I’d play around with what you probably have for free, and see how intuitivly you find it, then you can decide if you’d like to really jump into a lot of expensive options.
I prefer Final Cut Pro, but that’s Mac only and expensive. Adobe Premier comes in “Elements*” and “Pro” editions, Pro is very similar to Final Cut. I’ve also used ArcSoft Showbiz DVD (came with the DVD burner); it’s a bit maddening at times with me being used to more powerful software with better interfaces, but it did the job.
Like others say, there are plenty of options, just make sure it has a timeline interface option.
*: I’ve got a copy of Premier Elements that wouldn’t load on my computer lying around here somwhere…
Thanks for the responses. I have a PC so I’ll have to check what came outfitted on the unit we bought and take it from there (certainly, I don’t have any larger ambitions beyond cutting my teeth again on a discipline I loved playing around in back in the day).
While we’re at it–any suggestions on screewriting software (the type that auto formats, etc.)?
Ugh. Please don’t use Windows Movie Maker. It sucks so badly. My father and husband, both of whom have done professional video editing because of our union, gag at WMM. It’s absolutely horrid. Also, it’s known for being the movie maker of choice for angsty teenagers who want to make clips of Linkin Park to Naruto. It doesn’t produce very good quality videos.
There’s all kinds of software out there. I’d Google it, honestly, or go to Download.com and see what you can turn up.
I’m not sure what the TV and movie clip equivalent is, but using video game cutscenes and anime clips it’s called an AMV. You can read up on them at animemusicvideos.org - they also have lots of software recommendations.
Final Draft is the best, and not as expensive as it once was. I got along well enough in a scriptwriting class with Word and some clever macros and autoreplace stuff.
