*Words of Wisdom From The Elder

Use RAD video tools, it will batch convert format to format. I personally convert everythign to DIVX as it has a built-in 720p / 1080p setting you can use when re-encoding
http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm
I then import the re-encoded video into movie maker and go from there. There are lots of other HD camcorders popping up in the sub $200 range that record to various formats, I'm hoping to eventually ebay my Aiptek and get one of them in it's place. Mostly due to poor encoding codec choice, but also because this camera has NO image stabilization, so any movement at all results in jumpy artifacted video. A few of the other options offer electronic stabilization which is better than nothing. I'm still looking for a website that reviews all sub $200 HD camcorders on one page.

Hi, I’m Cody, and I’m working with the Windows Media Outreach Team to help answer questions that users might have about Windows Movie Maker.

AtomicInternet gave you some good advice: RAD Tools will definitelyget the job done. Here’s a link that’ll walk you through the whole conversion process:
http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20051003_convert_mov_to_avi.html

Also, if you’re interested in converting those .mov files to Windows Media formats, I’d recommend checking out Windows Media Encoder, which is another free program that works great. Here’s a link for it: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

Good luck with your editing!


Cheers,

Cody
Windows Media Outreach Team

I find it amusing that people complain about .mov files. MOV is one of the standards used in the industry. WMV is not, and use of AVI is rare. Avid, Final Cut, Adobe Premiere, the three programs most used in the industry, all work with MOV. Instead of getting a new camera, if you are half serious about video editing, get a real editing program. Windows Movie Maker is a joke.

@Tom

MOV is propietary to Apple and regardless of you saying it is a standard it doesn't cut the mustard because of licensing issues, it doesn't perform anywhere as good on windows as other competing file formats.

@Tom as well:

Sorry, dude, but MOV is *not* an industry standard. Apple provides significantly less codec support on Windows than on Mac, which means that some cross-platform devs (that rhyme with "ruh-doh-bee") have had split compatibility by platform. On Windows, devs have a few choices:

1. Support MOV all by your lonesome (bad).

2. Selectively pull codec types out and handle them yourself (bad).

3. Selectively put codec types into Quicktime and let them handle it (bad).

4. Let Quicktime handle it all of it (bad).

If you don't know why these are all bad choices, have a heaping helping of STFU. MOV is a container, but much of its implementation is linked to Quicktime components because of codecs. This makes it a metric pain to deal with, especially when Apple restricts codec availability by platform.

I stick with normal M2T files, but whenever I'm working on a clip with lots of effects I always make a proxy video in mov format. After Effects in windows.

The render time vs quality retention is great compared to others.

Final renders end up in mpeg2 format if im putting it on dvd or if it stays on the computer its a tossup between mov and wmv. Mov for personal use, wmv for youtube.

All formats are great. Just use whatever is fastest for you. Learn to use proxys when editing. This way you and you apple cohorts can share a common proxy type without having to worry about what format the source video is. If your source is not mac friendly, do the final render on the pc.

Just my .02

Dear Tom, what are you a spokesperson for apple? Ok lets get serious like you suggested! we are talking about a 200 dollar camera so no we didnt suddenly make a career choice to become video gurus we want to use windows movie maker you moron apparently apple must of kicked them some money