Video Processing Software: Your discerning view?

[DonR]

As someone new to dabbling with video I've found these forums invaluable. One thing that strikes me though is the amazing array of software programs/tools/utilities put together by enthusiasts. I'm talking about things like VDub, TMPGEnc, AVISyth etc et al. My observations are that these tools seem to focus on specific aspects of video processing and seem to be more popular in these forums than your typical all in one capture/edit/encode/author commercial packages. I'm not asking what is best rather what is it about software that makes it good, bad or indifferent when it comes to working with video?

Rgds,

Don

[Guest]

Quality of output
Performance (speed and resource consumption)
Convenience (user interface and process)
Interoperability with other tools
Compatibility with various input sources
Price

If you can make your question more specific, we can give you more specific answers.

[check]

The best thing about higly specific software is if you don't like one piece of software, you can swap it out for another.
The main advantage though is probably the fact that when dealing with free non-commercial software, smaller individual programs are far easier to create and maintain then one monilithic program.

[Ebobtron]

The necessary item I would add to neuron2's list is “It has to work“.

My experience was I spend hundreds of dollars on hardware and software to put current and past home video on DVD and hours of work and a few more dollars came to the nightmarish realization that it don't and would work.

The manufacture finally fixed the capture then I waiting for the authoring to work beyond infant simple, never happened.

Freeware and free software to the rescue.
:)

[Guest]

The necessary item I would add to neuron2's list is “It has to work“. That would fall under "Quality of output". :)

[Zarxrax]

One of the main advantages of lots of highly specific programs as opposed to one giant monolithic program, is that you have much more flexibility.

Small individual programs can give you lots of options. For a bigger program to incorporate all of that, and then all of what multiple other pieces of software can do, it would end up being hopelessly complex.

The do-it-all programs are usually great for general purposes, but just can't offer the flexibility that power users need.

[shevegen]

"commercial packages"

Main reaons are:
- High price for them
- Unable to change the source and thus the behaviour

For me, the older I get, the more important the second point gets.
I disagree with many design decisions so I want to rely on knowing that I can alter the source, and change behaviour to my liking.

One of the best applications for me was always the way how AviSynth handled the processing logic in their scripts - and one nightmare of a negative example was the butt ugly Gordian Knot GUI approach.
Mind you though, I did use both heavily a lot.
Its just my opinion. :)

[Ebobtron]

@neuron2

:)

[mike_lee]

Sony Vegas is a big clunky piece of doggy doo, after you use these apps you start to see the failing of large software. These apps get it right.

[laserfan]

One thing that strikes me though is the amazing array of software...And DonR what is also striking, once you've hung around here awhile, is that everyone has different needs & interests such that you would realize that no one tool (or even "swiss army knife" of tools) can ever be produced to meet even a simple majority of folks' needs. So you have lots of different tools for different types of inputs, filtering/processing/editing those different inputs, and then outputting the results to... MPEG2? Xvid/Dvix? DVD? TS? whatever. It can be mind-boggling.

I think it's almost safe to say that for all the members here, there are no two with identical interests & requirements.

Well, ok. No three individuals alike! ;)

[DonR]

If you can make your question more specific, we can give you more specific answers.

It was just a general observation. Thanks to all for your responses. As with everything in life the more you know, the more you don't know. I'm off to do some more forum reading!

Rgds,

Don