I want to edit video's taken, need help finding program!?

Question

Hey everyone, I have taken videos with my camcorder and would like to edit them. One day, I hope to be a movie director or something and I have filmed a few documentary's of friends, but I need to find a program to install or buy, can anyone help me out? Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Great question! Editing systems are invaluable tools; its a tough decision to make, but a necessary one nonetheless. As an aspiring filmmaker myself, I have had several run-ins with various editing systems, so I will try to find the right one for you. First of all, I will discuss consumer editing programs.

The media format of your camcorder should have a lot of weight with your decision on editing programs. If you have a DVD camcorder that records directly to DVD, then you are almost left with no choice but the Ulead Video Studio. Its not the best program, but it does a decent job, and its the only program I have found to work with DVD editing. There is probably many more programs out there, but that's the only one I know of.

If you have an HDD hard drive camcorder, or a flash media one, you should probably go with the Sony Vegas Pro. Its a very popular program as it offers some pro tools and HD video rendering for the consumer price, but I don't like it too much. You won't see many pros using it at least. I hear Final Cut Express (not compatible on PCs) works for AVCHD editing (SD/ HDD) editing, but its not as popular as the sony Vegas.

For HDV and miniDV editing, you are left with the most choices. You could work with all of the programs listed above, as well as many others. I have used several programs, and am not pleased with many. The Pinnacle Studio system is decent, but I would only give a marginal recommendation; its inexpensive, but not too good quality. One program I highly suggest you AVOID is the Adobe Premiere Elements. It is a horrible program that always crashes!!

If you are serious about Editing, I highly suggest that you look into the higher profile editing platforms. They have much more pro editing tools, render with much better quality, and are much more fun!!! Ironically, I have found pro systems to be easier to work with....

      The programs I am talking about are Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere Pro. Adobe Premiere Pro is the cheapest of the 3, but probably the least popular among pros. I really like this program, as it gives you many easy to use pro tools, and pro quality rendering. However, it does not have quite as many features as the other two, as it is the least complex (for better and for worse).

       Comparing Final Cut and Avid is very hard. The two systems have been battling for a few years in order to establish dominance over the filmmaking world.

In 1989, the beginning of the computer age, Avid released the first version of the Media Composer. Before that, all movies were filmed and editing in an analog, linear environment, as no computer program met the demands of the pros...yet. However, with Avid's Media Composer software, it was the first time professional filmmakers began to switch to computers for editing. The Avid systems were the first to become accepted into the moviemaking world. Over the next few years, Avid was the undisputed king of professional editing: most big budget movie productions were edited in Avid! However, a few years ago, Avid met its toughest competition yet: Apple's Final Cut Pro. Since then, there has been talk that Apple would overthrow Avid in a digital coup d'etat and assume its throne as the favorite editing system for professionals as a part of inevitable evolution of human society.....This is false. Pros are still using Avid. Sure, Final Cut took away some of the business, but a majority of films are still cut on Avid. I personally believe that Final Cut doesn't come close! I apologize if I got off topic, but my point is that if you have the chance to edit on Avid, that would be my undisputed number one recommendation! Unfortunately Avid may not be within your price range. Recently, Avid was over $4,000, but then was reduced to a little over $2,000, which is still a bit much for an editing program.

Luckily, you can get it for an excellent deal via student discount!! You can get the Avid Media Composer software, the same exact software if you bought it for full price. With an educational discount it is $295 (that's no typo!). Its the same exact software with the exception of third party software, that isn't too important (to me, at least). It is available to teachers AND students K-12 and in college. I highly recomment it!!! you won't be disappointed!!!

see www.journeyed.com for the educational discount!

....sorry if I got a bit carried away. Hope that helps and Good luck!!!!!!

Answer 2

A good place to start is with what is bundled with your computer...

MovieMaker in Windows; iMovieHD in Macintosh.

After that, buy one:

Sony Vegas or Adobe Premiere for Windows, FinalCut Express or FinalCutPro2 for Macintosh...