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Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:13 pm
by col lamb
I have been subscribing and considering testing out Hitfilm editing and compositing software for a while now when all of a sudden an e-mail arrives from them.

https://hitfilm.com/express/free

Simply register for the free cut down editing and 2D compositing version.

I have been trying it for a few hours and I am impressed.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:17 pm
by col lamb
Well, I have been trying out the software over the weekend.

You cannot go wrong, it is superb as it is.

Handles AVCHD very well, no issues.

It even has a video clip stabilizer that is as good as AE'S warp stabilizer (AE's stabilizer is way better than Premiere) and that means it is far better than Mercali.

It is simple to use, if you have used any version of Premiere, etc then you can get started with Hitfilm very easily.

You will regret it if you do not bother, it is available for both PC and MAC

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:04 pm
by tom hardwick
Better than Mercalli? That's saying something. Is it a stand-alone stabiliser Col?

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:53 pm
by col lamb
Tom
No, you place the clip on the timeline, then create a composition out of it, then apply either a single or two point reference, analyze, clip a couple of options, then in the original timeline all is rock stable.

So there are more processes to go through than Mercali but being able to select the points you want to be stable is the key.

You have the editing timeline and on a tab on the same window there is the compositing. So it's like After Effects without the dubious link.

Tutorials are available via the opening screen, see the one on stabilization for how it all works

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:16 am
by granfer
Well, I've found it Col, but cannot find how you Download it! ,Media and project files download.... but where is the Program Download button?

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:55 am
by col lamb
From the link above, scroll down the page where a download window appears.

Click on it and then in another window you have to link to your Facebook or Twitter accounts then you get to the actual download page.

Convoluted and you have to have either a facebook or twitter accounts to get there but persevere and it works.

If you have neither FB or Twitter, create a dummy Google Gmail account and then use this to set up either a facebook or twitter account, then point Hitfilm to the one you set up. This is precisely what I did on my main PC to avoid being pestered with e-mails in my main account.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 11:33 am
by Dave Watterson
Also take care to download the full version. They offer a demo version and other options. The demo version has the usual limitations on length of video it will handle and where it will export.

The business of linking to your Facebook, Twitter or Google+ account is what the company gets in return for the free download ... publicity.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:23 pm
by chrisk
I have neither a Twitter nor Facebook account but have successfully downloaded the full Express version. If I remember correctly, I just skipped that stage then logged in.

I found the program disappointing in that it does not support any form of interlaced video. If interlaced video is imported it appears to de-interlace it by taking one field from each frame and line doubling, as checked by viewing the individual fields in After Effects. I much prefer the smooth operation of 50i video to the jerky motion seen so often now from 25p or de-interlaced 50i footage.

From reading the HitFilm specs, it would appear that even the Ultimate version does not support interlaced footage

Chris

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 9:37 pm
by granfer
Thank you Col. Like Chrisk, I pressed cancel when it went to Facebook.... and it gave me the Download button!
Thanks, all.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:42 pm
by col lamb
Chris

It edits my Panasonic 900 1080i video just fine, put a 1080i clip on the timeline and you get a message asking if you want to change the sequence setting to match the clip.

It does not like Dolby sound, you have to get the Ultimate version for that, I suppose to give something away and pay royalties to Dolby is asking a bit much.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:22 am
by chrisk
Hi Col,

This is what the HitFilm spec says, copied from the manual:-

• Field type - all HitFilm projects work in a non-interlaced (progressive) format. Interlaced video will be automatically deinterlaced when used in HitFilm.

When you go to export the project, there is no choice other than the default 'Non-interlaced (Progressive)

Check your output footage to see if it is properly interlaced.

Chris

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 12:14 pm
by col lamb
I generally do not do interlaced outputs, as all my movies are kept as a MP4 file for solid state projection.

You can edit interlaced, and yes outputs are limited.

In any case its great free software and a useful addition to any ones programmes

Even at £225 for the Ultimate version that is great value compared to Premiere, Vegas and Edius.

Let us not expect to much from something that is free.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 7:26 pm
by Mike Shaw
Note that this offer of a free version is (they say) available ONLY until Feb 4th. It is great for compositing - I'll now use it - when needed - along with Media Composer (which in my opinion has the best image stabilizing options of all of them - even Mercalli), and with another freebie programme that anyone wanting to do pro colour grading would be mad to not get - DaVincii's Resolve Lite, now owned by BlackMagic. (Google 'Resolve' and you'll get it - for free). The 'lite' version handles everything up to HD - if you want to colour correct or grade Red and its like, you need to pay for the upgrade.

How do they do it - Resolve - (and why) for free - when it is as good an editor as many one has to pay for, and offers better colour grading/correction than all but the most expensive dedicated programmes? It's a marketing ploy. Apparently editing studios all round the world - particularly the Far East - see no point in paying for software that doesn't do as good a job as the free version of Resolve - and when they want 'other' software and equipment, they turn to BlackMagic first.

HitFilm seems to have taken on the same marketing principle - until February (at the moment) anyway. It has a very high reputation among studios already - this will extend its reputation further.

But be warned - neither HitFilm nor Resolve work in the 'conventional' way of Windows based programmes. Not difficult to learn, but different to the conventional PC software. And great fun to use - because they are so solid, feature rich and efficient.

Re: Free editing and compositing software

Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:08 pm
by Frank Maxwell
This software has a few minor issues with FCP-X and FCP 10.1