Poll: What editing program do you use? « Videomaker Community Forums

Digital Video
Member

I'll start. Right now it's 9 Pinnacle. Pinnacle works alright now but creative control is not here. I'm looking at upgrading to sony or adobe. Not sure as of yet. I love the easy format but stick and paste effects is very limiting. I tried to do layers with 2 video files to make a cool effect, Played while on computer but when I tried to burn it got to that point in the production and froze up. Tried couple times to same result.
Went to Pinnacle's web site to possibly purchase plug-ins. All plug in effects looked low quality with cheese on top.
Love to hear everyones response.
Michael

Posted 6 years ago #
svhs
Member

Pinnacle Studio 9.4.3, bundled with my AV/DV editing board
will upgrade to 10+ after it's stable.
Limited experience with Premiere, Vegas and Avid. Pinnacle is just what I need for my projects.

Posted 6 years ago #
phillips719
Member

I recently installed Sony's Vegas 6 on my Windows computer. Installation was straightforward, no crashes. Program looks wonderfull and seems easy to use although I've only had about 2 hours playing with some short clips since I got it. Playback is smooth. Scripting looks wonderfull. Still need to burn DVD so I can't comment on that at this time. Help menu's are extensive.
I give it a solid 10 at this time.

Posted 6 years ago #
Steve Shilson
Member

I use Sony's Vegas 6 and I've been using it since the 4th edition. I absolutely love it. . .Also, I work at a production company and we edit with Premiere and when comparing the two, I find Vegas to be alot more customizable and has alot of little in-timeline shortcuts that makes a big difference in making workflow a fair amount faster. So yeah, Sony Vegas 6. :)

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Premiere Pro.

When used with After Effects, Encore, Audition, Photoshop & Illustrator, it's more powerful than Vegas. I don't know what timeline shortcuts the above poster is referring to, but when laying tracks out on a timeline and working with them there instead of in the "Source monitor", I can't imagine how anything could be any faster.

By the way, this forum program has a "Poll" feature which the admin/moderator has currently turned off. Why not turn it on?

Posted 6 years ago #
Captured-Films
Member

I have both pinnacle 9 and Vegas 6. To me vegas is much more powerful and more stable. Thats just my opinion.

Nick

Posted 6 years ago #
Steve Shilson
Member

[quote="compusolver"]Premiere Pro.

When used with After Effects, Encore, Audition, Photoshop & Illustrator, it's more powerful than Vegas. I don't know what timeline shortcuts the above poster is referring to, but when laying tracks out on a timeline and working with them there instead of in the "Source monitor", I can't imagine how anything could be any faster.
quote]

I use After Effects, Audition and Photoshop with Vegas just aswell as I do with Premiere. Really, I guess it's all in personal preference. . .I feel that I can utilize Vegas alot better than I can with Premiere. BUT I also have alot more hours logged using Vegas. . .As for the timeline shortcuts, I'd kinda have to show you, it's little things that go a long way for me. . .everything is right there in Vegas, in Adobe you have to go through Menu's for some things. Both have their advantages, it's all in personal preference.

I'm Steve btw and I'm glad I finally signed up here. It seems like a cool place to discuss stuff like this.

Posted 6 years ago #
Rocktooloud
Member

I completely agree with Compusolver. Besides, Adobe just announced the Video Bundle, which will contain all new software: http://www.adobe.com/products/bundles/video_bundle.html
And Adobe just aquired Macromedia, so you'll get Flash products as well.[/url]

Posted 6 years ago #
SFChuck
Member

I'm using Pinnacle Studio Plus v10...but I'm kinda sorry I made that decision. I'd been looking at Premier Elements at the same time but picked Pinnacle because they were acquired by Avid. My hope was there would be an upgrade path to Xpress at some point in time. In the meantime, Studio Plus v10 is not stable and crashes a lot. That really hurts the workflow. On paper it looks great but the devil, as they say, is in the details.

Posted 6 years ago #
Digital Video
Member

Looked at pinnacle web site the other day and saw there releasing Avid Liquid 7. New updated version to 6. Anyone order yet or upgrade? Love to hear some responses about this program.

Posted 6 years ago #
Wm G
Member

Premiere Pro!

For awhile I used Pinnacle DV300/DV500/Pro One/Edition but gave up on that line and went back to Adobe.

Posted 6 years ago #
Ryan3078
Member

I started out w/ Zio Corporation RealTime Video EVE, but that program was horrible. Really bad quality video. I made a VCD, and the framerate was awful, and every few seconds it would skip frames.

Then I went to Pinnacle Studios 9.4.3. The quality was loads better, but I couldn't get any sound out of the DVC 80 that was bundled with the software. Also, the program kept shutting down during rendering--it ruined a 15 minute video that took me hours to make...AARRGG!!!

Finally I use Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5.1 now, and couldn't be happier...quality is amazing, and the different transitions and effects are great!

...One other thing--I HATED how Pinnacle had all these great transitions and effects, but you had to spend loads more money to unlock them!!!!

Posted 6 years ago #
Andrew Burke
Member

Final Cut Pro here. It's the most stable system I have used. And, I think it's the most fun to color correct with.

Since Premiere 4.0, I've used most of the editors available.

-a

Posted 6 years ago #
FairyTale Productions
Member

I have extensive experience with Avid, Final Cut, and Premiere Pro. Currently I use Premiere Pro. I think it's really easy to navigate. The program just seems like second nature to me, everything is where it it supposed to be. Final Cut can be a little clumsy (I bet I'll get hate mail for that claim), and Avid is so damn expensive.

What can be even more important than the software you're using to edit can be the hardware you load it on. Make sure you're computer is up to the standards set by the editing software, and then upgrade a notch to ensure smooth sailing. You're freezing and crashing problems could be related to the operating system not your editing software.

Posted 6 years ago #
SFChuck
Member

RE: My post of Dec 13th, I've got to sheepishly admit that at least some of my troubles with Pinnacle Studio Plus 10 may have been self-inflicted.

Yesterday I increased the DDR memory in my system from the minimum requirement of 512 MB to Pinnacle's recommendation of 1 GB. As I was generating some primitive animations in JPG format I noticed that the system was quickly and easily rendering the images on which it used to choke.

It did crash when I trimmed two contiguous JPGs to 1 second and 15 frames each...one of the same problems I had before the memory size increase...so Studio Plus 10 is still not out of the woods as far as I'm concerned. But now it apparently doesn't crash as often.

Am I damning Avid/Pinnacle with faint praise?

Posted 6 years ago #
Americangreg
Member

I used to edit with Premiere Pro, but I've made the switch to apple and I'm learning Final Cut Pro now. I must say, it's pretty nice :D

Posted 6 years ago #
TrinaM
Member

Started on Pinnacle 5.0...now on to Liquid 7.0, anxiously awaiting the SP2, which should be out this week (according to Avid)!

I LOVE this program. BUT, don't upgrade until the service pack is out...there are plenty of bugs, but once they're cleaned up, hot diggity dog. The learning curve is sizable, but if you're using Studio 9 I'd recommend it if you want more control, more creativity, and HD capabilities.

Posted 6 years ago #
rederlenzi
Member

Premiere PRO 2.0 and I love it.

Posted 6 years ago #
BTS
Member

Pinnacle 9+. Have the 10 upgrade but have simply been too lazy to install it... Love it when it works, but intermittent problems slows me down and frustrates me to no end.

Posted 6 years ago #
Moviegirl11
Member

I'm using Vegas 4.0 (I know I need to upgrade but it is still good to use anyway) I absolutely love Vegas. I have Pinnacle Studio 9 but I don't like using it very much. I use it to add transitions as it has some really good ones. I rarely use it.
I am very comfortable using Vegas so it's the best for me. So easy to use! :D

Posted 6 years ago #
compusolver
Member

Notice that hardly anyone can say the name "Pinnacle" without including words like "problems"; "bugs"; etc. That should be a warning to everyone! I still have my Studio 9+ for some of the effects, but 99% of editing I now do with Premiere Pro after having tried Vegas about two years ago.

Those looking to enter the industry though, should look at Avid or FCP.

Posted 6 years ago #
rbradleyc
Member

I was thinking of investing in Avid Express Pro. Does anyone have any opinions on using this program vs. any others?

Posted 6 years ago #
svhs
Member

compusolver Wrote:
Those looking to enter the industry though, should look at Avid or FCP.

Avid is the industry standard and will probably stay so for a long time.
Beware though, it has a very steep learning curve (actually it's the most difficult computer software I've ever dealt with) and it works in a proprietory format. And of course it takes a monster PC to run it, but you should get used to that, if you want to do video.

Posted 6 years ago #
TrinaM
Member

Avid recently bought Liquid Edition -- should be interesting what happens with the program now. My 7.0 + sp2 runs like a dream and golly, 7.1 should be the "it" program. I've tried out the consumer version Studio and it was okay...drove me nuts, actually.

I've taught Liquid edition to 15 yr olds -- if they can get the hang of it, anyone can!

Posted 6 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

svhs Wrote:
Avid is the industry standard and will probably stay so for a long time.

I beg to differ - I believe (even though I have never used it) that Final Cut Pro is the industry standard. I have heard stories of clients demanding it be used over all others.

Personally, I looked at Avid (after using Pinnacle, Adobe and MS Movie Maker) and chose Vegas as it is extremely powerful, has great support through the Sony forums and I was able to some amazing things in only a few days.
Bruce Paul
7Squared Productions
http://www.7squared.com

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

birdcat Wrote:
I beg to differ - I believe (even though I have never used it) that Final Cut Pro is the industry standard. I have heard stories of clients demanding it be used over all others.

That's not entirely true. I think we're talking about 2 different classes of users here. Avid by far is considered the platform of choice for all of the high end and profesional cutting houses and studios. Hollywood, major networks and other larger studios use this or some aspect thereof. Of course Avid is very expensive and requires a lot of expertise and hardware. Naturally these big places can afford that.

Now for the smaller outfit, Avid might be out of reach or maybe in some cases, overkill for the type of work that's being done. Here is where FCP, Adobe PP, Vegas and so fourth come into play.

Birdcat: What to you mean when you say "clients demand that FCP be used?" Are you refering to the end client like maybe "Coke" or "Miller"? If that's the case and I was the president of "Coke" what would I care what was used to make my commerical as long as it looks good?

Posted 6 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

Video-maniac Wrote:

Birdcat: What to you mean when you say "clients demand that FCP be used?" Are you refering to the end client like maybe "Coke" or "Miller"? If that's the case and I was the president of "Coke" what would I care what was used to make my commerical as long as it looks good?

I am simply referring information I have read from other users. Recently there was a topic on the official Vegas Forums of someone who was using Vegas for years for a particular client, and when they found out he was not using FCP they stopped using his services - in the end, they liked his work so they did come back to him for small projects but the person who wss paying him (I will find the thread and post the link here tomorrow) was insisting he use FCP if he wanted more work.

As for Avid being the NLE of choice, I have not heard that anywhere but here. I'm not claiming to be an expert by any stretch, but in my limited experience the only "official" NLE of choice I've heard of by Hollywood has been FCP (however, as I said, I've never used it).

Here is the link to that message:
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=436249

Posted 6 years ago #
Video-maniac
Member

birdcat,

A few comments regarding your first paragraph:

First of all you have to take each post you read with a grain of salt. Just because you read on this post that a guy lost a client based on his NLE brand doesnÂ’t mean that this is a major trend or that this happens all the time. This is one guy out of a kagillion editors that this actually happened too.

Secondly, I find that truly amazing that a client who loves this guyÂ’s work the whole time all of a sudden drops him just because he finds out heÂ’s using a certain editing system. IÂ’m sure you and everyone else reading this for that mater must find that WACKED! ItÂ’s like going to your favorite breakfast joint for 5 years because they have the best hash browns in the world but then you find out that theyÂ’re cooking them on an electric stove instead of gas stove so you stop going. ItÂ’s all about the finished product! WHO CARES how you got there! WOW!

As far as your second paragraph:

IÂ’m not going to get into an argument because I think weÂ’re still talking about two different things here. IÂ’m more or less talking about Â“Super StudiosÂ” and TV stations where you are (I think anyway) talking about basic stand alone NLE systems. IÂ’m not bashing FCP by any means because it is VERY good NLE but (IMO) it still comes down to personal preferences in the end.

RAM

Posted 6 years ago #
birdcat
Moderator

Video-maniac Wrote:

This is one guy out of a kagillion editors that this actually happened too.

This is only one example of stories I have heard of clients demanding FCP be used. I was speaking to one guy at the last VideoMaker East who was bemoaning that to secure a contract with one particular client this guy had to go out and but a Mac with FCP if he wanted the deal - He was an Avid user and would have preferred to keep it that way but how do you turn away big $$$.

Video-maniac Wrote:
it still comes down to personal preferences in the end.

I personally think that is the crux of the whole matter - Everyone has a preference for NLE (some more than one). I have found my comfort zone with Vegas, others prefer Avid, other FCP, I even know one guy who actually likes Windows Movie Maker (go figure). As long as the tool does what you need to get the job out on time and on budget, that's the right tool for you.

Just MHO.

Posted 6 years ago #
hidef1080
Member

I use/used Premerier Elements and I tried the trial version of Pro 2.0.

Now I believe I'll be making the move over to Sony Vegas.
I like/liked Adobe and maybe I should not base my move on a trial version but I can't see $800 plus for something that will have me pulling my hair out.

If only Adobe had HDV support in Elements!! All would be right in my world.

Sony, I'm coming with money in hand! Take me to Vegas.

Posted 6 years ago #