Thursday, February 20, 2003
muvee AutoProducer: The Best Damn Video Software on the Planet!
Posted by Jason Dunn in "SOFTWARE" @ 08:00 AM
I've been meaning to do up a full review of this software for some time now, because it's so amazing, but I just haven't been able to set aside the time I need to really get into it. When Digital Media Thoughts launches, I'll do a full-blown review, but for now let me just say this much: if you want to be stunned into silence, download this software. (affiliate) I raved about this software in Faster Smarter Digital Video (affiliate), and if you ask anyone at the Mobius 2002 event in Seattle last year, they'll tell you that I'm a very enthusiastic evangelist of muvee. I was showing it to everyone who was near me. :D
So what does it do? In a nutshell, it takes raw video footage (either already on the computer or from a Firewire-based camera), analyzes it looking for human faces, jittery footage, and many other things that you do and don't want, then comes up with a video based on the parameters of theme and length that you feed it. That's right people, it's automated video editing software. Say that to yourself a few times to let it sink in. 8O
Let's say you have a 60-minute wedding video and you want a "trailer" that lasts only 60 seconds? muvee will slice and dice that video into a great-looking video - and you can even add background music for a compelling experience. You have a dozen vacation video clips from your digital still camera? Feed it through movie, pick a nice template, and watch the magic. I've used this software on a few different projects, and I've been consistently thrilled with the results. I took a 60 minute wedding video that I shot, fed it some Enya music, picked a black and white slow dissolve template, and had a wonderful three minute mellow video. I then took the same footage, picked an upbeat rock tune, selected the "music video" template, and had a three minute music video with crazy transitions worthy of being broadcast on VH1. I've never encountered a software tool that lets me be so creative so quickly!
The software has its limitations - you can't select key scenes that you want to be included - but for 80% of the video footage out there, muvee is a Godsend. I don't give out that praise lightly - when I was working on the digital video book, I used more crappy software than I care to admit - it's amazing what sludge is out there. muvee was a like a bright shining gem...it simply rocks. There are areas they could improve (like the titles), but overall this is an amazing tool for home video users.
So why is this not in the "off-topic" category? Because they have Pocket PC templates for movie export! Yeah baby! :D Once you've created your movie, you can export it in a WMV 7 format that will work very nicely on any of the current Pocket PCs. Check it out by downloading the free trial version. [Affiliate]
So what does it do? In a nutshell, it takes raw video footage (either already on the computer or from a Firewire-based camera), analyzes it looking for human faces, jittery footage, and many other things that you do and don't want, then comes up with a video based on the parameters of theme and length that you feed it. That's right people, it's automated video editing software. Say that to yourself a few times to let it sink in. 8O
Let's say you have a 60-minute wedding video and you want a "trailer" that lasts only 60 seconds? muvee will slice and dice that video into a great-looking video - and you can even add background music for a compelling experience. You have a dozen vacation video clips from your digital still camera? Feed it through movie, pick a nice template, and watch the magic. I've used this software on a few different projects, and I've been consistently thrilled with the results. I took a 60 minute wedding video that I shot, fed it some Enya music, picked a black and white slow dissolve template, and had a wonderful three minute mellow video. I then took the same footage, picked an upbeat rock tune, selected the "music video" template, and had a three minute music video with crazy transitions worthy of being broadcast on VH1. I've never encountered a software tool that lets me be so creative so quickly!
The software has its limitations - you can't select key scenes that you want to be included - but for 80% of the video footage out there, muvee is a Godsend. I don't give out that praise lightly - when I was working on the digital video book, I used more crappy software than I care to admit - it's amazing what sludge is out there. muvee was a like a bright shining gem...it simply rocks. There are areas they could improve (like the titles), but overall this is an amazing tool for home video users.
So why is this not in the "off-topic" category? Because they have Pocket PC templates for movie export! Yeah baby! :D Once you've created your movie, you can export it in a WMV 7 format that will work very nicely on any of the current Pocket PCs. Check it out by downloading the free trial version. [Affiliate]
