Editing program for HDR-HC1 at DVinfo.net

Bob Plunkett · October 30th, 2005, 07:06 PM

I just bought a Sony HDR-HC1, and I want to edit the movies I take on my computer, but I don't know anything about editing movies on my computer. The manual for this Sony says I must have an editing program, so what would be considered a good editing program for someone new at editing by computer? I have two digital still cameras that I use and I use Adobe Photoshop to work with the pictures I take and it does a really good job for me. My scanner is connected to my computer with a 1394 firewire. My computer is not a new one, but has pentium III and 80 GB hard drive and 256 RAM. Thank you for your advice.

Bob Plunkett

John Rofrano · October 31st, 2005, 07:40 AM

Bob, Sony makes an NLE called Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum that handles HDV and is designed for beginners. It is packed full of features. This is what I used when I started several years ago (although it was called Video Factory back then). The great thing about this NLE is that it is a scaled down version of the high-end Vegas+DVD editor (which I use now) and everything you learn in Movie Studio is directly transferable to Vegas. Don’t underestimate the advantage of leveraging what you already know as you progress. I highly recommend it for beginner-intermediate editing work.

You may, however, want to get a new computer to handle HDV. 256MB of memory is not going work very well at all. You need 512MB minimum with 1GB recommended. (remember you are processing 4.5x the resolution of DV!) Also a Pentium 3 will render HDV very slowly. Any low-end PC for $499 with a P4 3.0GHz will be significantly faster than what you have now. So don’t be surprised if your computer doesn’t perform well with HDV. You really need a modern computer to work with HDV and P3 is extremely old technology.

~jr

Bob Plunkett · October 31st, 2005, 05:08 PM

John, Thank you so much for all that information, that was just what I was looking for. I will probably have to do what you suggest about getting a new computer. Thanks again.

Bob.

Danny Fye · October 31st, 2005, 07:31 PM

Try Ulead's MSP8. It uses 'smart proxy' files to make it possible to work efficiently with HDV with low power computer systems and is very easy to learn.

You can download the demo from:

http://www.ulead.com/msp/trial.htm

Hope this helps.

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

Michael Liebergot · November 1st, 2005, 08:27 AM

I second using Sony Vegas. I have used MSP and prefer Vegas due to it's better video encoding, audio controls (best available in any NLE), and program stability.

You can purchase an inexpensive plug in called GearShift from VASST that will let you work with proxies as well.

Laurence Kingston · November 6th, 2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Plunkett

My computer is not a new one, but has pentium III and 80 GB hard drive and 256 RAM.

This computer is nowhere near good enough. Trying to use it for this will just be an abject lesson in frustration.

Christopher Cruz · November 6th, 2005, 08:48 PM

Try out Media Studio Pro 8 like what was mentioned earlier. The Smart Proxy mode works great for computers that have a little less under the hood.

Glenn Thomas · November 7th, 2005, 05:38 AM

I'd recommend Vegas aswell. Very simple to learn, but also very powerful.

Alexander Karol · November 7th, 2005, 11:29 AM

Vegas is amazing. I have achieved results with it that would take me 3x longer with Premiere. I definetely recommend it over any other software out there. The interface is very easy and doesn't seem to use as much resources as other softwares.

Carlos Rodriguez · November 7th, 2005, 12:06 PM

I vote Vegas movie studio+dvd platinum, but I also agree on upgrading your machine.

Phil Hamilton · November 9th, 2005, 04:12 PM

I vote for Sony Vegas too. I have just started editing and I have the HDR HC1 too. What a great camera!

I would be glad to help with any questions if I can - am still learning it...

Martin Munthe · November 14th, 2005, 04:00 AM

2,8 GHz Pentium 4 and 1 GB RAM is usually the minimum specs for most HDV editors.

Bob Plunkett · November 19th, 2005, 03:23 AM

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and comments. I am going to try Ulead Videostudio 9 and see what I can do. Sounds like I am going to have a very difficult time, but would like to try this machine out first and see what happens. I have 512 MB of RAM.
The problem I am having right now is getting my machine to recognize my Camcorder. My 1394 was made by Texas Instruments, but I don't get any image device when I check it out on the Device Manager. Down in the Sounds, Video section it recognizes my camera. I've unplugged my camera several times and then unplugged my computer and the restarted the computer, but nothing happens. My scanner is hooked to my computer and it works just fine through the 1394. I unplugged my scanner to see if that would make a different, no it didn't.

Thank you very much.

Bob Plunkett

Bob Plunkett · November 23rd, 2005, 06:31 PM

I downloaded the Sony HDV plugin and now I can capture my video into my computer, but like several people stated, it's just not going to work with your present computer, and you all were so right, so I will get me a fast computer in the near future. I liked what one person said, you are just going to experience abject furstration try to capture your video with your present computer. Thanks again for all your help. I will now try and find me a new computer that has the necessary components for capturing video from my HRD-HC1.

Thanks,

Bob Plunkett.

Danny Fye · November 23rd, 2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Plunkett

Thanks again for all your help. I will now try and find me a new computer that has the necessary components for capturing video from my HRD-HC1.

Thanks,

Bob Plunkett.

You are quite welcome.

It's best to build your own system instead of buying one. This way you will have it custom made the way you really want it, not a generic system that may or may not meet your needs. If you can't build one yourself that's ok too.

Head over to the Videoguys web page for some helpful information on buying and/or building your own system.

http://www.videoguys.com/system.htm

I built my own system in such a way that there are no permanently mounted hard drives. No floppy either. It just sits there and wastes power.

All hard drives are in a removable tray. This way I can change my system to be according to my needs.

I can put in an internet boot drive for when I want to access the internet and a non-internet boot drive for when I want to do video editing. This way I don't have a bunch of internet type of programs running such as a fire-wall or anti-virus and whatever draining my resources.

One can even setup a boot for old software on Windows 98 or an alternative operating system such as Linux. All on the same system. Also without the hassles of multiple partitians.

Whatever you decide to do, don't go cheap with it. Get more than what you need to cover future needs but not so much more that you loose value when technology changes and you need/have to rebuild. There is a balance.

Finally, if you need help, there is someone here that can help.

Danny Fye
www.dannyfye.com

October 30th, 2005, 07:06 PM	#1
Bob Plunkett New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nagoya City, Japan Posts: 5	Editing program for HDR-HC1 I just bought a Sony HDR-HC1, and I want to edit the movies I take on my computer, but I don't know anything about editing movies on my computer. The manual for this Sony says I must have an editing program, so what would be considered a good editing program for someone new at editing by computer? I have two digital still cameras that I use and I use Adobe Photoshop to work with the pictures I take and it does a really good job for me. My scanner is connected to my computer with a 1394 firewire. My computer is not a new one, but has pentium III and 80 GB hard drive and 256 RAM. Thank you for your advice. Bob Plunkett

October 31st, 2005, 07:40 AM	#2
John Rofrano Sponsor: VASST Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York Posts: 516	Bob, Sony makes an NLE called Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum that handles HDV and is designed for beginners. It is packed full of features. This is what I used when I started several years ago (although it was called Video Factory back then). The great thing about this NLE is that it is a scaled down version of the high-end Vegas+DVD editor (which I use now) and everything you learn in Movie Studio is directly transferable to Vegas. Don’t underestimate the advantage of leveraging what you already know as you progress. I highly recommend it for beginner-intermediate editing work. You may, however, want to get a new computer to handle HDV. 256MB of memory is not going work very well at all. You need 512MB minimum with 1GB recommended. (remember you are processing 4.5x the resolution of DV!) Also a Pentium 3 will render HDV very slowly. Any low-end PC for $499 with a P4 3.0GHz will be significantly faster than what you have now. So don’t be surprised if your computer doesn’t perform well with HDV. You really need a modern computer to work with HDV and P3 is extremely old technology. ~jr __________________ Developer: VASST Ultimate S, Scattershot 3D, Mayhem, FASST Apps, and other VASST Software plug-ins Web Site: www.johnrofrano.com

October 31st, 2005, 07:31 PM	#4
Danny Fye Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Independence MO. Posts: 318	Try Ulead's MSP8. It uses 'smart proxy' files to make it possible to work efficiently with HDV with low power computer systems and is very easy to learn. You can download the demo from: http://www.ulead.com/msp/trial.htm Hope this helps. Danny Fye www.dannyfye.com __________________ www.dannyfye.com

November 1st, 2005, 08:27 AM	#5
Michael Liebergot Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,505	I second using Sony Vegas. I have used MSP and prefer Vegas due to it's better video encoding, audio controls (best available in any NLE), and program stability. You can purchase an inexpensive plug in called GearShift from VASST that will let you work with proxies as well. __________________ Michael www.lvpvideo.com

November 6th, 2005, 08:48 PM	#7
Christopher Cruz Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 45	Media Studio Pro 8 Try out Media Studio Pro 8 like what was mentioned earlier. The Smart Proxy mode works great for computers that have a little less under the hood.

October 31st, 2005, 05:08 PM	#3
Bob Plunkett New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nagoya City, Japan Posts: 5	John, Thank you so much for all that information, that was just what I was looking for. I will probably have to do what you suggest about getting a new computer. Thanks again. Bob.

November 7th, 2005, 05:38 AM	#8
Glenn Thomas Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 320	I'd recommend Vegas aswell. Very simple to learn, but also very powerful.

November 7th, 2005, 11:29 AM	#9
Alexander Karol Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 198	Vegas is amazing. I have achieved results with it that would take me 3x longer with Premiere. I definetely recommend it over any other software out there. The interface is very easy and doesn't seem to use as much resources as other softwares.

November 7th, 2005, 12:06 PM	#10
Carlos Rodriguez Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Modesto, California Posts: 206	I vote Vegas movie studio+dvd platinum, but I also agree on upgrading your machine.

November 9th, 2005, 04:12 PM	#11
Phil Hamilton Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 150	I vote for Sony Vegas too. I have just started editing and I have the HDR HC1 too. What a great camera! I would be glad to help with any questions if I can - am still learning it...

November 14th, 2005, 04:00 AM	#12
Martin Munthe Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 331	2,8 GHz Pentium 4 and 1 GB RAM is usually the minimum specs for most HDV editors. __________________ Martin Munthe VFX Supervisor/DP/Director

November 19th, 2005, 03:23 AM	#13
Bob Plunkett New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nagoya City, Japan Posts: 5	Editing program for HDR-HC1 I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and comments. I am going to try Ulead Videostudio 9 and see what I can do. Sounds like I am going to have a very difficult time, but would like to try this machine out first and see what happens. I have 512 MB of RAM. The problem I am having right now is getting my machine to recognize my Camcorder. My 1394 was made by Texas Instruments, but I don't get any image device when I check it out on the Device Manager. Down in the Sounds, Video section it recognizes my camera. I've unplugged my camera several times and then unplugged my computer and the restarted the computer, but nothing happens. My scanner is hooked to my computer and it works just fine through the 1394. I unplugged my scanner to see if that would make a different, no it didn't. Thank you very much. Bob Plunkett

November 23rd, 2005, 06:31 PM	#14
Bob Plunkett New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Nagoya City, Japan Posts: 5	Sony HDV plugin I downloaded the Sony HDV plugin and now I can capture my video into my computer, but like several people stated, it's just not going to work with your present computer, and you all were so right, so I will get me a fast computer in the near future. I liked what one person said, you are just going to experience abject furstration try to capture your video with your present computer. Thanks again for all your help. I will now try and find me a new computer that has the necessary components for capturing video from my HRD-HC1. Thanks, Bob Plunkett.