I've dug through the newsgroup for a while, and I still seem to keep coming
back to a simple basic question - what is the BEST movie making software
(under $100) for the PC?

I've been dealing with Windows Movie Maker and Sonic MyDVD which shipped
with my PC, and I've been annoyed at having to use different programs to
first make my clip, then burn it to DVD. WMM seems to work fine for making
clips, but I haven't found any additional transitions / effects that I can
download for it. And the limitation of having to switch to Sonic to burn is
annoying, especially with how slow the Codec seems to be that Sonic uses.

Through an article at PCWorld, I decided to try to download the two programs
it ranked Best Buys and try their demo's. I downloaded Ulead DVD Movie
Factory, but it seems that it is very limited in actually making a movie
clip. It looks like I could take a clip I made in WMM and burn it, but
that's the same problem I have with Sonic.

I also downloaded a demo of Pinnacle 8, and it looks somewhat promising, but
all the 4+ hours of video I've already downloaded to hard drive through WMM
does not appear to be accessible, and the demo looks to be significantly
limited from the full version. It shows more promise than Movie Factory,
but I can't check out all the functionality before I shuck out $100.

Does anyone have any other suggestions as to which software is the right way
to go? Thanks for the help...

Uncle Miltie

Yeah iMovie is cool but he specifically asked in his very first paragraph
for the PC.

For the original poster, I use adobe premiere and like it alot. It does
everything I need it to. See if you can get a demo of that and test it out.
"Enough" <enough@idontcare.com> wrote in message
news:PkVPa.10111$k85.558619@twister.tampabay.rr.co m...

No need to blast Andrew and you knew exactly what Uncle Miltie said.
Anyway, back to the original question, it seems to me that the only decent
software out there is Pinnacle Studio 8, which has a TON of bugs in it. I'm
keeping my fingers crossed until they release Studio 9 this fall. Hopefully
that will be something.

A possible reason that you are unable to open your files in Studio: they may
be type I avi files. Studio only likes type II........just in case that
helps you at all.

Sony is coming out with a new version of their Screen Blast software in
August. It will add a third video track and DVD authoring plus a bunch of
transitions and filters that have only been in the more expensive Vegas NLE
program. Screen Blast Movie Studio is a repackaged version of Sonic Foundry's
Video Factory. Sony is working a deal to buy the whole desktop audio/video
portion of Sonic Foundry.
Really solid software with fast and easy to use interface. Little brother to
Vegas. No info on their web page yet, but should be there soon.

www.screenblast.com

Here is some info about it:
*************************************
**Screenblast Movie Studio**

The new version of Screenblast Movie Studio software lets users get even
more from their digital cameras and camcorders than ever before, bringing the
power of Hollywood to their desktops.

Screenblast Movie Studio software includes integrated DVD authoring software
and features over 40 pre-made, lifestyle and entertainment-themed DVD menu
templates -- including weddings, birthdays and other special events -- from the
Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center. The software also supports today's most
popular video and audio formats, such as MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 import, editing and
export, which allow users to play their projects on most VCD and DVD players.

Other new features include:

* A more extensive interactive tutorial for video capture. This makes the
process of capturing video from camcorder to PC easier and more integrated into
the video editing process.

* A sixth track on the timeline specifically for text effects. This feature
provides greater flexibility to personalize digital media.

* An increase to 177 customizable transitions. The new transitions -- including
page peel, page roll, and Venetian blinds -- let users connect scenes with
professional polish.

* An increase to 125 special effects. Effects such as border, black restore,
deform, lens flare, light rays, linear blur, mirror, quick blur, radial blur
and threshold, have all been added so that users can enhance their images with
Hollywood style.

For the professional videographer, Screenblast Movie Studio includes many
features found in higher end professional editing software that offer increased
device support, such as:

* A wide range of output formats. These include Windows Media(R) 9 and
Macromedia Flash(TM) file format (SWF).

* A DSR-DU1 hard disk unit. This is used by many prosumers and videographers
with their Sony professional DVCAM camcorders for extra storage.

* The ShuttlePRO(TM) MultiMedia Controller. Many prosumers and videographers
use this in addition to their keyboard and mouse for more precise editing
control.

"We've made it even easier for novices to use our software, with expanded and
more accessible 'Show Me' interactive tutorials, while adding sophisticated
features for the videographer and hobbyist," noted Schneider.
*********************************

Craig H.

Not much that'll do everything in one very well, PC wise & cheap & fast.

Pretty much, on the low end, basic:
NeoDVD, MyDVD

Mid end:
Ulead DVD Workshop, Sonic DVDIt, etc.

High end:
Vegas Video + DVD, etc.

Ultimate:
Sonic Scenarist

More features for movie editing as you go up, and more expensive.

---

DVD Workshop is one of the few that'll let you edit, capture, burn all
in one package with just enough pre-packaged to do a decent job.

Otherwise, you'll have to go to the higher-end and create your own
custom transitions, effects, etc.

----

Once Adobe's new upgrades to Premiere and After Effects come out along
with Adobe Encore (http://www.adobe.com/motion/main.html), it may well
be the single, all-in-one do-it-all package for video editing, effects
generation, and DVD burning from a single company.