iMovie equivalent in Windows 7

[enrigonz]

I'll like to know if there's a Windows 7 movie editing software equivalent to Mac OS X iMovie.

I use a T2i for movie recording and the video plays fine but not the audio in Windows 7 Movie Maker. Audio from other formats work just fine but not .mov I guess.

I don't need a powerful program just something I can do quick edits and make a video file with a few clicks just like iMovie. Movie Maker seems like a good program for me but the audio doesn't appear to work.

Any ideas?

[Vermin87]

Originally Posted by enrigonz

I'll like to know if there's a Windows 7 movie editing software equivalent to Mac OS X iMovie.

I use a T2i for movie recording and the video plays fine but not the audio in Windows 7 Movie Maker. Audio from other formats work just fine but not .mov I guess.

I don't need a powerful program just something I can do quick edits and make a video file with a few clicks just like iMovie. Movie Maker seems like a good program for me but the audio doesn't appear to work.

Any ideas?

As far as I know, you need to purchase a program like Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas.

[LSV]

Windows Movie maker. The reason why audio doesn't work is actually Canon/Apple's fault rather than microsoft. Instead of using standard LPCM, Canon chose to use the apple version because .mov doesn't really support many other versions (container itself works just fine with others, but apple software will not support others in .mov). If you have quicktime installed, it should work with windows movie maker. Just make sure to disable EVERYTHING but LPCM from the quicktime MIME selection. If you don't, video will be choppy.

[enrigonz]

Originally Posted by LSV

Windows Movie maker. The reason why audio doesn't work is actually Canon/Apple's fault rather than microsoft. Instead of using standard LPCM, Canon chose to use the apple version because .mov doesn't really support many other versions (container itself works just fine with others, but apple software will not support others in .mov). If you have quicktime installed, it should work with windows movie maker. Just make sure to disable EVERYTHING but LPCM from the quicktime MIME selection. If you don't, video will be choppy.

I have Quicktime installed and all .mov videos play through there just fine, the problem is just with Movie Maker. I can see what you're saying being the case, it boggles my mind, really!

I'm not sure though what you mean in the last part of your reply about it working with movie maker if quicktime is installed...... please explain?

I new to Windows (in a way) so don't really understand this MIME stuff...... sorry.

[davidfig]

Since you have windows 7. I would recommend Movie Edit Pro. www.magix.com

[lhughey]

Pinnacle Studio v14 is the only program that uses a codec that allows you to be able to edit in realtime with Canon files. Why Canon decided to wrap their movie files with quicktime wrappers beats me. Its one of the crappiest formats for editing (pretty good for viewing though). There are a couple of work arounds that will allow you to edit the Canon movie files with less processor insensity (like changing the extension from .mov to mp4, etc). But i'd recommend Pinnacle Studio 14 unless you are doing very advanced things (but if you are looking for an iMovie replacement, chances are that you arent)

[enrigonz]

I still have a Mac sitting next to my Win 7 system, I've been trying very hard to not use the Mac and try to adjust to just using the Windows 7 machine. So far my biggest problem is this, the others I will find a workaround for them but this one got me a little frustrated.

My Mac is 4 years old, so for some things is a little slow, very usable but slow when it comes to rendering big images and working with 1080p video files. I really like the OS X system but due to some financial difficulties I'm forced to seek more affordable alternatives. I also like the new Windows 7, I think is the best Microsoft has produced so far so I'm trying to make it work for me.

[enrigonz]

Originally Posted by davidfig

Since you have windows 7. I would recommend Movie Edit Pro. www.magix.com

Which of the 2? One is Movie Edit Pro 16 Plus and the other is just Movie Edit Pro, any benefits of using one over the other? There's a $30-40 difference....

[LSV]

Originally Posted by enrigonz

I have Quicktime installed and all .mov videos play through there just fine, the problem is just with Movie Maker. I can see what you're saying being the case, it boggles my mind, really!

I'm not sure though what you mean in the last part of your reply about it working with movie maker if quicktime is installed...... please explain?

I new to Windows (in a way) so don't really understand this MIME stuff...... sorry.

MIME stuff isn't just in windows, it's there in a form or other in OSX and linux too. Basically just controlls what program is used to play/open another. Also controls what codecs certain windows programs use to decode files, including windows movie maker.


If you are going to spend money on any program, might as well go with PE or vegas. They will serve as good stepping stones in case you want to learn better editing later

[enrigonz]

Originally Posted by LSV

MIME stuff isn't just in windows, it's there in a form or other in OSX and linux too. Basically just controlls what program is used to play/open another. Also controls what codecs certain windows programs use to decode files, including windows movie maker.


If you are going to spend money on any program, might as well go with PE or vegas. They will serve as good stepping stones in case you want to learn better editing later

I appreciate your advice however I'm not looking to spend that kind of money, an iMovie replacement would be in the $100 range no more.

[Fahad79]

How about Adobe Premier Elements? It's $85 at B&H.

[LSV]

Originally Posted by enrigonz

I appreciate your advice however I'm not looking to spend that kind of money, an iMovie replacement would be in the $100 range no more.

PE (Premiere Elements) is under $100, as is the low end version of Vegas. Both do much more than iMovie.

[enrigonz]

Thanks, I'll look into Premier Elements, for some reason I was thinking of Premier Pro not elements. $85 is not bad if it can perform better than iMovie.

[lhughey]

With Premiere (or Elements) you're still going to have issues with decoding problems (speed). Adobe Premiere a very heavy program (I have a i7-920 and 6Gigs of 1600memory and I still can't edit realtime 1080p files without first re-encoding them in Cineform or using proxy files). Pinnacle 14 is the the only one that can do it without issues or re-ecoding.

[davidfig]

Originally Posted by enrigonz

Which of the 2? One is Movie Edit Pro 16 Plus and the other is just Movie Edit Pro, any benefits of using one over the other? There's a $30-40 difference....

I use the plus, for $30 you get a lot of features.