More Powerful than Window Movie Maker?

[Strong Lead]

I have made several video slide shows with music and semi-flashy transitions using Windows Movie Maker.

I think I'm ready to graduate to something a little more powerful and with more options.

Can anyone suggest a nice software program that will allow me to make these type shows?

Thanks

[glc]

I have a friend who needed to do the same, he bought Sony Vegas and hated it. He then bought Pinnacle Studio 10 and he is quite impressed.

[RJ]

Try Adobe Premiere Elements.

RJ

[Strider]

I bought Sony Vegas and I like it, so it just a matter of opinion. It has a lot of advance features that take some time to get use to.

[glc]

Strider, I think that's what he doesn't like about it - he says it's not user friendly at all.

[nbcrusader]

I've found that Ulead Pictureshow 4.0 both easy and powerful at making DVD slide shows.

I've also made some DVDs using Pinnacle's Studio 10 - a lot of user friendly power, but somewhat buggy.

[SonicVanguard]

Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements, ULead Video Studio, Sony Vegas Movie Studio and a few others are considered consumer-oriented packages: Good quality output, low learning curve, decent amount of features that will provide you with a nice final product. These packages cost around $80-$100. Adobe Premiere Elements is the standout product since it incorporates Adobe's professional video editing knowledge (from Premiere Pro) with a easy to use interface. Pinnacle Studio 10 is a close 2nd. The other packages in this price range don't compare to those two.

The comparable profesional/prosumer products would be (in order): Avid Liquid (Avid owns Pinnacle), Adobe Premiere Pro, ULead Media Studio Pro, Sony Vegas 6. All these packages will retail for $400+ and have much steeper learning curves, more features than most profesisonals will utilize, and professional quality output. But...that professional quality output comes with a price - you've got to know what you're doing with these packages to really take advantage of them - so the output quality is directly relational to the ability and knowledge of the end user.

[Doobie]

Originally Posted by Strong Lead I have made several video slide shows with music and semi-flashy transitions using Windows Movie Maker. I think I'm ready to graduate to something a little more powerful and with more options. Can anyone suggest a nice software program that will allow me to make these type shows? Thanks

I have used ulead, sony, adobe and pinnacle and for my needs, sound effects, titles, menu, etc.., pinnacle was the best. Out of all of them sony was the worst for my needs and adobe was just to complicated for what i wanted done. I stuck with pinnacle.

[toomyg]

I use Video Explosion Deluxe 1.5 and Roxxio easy creator 7 and freeware stuff located hear http://www.dvdrhelp.com/

Most of it really isn't user friendly BUT if you get used to using the software it's well worth it