[Chris Garratt]

Hi All,

I'm trying to make a movie with photos and films using Movie Maker. However, it keeps crashing when I try to do ANYTHING. I think this is because it's fairly long - about 20mins. When I've done 5 minute jobs its been very slow but has worked.

Is there a good alternative (free ideally but would consider buying) that can handle big projects?

As ever, ideas gratefully received...

Chris

[Dan Moorhouse]

I use Pinnacle Studio for bigger projects. Handles things well and has loads more features than moviemaker.

[ahrenfelt]

Dan Moorhouse, on Nov 28 2007, 07:13 PM, said:

I use Pinnacle Studio for bigger projects

I use that too but have recently tried out Ulead VideoStudio after a few of my students successfully made use of Green Screen technology. See Baba-roo Productions (select The Jeffersons or Grandma's Story), rather good don't you think (my acting that is )

Johannes

[Richard Smart]

I have just started using Pinnacle. It works fine, but is a memory hog. Make sure you have at least 2gig.

Ignore the bad reviews online... I trusted Mr Humphreys and it worked out okay for me

[Richard Jones-Nerzic]

Adobe Premiere Elements 4 (released last month) is the best I've ever used. Interestingly it now behaves and looks like a powerful version of Moviemaker. Allows import of virtually all formats and exports in everything from Flash to mobile phones. Great advanced features like green screen, picture in picture etc. and allows import and export of HD. But you need 1g of RAM or 2g for HD.

[ahrenfelt]

Richard Jones-Nerzic, on Nov 29 2007, 08:08 PM, said:

Adobe Premiere Elements 4 (released last month) is the best I've ever used.

Now that's got to be good then .

Noticed that it's only a few quid; just started downloading the trial version from Adobe. Any idea if it supports 'green sceen'?

/ Johannes

[Dan Moorhouse]

Not used Abobe for green screen but my pinacle kit is set up for it - though I've not tried it yet....

[neil mcdonald]

I must admit - green screen looks the way forward for making brilliant resources but the kit costs and trying to find the acessories such as decent microphones etc can be a pain.

[ahrenfelt]

neil mcdonald, on Dec 1 2007, 10:06 PM, said:

but the kit costs and trying to find the accessories such as decent microphones etc can be a pain.

Screens, if you can settle with half-decent stuff, needn't be too expensive. Just pop down and get yourself green card for 3-5 quid and that should do it. The students that created their movies using green screens did just that, see their Miami Vice for a rather good example (non-history related... )

Microphone is a different issue if you want top-of-the-range outcome(s); I use cheap ones and the quality is too I guess.

/ Johannes

[Dave Wallbanks]

Just to come back to this topic but I'm sure there's another movie making program from Microsoft which is free to use? I'm watching my students make films on highway robbery but our network's dying on the students and keeps causing each student's work to crash. we need a better alternative.

Does anyone know of free online video editing? I saw a very simple version on something called shmash.tv and it looks great but I wonder if there's anything similar that I could use.

[Dan Moorhouse]

Microsoft also do photostory which might be the one you're thinking of. Works fine but is restricted to images + audio (ie no video imports). Can be handy though and is certainly accessible enough for the kids to get to grips with quickly. I used that when I made my william the conqueror video.

[jbassett44]

Ever used Power Director?
A colleague gave me a copy which does a great job of using still and moving picture together with a soundtrack.

[Jason Summer]

I usually use Windows Movie Maker to make simple slideshow for youtube. To burn slideshow to dvd with menu and play on my living room tv, Wondershare Movie Story is my favorite tool. It provides many transitions and menu templates. It saves lots of my time. I've also heard that the top 3 video edting software choices for the PC is Ulead Video Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements and Sony Vegas. These programs cost you a lot, but you can download a free trial from their Web sites.

[Mark K]

I use Vegas Pro - it's similar to Windows Moviemaker but I find it has a better range of tools for editing. My only issue with it is that I find it difficult to add files from youtube as they often get corrupted. I want to get myself an apple mac instead but funds are low right now