difficult to find specific software

[digiday]

Hi,

I like the W7F page with free software links... it is very nice that Brink took the time to set it up.

But there are two things that I am having problems with... one, is finding any specific software on this list... since there is no search function for this list itself, one must rely on the hope that the software that they are looking for happens to have what one wants to do as part of the software title.

And two, since there is no original post date or update date for this list, I'm not sure how new or old some of these links and linked software may be unless I click on any one of them and investigate.

For example, I am looking for a decent working video editing app that can use a few different video file formats, convert them in to other formats and hopefully compress down some larger formats like .wmv to a smaller mpeg or something... also a screencast/desktop video capture feature would be nice without a watermark/logo and a usable frame rate... no 3 frame per second type results are useful.

But when I scroll down to the Vs for "Video", there is nothing for editing video.

I've already downloaded and installed Windows Live Movie Maker, and while that is a very nice little video editing app with some great, easy to use extras like scene transitions, titles, etc., it makes very large files and only creates .wmv format.

I've installed several free video capture and editing apps to no avail... I've tried "SM Recorder"... the interface that is featured on their website didn't materialize in any way after working with this albatross for an hour.

I tried NCH Desktop Recorder... the frame rate was so bad one could hardly tell what was going on in the capture... so I figured the rest of NCH software must be about as good as this sample.

CamStudio free, My Screen Recorder, Solid 3 GP, Fraps, HyperCam, Camtasia, FoxTab, AVS Video converter, Apsolo, BSR Screen Recorder, DeskShare, FL Studio, Goldwave, My Screen Recorder, Tiny Media Converter, Video Edit Master, Video Get, etc., etc... all either were installed and don't work or they got terrible reviews on CNET if one takes the time to read all the reviews on a given piece of software.

The Microsoft Expressions Encoder 4 installer has an erroneous or mis-labeled installer executable that says it is "trial" software, and a post on their forum seems to indicate that simply doing a screen video capture is much like writing the code for the software itself or perhaps as easy as building a nuclear power plant.

The only good thing I've found is Screencast-O-Matic.com that is a free online screen capture web app that works very easily and intuitively and does a pretty good job of creating decent quality screen video captures... it puts a logo/watermark on one's video, though... the logo isn't too big, but is a bit intrusive. They have a payed desktop app for $9 a year, but it is limited to 1 hour of capture time per month... very, very limiting.

I've read CNET reviews from angry people who attempted to use many of the apps that have been recommended to me that dashed my hopes for any of the apps that I've been referred to so far.

I know I'm asking quite a bit for something decent for free in this area... but that's what a PC is supposed to be good for... free software, right?... I've found other equivalent software for other purposes that were free and great... I'm just seeing if there is anything out there in the video editing/conversion and screen video capture realm that is worth taking the risk of installing in today's world of malware and malicious fake apps.

If this keeps up, I may be forced to spend actual money on this silly little project.

Thanks for your input,

digiday

 

[parabellum]

For conversion I would recommend RipBot264 or Handbrake. For screen capture I don't think there is a free utility that actually works and does a good job.

 

[digiday]

RipBot264 and Handbrake

Hi parabellum,

I will check out RipBot264 and Handbrake... wow, what names... doesn't anyone just name their software something like, "Acme Video Converter" anymore?

Thanks again,

digiday

 

[roban]

Acme software you'd have to buy from Wiley Cayote.

I really like the snipping tool for screen capture. The best thing is, it's already included.

 

[digiday]

Acme + Wile E. Coyote + Looney Tunes + 3 Stooges

Hi Roban,

I was wondering if anyone would pick-up on that... it seems The 3 Stooges used Acme as one of their fictitious companies to buy things from too.

According to Wikipedia, linked below, all of the Looney Tunes comics used Acme in their story-lines.

Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acme - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Acme Corporation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A bit off-topic... but fun.

I like the snipping tool too... I use it all the time... too bad W7ULT doesn't include a video-capture-snipping tool.

I'm still looking in to MS Expression Encoder 4 to see if it is has a simple, adjustable screen capture feature in a free app... went round and round with them about the MSEE4 installer executable that states that it is "trial" software when one starts to install it... they say it is "free" not "trial" and that MSEE4 has a mis-labeled installer executable.

Still, the best free video capture tool I can find is Screencast-O-Matic - Free online screen recorder for instant screen capture video sharing. ... just click "create" and it brings up the little interface to adjust on top of any window and then click the red circle button to record... it puts their logo on my video capture though... but I found if I create a big video capture window, then convert it down to a smaller desired size in something like MS Movie Maker, then the logo becomes so small that it is almost gone... pretty tricky to trick the tricksters.

Now I just need to settle on a video converter to convert the huge .wmv files that Movie Maker spits out.

Anyway,

Thanks for noticing my useless, simple humor undertones.

digiday