Digital Photo/Video programs

[gep]

Hello all, i need advice on editing suites as to what to keep, and any to uninstall. Can i have a few views on this please.
Left some without websites due to there renown.

(1) VCD Easy v 3.1.0 VideoCD Authoring Suite software. www.vcdeasy.org
(2) Memories onTV I use earlier version http://www.codejam.com/index.htm only does photos.
(3) Photoplus 6. http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/
(4) AVI to DVD converter. http://www.billionsoft.com/
(5) Faststone Photoresizer, image viewer, maxview. http://www.faststone.org/
(6) FFdshow http://cutka.szm.sk/ffdshow
(7) Photostory 3 for windows
(8) Photosuite ver 4 (still use it for photos)
(9) Irvanview 4.10
(10) Avidemux x 2.4 www.avidemux.org
(11) Photovista Panarama 2.02 http://www.downloadpipe.com/Photovis...hot-80063.html
(12) Picaso 2
(13) Mp4Cam2AVI Told by others to download this for turning MP4 to AVI files, can anyone explain how to get this from AVI to work on TV/Dvd???
(14) Quicktime player.
(15) Media Player.

Not to clever, trying to learn, just want it simple as possible.

If anyone can break down the programs as to which ones to use together, that will be great, and in the order to use.

Like, Mp4CamAVI, FFdshow, AVI to DVD, just taking a guess as to what programs in order to use so that i can produce a DVD for my TV/DVD to play.

I am using Windows XP Sp2. 1GB ram 2 x 400GB hard drives.

I have a Sanyo HD700 Camcorder, with 7.1 M.P camera.

Thanks, GEP

[Train]

Virtualdub MPEG2

I use it mainly to recompress avi's and capture single pictures from VOBs or AVis.

WinAVI
Change AVI to VOB mainly and it does have a batch converter built in.

I use both Nero and NTI as burning programs. Reason, between the 2 of them I have the best for what I do overal.

Paint Sho Pro.

Graphics Workshp Pro.
Because it will deal with a lot of formats that other programs can not.
Targa comes to mind. Worth the money to me.

For playing video, I use media player with the K-Lite codecs.

[photolady]

Well, that's quite a list you got there. I use Windows Movie Maker (built into XP) for photos on cd, and movies.

Movie Maker will allow capture from your camcorder, and file types it will see are:
Audio files: .aif, .aifc, .aiff .asf, .au, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .snd, .wav, and .wma
Picture files: .bmp, .dib, .emf, .gif, .jfif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tif, .tiff, and .wmf
Video files: .asf, .avi, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, and .wmv

However, you'll need a standalone dvd burner software because Windows Movie Maker only burns to cd, if you plan to save these on dvds. If your vcr/vhs player plays cds, I've used this to make slideshows of photos and it played on my vcr.

I use Irfanview for making jpgs, or just viewing photos.
But if you like faststone you really don't need that and Irfanview.

Quicktime is needed for other things besides your movies. It is used on the web for viewing mini movies etc.

As for all those photosuites, you really only need one good one. I use PhotoShop but it is expensive, others here use PaintShop Pro and still others use PhotoShop Elements (a low cost similar version of PhotoShop).

[gep]

Hello Train, Photolady, thanks for your replies.

I know my camcorder is MP4. Sanyo xacti HD700
Windows movie maker cannot import MP4. Neither can VirtualDub MPeg 2 as far as i can understand??

I have Nero 6 burning software.

Windows media player, it does recognise the video file format. But, i have to choose All Files from the list, then it will import and show it.
Now, Question. If i Burn a Video straight to a Re-Writeable DVD through Windows Media Player, will it Play on My Televison through my New Samsung DVD player???

I am sure i have enough Photo suites.

I thought i would be able to Import it into Power director, without taking the card out and placing it into my card reader and importing that way, does not do it straight away, like Photoplus, it too does not import direct, you pays your money, and not alot in return.

Thanks for your help, any ideas how to get these programs to recognise the Sanyo as they recognise my Printer as Twain??????????

Been onto sanyo, no chance.

Will get rid of Faststone products, keep Irfanview, unless thats a bad idea, will wait a day or two first for your relpy on this.

Thanks, GEP

[Train]

I know nero will take VOBs and make MPEG-4, never tried to reverse the operation.

I also some of the streaming video boxes require MPEG-4 format which it the streams to the tv.

Check your manual for the dvd player and see if that format is a usable one.

Just maybe http://www.videohelp.com/ , A MUST have bookmark if you do much video work, may have something.