Help a noob decide on a product!

ozmitch wrote on 9/4/2019, 5:36 AM

Hi everyone,

I need a piece of software for a one off video editing job (happy to pay money for it), but not entirely sure what software I need.

I *think* I need MEP, but allow me to explain the project and you can recommend.

EDITING PC: i5 4670 (3.4Ghz) w 8GB of RAM, Win7 64 Bit, and 512GB SSD.

PROJECT INFO:
1. I have about 20 legitimate stock footage videos which allows editing rights (all in .MOV format).
2. I want to import them into a single promotional video (which will be on a website frontpage), with transitions/text in between scenes.
3. Video will be hosted on Youtube (non monetized) in 1920 x 1080, and as high fps as I can get away with (I think stock footage is 25-29fps).
4. An MP3 music track will be added, and I want the transitions to be synced with when the music changes (it's an impactful piece).
5. I want to be able to add text to the video (not just intro/outro), but during / between scenes.
6. Video will only be about 3 minutes in total, and I'll export in probably MP4 format (but can be anything really).

I think that about covers it. I was looking at MEP Platinum, but not sure it does everything I need.

Keep in mind my extend thus is using Windows Movie Maker, so it doesn't need to be the same sort of stuff Speilberg and Dreamworks use :)

Thanks for any replies or input.

Comments

CubeAce wrote on 9/4/2019, 7:14 AM

@ozmitch

Yes, you can do all that within MEP but it may struggle with your system specs. You may have to proxy edit for smoother playback in editing and rendering times may be long. This would be true of most current editing packages though as things have moved on since your system was made. I'm using an older i5 than yours and just managing.

I would go for the Pro Premium package while it's on offer for around $67:00 for all the added features and effects.

johnebaker wrote on 9/4/2019, 9:12 AM

@ozmitch

. . . . MEP Platinum . . . .

I assume you mean MEP Premium.

A few points to be aware of:

. . . . legitimate stock footage videos which allows editing rights . . . .

Editing rights are not the same as commercial use, do they allow commercial use, eg advertising, without royalties ie are royalty free, they may have some restriction such as attribution requirements?

If the movie clips are subject to Copyright or not, you should make it clear in the video that only the compilation is copyright to yourself.

You may also get copyright infringement claims on YT - if the video clips are royalty free or have no restrictions for commercial use, then such a claim is likely, however when you counter the claim and demonstrate to YT that your use is legitimate then YT are usually quick to remove the claim.

. . . . 1920 x 1080, and as high fps . . . .

Keep the framerate the same as the imported movies - going higher will not gain anything except a larger file size.

. . . . An MP3 music track will be added . . . .

As for the editing rights above re Copyrights and Royalties and terms of use.

. . . .I'll export in probably MP4 format (but can be anything really) . . . .

YT support other formats however MP4 is preferred, their specs are here. Do note that they will create lower resolution versions to match viewers Internet connection speeds.

HTH

John EB

ozmitch wrote on 9/4/2019, 10:22 AM

@ozmitch

Yes, you can do all that within MEP but it may struggle with your system specs. You may have to proxy edit for smoother playback in editing and rendering times may be long. This would be true of most current editing packages though as things have moved on since your system was made. I'm using an older i5 than yours and just managing.

I would go for the Pro Premium package while it's on offer for around $67:00 for all the added features and effects.

Thanks for the reply :)

That's exactly what I was looking at. Lifetime license and it's at a pretty good price.

I've used Windows Movie Maker in the past for basic stuff without any real issues.

@ozmitch

Hi

. . . . MEP Platinum . . . .

I assume you mean MEP Premium.

A few points to be aware of:

. . . . legitimate stock footage videos which allows editing rights . . . .

Editing rights are not the same as commercial use, do they allow commercial use, eg advertising, without royalties ie are royalty free, they may have some restriction such as attribution requirements?

If the movie clips are subject to Copyright or not, you should make it clear in the video that only the compilation is copyright to yourself.

You may also get copyright infringement claims on YT - if the video clips are royalty free or have no restrictions for commercial use, then such a claim is likely, however when you counter the claim and demonstrate to YT that your use is legitimate then YT are usually quick to remove the claim.

. . . . 1920 x 1080, and as high fps . . . .

Keep the framerate the same as the imported movies - going higher will not gain anything except a larger file size.

. . . . An MP3 music track will be added . . . .

As for the editing rights above re Copyrights and Royalties and terms of use.

. . . .I'll export in probably MP4 format (but can be anything really) . . . .

YT support other formats however MP4 is preferred, their specs are here. Do note that they will create lower resolution versions to match viewers Internet connection speeds.

HTH

John EB

That's the one ... MEP Premium.

All the stock footage and audio I'm using is from Envato Elements / Market and comes with a Commercial license that they've confirmed is 100% fine for me to use in such a project :)
https://elements.envato.com/license-terms

Thanks for the heads up though.

Appreciate the other tips and information as well. So my video should be the same as the lowest framerate video that I am importing?

I'm hoping to be able to time the video transitions/text with certain parts of the music.

johnebaker wrote on 9/4/2019, 11:02 AM

@ozmitch

. . . . So my video should be the same as the lowest framerate video that I am importing? . . . .

I would go with the majority framerate, that way most of the clips potentially will not show the effects of changing framerate up or down due to an effect called Pulldown.

. . . . I'm hoping to be able to time the video transitions/text with certain parts of the music . . . .

That is a little more challenging matching the music to the length of the action in the video clips. When you get it right the effect is amazing.

. . . . Envato Elements . . . .

An interesting business model - subscription based / permanent use - this is different from many of the stock video/graphics/image sites.

HTH

John EB

CubeAce wrote on 9/4/2019, 11:03 AM

@ozmitch

I found MEP to be pretty intuitive and my previous experience was pretty limited. It shouldn't take long to get to grips with.

ozmitch wrote on 9/4/2019, 10:03 PM

@ozmitch

Hi

. . . . So my video should be the same as the lowest framerate video that I am importing? . . . .

I would go with the majority framerate, that way most of the clips potentially will not show the effects of changing framerate up or down due to an effect called Pulldown.

. . . . I'm hoping to be able to time the video transitions/text with certain parts of the music . . . .

That is a little more challenging matching the music to the length of the action in the video clips. When you get it right the effect is amazing.

. . . . Envato Elements . . . .

An interesting business model - subscription based / permanent use - this is different from many of the stock video/graphics/image sites.

HTH

John EB

Thanks for the tips. If the frame rate is too different do you get tearing or dragging/skipping on the video?

https://elements.envato.com/inspiring-motivational-emotional-trailer-Q2SK5P3
That's the piece of music I'm looking to use, which leads itself to (hopefully) being able to match up short scenes with text popping each time the string section comes on strong. Very emotionally piece of music.

That place as far as I know is one of few that allow a flat rate per month for video/images/etc. Most you have to pay credits for video.

Since it's a niche market I'm working with (freight and logistic supplies), it was also one that had some of those items.

@ozmitch

I found MEP to be pretty intuitive and my previous experience was pretty limited. It shouldn't take long to get to grips with.

Sweet... I generally pick things up pretty quickly, so will grab the trial and take a look at it. :)

emmrecs wrote on 9/5/2019, 3:55 AM

@ozmitch

I don't think you will be disappointed!

I generally pick things up pretty quickly, so will grab the trial and take a look at it. :)

Just be aware that the Trial version is not the "full" version; certain features are disabled until you purchase. So, if you come across something which you "need", but cannot find, you would be best-advised to post here so that fellow-users can advise you whether that need can be met with the full version of MEP.

HTH

Jeff