Is Blender VSE good enough for some basic 2D post-processing editing?

Support Compositing and Post Processing
1

For few days I have been looking for free non-linear Video Editor that could do basic work for amateur and if possible semi-professional work with recorded non-cam videos (Gameplay footages with voice overs and occasional “effects” and .png images to make work more clean and readable together with intro and outro (No, not let’s plays :P)) and I have found out that Blender does have ingratiated VSE.

While I understand that Adobe Premiere is more for this kind of work, I live in country where getting it is almost impossible due of it’s price(Without taking credit, it is) and if possible I would like to avoid to spent additional ~100 Dollars for Elements or Vegas.

I’m completely new to Video Editiors and completely lack most “Everyone knows” information, so does anyone can recommend me a Blender for this kind of work? If not, is there a other software you can recommend me? (Note: I can’t switch to Linux due of begin a gamer and sharing this PC with my parent, so I can’t use most of open-source applications)

2

This was edited with the blender VSE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6MlUcmOul8

For the very basic editing you describe, any cheap video editor even Movie Maker should be able to do it, you don’t need anything like Premiere. Try with one project and see for yourself

3

If you have a pc, have you looked at lightworks? I believe it is free and every bit as powerful as premiere eliments.

4

That’s impressive. I have read that those open movies were edited with 3th party software, but it seems that they were either wrong, or just the earlier ones.

Is my 2nd choice if Blender will be not good enough, but isn’t it free as “There is free version that is limited and pro with have more features”?

Also, thank you for answer :).

5

Check out the blog in my sig below there are lots of entries about VSe use for video editing and effects etc.

6

I second looking at http://blendervse.wordpress.com/. Lots-o-info!

7

As a tool, it is more than capable. It’s just that it deviates (at times significantly so) from established video editing paradigms and workflows compared to others NLEs (Premier, Final Cut etc). Other NLEs offer specialized tools that support specifically video editing workflows. Almost everything is doable in the sequencer but it’s not always as straightforward or easy.

8

Yes you almost have to build the tools you need first. But once tailored to needs can be very effective.

9

3pointEdit: I have stubbed upon your blog and I see that there is a lot of guides there, but I wish it would be easier to find specific videos.

Also I understand that VSE is highly customizable, but it seems that I need to know Python to use VSE to the full potential.

10

The free version of Lightworks is not really limited, except for the missing titling tool and stereoscopic footage support. The main difference is the missing licensed codec (format) support - the developers of LW are obliged to pay these fees to the codecs’ license holders. A simple workaround is to convert your footage to an intermediate format first (5DtoRGB is what I use for this) and this workflow results in a much improved final quality as well.

And Lightworks, for editing at least, is just a teensy weensy more capable than Premiere Elements (I am being a bit sarcastic here :wink:

However, Blender’s VSE is still quite capable for a lot of things. It’s more about the length and scope of your edit that counts, and based on that you choose the right tool. I would not edit a full length film in Blender :slight_smile:

11

Why not? Is too time-consuming, stability issues or something else?

12

In the past I have invested a lot of time in an elaborate sequence only to have the scene become corrupt. The easiest way to overcome this would be to export an edit via EDL. Sadly this is not available in Blender but is in most other NLE apps.