f13.net

Ok, so I have some videos and I want to edit out just a few minutes here and there and then put all them together as a big stream of clips.  Mostly AVI, with the occasional RMVB.

Is there some extremely user-friendly software that I can use to do this?  Preferably FREE user-friendly software...

I tried looking about the intarwebs, but became frustrated rather quickly.

So I thought I'd turn to the "experts".

Help me, F13.  You're my only hope.

Have you tried to use Movie Maker in windows? I know, it totally hoses your quality, but I do believe you can edit out sections after converting it. I might be wrong.  You can also try your hand at VirtualDub, which allows the use of slightly less horrible codecs but has a slightly higher learning curve.

There's a ton of free stuff. Easy to use is a different matter but if you are willing to give a try take a look at VirtualDub to start.

Edti: http://www.virtualdub.org/index.html

This program has a really easy to use editor, that can also convert to different file output, as well as giving other things like screen capture, sound editing, etc.

Camtasia Studios (http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp)

It's a 30 day free evaluation of the software, that as far as I remember allowed full use of all it's features.

It's at least a thousand times better than the previous recommendations of Movie Maker and Virtual Dub. The screen cap on this is also one of the best on the market.

That's a $300 product. Given the price I would expect it be beter than a free program like Movie Maker.

I know you didn't ask, but no, there is no iMovie equivalent for Windows.

There are some OK basic versions of Premiere (Elements) and Vegas right under $100 (and just a little more robust than iMovie), but you're not going find much for free. Might as well just stick with Movie Maker. Everything free isn't going to be much better.


And no, this is not meant to be some "neener neener" Mac vs PC post. I'm fairminded. For instance, Macs don't even have a built in equivalent to "Paint".

Ok, I should also mention I'm using Vista.  Apparently that is limiting some of my choices.

And Windows Movie Maker isn't seeing my RMVB files.  Any way to convert them before importing?

EDIT:  Is it just me, or is there a size limit on video importing? 

RMVB are real video format files? Or what?

MovieMaker is about the most brain dead easy way to edit movies, even as primarily a Mac user, I use it on occasion to quickly generate "web" versions of DVD sized .avi files…

iMovie, IMV, is the best product for the typical home user… …it really makes it easy and now has 1-click to post to youTube…

The Pro uses Final Cut, which is going to befuddle all except somebody who lives and breathes it… …though we still have an Avid box on site that gets used… …Adobe Premiere, I understand, has improved dramatically in its most recent incantation…

VirtualDub should be able to load most formats. If it's interlaced video VirtualDub can deinterlace it for you via one of it's plugins. You can also trim up the video or increase/decrease the volume in VirtualDub. You can then save the video out as a raw AVI file (which depending on how long you video is could be anywhere from 10 gigs (5-6 minutes) to 50 gigs). This is the route for best quality.

If it's too long you shouldn't use VirtualDub on it. Just bring it straight into Windows Media Encoder.

You can then take that raw AVI file and load it up in Windows Media Encoder (download it free at Microsoft). WME should also let you convert whatever format you have to WMV. You should have WME resize it to whatever size you want Windows Movie Maker to use. Encode it at 5000Kbps or more. Once you have a WMV that should allow you to easily import it into Windows Movie Maker and do whatever you want with it.

Windows Movie Maker has crappy default 'save' bitrate choices. If you don't see one you like you can create your own bitrate save setting. Should be a forum out there that explains how.

Edit: I've been using the VirtualDub/WME/WMM pipeline for a year or so.