Editing Home Movies. How ?

[NomDePlume]

I've found an old mpeg of DD as a tiny, I want to edit it as there's a lot of superfluous footage, but don't know how.

We have PIXELA ImageMixer software on our pc which came with the cam corder, but i can't even begin to understand how to use it and the 'help' function is total guff.

Do you either a) know of free editing software that's idiot proof ? or b) how to use PIXELA ?

TIA
NDP

[GeorginaA]

NDP - have a look on your computer - do you not have Windows Movie Maker floating about in accessories or somewhere in there?

[NomDePlume]

yes we do, is that idiot proof ?

[GeorginaA]

(not that I've used it much myself, but it was "okay" for basic stuff I think...)

[NomDePlume]

DOH ! Got it and am just attempting to figure it out....

[GeorginaA]

make a copy of the mpeg first and have a play - that way if it's not idiot proof then it doesn't matter

[GeorginaA]

Now come over onto my thread and tell me what to do on my childfree day

[NomDePlume]

Just trying to 'import file' and it tells me that it can't do it cos the file name i'm trying to import 'contains no information', how can that be, it's a 202mb file ?! [confused emoticon please]

[GeorginaA]

check you can view the mpeg in windows media player first ... there's lots of different mpeg "versions" and not all are readable in all programmes without codecs. Sometimes it can be an unbelievable faff.

Will have a hunt around for freeware editing programmes for you.

[NomDePlume]

can defintely view all in media player

[GeorginaA]

Odd - should go into movie maker okay then.

Stick it on a CD and I'll have a play some point this week?

[NomDePlume]

thanks for that, G .

[GeorginaA]

What's the EXACT error message you get?

[NomDePlume]

The file C:\Program Files\PIXELA\ImageMixer\Capture\Cap0003.MPG is not valid because it does not contain any information.

[GeorginaA]

and what version movie maker do you have?

[NomDePlume]

It's the same message no matter where I attempt to source the mpeg from (obv the file path differs)

[NomDePlume]

I don't know, the one that comes as standard with WindowsXP Home, I guess

[GeorginaA]

One thing to try... go to Tools>Options>Compatibility and uncheck anything that's checked and try again. Probably won't help, but it's worth a try...

[GeorginaA]

Also go to Help>About and tell me what version it says

[NomDePlume]

DOH ! Version 5.1

[NomDePlume]

The tools thingy worked !!

[NomDePlume]

You're a star xxxxx Thanks

[GeorginaA]

YAY! FANTASTIC!

retains her image of computer guru completely accidentally

[GeorginaA]

Sounds to me in that case that something the PIXELA filters did "interfered" with the standard ones that come with windows. I had the same problem with Canon codecs overwriting standard ones previously - was a right pain to trace and replace with the originals... ended up doing a reinstall in the end.