Vidding software

[beatrice_otter]

I would like to do some very, very basic video editing--I'll be making basic informational videos to upload to youtube, and I don't think I'll need any of the bells and whistles needed to do, say, fanvids, but that may change as I get into it.  I need to be able to compress video, and I need to be able to add pictures to a video.  I would prefer a free or inexpensive program, but I don't know enough to evaluate the differences between them.  Googling is pulling up lots of possibilities, but again, I have no idea how to make an informed decision.

My OS is Windows 7.

What do you recommend?  What should I be looking for?
Help!

Comments

[chaila]

Not sure I'm actually any better qualified than you to judge (my method has always been to stick with the first program that more or less worked for me, which is Vegas and isn't free and probably has a lot of stuff you don't need), but one quick and easy thing to try to see if it meets your needs might be Windows Movie Maker? It comes free with all Windows OS and does pretty basic things (I made my first few fanvids on it, and I know a prolific vidder who used it for YEARS, so you can make it do a lot if you need to). Though see here for some information about different versions. I don't know if that's helpful, but since it's almost certainly already on your computer, might be a worthwhile place to start, since you won't be out anything except some time if it's not what you need?

[soukup]

You have just solved SO MANY MYSTERIES for me. Everyone talks about using Windows Movie Maker to make vids, and I've been fighting with it for over a year now with no results to speak of because it's so difficult and time-consuming to do even the simplest tasks with it. I had no idea I was using the new pared-down version. Thank you so much!

[chaila]

Well yay! I saw a few random things over the years about this issue and periodically wondered how the program could possibly be stripped down MORE from the basic program it was when I used it, but apparently it happened. You're welcome for my inadvertent help and I hope you can get the new (er, old?) one or otherwise fix the problem. :)

[beatrice_otter]

Thank you! I downloaded the version they had with more features. One question, though: my video camera recorded the event in a .mod format, which apparently isn't one WMM recognizes. How do I convert it into a format that WMM can recognize?

[chaila]

Oh goodness, I'm not sure; I've never worked with that kind of format. I believe WMM should recognize at least .wmvs and .avis, so you'll need to find a separate converter that will convert .mod to one of those formats? There are probably a ton. I hate to just send you back to Google but I don't know of one off the top of my head. I generally use one called Movavi video suite to go from .wmv to .avi (just b/c it's one I used once and it worked) but I don't think it works with .mod. Sorry for my very limited usefulness here. :/

[beatrice_otter]

Thus saith Google: for some insane reason, some digital camcorders call their .avi or .mpg files .mod files instead, so all you need to do is change the file extension. (I've seen sites that say change it to .avi, others say change it to .mpg, why would it work with both? And if it does work with both, which is better? Aaaargh, why do people make things unnecessarily complicated?)

[chaila]

*crosses fingers for you*

ETA: I see below that it worked, so I go from crossing my fingers to YAY! Google helps me do stuff like this all the time, where I don't ever actually understand what's wrong or why things work, but as long as they do, it's all good. :)

[beatrice_otter]

Except trying the converted video in WMM I get a blank screen with the video's soundtrack. Even though it plays just fine in WMP. Aargh.

[chaila]

Boo, in that case you probably do have to properly convert it? Or you may be able to add a plug-in to WMM to make it work with those kinds of files? Either way, Googling other people who have the problem is probably the best way to fix it. This thread might be helpful? Technical problems are woeful. :(

And if you might be making more of these in the future, maybe see if you can change a setting on your camera to have it output in a different format? Probably not but you never know!

[beatrice_otter]

It's not my camera, so I won't be using it again. Thanks for your help!

(beatrice_otter, this time I really am talking to you!)

[soukup]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_free_video_converters

Re: (beatrice_otter, this time I really am talking to you!)

[beatrice_otter]

I didn't see .mod files in that list anywhere, so I googled it. According to Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N0B4Q57vUU), all you need to do to convert .mod to .avi is change the file extension. So, yay, that's simple. Also, apparently .mpg? (http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/convert-mod-camcorder-video-format-mpg-instantly/)

I am suspicious that it will work with two different file types--if it worked to convert to just avi or just mpg I would be less suspicious. Still, I will have to give it a try. Assuming it works to convert it into either file type, which one is better for working with?

Thank you for your help!

Re: (beatrice_otter, this time I really am talking to you!)

[soukup]

If you're working with Windows Movie Maker, that takes AVIs. It may take MPGs; I'm not sure.

Re: (beatrice_otter, this time I really am talking to you!)

[beatrice_otter]

Changing it to .avi didn't work, but .mpg did. And WMM seems to see it--yay!

Re: (beatrice_otter, this time I really am talking to you!)

[soukup]

Weird -- I'm using the newer version, so perhaps that's what made the difference? Anyhow, I'm glad you've got it working. Yay!

[soukup]

(Sorry, beatrice_otter -- that earlier comment was me trying to reply to chaila. Oops!)