Video-editing & 3D modeling under Linux

[Bolg]

Guys, here are some free (GPL) programs for editing and modeling. I am posting the ones I am (getting) familiar with and using, and could testify for their stability.

Makehuman (http://makehuman.org) - great 3D human modeling, easy, fast, from some Italian guys. You need DRI enabled on your X for it to be smooth. Model a nigger, for your viewing pleasure. You can export to Wavefront .obj file, import into any 3D animation program (blender), and the sky is the limit.

Blender (http://www.blender.org/) - draw, model, animate. Very non-intuitive for a Windows user, but there are extensive manuals (video manuals too). Blender is the best. You need DRI support for that too.

Cinelerra (http://cinelerra.org/) (used to be called "Broadcast 2000") - Linear and non-linear video editing, many effects. Very stable. Forget Adobe Premiere.

I'll attach some 3D nigger models later, so anyone interested could use them, change them and animate them. In fact we could do something of a repository with resources we could use to create WN video content. Models, animation projects, video snippets - anything would do.

[J3115]

Guys, here are some free (GPL) programs for editing and modeling. I am posting the ones I am (getting) familiar with and using, and could testify for their stability.

Makehuman (http://makehuman.org) - great 3D human modeling, easy, fast, from some Italian guys. You need DRI enabled on your X for it to be smooth. Model a nigger, for your viewing pleasure. You can export to Wavefront .obj file, import into any 3D animation program (blender), and the sky is the limit.

Blender (http://www.blender.org/) - draw, model, animate. Very non-intuitive for a Windows user, but there are extensive manuals (video manuals too). Blender is the best. You need DRI support for that too.

Cinelerra (http://cinelerra.org/) (used to be called "Broadcast 2000") - Linear and non-linear video editing, many effects. Very stable. Forget Adobe Premiere.

I'll attach some 3D nigger models later, so anyone interested could use them, change them and animate them. In fact we could do something of a repository with resources we could use to create WN video content. Models, animation projects, video snippets - anything would do.

I'm not really into hardcore video editing but I have avidemux
installed. Very easy to use.
http://avidemux.sourceforge.net/

[RonaldCa]

This is the issue I'm currently struggling with. Eventually, I will build another machine just for a Win32 environment as I use Lightwave.

I've tried running it under Wine and they(the wine team) haven't really come to a conclusion on how to handle interfaces drawn with OpenGL.

There's also OpenFX.

http://www.openfx.org/

It's a formerly commercial Win32 modeler/animator that has been released under the GPL. I do believe there is an effort underway to port it to Linux. If you peek through the source, you'll see that it's heavily dependent on Win32.

[alex]

Do not know much about video editing but since some of you do i'll just ask:

With which of these programs can i add subtitles to an avi video for example?
I have many interesting video files but they're all in German so i thought i'll translate and add subtitles to them.

[J3115]

Do not know much about video editing but since some of you do i'll just ask:

With which of these programs can i add subtitles to an avi video for example?
I have many interesting video files but they're all in German so i thought i'll translate and add subtitles to them.

Avidemux can add subtitles but they will have to added from a text file and then cut in... You will want something like Jahshaka.
http://www.jahshaka.org/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,37/catid,1/

Jahshaka is one of the best video editors out there..

[Bolg]

Do not know much about video editing but since some of you do i'll just ask:

With which of these programs can i add subtitles to an avi video for example?
I have many interesting video files but they're all in German so i thought i'll translate and add subtitles to them.

Another good application is Jubler: http://sourceforge.net/projects/jubler

Java-based, platform independent. Here is a snapshot:

http://sourceforge.net/dbimage.php?id=100514

[Bolg]

This is the issue I'm currently struggling with. Eventually, I will build another machine just for a Win32 environment as I use Lightwave.

I've tried running it under Wine and they(the wine team) haven't really come to a conclusion on how to handle interfaces drawn with OpenGL.
There's also OpenFX.

http://www.openfx.org/

It's a formerly commercial Win32 modeler/animator that has been released under the GPL. I do believe there is an effort underway to port it to Linux. If you peek through the source, you'll see that it's heavily dependent on Win32.

Great find, RonaldCa! I'll try to make it run under wine and post results/instructions, if I get anywhere. Yep, wine has problems with OpenGL and DirectX, but those problems will be solved, I am sure. Wine has reached a state of maturity and usefulness that is simply staggering.

[Bolg]

I'm not really into hardcore video editing but I have avidemux
installed. Very easy to use.
http://avidemux.sourceforge.net/

A great program. The only thing I've found it lacking in, is handling badly broken xvid-encoded files. But mencoder and transcode don't do better with those either...

When I am unable to rebuild a broken index with avidemux, I just use VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) under wine. Works great, you only have to switch off DirectX support, 'cause with DirectX on, you only get a black screen.

[Mark Kerpolt]

Makehuman (http://makehuman.org) - great 3D human modeling, easy, fast, from some Italian guys. You need DRI enabled on your X for it to be smooth. Model a nigger, for your viewing pleasure. You can export to Wavefront .obj file, import into any 3D animation program (blender), and the sky is the limit.
The program is called Makehuman isn't it? :p

Seriously though, it looks like an usable program... for people that can't model, but people who can should avoid these tools naturally.


Blender (http://www.blender.org/) - draw, model, animate. Very non-intuitive for a Windows user, but there are extensive manuals (video manuals too). Blender is the best. You need DRI support for that too.
Excellent program, I can post some tutorials for it if people are interested in it. It's very a capable program and it's quite stable and gets only better and better each release, although I myself - personally, at least - don't prefer it myself (but people should try it).


Cinelerra (http://cinelerra.org/) (used to be called "Broadcast 2000") - Linear and non-linear video editing, many effects. Very stable. Forget Adobe Premiere.
It's not very stable, the last time I tried it anyway...


I'll attach some 3D nigger models later, so anyone interested could use them, change them and animate them. In fact we could do something of a repository with resources we could use to create WN video content. Models, animation projects, video snippets - anything would do.
Sounds like a great idea!


I'm not really into hardcore video editing but I have avidemux
installed. Very easy to use.
http://avidemux.sourceforge.net/
Yes, that's an excellent program.


Do not know much about video editing but since some of you do i'll just ask:

With which of these programs can i add subtitles to an avi video for example?
I have many interesting video files but they're all in German so i thought i'll translate and add subtitles to them.
Overlaid or rendered in a video? With VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org), although a Windows-only program, you can with the subtitler plug-in render a SRT file; and such a file can be very easily made with a program, like the excellent Aegisub (http://aegisub.cellosoft.com).

Avidemux can add subtitles but they will have to added from a text file and then cut in... You will want something like Jahshaka.
http://www.jahshaka.org/component/option,com_zoom/Itemid,37/catid,1/

Jahshaka is one of the best video editors out there..
I thought it was awful! It might be free, but really, it's terrible and extremely unstable. Even the ‘gallery’ on their site looks revoltingly bad.


Not free or GPL software, but it can be as well (if you get my drift): [I]Shake (http://www.apple.com/shake) - Compositing; very powerful with painting capability also, used for the post-production of films like «Lord of the Rings».
D² NUKE (http://www.d2software.com) - Idem ditto, particularly rapid with 3D compositing capabilities. (Used for the post-production of films like «True Lies» and «Titanic»).
Houdini (http://www.sidefx.com) - I'd say the most extendable, powerful and truly the most capable 3D animation software package available; particularly due to its parametric/procedural nature, but also because of its great scripting, operator building and such (I've seen people implement things like SSS by themselves). I use this amazing program and it's my absolute favorite. I can make tutorials (also video tutorials). It has been used for the most advanced special effects on films like «Lord of the Rings», «The Matrix», «The Sum of All Fears» and «Godzilla». There's a free non-commercial version available for it, which is fully usable (just with a lowered max. resolution for its render outputs).

[Bolg]

The program is called Makehuman isn't it? :p

Seriously though, it looks like an usable program... for people that can't model, but people who can should avoid these tools naturally.

Well, it does save a lot of time. For would be modelers without extensive knowledge of anatomy it's a great tool. The guys behind Makehuman have written some outstanding plugs for Blender - the hair plugin, for example. And, come on, nigger a go-go is kewl, admit it. :)

Excellent program, I can post some tutorials for it if people are interested in it. It's very a capable program and it's quite stable and gets only better and better each release, although I myself - personally, at least - don't prefer it myself (but people should try it).


It crushes a lot on ATI Radeon 9100. On my other PC, with a Nvidia, it works very stable. What soft do you prefer? I have used 3D Max in my Windows days, which was a long time ago, and not very extensively, at that...
Tutorials would be great. I have downloaded some step-by-step videos from blender.org. Great stuff.

It's not very stable, the last time I tried it anyway...

It behaves OK. I used to hate Broadcast2000, maybe because it took me a week to figure out and overcome the compilation errors. The program has come a long way since then.

Sounds like a great idea!

Let's see if it comes to anything. I am sure though, once it gets rolling, great results will come out.

Not free or GPL software, but it can be as well (if you get my drift): Shake (http://www.apple.com/shake) - Compositing; very powerful with painting capability also, used for the post-production of films like «Lord of the Rings».
D² NUKE (http://www.d2software.com) - Idem ditto, particularly rapid with 3D compositing capabilities. (Used for the post-production of films like «True Lies» and «Titanic»).
Houdini (http://www.sidefx.com) - I'd say the most extendable, powerful and truly the most capable 3D animation software package available; particularly due to its parametric/procedural nature, but also because of its great scripting, operator building and such (I've seen people implement things like SSS by themselves). I use this amazing program and it's my absolute favorite. I can make tutorials (also video tutorials). It has been used for the most advanced special effects on films like «Lord of the Rings», «The Matrix», «The Sum of All Fears» and «Godzilla». There's a free non-commercial version available for it, which is fully usable (just with a lowered max. resolution for its render outputs).


Very useful list!

[Bolg]

Here are some screen-shots of the nigga I be working on:

[Mark Kerpolt]

That looks hilarious, good work so far!

(Could you perhaps post the .blend file?)

[Bolg]

Sure, dude.

Here they are - the blender file, and the directory with the Wavefront objects (bzipped).

http://www.box.net/public/2k59oe16go

I am glad someone's taken interest. Maybe VNN-ers could come up with ideas for short movie scripts 'n shit. A 3D nigga, handsome as it is, has no real value per se. We have to make it do things.

P.S.: Great stuff on your youtube page, Aistulf. "Jew on truth serum" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxvO_Z0bFmI) is pure gold.

[Bolg]

Here is just the niggerhead, a blend file.

Added some bones to the lips, for easy moving. Work in progress, however.

negar-head.blend.tar.bz2 (http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_v2_download_shared_file&file_id=f_47538182)

[Tomasz Winnicki]

That's a good 3D model Bolg. Maybe we can take this somewhere.

[Mark Kerpolt]

I've had little time lately, but I'd like to put that model to good use as well.

[Bolg]

Thanks guys. I too have been too busy lately, but I'll come back to the 3d modeling/animation. In the meantime - anyone can give it a try. Blender (http://www.blender.org/download/get-blender/) is free, and there are a tonne of tutorials (http://www.blender.org/tutorials-help/) - no need to be a computer expert to do it - just talented and persistent.

[JimInCO]

Speaking of 3D and videos, has anyone here used the program "The Movies (http://www.lionhead.com/themovies/index.html)"?
It looks very limited, but I've seen some pretty good videos created with it.
The whole video game look should appeal to younger viewers, especially.

Here's an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgSh70YOtiU

CgSh70YOtiU