iMovie, iDVD, iRobot (no, scratch that last one)

[miker]

okay, certain events with my current editing equipment has left me at the end of my tether.

i am now seriously contemplating *gasp* acquiring an Apple based editing solution. Most likely powerbook based. The cheaper, 12" powerbook, with video out and DVD-R and 640MB. Although it still hardly rates as inexpensive. I have my reasons for preferring a smaller form-factor, not all of them monetary.

Anyways, I'm all DV based which is good news, plus I have a 200GB Firwire/USB2 external hard drive.

But I really know zilch about iMovie and iDVD which are bundled. I'm guessing they are 'lite' versions, and perhaps don't offer everything I need. Although I am willing to make compromises for ease of use and lack of product activation and make IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors a thing of the past.

So my questions would be:

iMovie
1. I can cut, cross-fade and fade to black, right?
2. I can do a good soundmix?

iDVD
1. The DVD will playback in a set-top box?
2. I can do menus and multiple audio track selections per video stream?

G4 867MHz
1. I have a 1GHz P-III currently - will the PPC render quicker d'yathink?

Aqua
1. Can I turn it off?
2. Only one mouse button - what does that mean?

[untamed_aggression]

you can do a kajillion transitions in iMovie, including the ones you listed, and they all render as you go so you don't have to keep re-rendering everytime you change something like in Premiere.

In iMovie 3, you can do a fairly good soundmix, in that you can adjust volume, direct sound from left to right.

As for the rest, I've never used them, so I can't help you. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[machead]

iDVD is only bundled with SuperDrive Mac's. You can buy iLife which has it and 3 other knock-out application programs for about ?30.

I've used iMovie1 and its very simply

I use iDVD2 and its very simply.
The DVD will playback in a set-top box? MOST DEFINETLY
I can do menus and multiple audio track selections per video stream? NOT WITH iDVD2,

Only one mouse button - what does that mean? Use your left hand to press 'control-click' or 'Apple key - click' for more options.

Aqua- they're going brushed steel look now so not all skins are Aqua

I'd hold out for a while the G5 is on its way (allegedly)

[Actor]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
iMovie
1. I can cut, cross-fade and fade to black, right?
</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
OH, YEAH!
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
2. I can do a good soundmix?
</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think you can, but iMovie is probably not greatest tool for it.

If you are a student you can get the "Education" version of Final Cut Pro for $299. I don't have it yet but I'm told the only difference from the street version is that the words "Educational Version" show up on the initial screen. That doesn't affect your final product.

Then there's Final Cut Express for $250.

[titaniumdoughnut]

yeah, i've got the edu version. the text is the only difrence. that and the fact that you're not allowed to make a profit on anything you do with fcp. i'm not even sure how they would know you did. you can also get Final Cut Express ($299) which is not an edu version and has many of the features of fcp.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> G4 867MHz
1. I have a 1GHz P-III currently - will the PPC render quicker d'yathink? </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have an 867mhz G4. I expect it IS faster than a 1ghz p III because a friend of mine has an 867mhz p III and it is about %60 as fast as mine in 3d render tests using the same apps and files.

Based on my rather fuzzy math his 867 p III is = to a g4 520mhz, therefor a 1024mhz (1ghz) p III should be = to a g4 614mhz...... i think

that was all based on his being 60% as fast as mine, sometimes it went up to 80%.

basically, get the mac! you'll love it.

[miker]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> basically, get the mac! you'll love it. </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

that's kinda what i'm hoping ... i'm just having difficulty adjusting to the percieved un-value-for-money having been a PC user (Windows and Linux ... Linux has shown me the way) for some 16 years. The last Mac I touched was I think Apple ][ cx, which was obviously streets ahead of Windows 2.0

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Only one mouse button - what does that mean? Use your left hand to press 'control-click' or 'Apple key - click' for more options. </font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

tsk, machead, don't you remember your own sigs :-D

[MonkeyVideoProductions]

The latest iMovie and Mac 'OS X Jaguar' dont work brilliantly together. The one I use...not mine, my school's.....completely free for me, and i get to use it as much as I like, whenever I like..neways...the one I use crashes often when, but we (we being me and the techie) think it was mainly due to importing a file that was created in the previous version of iMovie.
Other than that we did have problems with our last editing effort...this was mainly the speeding up of clips (You may not use this feature) when we did, they sped up too much, and screwd the Mac for rendering.
Also what slowed us (Me n a friend) down, and the stopped us cause we got anoyed was our town experienced about 4 power cuts within 2 hours.
Even after all my bitching about my schools Mac, I'd get one, as they are far better than PCs for video editing, but I'd get a G4 rather than powerbook....cause the powerbook will cost a far bit more...but having said that, it is nice to be able to carry your work with you.

[eidde]

iMovie
1. I can cut, cross-fade and fade to black, right?

Yep

2. I can do a good soundmix?

Probably.

Why not use Premier though? Imovie is a bit mickey mouse.
Its worth knowing how to turn off unneeded extensions on your MAC and giving whatever editor you use plenty of memory share.
Very similar to PC - look for User Profiles, or Startup Profiles, and memory manager in the control panel.

[miker]

yeah, i'm very very familiar with premiere on the pc

but, premiere is not available for osx yet AFAIK, and i'm not interested in using OS9

besides, getting the powerbook will clear me out - i'll have to use the bundled software until i can afford the good stuff.

anyway, i ordered the 12" g4 powerbook superdrive today. should get it in a couple of weeks (3-5 days build, 3 days delivery).

i'm willing to make compromises for the sheer portability of the 12" model. it's still more powerful than anything i currently have, so should seem like fresh air compared to how jaded i have become with any version of windows.

[miker]

yeah, i'm very very familiar with premiere on the pc

but, premiere is not available for osx yet AFAIK, and i'm not interested in using OS9

besides, getting the powerbook will clear me out - i'll have to use the bundled software until i can afford the good stuff.

anyway, i ordered the 12" g4 powerbook superdrive today. should get it in a couple of weeks (3-5 days build, 3 days delivery).

i'm willing to make compromises for the sheer portability of the 12" model. it's still more powerful than anything i currently have, so should seem like fresh air compared to how jaded i have become with any version of windows.