MPEG Edit Studio Pro LE Questions

[Marc Stayman]

I am considering the purchase of a JVC GR-HD1 but am concerned about editing the HD video. Can some of you that are using the software chime in on what you think of it overall? I have read about the issues regarding HD/SD and dropping off the first and last few seconds but does the thing work? Does it reliably upload and download between the camera and the PC? Are the edits clean, are there good transistions? I currently use Preimere with DV and would like to know how the JVC software will compare with my experience with Preimiere.

Thanks to the group in advance.

[Heath McKnight]

<<<-- Originally posted by Marc Stayman : I am considering the purchase of a JVC GR-HD1 but am concerned about editing the HD video. Can some of you that are using the software chime in on what you think of it overall? I have read about the issues regarding HD/SD and dropping off the first and last few seconds but does the thing work? Does it reliably upload and download between the camera and the PC? Are the edits clean, are there good transistions? I currently use Preimere with DV and would like to know how the JVC software will compare with my experience with Preimiere.

Thanks to the group in advance. -->>>

I think we're all having problems with the JVC editing 1.0 software. Only 1.0 software apps I've ever used with any or great success was Final Cut Pro 1.0 (used it for two years before i could upgrade--I was cutting my film).

If you're gonna buy, go for the HD10, trust me (and us)!

heath

[Sasha Froyland]

While working on my first project, I'm just now really testing the editor. Import about 60 minutes of clips I just took from Alaska and starting to cut them up. I got 01:22 (mm:ss) into the Timeline and now cannot save. Keep getting the following error:

????? 'spespele.exe' ????? 0040BED5 ????? 00000213 ?????????????????.

I have removed EVERYTHING off the Timeline but still cannot save so it looks like I'll have to start from scratch! Before I ran into this problem, the two transitions I used and the couple of audio transitions appeared to work well. However, I'm very disappointed with the editor.

I wonder if the Editor has any technical support? I will now attempt to try one more time to rebuild the project. However, I would rather be using a more established editor or an editor that has some support.

Question to Group: I have heard that Adobe Premier Pro 6.5 will edit HD. I've got a trial copy and it doesn't appear to import files with the '.mt2' file extension. Would I have to export from the camera in DV format in order to use Adobe Premier Pro 6.5?

Also, does someone have a contact at JVC that would answer questions about the Editor?

Thanks,

Sasha

[Marc Stayman]

Heath,

You said I should buy the HD10 but, correct me if I am wrong, the HD10 will not alleviate the problems with the editing software, right?

I am hesitant to buy the HD10 because I am not finding it for sale anywhere and if I did, I presume that it will not be discounted as much as the HD1 current is. This could result in a $1000 price difference! www.buydig.com is selling the HD1 for $2500 out the door, including shippings. If I could find a HD10 anywhere, I don't think it would be close to that price, and I am not going to buy either if the editor doesn't work! I know there is a plug in for Preimere, but that costs $1200! This is getting expensive....

[David Newman]

Premiere 6.5 can handle high defintion resolutions, yet it can't handle *.m2t files directly. Many uses have tried uncompressing the m2t data, then editing uncompressed AVIs in the VFW (Video For Window) mode under Premiere. This does work but the data size is huge (55MBytes per second) and the editing is very slow. Check out www.cineform.com if you are looking for a commercial solution for real-time HD editing under Premiere that solves these issues.

[Sasha Froyland]

Thanks David.
I am not able to justify $1200 + price of AP 6.5 in order to edit at this time.

I have placed a call with JVC Professional Support Hotline, at (800) 582-5825(2). Expect to hear back Monday.

I'll try starting my editing project over from scatch with the current editor and just remember to save a new copy of the project name every 10 minutes or so. If this technique works then okay, if not, then I'm be very upset with JVC.

Sasha

[Heath McKnight]

<<<-- Originally posted by Marc Stayman : Heath,

You said I should buy the HD10 but, correct me if I am wrong, the HD10 will not alleviate the problems with the editing software, right?


No, but it's a better camera, apparently.

heath

[Sasha Froyland]

Editor Limitation or at least I cannot figure out how:
1. Cannot import pictures, .jpg.
2. Cannot play on timeline a single shot, say 1 frame, over an extended time, say 2 seconds. (Lamn!)
3. The bin has no multi-select feature!!!
4. Timeline has no multi-select feature!!!

Summary: Plan on buying a different editor with this camera.

Just my opinion.

Sasha

[Lynne Whelden]

I''m not a Final Cut Pro user so I'm hoping the proprietary software that comes with the camera will suffice. However, I don't understand some of the terms you're using. What do you mean when you say there's no multi-select feature on the timeline or bin? I currently use an NLE called ScreenPlay and that's not a term I've heard before. And when you say you can't extend a frame over a few seconds interval, do you mean there's no way to freeze a frame? How many tracks of audio are there? Is it a basic drag and drop interface? Does it offer both timeline and storyboard editing? Like I say, I'm hoping this will work for all my editing needs. Thanks....lynne

[Heath McKnight]

We may have jumped the gun with this camera, as there is NOTHING out there good (and/or affordable) to edit with this thing.

heath

[Sasha Froyland]

Hello Lynne,
Sorry about the non-industry standard terminolory but I come from a software background and not a video production background.

3 Years ago I owned and used a product called SpeedRazer. Though the software crashed every 60 minutes, it was a 'real' editor.

What I mean by 'multi-select' is that say you have multiple clips in the bin, and you want to more or arrange them in the bin in some fashion that puts like clips together. You have to drag each clip by itself...you cannot select say 4 clips and move all 4 clips at once to another location in the bin. Same on the Timeline. Check this out: Say you got 4 clips on the Timeline, one right after the other, then you want to insert a new clip between clips 1 & 2. You have to first move clip 4 down the timeline, then move clip 3, then move clip 2. Totally unacceptable!

Freeze a frame: Yes. Say you have 30 frames (say normally 1 second) and you want to say stretch the 30 frame clip to be played for 1.5 seconds. No luck. Also, cannot insert .jpg files. LAME!

Tracks: 2. Any the FX transitions? Lamn. Just a few basic transitions.

Is there anyone out there that is enjoying this editor? Let's see. Dropped or missing footage using HD Capture and basically a bare bone Editor with the only other editor choice being Adobe Premier 6.5 ($700) and Ciniform ($1200) which is still not available. 2K!!Disapointing. This is becoming an expensive hobby.

Hey, anyone out there want to rent my camera and use my 6k pc + 2k software? I'm going to have to start earning some $ to pay for this new hobby!

Question: Why are the trade magazines not covering the inadequate software options out there for HDTV? What a shame.

Sasha

[Brad Hawkins]

I think the basic approach everyone is going to have to take on editing footage from the HD10 is one of PATIENCE. Yes it does suck that there is no software currently available, however, I think we all knew (or should have known) what we were getting into. After all we all decided to sign on to a new format thus making us "early adopters" and that means we get some of the benefits early, but we also have to wait for the rest of the world to catch up. The bottom line is it is going to take the software programmers a little time to catch up with the new technology. This doesn't mean that there won't ever be reasonably priced software available, it just means that the camera and format are both barely two months old and it is going to take some time for the software to be rewritten to incorporate this new format.

Perhaps this new "pixlet" that is included with OS X 10.3 will be the solution and allow us to edit with FCP, or perhaps some other NLE will emerge as the best HDV editing tool. But be assured that with both Sony and Canon signing on to the HDV format there will be software made and it will be possible to edit HDV with a "normal" computer. Maybe we'll be editing in a couple of months, or maybe in a 6 months to year, but it will happen.

In the mean time I cannot stress enough to just try to demonstrate patience. There is nothing we can do to speed up this process of software development.

On the other hand, perhaps using this oversimplified and clunky MPEG Edit Studio Pro LE will teach us all a lesson in editing. Maybe because it is so cumbersome it will train us to think long and hard before each cut, rather than just slapping stuff together and "frame f*cking" it to death. After all, not even ten years ago there were hollywood editors that were cutting on flatbeds rather than Avids, and that involves physically cutting and taping, and I know from experience that that is a much longer process than using Studio Pro LE.

Don't get me wrong here, I would take FCP or just about any other NLE over Studio Pro LE in a second, but for now that is not an option so I'm trying not to worry about it. Instead, I'm trying to look at what Studio Pro LE can do and what I see are the tools necessary for editing. No you can't composite with it or do any effects, but you can EDIT. Personally, I'm taking it all as a challenge. If I wanted easy editing, compositing, and effects I would have bought a DV camera, but I chose a camera that has an amazing picture and the trade off for that is that there are many challenges in post. Hopefully it will make me take a more thoughtful approach in preproduction and production and in turn make me a better filmmaker.

Okay, this post is way past too long, so I'll climb off my soapbox now.

Brad

[Glenn Gipson]

Well, the only thing that I can say is that I have grown to actually like the images of this JVC HD cam, but if they don’t sort out their software editing problems soon, I wont be buying one. Can MPEG Edit Studio Pro LE at least handle basic cuts, fades, and dissolves for the 720p footage?

[Sasha Froyland]

In my opinion, it does do the basics. And, in fact, it doesn't crash. Very solid software foundation just lacks bells and whistles.

[Sasha Froyland]

Please disregard last post!

This morning I opened the Editor and opened the my current project and was unable to save a copy of the current project.

History:
Started project 3 days ago. As I worked with the Editor I performed a File, Save As every time I completed a little more of the project. Over 2 days I saved a total of 17 different projects.

This morning I went to work on version 17, but when I went to Save the last few changes, I got this unintelligent error message again:

????? 'spespele.exe' ????? 0040BED5 ????? 00000213 ?????????????????.

So, I went back to version 16 of the project. Still no luck. Same error message. Continued process of opening older versions and trying to save. No luck until I got back to version 6. Version 6-1 open and can be saved.
So, in essence, approximately 70% of my work was lost. Reboot PC and try to reopen. No Luck. FYI: I have a new 3.0something gigahertz DELL PC and have had zero problems with it during the 2 months I've owned it.

The software problem appears to be a corrupt project file, because I can start a new project, import all the clips into the new project, and edit but for just how long until the project corrupts again is the question.

I would say that this is an opportunity for JVC to show what kind of support they offer.

I'm hoping to get a call back from JVC technical support.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Is anyone able to use this editor? If not then what editor are you having success with?

Sasha