I took a lot of separate video clips at my nieces wedding and am trying to edit them into a single file. The clips are in HD AVCHD Video (.MTS) format.

I have managed to join them up with Windows Movie Maker but its not very flexible and the resultant wmv file is still too big to fit on a single DVD.

Firstly can anyone recommend good, free (or at least cheap) video editing software?

Secondly is there any way I can reduce the resolution of the original HD clips to make things more "workable"?

Ironically, one of the best video editors out there is iMovie which is free on Apple machines. However, you don't have a Mac.

When you edit in Movie Maker, do you not get offered various export options? I had a quick look and there seem to be plenty of choices, but it has to be said that WMM is a bit rubbish.

In truth, I used to edit video for a living and the kit I used to work on was much more user friendly than anything I've tried for the domestic market. You might like to take a look at Sony Vegas. It's still a bit complex but it's not expensive and if I recall correctly everything but the basic version offers 'proper' DVD authoring. (In other words, you aren't just writing a video file to a DVD, you're authoring a disc that can be read by standalone players).

I think Vegas has a free trial.

There are certainly plenty of others too, but as I said, they all look complicated when you want simple.

As for downsizing your HD footage, you should be able to do that as an option in Vegas, making new clips as you go. However as soon as you decompress files and then resize and re-compress them you will take a hit on quality. Better to stick with the originals if you can.

Thanks.

I have download a free version of Serif Movie plus and will tinker with that to start with but might well have a look at Sony Vegas to as I would like to be able to create a DVD that can play on a "normal" player.

I have also used Handbrake to convert the MTS files to MP4's and that has halved their size.

Yes, I use handbrake, it's a nice bit of gear. Do remember though that there's no free lunch with compressed video (and even compressed images for that matter) so keep an eye on quality, and don't delete the original files.

With regard to the "proper" DVD thing it's a fact that many of today's players will play just about any old video file, be it on a DVD disc, a CD disc or even plugged into a memory card slot. However, if you want to get creative with chapters and title screens etc. then authoring that proper DVD is the only way.

I'd recommend Vegas Studio as well - make sure you choose the home version and not the pro one, plus make sure you install DVD Architect as well. The trial is 30 days but within that time it's fully functional with no watermarks, Vegas can natively handle AVCHD files and it has a wide range of very configurable output options including a DVD wizard.

John

Thanks for your help guys. In the end I got Serif MoviePlus. Handles AVCHD files and did all I needed. I'm chuffed with the results and Taking the resultant wedding video to my Niece today