Best Video Editing Software Reviews
#1 Corel Ulead VideoStudio Pro X2
Ulead VideoStudio was launched many years ago in Taiwan by a couple of guys that formed the original company and up until VideoStudio 10 things were still that way. Last year Ulead were bought by Intervideo then months later Intervideo were bought by Corel. So now with version X2 it is Corel Video Studio X2.
The release of VideoStudio X2 under the Corel banner is the latest version of this excellent consumer level video editing software package.
VideoStudio offers one of the widest ranges of input/output compatibility available today and handles them all very well.
It has easy to use Wizards for the beginner or the "not that interested" as well as many powerful features for those of you who wish to expand your creativity and technical prowess.
If you are considering a purchase of video editing software you certainly would be well served by VideoStudio Pro X2. If you would like to know why I have chosen it as the best video editing software then take a look at the full review below.
#2 Cyberlink Power Director 7
Cyberlink Power Director 7 has only recently been released. I used to recommend Power Director 6 as a simple but effective editor for those that didn't really want to get too much into editing.
With the release of Power Director 7 that same simplicity has been retained however when it comes to fully featured video editing software Power Director 7 is very much playing with the big boys now.
Roxio Creator 2009
Roxio Creator 2009 is included here because it represents a feature rich package that takes the idea of "all things to all people" to a new level. While certainly not the best video editing software solution it is a great multimedia solution with good video capabilities.
Creator's video capture and DVD production tool will suit and satisfy most novice movie editors. There are special effects such as object overlays as well as some video filter effects. Not of the standard of the other dedicated video editing software mentioned here but worth a look if your needs are modest or if you just want to dip your toes first! Additionally Creator does a great job with slideshows.
The MyDVD tool will handle all your DVD authoring needs, PhotoSuite takes care of stills for you and the Sound Editor wraps the package up with great tools and control for your audio tracks.
Roxio Creator 2009 is not a purpose built video editor. It is a package that covers just about every aspect from camcorder or camera to DVD or other file output. Roxio Creator 2009 is great value for someone starting out and wanting to get the feel of all aspects of home video production. The nearest comparable software package to this would be Nero 9 with it's slighly better DVD capabilities.
You can take a closer look at Creator 2009 at Roxio.com Creator 2009
Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus or Ultimate
One of the most common things I hear regarding Pinnacle Studio is regarding the user-friendliness of its interface and I have to agree. It really is nicely laid out and quite logical.
Pinnacle Studio, in the past, has had a reputation for being a little on the unstable side however recently they seemed to have addressed these problems and I found no such behavior when I tried it out.
It's feature set is on a par with Corel VideoStudio offering pretty much the same abilities and functions and a comparable set of filters, transitions and sample video and sounds. You need to check, as with all video editing software, exactly what file formats are handled for input and output to be sure your needs are covered. Only the "Plus" and "Ultimate" versions will handle the new high defintion formats.
Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus or Ultimate are effective video editing packages and are some of the best around. Just be prepared for a learning curve if you want to take full advantage of its features as they can sometimes be a little hard to find. In a head to head against Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 I chose the Corel product. Try them for yourself and you could go the other way. They are both great video editing software solutions. Click on the link to take a closer look.
Copyright© 2008 Flourish Group Taiwan.
Click here to go to the full review of CyberLink Power Director 7 Review.
Click here to take a look at Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 at the Corel site and here for the Corel Video Studio Forum.(opens in new window)
Or click here to take a look at Cyberlink Power Director 7 at their site.
These are my choices for the best video editing software solutions at the consumer level. You will notice there is a number one and a number two. Both Corel VideoStudio Pro X2 and Cyberlink Power Director 7 have a full review page each to themselves for you to take a look at.
If you haven't already, take a look at the Video Editing page for a rundown on what you should be looking for and what you should be ignoring in terms of making your choice.
There are three other brands of software also mentioned on this page. Although they were not the number one or two choice for purely video editing software, each has a compelling feature set for those of you who may not really need a dedicated video editing software suite.
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Possibly, the effort to create that interface has resulted in many of the more advanced features and functions of the the program being a little difficult to find and work out. This is a program that you need to "dig around in" to find out what it really can do.