[utw-Mephisto]

I have a few avi files I would like to cut / modiy.
What it the easiest software to do this ? I simply have a bunch of scenes I would like to cut out and thats it and add some on screen messages.

Someone told me to use Final Cut but for this it seems a special firewire card is required and I just would like to edit files on my HD ...

Any suggestion is highly appreciated ..

[CatOne]

iMovie can do this. Are the files on tape or already on your HD? You can ingest them from tape via a firewire cable, from within iMovie.

[JKT]

Quicktime Pro? iMovie (not sure if you will retain sound when you import, but it should work for the film)?

The freeware apps QT Amateur or Bitplayer should handle them too.

Search MacUpdate: Macintosh Software & Games for them

[utw-Mephisto]

Yes, they are already on HD .. gonna check imovie and the free ones out - thanks

[utw-Mephisto]

MM ... the free ones are rather player then editor ..

[JKT]

Bitplayer lets you do basic cut, copy and paste etc which QT does not unless you buy Pro. Not sure about QT Amateur, but IIRC it also allows you to do basic editing.

[peeb]

i Movie is free, and fantastic for BASIC editing. Soundslike that's what you want though?

[utw-Mephisto]

I will test it tomorrow when I am off work .. but yes, it seems to do just the trick

[Uncle Skeleton]

iMovie is good, except that it converts everything to DV first, then you have to re-compress it back. QT Pro (and the apps which use the QT framework) let you edit it natively, which saves lots of time and video quality.