.mov files, video editors, file converters etc on a Windows machine?

[slofox]

I have been here before with this problem without adopting any real solutions. It is now starting to piss me off.

My RePlay XD action camera shoots .mov files. They play back really nicely on Quicktime for windows. But they are a bugger to edit on a windows (Vista) machine.

I have tried file converters but find I lose too much information in the conversion. What's the point of having a fancy-arse camera if you lose what it does? So I really want to work with the files in the original .mov format.

From what I read, I could do basic editing with Quicktime Pro - if I paid apple $US30.00. I am reluctant to spend that money unless I know that it will enable me to do what I need to do with it. Which is mostly chopping bits out, taking bits off the start or finish (even you tube lets me do that). Dropping clips in and out and maybe combining elements of two separate files. Oh and meddling with the audio track as well, given that the camera's sound files are not perfect.

I have tried a couple of "free" video editors - which have turned out to be "free" for a "trial period". And during that trial period you can't do most of what the editor claims to do. (I am thinking "Wondershare" here).

I don't want anything too complicated in a video editor - the top stuff just baffles my shrinking brain. I was pretty competent with WMM when I had other file formats to work with. That level of sophistication is about all I need.

So any suggestions? A video editor that will deal with .mov files, not too high spec and not too expensive. (And I can't afford to swap to a mac puter).

Thanks.

[jrandom]

I'd try to convert the files to WMV or MP4 and then just edit them in WMM.

I don't have any MOV files to test things on here, but Google throws up a slew of apparently free conversion software that claims to be able to do the job. You might have to wade through a few options to find something that actually works and doesn't shit malware all over your machine, but I'd say it'd be worth a crack.

[slofox]

I'd try to convert the files to WMV or MP4 and then just edit them in WMM.

I don't have any MOV files to test things on here, but Google throws up a slew of apparently free conversion software that claims to be able to do the job. You might have to wade through a few options to find something that actually works and doesn't shit malware all over your machine, but I'd say it'd be worth a crack.

File converters I have tried usually lose me some characteristics of the original file. I'd like to avoid that.

I've just downloaded VideoPad which will do .mov files. But it seems to have trouble with the 60fps clip...

[jrandom]

File converters I have tried usually lose me some characteristics of the original file. I'd like to avoid that.

I've just downloaded VideoPad which will do .mov files. But it seems to have trouble with the 60fps clip...

Convert to AVI and use a lossless codec like http://lags.leetcode.net/codec.html. That should keep all the quality that was in the original .MOV file. (The output will be huge, but you can always recompress a published file with DivX or whatever once you've finished editing.)

[Buyasta]

Is it the XD standard, or the XD1080?.. I couldn't see any information about what video codec the XD standard uses, but the XD1080 is H264, the same as pretty much any other HD video cameras out there, so any issues are likely to be due to the container rather than the codec, so one option is to remux the video to a different container without re-encoding the audio/video.
If that makes no sense, I'll just throw up a link to a post where I explain the difference between container and codec.
If it turns out the container is the issue, Avidemux should be able to convert to a different container without re-encoding, at which point you can just edit in your preferred video editor, just select "Copy" for the video and audio options.
Alternatively, if you have no preferred editor or run into issues with remuxing to a new container, Avidemux can also perform simple editing like cutting & joining and such.

[iYRe]

You'll always lose quality if you convert - even converting to lossless (because you lose quality converting to lossless).

The expensive options are Adobe Premier Pro, Edius, Final Cut Pro. Free option is lightworks (although not sure if MOV files are supported in free mode).

The best option.. dont use anything that has MOV files by default.. it sucks (I asked the video editors here at work, and whilst they all love Mac.. they all hate MOV)

[SMOKEU]

PowerDirector is good, but I'm not sure how it deals with .mov files. It's a free download from here.

[slofox]

Well, this VideoPad (NCH software) I am trying seems to do all I want. Just clicking the speed of replay to 101% seems to get it back to 60fps - no idea how that works...

But it's simple and does do .mov quite happily. So I'll stay with it for a bit and see if it stays up to requirements.

Appreciate the input all. Thanx.

EDIT The upload to you tube is of crap quality. Back to the drawing board I guess...

[iYRe]

for that matter, all the expensive ones are free downloads from there too.. and in that case you'd get premier cs6, because it's the best..
(note, you need 64bit for cs6)

[slofox]

Is it the XD standard, or the XD1080?.. I couldn't see any information about what video codec the XD standard uses, but the XD1080 is H264, the same as pretty much any other HD video cameras out there, so any issues are likely to be due to the container rather than the codec, so one option is to remux the video to a different container without re-encoding the audio/video.
If that makes no sense, I'll just throw up a link to a post where I explain the difference between container and codec.
If it turns out the container is the issue, Avidemux should be able to convert to a different container without re-encoding, at which point you can just edit in your preferred video editor, just select "Copy" for the video and audio options.
Alternatively, if you have no preferred editor or run into issues with remuxing to a new container, Avidemux can also perform simple editing like cutting & joining and such.

It's the 1080.

[OhioDan]

Could try AppGeeker Video Converter?
You can convert the .mov files to wmv, a windows videos known as windows media video, and then edit them in Windows Movie Maker, a free video editor that handles videos well.
Have only used it on a few occasions in the past, but it works very well.

[Akzle]

I have been here before with this problem without adopting any real solutions. It is now starting to piss me off.

My RePlay XD action camera shoots .mov files. They play back really nicely on Quicktime for windows. But they are a bugger to edit on a windows (Vista) machine.

I have tried file converters but find I lose too much information in the conversion. What's the point of having a fancy-arse camera if you lose what it does? So I really want to work with the files in the original .mov format.

From what I read, I could do basic editing with Quicktime Pro - if I paid apple $US30.00. I am reluctant to spend that money unless I know that it will enable me to do what I need to do with it. Which is mostly chopping bits out, taking bits off the start or finish (even you tube lets me do that). Dropping clips in and out and maybe combining elements of two separate files. Oh and meddling with the audio track as well, given that the camera's sound files are not perfect.

I have tried a couple of "free" video editors - which have turned out to be "free" for a "trial period". And during that trial period you can't do most of what the editor claims to do. (I am thinking "Wondershare" here).

I don't want anything too complicated in a video editor - the top stuff just baffles my shrinking brain. I was pretty competent with WMM when I had other file formats to work with. That level of sophistication is about all I need.

So any suggestions? A video editor that will deal with .mov files, not too high spec and not too expensive. (And I can't afford to swap to a mac puter).

Thanks.

a) pirate bay that shit.
B) fuck vista, get a real os. Liek linux

[sugilite:Me]

Stop mucking round guys, get Quick Media Converter. Nothing else matches it for the sheer number of formats, platforms and ease of use, and it is free.
http://www.cocoonsoftware.com/

[oldguy]

I use Sony Vegas pro 11, great program Sony Vegas wont do mov files but there is a work around on youtube, to make it easy for you, better than me trying to explain it. be better than converting to a format just so you can edit it.
Oh I'm a Vista user myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78xq5rreGn8

[Akzle]

vlc that shit homie.