Where do I Start!

[mookid2005]

Avid freeDV is a good place to start, because, guess what? It's free! :) Seriously though, it has a fairly good feature list, and when you get the hang of it you can move up to avid xpress, and keep the skills you gained with freeDV. Avid have a nice thing going with the fact that all the version of there editors use the same key commands, etc.

[BUZZFX]

mookid2005,

Thanks. I will look into Avid. How does Avid stack up against other applications as far as what's used by most people? And will my skills in Avid easily translate to Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere etc.?

[mookid2005]

KingKong and LOTR was edited with an Avid. If you look on the Kongisking production diaries you'll see it in action.
As for comparing it with premier and FCP? well FCP is probably on par feature per feature, my friend edits with it and I'm not sure if there's anything that can't be done one that can be done with the other as we often collaborate. Maybe FCP will lack stuff when you start using very high resolutions, as FCP doesn't have the hardware extras like mojo or the nitris racks.
I never did like premier's workflow, so I don't have much experience, I do know that it did start life as a multimedia editor (stuff for websites and CDROM's) so it's not built from the ground up to do pro editing.

I had a go on freeDV and was surprised to see that many of the feature of my Xpress proHD were there!

I think that the skills that you learn in either Avid or FCP will easily transpose from one to the other okay, although you might get a little confused initially. They do look like they have a very similar interface, though.

[BUZZFX]

mookid2005

Thanks for the advice! :) Any idea where I can find some examples of Avid in use. I don't want to see Hollywood movies done with it but home made movies made by the average joe.

[mookid2005]

The 'Guerilla Film Makers Movie Blueprint book', has a whole section on editing with Avid.
I'm yet to check the book out, but it looks like it should be a good read!

[Matty2Phatty]

I have the Guerilla Filmmakers Movie Blueprint, and it's a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Though i do hope you guys understand the difference between an offline and an online edit.

I just mean because a lot of people claim a certain software was used for a certain film, when actually you can do your offline edit on virtually any editing software, as long as you've got your stuff timecoded.

Ofcourse, if you're shooting DV then your online edit would be using the same software.

I don't want to see Hollywood movies done with it but home made movies made by the average joe.

The average Joe generally wouldn't use an avid machine, unless they like buying expensive toys (i believe they're still like $60,000), and as for avid software, to me it seems pretty crappy. It looks like people get Avid editing software after hearing that films often use Avid machines. The machine is what's special, not the software.

[mookid2005]

The average Joe generally wouldn't use an avid machine, unless they like buying expensive toys (i believe they're still like $60,000)

They are available for hire too y'know! :)

It looks like people get Avid editing software after hearing that films often use Avid machines. The machine is what's special, not the software.

No, it's the editor, not the software or the hardware! :D Seriously, I got into Avid editing because it's the standard throughout the whole industry, from news to filmaking it's being used in one flavour or another. The hardware doesn't make much difference to the interface, it just enables the use of HD, 4K or whatever format you are using, plus video breakout etc.

[hellgatemedia]

I would almost recommend a newcomer to contract out the editing, depending upon the budget available.
Editing IS a skill, you can't just pick up Avid and magically be able to become a competent
editor. And you aren't going to learn Avid in a day either.
The problem I forsee in trying to do editing if you aren't experienced, is not making the right cuts, not understanding how long certain scenes should be, and possibly making sloppy scene to scene transistions. But if it's a short film, and you are just experimenting, and you have no commercial aspirations for your films, than maybe doing it yourself is fine.
If you are insistent on doing your own editing, at least search for some books out there, and try to study up on it a bit before you actually do it.

[Matty2Phatty]

Yeah from my own experience i think there's some truth to that.

Editing isn't just learning the software, it's an art. There are entire textbooks on the subject. One of them, 'the eye is quicker', i found absolutely fascinating.

[mookid2005]

From what the original poster said, I gathered he wanted to get into editing, most probably the work he's doing on C4D. I suggested he might like to try Avid freeDV. I can't see how farming out his editing is going to help him get into it! :D

There's no point proclaiming editing is a dark art;- There are tons of textbooks on drawing, but I didn't read one of them until I realized I could draw. Likewise, there is only one way to discover if you can edit or not, that's go into the deep end and learn from your mistakes. by all means read the books and listen to the masters. The only thing that will make you a good editor is practice.

I'm sorry if this is a rant but please don't discourage the man, he's not going out and blowing everything on a Symphony Nitris. :p

[Matty2Phatty]

There's no point proclaiming editing is a dark art

You're right about that, i do agree with you. But, i just feel like we also shouldn't be talking like the software will make much difference.

It's like going into the main forum and asking which 3d software is the best and which do the pros use. I could take the same footage from a days shooting and edit it exactly the same with numerous editing packages, from Windows Movie Maker to an Avid machine.

Granted there are advantages to the higher end packages, but i just don't think it's the editing software itself that will make great films.

But yeah, just my opinions. By all means avoid Windows Movie Maker if you can ;)

[hellgatemedia]

I wasn't trying to discourage at all.
That's why I suggested if he did want to learn, that he get some books, and
practice on projects not intended for commercial release.
I only suggested that he consider farming out the editing work, if his true ambition was the film making, not the editing.I might not have been clear on that.
I think it wouldn't be wrong of me to suggest to anyone just
starting out to expect to simply pick up Avid and suddenly be cutting short films like
established hollywood film makers.
Avid is a tool, just like a pencil. Some folks pick up a pencil and can barely make stick figures, and some folks can pick up a pencil and make masterpieces.
Paint Guy, if editing is a passion of yours, I by no means wish to discourage you, just don't let anyone set up unrealistic expectations. Good luck with everything.

[mookid2005]

I think our debating scared him off! :)

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