Windows Movie Maker (Windows XP)

User Reviews

• Simple to use and create custom special effects

  answerman194912/1/2013

  Pros

  Astounding simple to use. The interface is perfectly intuitive and the Timeline view enables you to see EXACTLY where to integrate JPEGs, music and videos. I have used Movie Maker XP to create videos as short as one minute to as long as 2 hours and had no freezing or crashing, AS LONG AS I imported JPEGs for graphics,WMVs for videos and WMAs for audio. I especially love that a single JPEG will consume several seconds on the time and can be copy/pasted within the timeline and that both JPEGs and WMA audio files can be also be trimmed for length or to remove unwanted glitches in the original sound recording. While these features all without a doubt the most valuable for most users, my personal favorite is the ability to overlap images in the timeline, producing dissolves between JPEGs limited only by the length of the shorter duration of the two JPEGs being cross-faded.

  Cons

  A minor shortcoming is the lack of a separate audio effects track, which would enable me to playback both sound effects (such as waves crashing) and music or narration at the same time. Another minor shortcoming is the need to use WMA for all imported video to prevent Movie Maker from crashing. I consider both of these minor, because I can easily buy audio mixing software for what I would pay for any other video editing software I have tried and I can get any number of superb video and audio file format converters free from CNET downloads. Movie Maker XP also will not produce an HDTV video; which is probably just as well, since I so frequently use low resolution graphics and video downloaded from the Internet.

  Summary

  I frequently use a cross fade from an image into black, producing an effect that makes it appear that the image is crumbling into dust. I have seen this effect used only once in a live action motion picture ("Seconds," a 1960s cult classic with Rock Hudson" and it really is a sight to behold. I have found no other video editing software that is so flexible for titling, transitions and special effects AT ANY PRICE. I recently upgraded my computer to Windows 7 (don't ask), but the Movie Maker for Windows 7 no longer has these capabilities and I find it a pain to use, as well. I love Movie Maker XP SO MUCH, I am having my copy of Windows XP re-installed on my second hard drive just so I can continue to use Movie Maker XP. By the way, in addition to other limitations of Movie Maker for Windows 7, it must be downloaded, as it is no longer included in the Windows operating system. Even worse, Movie Maker for Windows 7 will NOT open a project created in Windows XP.

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• Frustrating

  TMV599/17/2013

  Pros

  Simple interface, easy to learn, good starting point for someone who's never edited a video before.

  Cons

  Freezes, hangs and glitches at every turn; not enough user control over audio.

  Summary

  The first time I used the software, it required downloading more software to convert my file to something it could work with. Once I was able to import the file, I didn't have too much trouble learning how to use the software, and except for a few glitches, it worked well enough that I was able to edit a short video without too much trouble. The second time I used it, I was working with an avi file that the software was able to import without converting, but, as mentioned in CNET's review, it kept freezing and required shutting it down every time I added an effect or tried to play the storyboard from any point other than the very beginning. It was an exercise in frustration that turned something that should've been quick and simple into a major exercise. Now I'm looking for a more reliable editing software.

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• it helps me a lot

  Kartina-Jane8/20/2013

  Pros

  i can edit my video and add some words to it.

  Cons

  it exists some bugs, as it will crash sometimes.

  Summary

  useful program

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• it sucks like hell

  ajmartinez7778/11/2013

  Pros

  no professional editors would even enjoy this crap

  Cons

  it all sucks

  Summary

  Transitions & effects r very very very very boring no 3d editing They imitated imovie on live movie maker but still it sucks no professional templates , intro's & text no slideshow maker no everything just plain boring & sucking why would windows allow us to suffer like this? i hate movie maker they all suck

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• One of the worst !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Dettenwald7/16/2013

  Pros

  - Nothing. Most codecs and formats are not accepted. What a boorish video editor.

  Cons

  - A LOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Summary

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• Great FREE Software that came with my XP system

  Pilm997/6/2013

  Pros

  I needed something to copy files from my Sony miniDV camera to my PC and this does the trick perfectly. I've converted dozens of miniDV tapes I've made over the years to .wmv files and never a problem. I also like how it'll display the time and date of each segment in the collections window, and then allow me to delete ones I don't want to keep, and re-save that to a file.

  Cons

  For my purposes NONE!

  Summary

  Fantastic FREE software included with Windows XP that is a great solution for copying miniDV discs to PC, works flawlessly!

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• Pretty good

  PHtrisyia23610/27/2012

  Pros

  - Easy to use - Preview screen doesn't lag - Quick learning curve

  Cons

  - Crashes several times - Too simple effects/transitions

  Summary

  It's not bad for beginners as it has a quick learning curve but if you're like me and you have been using it for several years, it can actually be very good, provided that you download extra effects and that you know the software pretty well.

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• It okay for Move not Long 2.5 Hours on Noth dvd sizes

  hypsterjc8/6/2012

  Pros

  It Works on Most dvd Plays. if you make an dvd. Its easy. But Kind of Diffult , Compare to some othe Programs Due to It Out date of Win 7 ( this is still the Only one) in less Windows Live Movie Maker which only allows 1.5 Hours on on both size/ 4.37 (4.7 GBS) DVD+R / DVD-r (Single Layer) DVD+R;DL 7.95 gb (8.5 gb)

  Cons

  The anothe4 Other Burner Brogrmas out their The only Sale Like But Nome 10 Different Brnads In Major Store. Corel , Nero , Sony , Roxio. Cyber Link , Pinnace. Ion (which seem Like an Knock out to Pinnacle stuff for $10 lesss just Came out. But Pinnacle Been Around over 12 Years. There More 50k Othe software Programs that online on.. I have see that There Should Put in The in Major Retalies It try over 25 to 50+ them. The see Way Better than out their Major Software/ Prog. Retaliers. ( thr Only Softwsre Related ones Probaly with Give almost 4 Hours on DVD (sL) 4.7gb)(8.5 GB DVD+R DL close 7.25 hours but those in the Store 2.75 to 3.35 hours DVD SL or DVD+R 4.5 hrs it hard to 6hours (on all theose Progs) More tiem use need It take almsot nay 3 to 12 Hours Just Rendar DV in Burning , Than No mor 20 Make to The Video datd on the Dsic. But here my Vv

  Summary

  He what I hate AQbout all PC THAT HAVE IN PAST #1 Don't Knock put the Graphic Card aTTACH TO mOTHER bOARD. AND mAJOR rETALIS AND pc/mAC MAKERS dON'T THE gRAPHIC cARD THE THIS THE yOU bUY AN sOFTARE / gAMES / ETC. tHATS yOU hAVE mINIMIMUM rEQ. ACTUALLY MOST GRAPHICS CARD THE GIVE YOU yOU hAVE TO RUN ON rESOULTIONS bASE ON xp 800&600 OR 1024*768 OR 1280*720 OR LOWER (SINCE mE TO WIN 7) yOUSE sHOULD DO THIS iN eVERY pc/ mAC EVERYWHER i SICK OF IT. uP wHATS WITH hOME sHOPPING tv cHANNELS THAT gIVE 10 TIMES BETTER dELAS THAN bESTBUY OR Walmart or etc. #2 MS Office Sut stop Put the Program by an Keycode than Type in online Than download off line. sicne 2007 #3 If You Programs on so huge/ Movie these days if even Blu-rays Almost 50 GBS Have you look an away to Make in Flash Media , But Not Eraseable style Flash Media Drives t I seen up 64 giga bytes at stores. If just Word, Excel, Prower Pint , Access , etc. ( Just Put on Muiltple Dvd discs. I some able to uninstall 2008 Version of Ms office on Win 7 and Put MS office 2002-03 Edition On Win 7, it 95 % compaitable i only see very little but mangable errors that see most fancey style Underline formats screw up, aND sAVE EXT FILE FORMAT. And stop Changing Menu so radicially I only know version up unitl 2004-05. mAKE mE WANT GO TO cLASSS TO lEARN mS OFFICE AGAIN bUT. i DON'T HAVE mONEY FOR COLLEGE AT ALL. BECUASE OF us GOVERMENT HAS NOT mAY wELFARE SEEM IT LESS STILL BASE OF wAGES FOR pEOPLE BACK BEFOR 1979 OR EARLY. mINIUM ISA ONLY 7.00 ( GAS IS OVER 3.50 + ) TO ME THE mINIUM wAGE SHOULD ALMSOT bE $9.25, AND THE dECTIOUNS SHOULD NOT BE ANYTHONG BELPOW NO MORE THAN 35 % COMBINE TOTAL FOR TAX STATE, FEDRAL , SOCIAL SERCUITY, AND RETERIMET FOR Anybody. And t6he Stupid Govermenbt of US. When kept say their Is An Middle Class income . and or one belwo that . Whole Goverment Been Bashing the Middle clas for so over 35 years that seem their is No Middle class encomey. For My View the is only 2 class econmy The Rich & Millionaries, Poor ( that includes the Middle class in that) And including the Only Drop Memus in It for Free not Rxtra. Change And For Virus Scanner/ Spyware scanner etc. Make that be availbe for 5 years. And any store that does 2 yr buy out your old PC/ Mac machinge I Make self Have Replace Computer not More evrey 5 to 8 Years. The Buy option should least 6 Years.

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• Doesn't touch MP4

  6/27/2012

  Pros

  Easy to figure out (short learning curve) Easy to use Project export simple Scrolling credit screen

  Cons

  Doesn't edit standard industry (consumer electronics) codecs, like MP4 or MOV (amongst others). Basically you can use a WMV, MPG, MP2 or AVI clip or you can suck it. Adding a title screen or subtitles is frustrating if you have a certain idea in mind. No options to add the more widely used codecs.

  Summary

  I wouldn't recommend this program unless you are actually capturing the video with movie maker. Any other program or hardware will give you the wrong codec therefor making it impossible to edit the clip. And I do NOT recommend downloading codecs. Leave that can of worms alone.

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• Good Not Great

  Jerjbuk6/17/2012

  Pros

  * Very Simple If You Enjoy Simple * Very Easy To Save * Lots Of Effects And Title Options

  Cons

  * Very Simple Not Advanced At All * No Audio Editor * Does Not Support HD (720p - 1080p)

  Summary

  Good If You Like Simple Bad If You Like Advanced And HD Formats:)

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