Editing Software

[skydivekc 0]

Im in the process of upgrading our DZ's editing system and was wondering what everyone is using to stamp out proffessionaly produced tandem videos??

[jtval 0]

An editing board and a mix/fade button.
an Ipod/cd or my laptop for music.

My camera do to basic editing.

My "storyline" is already laided out so that makes it easier. I use the same "storyline" each time so it looks pretty professional.

I don't have all kinds of crazy pop ups and text bubbles etc just fade and good video.

My photos

My Videos

[stratostar 5]

Macintosh's imovie and itunes & iphotos for stills it's quick, clean and very proffessional looking end product, mac's come out of the box with all those, so simple to use even a dzo can do it.....

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[skydivekc 0]

I guess im needing to know what software is being used to offer a quick yet clean way to edit DVD's. Ive got the rest of this stuff but im looking at mainly software only? Thanks again

[dragon2 2]

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I guess im needing to know what software is being used to offer a quick yet clean way to edit DVD's. Ive got the rest of this stuff but im looking at mainly software only? Thanks again

"Quick" is debatable with software, it's more the pc (RAM, cpu, graphics) which will determine rendering time, and you need a workflow for whichever software you use. I personally use PremierePro 2.0 on a high-end laptop and I can do a nicely edited video in about 30mins, with packing in the meantime too. I used to be slower but I made some templates and stuff so I'm pretty quick now as far as editing goes, but rendering eats up most of this time followed by capturing the video in the first place. The other camera crew here uses a linear editing system they can be done in <10 mins.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[DSE 5]

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The other camera crew here uses a linear editing system they can be done in <10 mins.

Get a quad-core, and so shall you be, depending on source and output format. SD DV to DVD should be much faster than 10 mins on output if you're using templates.

[dragon2 2]

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The other camera crew here uses a linear editing system they can be done in

Get a quad-core, and so shall you be, depending on source and output format. SD DV to DVD should be much faster than 10 mins on output if you're using templates.

Know any decently priced quad core laptops? My DZ just announced decreasing video pay next year, no way I can afford new equipment never mind a few grand

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[DSE 5]

Just had my assistant build me a quad-core system for slightly under 900.00 USD. I don't think you're gonna find a laptop for a while, not at any reasonable price.
I have a quad core system (two duo-cores, so not true quad) that has a BD burner, etc that I've taken to the DZ as my main system. Laptop just doesn't cut what I want to be able to do anymore.
Quads are getting cheaper every day, but the cheap quad laptops aren't expected til mid 2008.

[Superfletch 1]

I'm using a Macbook Pro 2.4 Ghz Core2Duo and iMovie. I've got my edits down to about 13-15 minutes (this includes real time dumping to disk and then editing the movie.. sounds and video). I'm shooting approx. 4 minutes of tape and then doing cross disolve transitions between scenes. I do the exit in slow mo and real time with a few slow mo freefall shots and then sound edits during the interview and post interview. I usually drop a hi res still in on the end of the movie fade to black. It then takes about 16-20 minutes to render in iDVD in which time I pack and grab a drink and a smoke. I'm using all standard equipment in all this (built in DVD burner etc.) My questioin is this... CAN I DO IT ANY FASTER? Can I do it any faster on my laptop? Can I do it faster on a desktop? How do I churn out a faster video? What kinds of times are others turning out? HELP? My videos are WAY better than the other videographers, but I'm not making any more. In fact, I'm making less because they can turn loads quicker than I can, I've just got the satisfaction that I'm turning out a nicer product than they are... Any thoughts?

Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher
D-26145; USPA Coach, IAD/I, AFF/I
Videographer/Photographer

[DSE 5]

You can't get much faster with iMovie, IMO. Sounds like you're dialed in.
With FCP, you can use AppleScripts to automate some of the processing, so for instance, every clip added to the T/L is auto-Xfaded, title slugs in place, etc. The render time you're experiencing is TERRIBLE! Are you rendering from a reference movie, or how? Or is it just that you have a slow system?
On my very old 1.83 PC, 6 mins of HD takes about 4 mins to render, 6 mins of DV takes about 2.5 mins to render. Maybe you're recompressing when you're authoring the DVD?

[stratostar 5]

If you didn't use idvd and sent the signal back (export) thru your camera to a external dvd recorder (lock your tape so it don't record) you be able to burn in "real time" or in other words however long your videos is, is how long the burn will be, not counting the finalize time.

Other then that as DSE said, sounds like your tuned in. You may start to find that people would be willing to wait for your better product and request your services over other guys, seen it happen before a number of times. Faster turn around is not always better, sure you make more loads, unless there is a lot of other video people on the rotation and you have to wait till you name comes back around, if that is the case I would much rather take the time to make a better video and pack and rest up, besides my production companys name is on each video so it has to be done well.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[johnboy 0]

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Just had my assistant build me a quad-core system for slightly under 900.00 USD.

Do you see much difference between Intel or AMD based systems for video editing? Also, is it worth shelling out the extra to get the pimped version of Vegas (meaning Pro)?

[DSE 5]

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Just had my assistant build me a quad-core system for slightly under 900.00 USD.

Do you see much difference between Intel or AMD based systems for video editing? Also, is it worth shelling out the extra to get the pimped version of Vegas (meaning Pro)? Or is there another editor you'd recommend?

It's an AMD system, the AMD is turning out *slightly* faster times for less $$ this week.
My secret to fast editing is that I use script-based templates to set up the roughs for my projects. VMS doesn't offer that feature, but outside of that one thing...VMS is nearly as fast as Vegas Pro.
I don't use any of the 3D stuff for tandem vids, and I don't need non-recompressed MPEG editing, so outside of scripting, I'd probably use VMS anyway.

[dragon2 2]

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Just had my assistant build me a quad-core system for slightly under 900.00 USD.

Do you see much difference between Intel or AMD based systems for video editing? Also, is it worth shelling out the extra to get the pimped version of Vegas (meaning Pro)? Or is there another editor you'd recommend?

Not sure about pc's but for laptops Intel sure beats AMD.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[Superfletch 1]

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The render time you're experiencing is TERRIBLE! Are you rendering from a reference movie, or how? Or is it just that you have a slow system?
On my very old 1.83 PC, 6 mins of HD takes about 4 mins to render, 6 mins of DV takes about 2.5 mins to render. Maybe you're recompressing when you're authoring the DVD?

I may have used the wrong terminology there.
After I edit the video I export it to iDVD. I put the students name and my name on the title screen and drop one of the photos on there and then I hit the burn to disk button and that's what I'm calling rendering. Perhaps I meant encoding or whatever... Anyway, once hit the burn to disk it takes approx. 18 minutes for the DVD to kick out finished.

I do get requests "OFTEN". The videos I'm handing to the customers at my dropzone are second to none there or at least that is what everyone is telling me... :P I would have a hard time going back to doing things the way the others are doing them even know it's much faster doing them the other way. I am constantly receiving compliments.

Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher
D-26145; USPA Coach, IAD/I, AFF/I
Videographer/Photographer

[stratostar 5]

You used the right term, once you tell it to burn in iDVD it renders the video at that point and that is why it takes as long as it dose, it has to render.

In order to skip the rendering part altogether and shave a few minutes off the total burn time you could do it as I said above and see if it is more to your liking, however it requires that you have use of a extrenal burner.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[Superfletch 1]

I'll check into it and give it a try. I'd be giving up the DVD menu screen that iDVD creates for me but I guess if I can save a whopping amount of time it might be worth it. I appreciate everyone's help.

Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher
D-26145; USPA Coach, IAD/I, AFF/I
Videographer/Photographer

[stratostar 5]

Well yes you would lose the dvd joe cool menu, but you can still have titles, there is a trade off to everything.

If you really want to keep the best of both worlds then you need to have an editor you can pay 5 bucks a video so you can import footage, pack or grab a second rig and make the next load, this will allow you to keep the cool idvd menu and still do as many loads as the others and still have the best videos on the dz.

Another super time saver is to set up canned shots of the take off, alti's,etc, so all you need to film in pre and post interviews, walk to AC, one or two face shots in the plane and the jump & landing, all that should burn up ONLY a few minutes of film, then drop in your new clips make the need small changes to titles, audio and music and go to burn.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[VectorBoy 0]

Can I do it faster on a desktop? How do I churn out a faster video? What kinds of times are others turning out? HELP? My videos are WAY better than the other videographers, but I'm not making any more. In fact, I'm making less because they can turn loads quicker than I can, I've just got the satisfaction that I'm turning out a nicer product than they are... Any thoughts?

[Superfletch 1]

The dropzone provides a sound mixing board and a Sony DVD Burner. I used to just hook up the camera and a music input to the mixing board and video direct to the Burner. It's very quick but there's no options for cross disolves or fades of the video. If you wanted to use those you have to use the controls on the camera when you're filming which can become quite combersome. Also no titles. The video is direct from camera. For slow mo you use the slow mo on the camera at key points during the dive, etc. Don't get me wrong. When this was all I had it was fine. It puts out a GREAT product that the customer is sure to be happy with. However, since I have been using my mac to edit on, the end product is 1000's of times better. To me, its the difference between a professional product and an amateur one. The customer deserves nothing less for their $100 in my opinion.

The way I'm doing it now I can have variable speed slow mo, repeat key points of the dive (such as the exit) at different speeds, add titles and special effects, scene transitions, etc. It's limitless with the computer really. And the edits only take a couple of minutes more. It's well worth it in my opinion. My only problem is the time it takes to burn to disc.

I like to personally hand the customer their DVD and sometimes even watch it with them after the dive. Sometimes that's the only way I get to see the final product myself even. It's just not feesible on busy days or days that I'm the only video guy. Usually there are 4 of us in the rotation and I have that time, but lots of times that's not the case. When it isn't possible to take the needed time, I have to send the customer home with nothing (or just the stills) and then mail their video to them. I hate that. When the customer has laid out that kind of money, I believe they should at least get to take the video home with them and start enjoying it immediately.

Gary "Superfletch" Fletcher
D-26145; USPA Coach, IAD/I, AFF/I
Videographer/Photographer

[PharmerPhil 0]

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Sometimes that's the only way I get to see the final product myself even.

You know, I've been biting my tongue on this issue for a while, but I had to respond to this quote. Everytime I hear people say how little time it takes to produce NLE videos for tandems, I always wondered about this. There is no way it can take less time than the old analog method, unless you are willing to give your customer a video that YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN YOURSELF! I know, we do these videos a lot, and have a pretty good idea what the final product SHOULD look like. But I just can't get my head around handing over a finished product that I haven't reviewed start to finish in the same manner in which the customer will watch it.

[DSE 5]

So you have a problem with watching a timeline at 200% of normal speed? (Double speed)

[PharmerPhil 0]

It's better than not watching it at all (which I expect it more common), but I still think you should see it, and hear it, the way the customer will.

[DSE 5]

Perhaps it's that I'm attuned to it; I listen to DVDs at 1.5X and my edits at 2X, and have no problems at all understanding every word. If I identify an anomoly, then I deal with it then. JKL are my friends.

[Laszloimage 0]

Phil,
I have to agree with you on this subject.
I guess we still need to wait a few more years to have NLE sys just as qick as our good old analog.
I make my cuts as I record anyway. Infact I use the "edit search" a lot if I don't like some of my recordigs (like part of interview or some face shot) and start if over from the very end of the very last clip on my tape. So I don't have to deal with that on the 20min call. I have the NLE's time line in my head and I make my video shoot based on that.
The greatest thing would be if I could start and stop the music recording straigth to my video camera as I strart and stop recording the video. Multiple audio source option syncronized with the "Rec" button would be the best for tandem videos. So after the jump all I would need to do is to make a dub. All these combined with solid memory capturing could make it even faster if could copy the final product to media (these days DVD) with multiple speed.
Reviewing could be done in sections. The interview and other stuff while we ride to altitude, the jump while we waiting for the tandem to land, and the final report while we walk to our video station.
...I could even make the 10min call
Anyway, I stop dreaming... Right now at the busy tandem DZ the good old method is still better than NLE. Of course if someone wants to mail videos out and deal with all the editing after hours a computer can make a lot nicer product.
-Laszlo-