Editing Recordings - What software?

[Alex53]

I have used Pinnacle Studio 9 for a while now to capture and edit my camcorder videos. The uncompressed files captured are 10 to 19 gigabytes large and Pinnacle has no problem opening them and editing.

I tried to do the same with a 7gb file I captured using GB-PVR (TV card software) to record a TV programme. The TV Card is a Hauppauge HVR-1300.

The resulting MPG file makes Pinnacle Studio crash immediately when I try to edit it. I also tried Movie Maker to see what happened and it just idles for ages and nothing happens.

Any ideas or suggestions? Maybe I have to somehow convert the MPG GB-PVR creates first? Maybe I should try a different editing software?

My current PC has 2gb of gaming RAM and an Intel Dual Core CPU, and its running very stable, so I dont think its a performance issue as it often is with video editing software.

[stustunz]

what type of files are the camcorder ones
and what are the gbpvr ones (i dont use the hvr1300)

[Alex53]

I can tell you in more detail when I get home, but the camcorder ones are uncompressed AVI files (true AVI not MPEG4 with the AVI extension).

GB-PVR files as far as I know are MPEG2, like a DVD. I'm pretty sure have edited other MPEG2 files in Pinnacle Studio 9 before, but they were not recordings from GB-PVR and they were definitely smaller.

Someone advised me to get Adobe Premiere, which is apparently an industry standard for video editing, but first I'd rather explore a solution that doesnt cost a small fortune

[persille]

Do you need non linear editing with fancy transitions bluescreen effects aso. or do you just need to cut out commercials and trim recordings?

When you edit an mpeg2 video in an NLE (Non Linear Editor) it will decompress the file and cache it in your swap file because it will do frame accurate editing. Thats why it takes a long time open your recorded file.

For NLE there are several choices. Personally I will avoid Pinnacle products, though I must admit my experiences goes back to Studio ver. 8, both support and MPEG1/2 output quality from studio was awful.
Now that you have Studio you should try out the quality and if that suits you and your needs go for it since it has a very appealing interface, otherwise have a look at Sony Vegas Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements or Ulead Videostudio.

For MPEG2 frame accurate Linear Editing (trimming and removing commercials) I will recommend Videoredo, I use TMPG MPEG2 editor but thats because I bought it before I knew of (or before it existed) Videoredo.

For MPEG2 GoP editing there are a number of options, take a look here

Cheers
Per

[rowle1jt]

I routinely use Pinnacle 9 to edit what I have recorded. I have never had any issues editing any of the files from my 150's... thats weird.

There was an "update" for Studio 9, did you apply that?

[Alex53]

Forgive me for wasting your time. I was trying to edit a file I must have recorded with another TV card software, since I tried a few. I tried opening a couple of more recent recordings I knew were made with GB-PVR for sure, and Pinnacle didnt have any problems. Well a slight problem detecting some separate scenes, but nothing major, it could definitely read the file.

Here is the result if anyone is interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWcpOwgDHRk

[erik]

Did you search for info at http://www.videohelp.com ?
Tons of information and realy good "howto" guides.