Pinnacle Studio / Flipshare cameras

[kaphc]

So we have the same problems as many people with the Flipshare video cameras outputting mp4 files and them not working with Windows Movie Maker. We are deploying Windows 7 in September and so will not be using the new "Windows Live Movie Maker" that comes with it, as it doesn't seem practical to get everyone creating Windows Live accounts for that.

 

Our local secondary school ICT Technician has recommended we use Pinnacle Studio going forwards (and he used to work for Sky so I guess he knows his onions). I've had a look at the product description on line and yes, it does look all-singing, all-dancing. But I am slightly concerned it's maybe a bit too much for what we want (we are a 150-pupil primary school) and that it does need to be on a good spec PC (we'll be putting it onto Windows XP for a month before we deploy Windows 7).

 

Has anyone got any opinions on Pinnacle Studio or an alternative Windows 7 / mp4 compatible solution?

 

Many thanks

[mavhc]

Why would you need a Live account to use it?

[neilmc]

We have just purchased the Serif Design Suite included in this is Serif Movie Plus and I have to say I have tried a few different video editing packages on our system and this seems to be the only one which says it will work and actually does. I sent away some kids on tuesday to make a movie with no guidance from me and they managed to get there head around it in no time. We are a secondary School but I can't see why it wouldn't work for you. Serif also offer a free evaluation copy I think so you can try before you buy.

[kaphc]

Why would you need a Live account to use it?

 

Because, as far as I can tell, Windows 7 doesn't come with Move Maker installed. You have to access it at Sign In, which then needs a Windows Live account. Haven't got far enough into Windows Live yet, but also looks like all files are stored online which does raise interesting questions for child protection issues.

 

Do you know another way around this then?

[witch]

We use movie maker 2.6 that works on XP and Win 7

[kaphc]

We use movie maker 2.6 that works on XP and Win 7

 

Can you get it to import *.mp4 files though? Have fiddled around with codecs (incl, K-Lite) but without success.

[Sylv3r]

We use the flipcameras and .mp4 files, as we convert them using the flipsoftware before editing. This should be relatively simple to roll out and to use - especially if people are happy to continue to use Windows Movie Maker.

[kaphc]

Yeah, that sounds feasible ... but I have teachers who do not want to faff around converting the mp4 files to avi.

 

Though I might try that argument again if it means they can keep Windows Movie Maker. But I think they have been seduced by the thought of Pinnacle Studio so it might be a tough one!

[steveg]

Videospin (also by pinnacle) is great in a primary setting, but its a complete pain to buy the extra codec packs that you will need (no option for buying a load, they have to be purchased on each machine. For this reason in the end we went for the full version of pinnacle studio, and although it does crash occasionally with the flip videos, its been pretty good, even ran fine on some of our older pc's.

 

Steve