The Best Video Editing Software
Choosing the best video editing software for you can seem rather difficult given the wide variety of video editing programs and features available.
The key point to keep in mind is
"what is it that am REALLY going to do with the video editing software that I choose?"
"what is it that am REALLY going to do with the video editing software that I choose?"
All of the major home video editing software companies offer camcorder to DVD, computer playback or online viewing video editing solutions that make them almost inseparable from each other.
So lets first take a look at what you REALLY need.
So lets first take a look at what you REALLY need.
The first thing to find out is the format of the material you will be working with and the format, or formats, that you will eventually be producing.
Standard Definition Video (SD):
| · | DV.AVI video recorded to mini DV tape on a camcorder. |
| · | MPEG2 video recorded to mini DVD either on a camcorder or DVD recorder. |
| · | MPEG2 video recorded to an inbuilt hard disc drive on a camcorder or DVD recorder. |
| · | Any of the many new high compression formats such as MPEG4 (MP4), H.264, FLV, AVI and on and on... All recorded to flash type memory on camcorders or portable devices. |
High Definition Video (HD):
| · | HD MPEG2 (HDV) recorded to mini DV tape on a camcorder. |
| · | AVCHD (an MPEG4 variant) recorded to inbuilt hard disc drive on a camcorder. |
| · | AVCHD recorded to DVD on a camcorder. |
| · | AVCHD recorded to solid state (flash etc.) memory on a camcorder. |
| · | High Definition MPEG4, WMV and many others from portable devices, digital cameras, phones etc. |
Video Output Formats
| · | DVD - MPEG2 files authored (organized and written) to the DVD standard. |
| · | Completed projects or edited material written back to the original recording device. E.g. A completed project written back to a tape camcorder for archival purposes. |
| · | High Definition material written to a standard DVD. |
| · | High Definition material written to a Blue Ray disc or hybrid disc. |
| · | Any of a number of very highly compressed formats for viewing on computers or loading on to internet services such as YouTube. |
So your first task in deciding on the best video editing software for you is to work out what your most common source video files will be and what your most common output video format will be.
That is the foundation of what you will be using the software for and will allow you to quickly discount those video editors that don't apply because of incompatibility.
That is the foundation of what you will be using the software for and will allow you to quickly discount those video editors that don't apply because of incompatibility.
The second important point you need to look at with video editing programs is not the program itself but simply a reality of all complex software running very intensive processing such as video editing.
You can take any video editing software product, load it on to ten computers and for most they will work just fine.
For some there will be adjustments needed but no big deal, and for some, no matter what you do, you just can't make that darn thing run!
Take advantage of free trial periods first, before you purchase.
For some there will be adjustments needed but no big deal, and for some, no matter what you do, you just can't make that darn thing run!
Take advantage of free trial periods first, before you purchase.
Bells and Whistles! Like any other competitive market, video editing software is caught up in a never ending race to keep up with technology as it develops and still make the product seem "sexy" to the customer.
"Bells and whistles" features make you WANT the product but most likely you will never use. So it is important to always keep in mind that even though it sounds cool to be able to do that thing..."Would I ever really need that?"
Transitions are the little inserts that go in between two clips to make the scene change.
If you look at a movie you will notice when the scene changes it either:
If you look at a movie you will notice when the scene changes it either:
There you have it, pretty well the entire range of transitions that professional video editors use!
Video overlay tracks, simply put, is the ability to put one video in the background and have another visible on top of it. It is that "picture in picture" effect you have seen. You can also put subtitles in an overlay track or still photos or a bunch of other things to really get creative.
If you watch the TV news these days you will see the main track is the person on-air, then you may see a ticker tape readout running below, the station logo at the top right and video of the "at the scene" reporter getting ready to make a report. All of that is done using overlay tracks.
You need about five or six for good control but you would never use more than that otherwise, once again, no-one is going to want to watch the mess you have created!
You need about five or six for good control but you would never use more than that otherwise, once again, no-one is going to want to watch the mess you have created!
There is no video editing software at the consumer level that offers truly professional audio control and features. They are video editing programs not audio editing programs.
On the next page are my choices, in order for video editing software. The top choice is the one I currently use. Take advantage of the trials and see which you like.
It is so easy to get distracted by all the "bells and whistles" on offer but the reality is that many of those features may ultimately prove useless to you unless you can at least forsee a need for them.
Video Formats - Input
On rare occasions for artistic effect the pros may use some variation but as I say...rarely.
Ignore transitions as a deciding feature, all video editing software has them and they all have more than you need.
Ignore transitions as a deciding feature, all video editing software has them and they all have more than you need.
Some have pretty good control some don't but if you are going to demand pro level audio control then you need dedicated software for that. The ability to handle Dolby 5:1 Surround is a bare minimum.
They may crow about their audio capabilities but from video editing software want you want is solid basics and realistic expectations.
They may crow about their audio capabilities but from video editing software want you want is solid basics and realistic expectations.
Video Transitions
| · | Changes directly to the next scene with no transition, this is called cut or a straight cut. |
| · | Fades quickly to black then into the next scene from black called a crossfade through black. |
| · | The first scene fades out softly as the next scene is fading in. This is called a crossfade. |
Video Overlay Tracks
Audio Control
MyEasyData Home
Video Editing Software
Video Editing Software Reviews
Corel VideoStudio ProX2
Cyberlink PowerDirector7
Adobe Premier Elements 7
Magix Movie Edit Pro 15
Magix Video Pro X 1.5
Womble MPEG Video Editor
muvee autoProducer 6
muvee Reveal
Make Your Own Website
Online Marketing
Marketing-lite
Marketing-pro
Site Build It Review
IMC Bebiz Review
Keyword Tools
PC Maintenance Software
PC Security Software
DVD Disc Repair
DVD Copying Software
Video Editing Software Tips Blog
Get Rid of Acne
Video Editing Software
Video Editing Software Reviews
Corel VideoStudio ProX2
Cyberlink PowerDirector7
Adobe Premier Elements 7
Magix Movie Edit Pro 15
Magix Video Pro X 1.5
Womble MPEG Video Editor
muvee autoProducer 6
muvee Reveal
Make Your Own Website
Online Marketing
Marketing-lite
Marketing-pro
Site Build It Review
IMC Bebiz Review
Keyword Tools
PC Maintenance Software
PC Security Software
DVD Disc Repair
DVD Copying Software
Video Editing Software Tips Blog
Get Rid of Acne