AMV Editing entirely in Linux

[Kumorigoe]

I've decided to try to make an AMV entirely in a Linux operating system, and want to document my adv enture here for other aspiring Linux users. While there are any number of guids for making an AMV in the Mac and Windows worlds, there are virtually none for Linux users. I hope to change that.

First, a little about me. I joined the Org a ways back. I've not been a very active member, as I've not always had a computer, or Internet access, or the time. I've made one (1!) video, and it's found under Kionon's profile. He and I go way back, and he was the one who initially introduced me to anime.

So what's this going to be? If it all goes according to plan, it will be a guide to creating an AMV, start to finish, on a Linux-based system. Why am I doing this? Because video editing software, especially higher-end software, such as Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, Vegas, Avid, and so on costs money. Lots of money, in some cases. Linux, on the other hand, is free. And a lot of the software out there for Linux is free as well. What does this mean to you, the reader?

It means that hopefully, there will be another option out there for people with ideas and not a lot of money. I don't promise that it will be easy. In fact, I expect to run into plenty of issues on the way. But I want to try. So away we go!

[Kumorigoe]

First off

The Hardware

I'm doing this project on my laptop. It's a Lenovo IdeaPad Y510, with an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor at 2.0 Ghz, and 3GB of DDR2 memory. It has a 250 GB hard drive, and an Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset. This is currently my most powerful machine, at least until I build my new gaming rig. It should serve it's purpose well, in that it's a mid-range system, hardware-wise. Maybe even low-range.

The Software

I'm using Ubuntu Linux, release 9.10 as my main operating system. This software is available as either a WUBI installer, or a live cd, here. I recommend the WUBI installer, for it's simplicity. Just be sure to give yourself enough room to work with. We all know how much space video files can take up.

For my main editing software, I've chosen to use Cinelerra, available here. I've just started using this myself, so you're all going to be learning with me, and possible teaching me.

Ubuntu, in and of itself, doesn't support DVD's. This is because DVD's are what's know as a restricted format, and Ubuntu is built on the idea of free software. Hence, it isn't natively able to use encrypted DVD's, which is what anime usually is on. Fortunately, there is a way to make it work. This site explains more about the specific reasons for this inherent non-compatibility, and furthermore, how to enable support for commercial DVD's.

I will continue to update this thread for the duration of the project, and as I add software to be used in the creation of an AMV. Please feel free to ask any questions, or to help out!

[Kumorigoe]

[Kumorigoe]

[Kionon]

Robert,

We might need to have a mod come in and tidy up. You should probably have placed everything in your original post. This is, assuming, of course, you have donated and have an edit button. If you don't, donating $12 will solve that situation nicely (...about time I give more money, actually, methinks...). In the meantime, maybe the ModKip can move stuff into one post.

As for MAC AMV guides, there was Shazzy's, but that is long dead, and was pretty much irrelevant as soon as intel chips showed up, and the original iMovie guide was largely obsolete, so I rewrote it. Pretty much the Mac AMV guides are ones I wrote. As for linux, trythil, I believe, tried to do something like this at one point. So did I for that matter about four years ago, but I couldn't even get cinelerra to run, and that ended my interest in editing on linux.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops. Also; I'll be in Dallas on December 22nd, perhaps we could work on it over the holidays.

[Kumorigoe]

Waiting for PayPal and my bank account to link up, donation forthcoming. I was wondering why there was no edit button...

It would be nice to collaborate over the holdays. You can help me finish up another couple of vids. Just need some tightening done on those.

[Kumorigoe]

After using Cinelerra for a week, or rather, trying to use it for a week, I have come to a conclusion.

If you're coming from Adobe Premiere, as I am, you will have problems. Lots of them. If you're coming from Windows Movie Maker or the like, it doesn't bear thinking on.

I have been told that there really isn't a Linux based editor that's a good alternative for Premiere. I will continue to investigate this, and will get back to this if and when I find another alternative.

On the good side, Avidemux seems to be a great way to pre-process your DVD footage for usage in an editing suite.

[Kionon]

On the good side, Avidemux seems to be a great way to pre-process your DVD footage for usage in an editing suite.

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/forum/v ... 65&t=95015

[Jedai]

Did anyone try to use kdenlive, I was under the impression that it was the most advanced tool on Linux currently ?

--
Jedaï

[trythil]

[QUOTE]As for linux, trythil, I believe, tried to do something like this at one point[/QUOTE}

I did try to write a guide, but I gave up when I realized that nobody cared.

===

I have, however, made a number of videos on a Linux-based system.

The following were produced using various versions of Cinelerra and supporting tools, going back to Cinelerra beta 2 or so, and continuing up to Cinelerra 2-ish. More information is available in each video's info page.

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... php?v=9629
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=10266
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=11787
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=15911
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=20392
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=33732
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=48793

The following was produced splitting work between Cinelerra and Premiere Pro.

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/members ... hp?v=63846

===

rromig, Jedai:

You may want to give OpenShot a spin. I haven't given it a fair shake, but it may be useful to you.

Blender's video editing system, while robust, isn't designed for fast cuts and time-stretching; it's designed more for assembling long clips (say, Blender output) into movies. This makes it difficult to recommend for the sort of hyperactive editing many people like to do. Nevertheless, it may also work.