Top Questions About Our Editing Software

1. Do you recommend software for editing my home movies?

Yes. If you have a PC/Windows computer, we recommend and sell Pinnacle Studio series. It is compatible with the file formats that we produce for an order with a hard drive.

For Macintosh, most versions of iMovie are compatible with our AVI file format that we produce for an order with a hard drive. There are 2 versions of iMovie. The older is iMovie HD and the newer is iMovie 08. iMovie HD is more robust however, dragging the AVI into iMovie HD, it will convert it automatically, but iMovie 08 will not. iMovie HD is can be downloaded free, directly from Apple's website .

For additional information not covered on this page, such as pricing, specific features, system requirements, and demos, click here to learn more about Pinnacle Studio.

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2. Besides Pinnacle Studio, what do I need to edit my transferred material?

You will need either a hard drive, or Mini DV tape and a DV camera, since the files on playable DVDs are not able to be edited. Our hard drives contain the same source files we use to create your DVDs, and Mini DV cameras can also import high quality video files into Pinnacle Studio software. As always, you should back up the files that we send you on the hard drive or digital tape to your own computer.

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3. What kind of hard drives do you use?

We use 2.0 USB hard drives in the following sizes: 40 GB, 80 GB, 120 GB, 300 GB, 400GB, 500 GB, and 750 GB

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4. What is the cost comparison between buying a hard drive vs. using mini DV tapes, if I have the capability of using either?

It depends on how much media you have, how much time you have on your hands, and if your computer has the capability to import from a DV camera. If you have a only a small amount of film you will ever transfer and have a Mini DV camera, a firewire port, experience syncing media devices together, and are willing to spend the time importing your footage in real time, a Mini DV may be the best route.

While a hard drive is more expensive, it is a plug and play solution for importing your digitized footage, and you can put data from film, video tape, and still image transfers on the same hard drive, as well as edited versions of your footage. If your computer has a USB connection, you should be able to access your hard drive and open the files in Pinnacle Studio, as well as many different media players. You can simply select the reel, video tape, or even scanned slide, negative, or photograph and Pinnacle Studio will open it.

Purchasing a hard drive also allows you to participate in our hard drive exchange program.

To give you an idea of the time you will need to spend importing footage from a MiniDV, a 50 foot reel has about 3 minutes of footage, and 1000 feet is about an hour. You can use our Home Movie Depot pricing calculator to determine how many feet of film you have by entering the how many reels of each size you have.

A Mini DV tape costs a flat rate of $34.95, in addition to your digitization costs. Each tape holds approximately 60 minutes of footage, and you will receive as many tapes as it takes to complete your order. However, if you are transferring video tapes or have a substantial amount of transfer material, a hard drive is the best option. Hard drives start at $99 for 40GB, in addition to your transfer costs, with no fee for loading your media onto the hard drive. Our Home Movie Depot pricing calculator will also estimate the amount of storage space needed and help you select the right hard drive for your transfer materials.

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5. What files formats are on the hard drive?

That depends on the media you send us. See the chart on this page for hard drive details.

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6. What can I do with Pinnacle Studio?

p> Lots. Check out this demo about Pinnacle Studio, made with Pinnacle Studio.

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7. I have very specific questions about how to enhance color, add audio tracks, use slow motion, or another effect.

The manuals that come with Pinnacle Studio series have a lot of information regarding how to use the interface, as well as add effects to your media.

You can also click here for the Pinnacle Studio support page on their website. This knowledge base allows you to select your exact version of Studio and search by keyword for ways to achieve your editing goals.

This webpage also allows you to send Pinnacle support an email, or chat online with one of their customer support agents.

We have found that using Pinnacle’s knowledge base is commonly the fastest way to figure out how to use particular features of your Pinnacle Studio software, as well as troubleshoot when problems arise.

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8. Why do you recommend Studio Ultimate over the other versions?

Although each version of Pinnacle Studio is capable of producing polished, professional looking movies, the usability of these programs is such that they encourage the use of special effects, transitions, and other customizable features.

Once you begin using Pinnacle Studio, you will begin to ask, how do I make it do this, or how do I get the effect I saw in that movie or music video? Pinnacle Studio Ultimate has many of those features and is cheaper to buy upfront than upgrading to later.

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9. What kind of computer do I need to use Pinnacle Studio, and what import/export options do I have?

Click here for Pinnacle Studio system requirements and capabilities.

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10. Will Pinnacle Studio allow me to add audio, like music and narration?

Yes, all versions of Studio will allow you to add music from Pinnacles Scorefitter music generator, or from your personal music collection (CD or MP3), or include personal narration.

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11. Can I change light and dark levels, or enhance my videos?

Yes, you can easily adjust the light levels in your video, as well as add other video effects to achieve the perfect look.

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12. Why do I get HD MPEG-2 files and AVI’s with premium film transfers? Can I edit either with Pinnacle Studio?

The AVI files are among the best file formats for editing, and preserve the original quality of your film. The HD MPEG-2s are even higher definition and are compatible with many video players. However, most current editing programs cannot handle HD MPEG-2s.

We provide our hard drive customers with HD MPEG-2s because the market and technology is moving towards high-definition. By purchasing a hard drive and getting high definition files from your film, you should never have to have you film retransferred.

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