alesner

Hi All,

I have a Canon EOS 60D and would like to try to use the video function on my camera! Does anyone know of a very simple video maker/creator that I can upload my videos into and add music, etc? I am new to this and would love any suggestions. Again, nothing fancy....just a program that I can explore this new function on my camera with? maybe use for my vacation video?
Thanks y'all!

mrova Loc: Chesterfield, VA

If you're running a PC, you've probably got Microsoft's free Movie Maker program already installed. It's pretty simple. If you've got MAC, then iMovie should do just fine. It, too, is pretty simple. Hope that helps...

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Try ProShow Producer on the Photodex website. If you have Windows 7 try the free plugin Windows Live Movie Maker. Enjoy, Gary

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Please also post this on the Video for DSLR forum on this site. Thank you.

alesner

Does the windows video maker allow you to add music and. Keep the voice from the video? I guess what I am looking for may get a litte technical!
Also I have a Windows Xp computer

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Hi alesner, I have a couple of suggestions that you may find helpful.

My first one is... I use an editor by NCH software called video pad. It's very smooth, takes medium effort to learn because it does quite a few different things, and produces a very nice product. Here's an example.
I did this hand held using my Canon t1i with my 18-55 lens. I use the
18-55 because it's wide and is the only IS lens I own - both help to steady hand held shots. The editor is about $100.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDoNQ1CCzGg&feature=plcp

Another suggestion I have is for view finding. You'll find that difficult in out door, especially bright situations. I would suggest you always manually focus because using the auto function is slow and rather cumbersome.
This device will eliminate those pesky light on the screen difficulties you'll have out doors. I used this on the above example.

http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER-DSLR-Foldable-Viewfinder-Magnification/dp/B004HD3G6Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2L5XGAAI88VIT&colid=4QE79IOCVUL7

The above is a view finder attachment that includes a diopter to adjust for your particular shooting eye.

Good luck and have fun.

alesner

Thank you for the suggestions. I am new to the while video on my camera thing and I want to begin to use it. Love to read about suggestions and ideas that will help me along the way!

alesner

* to the whole video

alesner

Does the NCH software have a trial Jimmya? The video looks great! I like you can add VoiceOvers and you can add music too?

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Yes Video Pad has a download trial... 30-days I think.

I spent a career doing broadcast television news / sports photography, feature reporting, voice overs, etc. So I wouldn't have a program that wouldn't take audio. So yes, that's my voice on the video.

I have the "pro" version of Video Pad and one of the features I really like is unlimited audio tracks which means you can add sound effects, voice over, music, natural sound (recorded when you shot) and all kinds of little dodads that I really like.

Good Luck

alesner

Is the pro version also 100? Is the pro version still user friendly?

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

Yes alesner, that's what I paid. I never buy software just for download I always want the disc. There's an extra charge for the disc & book and my total was right about $100. I think the download program is like
$70 or so then plus the disc and book.

If you take the time to work with the program... it takes a little getting used to. By that I mean there's lots of buttons and functions so it'll take a little while to become familiar with it but once that's done you'll be editing smoothly and quickly.

I will caution you however... what's the speed of your computer? I ask because many older models, even 3-years, are not capable of handling HD video, they're simply too slow.

HD video generates a very large data stream. I had a Dell 1.8 processor with 2gb of ram. It was fine for everything else but couldn't edit HD video. What would happen was that especially during a transition, a dissolve, a wipe, what have you, the system would pause slightly then continue. That pause would also show up on the final edit.

So, because I do lots of HD video editing, mostly volunteer, I upgraded to a Gateway running at 3.3 with 8gb of ram. Now, as I believe you saw from the You Tube video of Relay for Life, the video, transitions and audio all run smoothly. It's just a matter of speed.

One more thing. The .mov video format although excellent is an Apple invention. With an older editor I have it requires that I have Quick Time installed because it uses some of those files to see .mov video. I still have QT on my computer and edit just fine with Video Pad. But, since I've not tried Video Pad without QT I don't know what the situation is there. If you get the trial for VP and have problems and you know your computer is fast enough perhaps a free download of QT will help.

These are all the things I went through to transition from analog to HD video... but I finally got there... it took me a while but I made it.

I thought I'd pass these things along so perhaps you won't have to go through the trial and error and R&D that I did just to transition to HD.

Best of luck and have fun.