Any Tips on DVD/movie-making software?

[jeffus]

Anybody got any suggestions for video capture, DVD authoring software/Hardware?

[Jackson's Dad]

On the Mac, a good starting collection is Apple's own iLife collection. For $80 you get (in addition to other things) both iDVD which is a nice DVD authoring program, and iMovie, a simple but effective digital video editor. Their more professional video programs (Final Cut and Final Cut Express) are more expensive, but are amazing tools.

If you don't have DV, then you'll have to deal with digitizing the video, which can be a pain. I'd put any money into getting a Mini-DV camera (which start around $350) instead of buying digitizing software/hardware.

[Don-Dad]

Dan,

I think your the only guy on this board who uses a Mac.

Look around at some of the ATI cards. I have one and you can import video. Tried it only once so far and it was pretty painless.

Also I believe there was a dicussion on this topic before, might find some info in that thread?

[tt3]

I got the pinnacle hardware before it became standard on the bigger video cards. Its all I know, but it works fine. 8 is pretty buggy still, so hopefully 9 which is out now, is better.

[GoatBeard]

I thought all I needed was a digital video camera -- little did I know.

I'm going to have to get a new computer before I can edit video. Gotta have firewire ports, DVD burner, large hard drive, more RAM, etc. Right now the only thing I can do is put the digital video onto VHS -- can't edit it at all. Boo Hiss... :wink:

[Muz]

You can buy a card that slips into a PCI slot in your computer to add Firewire ports. They also make similar cards for laptops. I've used both with no problems. Most cards come with stripped down editing software if you need it.

Dan, we'll be getting a Mac soon. My wife came home after a bad Service Pack update at work and wanted anything Microsoft related off of our PCs. I installed Linux that night, but secretly kept Windows (just in case). Now that Intel and Apple are teaming up, it's ok for her to buy a Mac. :D

[jeffus]

I got 4 firewire ports. I had a capture card that kinda worked with the old system. I guess everytime you 'upgrade' there's a price to be paid.

DV would be nice, have to add to the "want list". But I still need to transfer the old stuff.......

[jeffus]

The wife stumbled across a DVR in the papers today for $130. I was thinking maybe that's a decent option. Plug my Super8 HandyCam into the DVR's input jack, put in a recordable DVD and poof! Right?

And then we use it like a VCR for regular TV (with a RW DVD) - Right?

And then ask for a DV camera for Christmas - Right?

Anybody? Anybody?

Actually since I've been home with the kid and living on one income for the past 4 years, I had to force myself to ignore the gizmos. So I'm really not too hep on what's out there. Must do research & ask stupid questions...

[justinpowell]

Dan,

I think your the only guy on this board who uses a Mac.



Count me in as a Mac owner, too. In fact I have 4 of them!

[justinpowell]

jeffus:

I have an external Plextor PX-716UF DVD burner and it works great. (My beloved G4 Cube didn't come with a Superdrive.) The Plextor works on both Mac and PC.

On my Mac, I use iMovie to edit my video and either Toast or DVD Studio Pro v 1.5 to author the DVD disc. Toast is great if you just want to throw a few videos of the kids on a disc for the grandparents with a basic menu. When you want something a little more sophisticated, DVD Studio Pro does pretty much anything you could want.

[jeffus]

Thanks for all the tips!

Been using a Dazzle capture card with a Firewire port to capture video clips from my (um) analog videocamera (it was a gift from my parents when the kid was coming, OK?!). Works OK. Been using the old computer to capture and the new one to edit and burn. Little home network through the router and large file transfer isn't too painful.

For editing, authoring, and burning I use DVD-it6 by Sonic (came with the system), with a 16X DVD+/-RW drive. Not too intuitive, but pretty functional. Also, for a quickie, Windows Movie Maker isn't too shabby (for the price).

Used to write the movies back out onto a videocassette with the Dazzle capture card, but the sound track always lagged the video. DVD's come out excellent.

[Jackson's Dad]

Justin, awesome, a fellow Mac guy! Welcome And a Cube owner to boot... I love my old Cube (although it is now being used by my Dad.)

[justinpowell]

Justin, awesome, a fellow Mac guy! Welcome And a Cube owner to boot... I love my old Cube (although it is now being used by my Dad.)

I love the Cube! It's showing a little age now, but still runs OS X Tiger like a champ and does (just about) everything I need. Just a few years later we have the much smaller Mini!

I've been eyeing up new Macs for a little while but I am now holding off for a Macintel laptop. The "i" in iBook will suddenly have new meaning. :)

[Jackson's Dad]

If you want to upgrade, check out Other World Computing (http://eshop.macsales.com). For only $300-500 you can get a 1.8Ghz processor. Installation is a bear, but doable if you are handy. (The instructions that come are detailed.)

[justinpowell]

Dan:

I've thought about upgrading, but I've just decided to wait until the Intel portables are out. I'm pretty handy and have upgraded the RAM and replaced the video card (blasted ATI cards...). I just figured that for most of my daily life I could wait on the extra horsepower. Encoding video - circling back to the thread ;-) - is where I feel it the most, but I'm not doing that all the time.

Justin

[Jackson's Dad]

Wish I had saved the pictures. The Cube is so tightly designed, that to replace the processor you need to take it completely apart. It's pretty wild to see how they made that thing work!

[grilldaddy]

Justin, awesome, a fellow Mac guy! Welcome And a Cube owner to boot... I love my old Cube (although it is now being used by my Dad.)

I know, this is a very old post but I am new here and digging around a bit. I am also a Mac guy and just wanted to say so.

Thank you.

:lol:

[chopperglide]

mac here too,,,,imac g5, and ibook g4....looking to buy the kids a couple of older imacs...any good places?

[grilldaddy]

Are you talking about the original iMacs? e-Bay is probably a good place to look.

[chopperglide]

ebay looks to be a good option...i want at least two...since i have a 6 year old, 3 year old and a 1.75 year old....that way i can sorta protect my new imac for a while....this site looks like a good option too...http://www.wegenermedia.com/imac500.htm#

any idea if those things can run tiger?

[grilldaddy]

Well, I am running 10.3.9 on mine (350 MHz G3, 256 MB RAM) but have not moved to Tiger. I doubt it could handle it and am not even sure I could install it.

That is a great idea. I got a 233 MHz G3 for my 3-year old to play with and he loves it. I like the fact that I can just pick it up and move it to any room in the house for him. Kind of like a huge laptop!

[tulsadad]

A heroic Moderator swept in here and vanquished the Spam right before my eyes.....