Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Motion & Video => Topic started by: Scott O. on August 23, 2010, 11:21:46 am
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Today is the first time I have looked at this forum and a search didn't provide any up to date info. I am changing from doing my video editing from an old iMac using iMovie to a PC. I would like to use a program which is not too much more complex than iMovie, which I think is terrific. I don't do too much fancy stuff, just the basic editing, transitions, titles etc. HD capacity is necessary. Wondering if anyone has suggestions as to a program which will fit my needs. And by the way, the reason I am switching is not because of any dissatisfaction with Macs or iMovie. The computer is one of the old half volleyball models and really hasn't been able to be upgraded for years. My PC is relatively new and very powerful, so it seems logical to spend $100 on software for it rather than $1,500 on a new Mac. Suggestions are appreciated!
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You have a fair number of choices for near or under $100 video editing software for PCs. The ones I've used at one time or another are:
Magix's Movie Edit Pro 16 Plus (With Magix Movie Edit Pro (MEP) you always want the plus and the boxed versions). Website is http://www.magix.com/?L=52
Sony Vegas in flavors ranging from $44 to $600. You would probably find the Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum or the Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 Production Suite about $95 and $125 respectively meet your needs. Website is http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/vegasfamily.asp and provides comparison table for the various flavors.
Adobe Premier Elements is the simpler version of Adobe's Premier video editor website is http://www.adobe.com/products/premiereel/
Pinnacle Studio comes in numerous flavors also. Website is http://www.avid.com/US/products/family/Pinnacle-Studio
You can often find great buys on one or the other of these at Best Buys or online B and H often has good prices).
You can download trial versions of all of these from their websites. Everyone of these editors has passionate folks who absolutely hate them. And equally passionate folks who love them. Video editing places lots of demands on all your hardware and slight quirks (sometimes due to other software) can make working with a particular video editor a nightmare.
So download the trial versions and see what you like then go for it.
Note that all of these editors provide effects like picture in picture, titling, Ken Burns effects, etc. So for $100 or so you can get capabilities that didn't exist a few years ago.
For more information about the various editors check out the HV20, 30, 40 forum at http://www.hv20.com/. They cover lots more than the various HV cameras.
Have fun.
Les
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Today is the first time I have looked at this forum and a search didn't provide any up to date info. I am changing from doing my video editing from an old iMac using iMovie to a PC. I would like to use a program which is not too much more complex than iMovie, which I think is terrific. I don't do too much fancy stuff, just the basic editing, transitions, titles etc. HD capacity is necessary. Wondering if anyone has suggestions as to a program which will fit my needs. And by the way, the reason I am switching is not because of any dissatisfaction with Macs or iMovie. The computer is one of the old half volleyball models and really hasn't been able to be upgraded for years. My PC is relatively new and very powerful, so it seems logical to spend $100 on software for it rather than $1,500 on a new Mac. Suggestions are appreciated!
Les did a great job of outlining what's out around...There are a few additions: Corel's Video Studio Pro and Cyberlink's Power Direct series. Here is a link to a HDSLR oriented Guide which list the various software by price range and platform and has links to the manufacturer's site : http://issuu.com/bkatkinson/docs/no_download_-_interactive_resource_guide (http://issuu.com/bkatkinson/docs/no_download_-_interactive_resource_guide)
Like Les, I have tried all of the available options for PC and suggest that you take advantage of the free trial periods that are offered as the interfaces are different, as are the levels of color corrections and the availability/compatibility with third-party video plug-ins. Additionally, not all of the under $150 solutions support multiple frame rates. Magix, Pinnacle and Sony do support editing 24 and 30fps clips.