| Video editing software 101 |
| Written by Henry Johnson | |
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As personal video cameras and computers become increasingly cheap and further penetrate the market, more and more people are choosing to preserve their family and life memories on video. As important as choosing a solid video camera and computer system to store these memories are, you're also going to need good video editing software . Editing video can be a challenging and fun hobby that allows you to preserve and present memories in a variety of ways, fun, somber, serious or hilarious, etc. Think of video editing as the frame around your picture. A good frame can bring out the most attractive qualities of a picture and add to the overall impression it leaves with viewers. A bad frame can diminish your picture or make it look cheap and tawdry. Of course, there are a wide variety of video editing software applications out there. Here are a few tips for buying the right one. Take advantage of freebies: Many video editing software applications offer demos or free samples. Other video editing programs are completely free, and can be downloaded as freeware or shareware. Before going out and buying a big ticket item, give one of the freebies a try. Downloads such as iMovie and Movie Maker have very good audio, visual and graphic features and there are various add-ons you can obtain to beef up the free programs. Get training: Your movies are going to look like Plan 9 from Outer Space unless you learn some editing basis. Visit your local junior college or public access television station to see if there are any classes you can take or pointers you can get from old pros. Make sure whatever program you get has good tech support: Weird things pop up when you're editing video sometimes, things that aren't covered by any manual. When bad things happen, you're going to need someone to help. Prior to making a purchase, find out what kind of support or help desk the manufacturer offers. Read the online reviews: No one can point you better than your fellow video editing enthusiasts. Get in chat rooms or message boards and find out what video editing software your peers like best. Now that you've got a few basic concepts under your hat, here's a few useful product reviews of video editing software that might help you on your way. Windows Movie Maker: It's a flop. Not enough options and tends to lock up your computer. Sony Vegas: A good all-around program, but at $550 it's a bit expensive. You can do better for cheaper. Pinnacle Studio: It's a good evolutionary program, allowing you to start out with baby steps and then progress to complex applications as your skills develop. At $50 for the basic program and add-ons ranging from $100 to $150, it's also pretty cost effective too. Final Cut Studio: Napoleon Dynamite was edited on this program, how cool is that? The program run on a Mac and has many options and features. The price tag of $1,200 is very steep however, so unless you're planning on editing video as a business, you may want to go with something else. Adobe Premiere: Solid program, locks up occasionally, however. Lots of good options, but not enough animations. At $799 it's also a bit pricey. Now that you know more about video editing software and how to choose a good program from a crowded field of competitors, you should soon be on your way to making good movies, and good memories. |
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