Your Source for Video Editing Tips and Information


Chuck Engels

Chuck's Corner

How do I find the right Video Editing Software?

This is often times much easier than you might think. There are dozens of video editing application on the market, from consumer to professional, in a variety of price ranges. Before you can find the right program to edit your home movies you will first need to answer some specific questions about your computer system, camcorder, and what format any existing movies might be in or what they are currently stored on.

1.) Computer System Questions

A) What are the primary specs of your current system?

  1. Processor
  2. RAM
  3. Hard Drive(s)
  4. Video Card and memory
  5. Audio Card
  6. DVD Burner

These specs will help us to narrow down the search by finding software that will work on your current system.

B) Are you planning to purchase a new computer for video editing?

If you are planning to purchase a new system, you can look for one that meets the requirements for the software you choose.

2.) Camcorder Questions

A) What type of camcorder do you have?

  1. VHS
  2. VHS-C
  3. MiniDV
  4. Hard Drive
  5. DVD
  6. Other

Depending on your type of camcorder the editing software will be limited to what works well with that type. Also, additional hardware may be required for VHS and VHS-C camcorders; like a digital converter.

B) Are you planning on purchasing a new camcorder?

If you are planning on purchasing a new camcorder you can look for the software that will work best with that type.

C) Maybe you only have a digital camera?

3.) Existing Video Questions

A) Do you have existing home movies that you want to edit and transfer to DVD?

B) Do you have existing movies on DVD that you would like to edit and put back on DVD?

C) What format are the existing movies in or what are they stored on?

  1. VHS Tape
  2. VHS-C Tape
  3. Beta Tape
  4. Laser Disc
  5. DV Tape
  6. 8mm
  7. 16mm
  8. DVD
    1. mpeg .vob files
  9. Hard Drive
    1. AVI
    2. MPEG
    3. MOV
    4. WMV
    5. Other

The answers to these questions will help to determine the right editing software, programs generally work best with one particular format.

Now, after answering the questions we can get down to what it is that you really want to accomplish. It is time to make a decision on what type of movies you want to create. After you gather that information, and combine it with what you have learned above, you will be ready to make an educated decision on what software to use in creating your feature films.

4.) Different Types of Videos

A) Slide Shows

B) Music Videos

C) Home Movies

D) Documentaries

E) Mini Feature Films

F) Sporting Events

G) Weddings and Special Events

H) Something I haven’t thought of (Other)

Believe it or not, you could use a different editing program for each of the above. If you choose the editing program for what it does best, you could easily be doing each project in a different application and that is not very practical. Just considering the time it would take to learn them all would be astronomical.

What you want to look for is the application that will do everything you need it to do, but does what you do the most better than all of the rest.

 

Here is a list of some of the available editing tools (for Windows) with links to help you decide. For video editing with a Digital Camcorder I cannot recommend anything more than Premiere Elements. For editing primarily from a capture card or USB device and MPEG files, I recommend Sonic MyDVD. For simple Slide Show creation, I recommend Photoshop Elements 4. Those are my recommendations, now you take a look and decide for yourself what will be the best for you! ( You may notice that Pinnacle Studio is not in the list at all, I could not recommend that software to my worst enemy, sorry.)

Windows Movie Maker — Free
Free software from Microsoft that is actually quite good. Even if you don’t use this as your primary editing tool it will come in handy for a number of things.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1681494,00.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

Photoshop Elements 4 — $99 USD
A very good tool for simple slide show creation and the best digital imaging/graphics software around. This is another tool that can be useful no matter what editing software you have.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Adobe_Photoshop_Elements_4/
4505-3634_7-31515402.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1863363,00.asp
http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/pixelbased/gr/pselements.htm
http://store.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/main.html

Premiere Elements 2 — $99 USD
My pick for best DV Editing Software, in my opinion there is no other product with as much functionality and stability within $100s of dollars.
http://store.adobe.com/products/premiereel/main.html
http://store.adobe.com/products/premiereel/reviews.html
http://reviews.cnet.com/Adobe_Premiere_Elements_2/
4505-3670_7-31515394.html
http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,123239,00.asp (A Rating of 90 — Superior)

Sonic/Roxio MyDVD 8 Premier — $70 USD
This is my second choice, especially if you are using mpeg files for editing.
http://www.sonic.com/products/Consumer/MyDVD/default.aspx
http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=16394
http://www.sonic.com/products/Consumer/MyDVD/StudioDeluxe/
quicklook.aspx

Ulead Movie Factory 4 — $45 USD
http://reviews.cnet.com/Ulead_DVD_MovieFactory_4_0/
4505-3668_7-31343275.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1782063,00.asp
http://www.itp.net/reviews/details.php?id=2583
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/runme.htm

Ulead VideoStudio 9 — $82 USD
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C1895%2C1784941%2C00.asp
#memberratings
http://www.ulead.com/vs/reviews.htm
http://www.cnet.com.au/software/music/0,39025669,40054846,00.htm?
type=pop
http://www.dvformat.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=32374
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_2802.html

Cyberlink PowerDirector 5 — $80 USD
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
powerdirector-review.html
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000A3ZLHE/
103-0061348-4108652?v=glance
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/products/awards_4_ENU.html
http://www.camcorderinfo.com/bbs/t121938.html
http://www.cdrinfo.com/forum/tm.asp?m=126266&mpage=1𞴺

Magix Movie Edit Pro 10 — $50 USD
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1777473,00.asp
http://www.daytrum.com/pctechnology/videoediting/
052305magixmovieeditpro.htm
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/news/articles/story_2858.html
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews82863.html
http://www.videoforums.co.uk/reviews/software_reviews/p2_articleid/64
http://audiovideo.consumerelectronicsnet.com/articles/
viewarticle.jsp?id=32265
http://site.magix.net/index.php?16535

Video Edit Magic 4 — $70 USD
http://www.deskshare.com/vem.aspx
http://www.webattack.com/get/videoedit.html
http://www.download.com/3000-2194-10145900.html
http://www.infopackets.com/channels/en/windows/
software_spotlight/2005/20050524_video_edit_magic_v4_review.htm
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Video_Edit_Magic/1043839116/1

Avid Express DV 4 — $395 USD
http://products.consumerguide.com/reviews/product.epub?productId=29493
http://www.cwol.com/software/avid-xpress-dv.htm
http://videosystems.com/mag/video_avid_xpress_dv_3/index.html
http://www.videoguys.com/XpressDV.html
http://www.avid.com/products/xpressdv/

Nova Video Explosion Deluxe — $38 USD
If you can find a copy this is really a decent software package for starters.
http://www.internetvideomag.com/articles2002/NovaVideoExplosion.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005UV54/
103-0061348-4108652?v=glance
http://www.novadevelopment.com/Products/productinfo.aspx?productcode=
vew§ionID=18

Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD Platinum Edition — $95 USD
http://www.cyber-aspect.com/sreviews/vegas_studio.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002QNDKG/103-0061348-
108652?v=glance
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/products/showproduct.asp?pid=977
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/index.php?id=55502690
http://reviews.cnet.com/Vegas_Movie_Studio_DVD/4505-3670_
7-31520625.html

Roxio Easy Media Creator 8.0 — $75 USD
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1886703,00.asp
http://reviews.cnet.com/Roxio_Easy_Media_Creator_8/4505-3669_
7-31554137.html
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/review.php?reviewId=1373
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=41041
http://www.roxio.com/en/products/emc/index.jhtml

Nero 7 Ultra Edition — $72 USD
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1886699,00.asp
http://ww2.nero.com/enu/index.html
http://www.techgage.com/review.php?id=4055
http://www.cdr-zone.com/reviews/dvd_software_reviews/
nero_7_review_page_1.html
http://stores.tomshardware.com/rating_getprodrev.php
/product_id=12763951/id_type=M//

Muvee AutoProducer 5 — $100 USD
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1909940,00.asp
http://reviews.cnet.com/muvee_autoProducer_5/4505-3669_7-31636330.html
http://audiovideo.consumerelectronicsnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?
id=36749
http://www.muvee.com/website/ap5.php

Another good source for reviews, if not listed, is amazon.com

 

I hope all of this information is helpful. If you have additional questions, or questions about specific editing software visit the Adobe Premiere Elements User Forum. Most of the users there have had experience with many of these titles (and still use some of them in addition to Premiere Elements) at some point and will be happy to answer your questions.

Thanks for taking the time to visit videoinasnap.com and chuckengels.com

Last Updated March 2006

Have a question or comment for Chuck?
Send an e-mail to chuck@chuckengels.com.

 

About Chuck

Chuck Engels grew up in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois and moved to northern Wisconsin at the age of 17. He graduated from Trans American School of Broadcasting in Wausau, Wisconsin. He worked in the radio industry for five years; KMRS/KKOK Morris, Mn, KLQP Madison, Mn, and KBRF Fergus Falls, Mn, and studied theater and film at the University of Minnesota-Morris (Chuck won a few awards for a college video production in 1982-1983). Chuck has spent the past 18 years in the transportation industry, in management, and in software development.

Chuck has also been very involved in Senior League Baseball, managing and playing in a 35 and over league for 4 years and coaching Little League Baseball since 1982. He has been playing baseball since he was 7 and continues to play as often as he can, now at the age of 49. He currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and three of their four children.

He is a senior programmer and analyst in the software development department for AFC Worldwide Express. Chuck is also involved in the media department for Trinity Chapel, a 10,000-member church, and is an active member and regular contributor to the Adobe Premiere Elements Users Forum. Chuck also hosts a website where users can share their videos, tips, and tricks chuckengels.com/PremierVideo as well as a site that involves 3 other forum members; Steve Grisetti, TikiTim, and Ed Mann videoinasnap.com.