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Question About Movie Editing Software

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I am trying to use iMovie but it seems a little cumbersome to work with. I can't get everything to work in sync with each other. Are there any other types of software that is a little better than iMovie, but not as complicated as Final Cut Pro???

Thanks.
 
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Unfortunately, you have less options on the Mac than you do on the PC. I find iMovie to a bit cumbersome myself, but that's because it's lacking in features. Someone looking for light editing probably doesn't mind the lack of precision and control over their effects and filters :)

Final Cut Express is an option, although it's got the same interface as Final Cut Pro. There is a definite learning curve, but once you've got the basics down, the rest comes fairly naturally. It's also about a fifth of the price :)
 
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I've just started working with Final Cut Express HD and if you know your way around iMovie I'd say this is definitely learnable.

I don't quite understand all the features yet and I'm sure I'm not using it optimally, but I can work the basics.
 

rman


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There is also Avid Xpress Pro. Which I believe is similar to Final Cut Express HD
 
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Maybe you should clearly explain the problem.

All I'm really trying to do is make a movie with just photos and music in the background. I tried making it last night, but I couldn't get the music to be in line with the amount of photos. Maybe I'm doing something wrong.
 
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iDVD does that, where you can tell the pictures to fit the length of the movie. That is great if your output is a DVD. iMovie for some reason doesn't seem to have that feature. You could create a DVD disk image and extract the mpeg2 file using a tool I guess.

In iMovie I think the closest you could get is to account for the length of the audio, and then select all the images and apply an appropriate transition, but first apply the length for each image I suppose. You'd have to account for how the transition is applied. And you don't want to import your pictures via the Ken Burns effect. Very ugly I know.

Hopefully the next version of iMovie will address this short coming.
 
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Some time ago, Think Secret had some screenshots up (actually I think that Mac World also had some screenshots in an issue some months back). I have to admit that it looks really slick. I've been really anxious for iWork '08 (I love Pages, but would like a little more functionality, and I really am looking forward to its spreadsheet app), but looking at the completely redesigned interface in Office 2008, I may just end up sticking with it!

(It helps working in Redmond where I have several friends who can pick up a copy of Office at the MSFT store for less money than I'll pay for iWork)
 
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There is also Avid Xpress Pro. Which I believe is similar to Final Cut Express HD

Avid Xpress Pro is about $1899, their media composer (the high end version of Avid) is about $5,000. I work with it-it has a considerably higher learning curve than Final Cut. Sounds like Final Cut Express HD might be what you want, you can get it for $239 or something from amazon.com. It's not too difficult to work with, you'll get it down in no time, at least the basic functions. Never used the express version, just final cut pro, but it's a good program.
 

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