I have been using Cinelerra for probably a year now. The software is excellent compared to other Linux video software, but the learning curve was pretty steep. The manual online has a lot of information, but I wasn't familiar with video editing concepts. I also had trouble with many video formats.
So anyways, I've started on a guide for an average Linux user to get up and running with the software. I have so far the basics of installation, importing, and rendering. I really want to get more people using this software - my ulterior motive is that if more people are using it, the development pace will pick up as more people are attracted to the project. I hope that more developers would contribute their time with regard to plugins and speed optimizations. Here is the guide i have so far. I will be adding to this in the coming days and weeks. The next parts to add are basic editing maneuvers and concepts such as clips, the viewer, etc. After that I plan to jump right into video effects starting with the Motion effect. The Motion effect seems to draw a lot of attention of people who've never used Cinelerra, but it took me some time to figure out how to use it properly. I think that the Motion effect and Selective Temporal Averaging is enough reason to spend time learning to use this software. I'll go into other effects and more advanced techniques after that. http://www.calcmaster.net/cinelerra/forgotten-guide/ -Joseph
