video editing software

[drmac]

I just purchased a Canon ZR930 and I am looking for the best editing software... Any suggestions?

[aussieskier]

I think it really depends on what you are going to use it for.

If you are just going to use it for editing home movie style stuff, then something like Premiere CS4 or Final Cut Pro would probably be overkill.

Also, what operating system as you using?

My personal recommendation for basic editing on a Windows based system, would be Premiere elements, I use it and find that it does just about everything I need it for, home movies and silly little videos I make with friends involving ATVs and other vehicles.

[Stealthy Ninja]

You asked for the best so...

A lot of people like Sony Vegas (I tried it but never got into it)

My favourites are Adobe Premiere (on PC) and Final Cut Pro (on Mac).

I used Adobe Premiere for years before switching to Mac and FCP.

They are both very similar and you can't go wrong with either.

Premiere is on Mac and PC.
FCP is just on Mac.

Avid is also used by a lot of pros. I personally dislike it.

Media 100 (or whatever it's called these days) sucks IMHO.

[naqs]

If you are doing basic editing you probably don't want to go into the pro market e.g. Avid, Final Cut Pro or even Premiere Pro

However if you use Photoshop often, you should be able to pick up Premiere elements quite easily, as adobe software has its similarities.

[Roy Mathers]

You could also investigate Pinnacle Studio software - it's excellent.

[Matthew Craggs]

I also recommend Adobe Premiere Elements. Pinnacle Studio is very good as well, but you are limited to one video track which can make editing difficult.

Avid is the best out there, in my opinion, but it's definite overkill for most. Same with the full Final Cut. Final Cut Express is another option if you're on a Mac but I'm not quite sure how it differs from the full Final Cut so I can't give you any first hand feedback on it. But I can tell you that the full Final Cut is almost identical to the full Adobe Premiere.

[bsaber]

I recommend Premiere Elements or Premiere Pro. Sony Vegas is pretty good too.

[scrumpy]

You could also investigate Pinnacle Studio software - it's excellent.

I'll second Serif or even Magix.

[SoccerRef]

I recommend Premiere Elements or Premiere Pro. Sony Vegas is pretty good too.

My vote goes to Sony Vegas. I use PSE for photos and Sony Vegas for Movies.

[timescapes.org]

Premiere Elements

[Tony-S]

Final Cut Studio or Express, depending on your budget.

[PacAce]

As others have already said, if you want the best, it'll either be Adobe Premier Pro (PC and Intel-based Mac) or Final Cut Express or Final Cut Studio. Personally, I prefer Premier Pro over Final Cut Express (haven't tried FCS yet).

If you want something a little more economical, Ulead (Corel) Video Studio is very intuitive and simple to use on the PC and will probably give you more bangs for the bucks. On the Mac, the computer already comes with iMovie.

BTW, Vista comes with a basic movie editor, too.

[Andrushka]

Premier Elements works for me... but man, i hate video editing... and no one watches it twice anyway! but a photo, well, now that is another story :-)

[Stealthy Ninja]

As others have already said, if you want the best, it'll either be Adobe Premier Pro (PC and Intel-based Mac) or Final Cut Express or Final Cut Studio. Personally, I prefer Premier Pro over Final Cut Express (haven't tried FCS yet).


Fincal Cut Pro is very simular to Premier Pro.

The good thing about FCS over the adobe equivilant, is that the workflow is a little more user friendly.

That said, I use the following:
Apple products:
Final Cut Pro (for editing)
Motion for title animation and "fake" 3D stuff (it comes with some really nice templates that wow customers and don't take that much effort on my behalf)
DVD Studio Pro for DVD creation.
Soundtrack Pro for mixing/choosing production music
Logic Studio for music creation
iphoto (don't laugh) for quick and simple photo montages.

Adobe Products:
Photoshop for creating graphics and backgrounds to use either in Aftereffect, Motion or FCP.
After Effects for more complex animation (I like the control it gives over Motion)

That's it really. :p

I'm sure you could do all the above things using just Adobe stuff too. I use to use just adobe products when I was on PC. They were a bit unstable on PC. They might have gotten better by now (last I used on PC was Adobe CS - number one).

[PacAce]

Fincal Cut Pro is very simular to Premier Pro.

The good thing about FCS over the adobe equivilant, is that the workflow is a little more user friendly.

That said, I use the following:
Apple products:
Final Cut Pro (for editing)
Motion for title animation and "fake" 3D stuff (it comes with some really nice templates that wow customers and don't take that much effort on my behalf)
DVD Studio Pro for DVD creation.
Soundtrack Pro for mixing/choosing production music
Logic Studio for music creation
iphoto (don't laugh) for quick and simple photo montages.

Adobe Products:
Photoshop for creating graphics and backgrounds to use either in Aftereffect, Motion or FCP.
After Effects for more complex animation (I like the control it gives over Motion)

That's it really. :p

I'm sure you could do all the above things using just Adobe stuff too. I use to use just adobe products when I was on PC. They were a bit unstable on PC. They might have gotten better by now (last I used on PC was Adobe CS - number one).
Are you saying that the interface and the workflow of Final Cut Express is different from hat of Final Cut Studio? I have Final Cut Express and I could never get myself to liking it. I find Adobe Premier Pro much better in the workflow and the interface. Maybe I'm just used to the way Premier Pro works.

[John E]

Boy do I agree. I love taking video, but HATE editing!

... but man, i hate video editing... and no one watches it twice anyway! but a photo, well, now that is another story :-)

[Tom O]

You could also investigate Pinnacle Studio software - it's excellent.

+1..been using it for years and it works for me.

[Tom O]

Boy do I agree. I love taking video, but HATE editing!

Ok, it's 2 to 1 now... I enjoy the editing part as much as I do taking the video...I must be doing it wrong:lol:

[Stealthy Ninja]

Are you saying that the interface and the workflow of Final Cut Express is different from hat of Final Cut Studio? I have Final Cut Express and I could never get myself to liking it. I find Adobe Premier Pro much better in the workflow and the interface. Maybe I'm just used to the way Premier Pro works.

Yes, they're different (FCP and FCE)

FCP and Premiere are very similar. Only minor differences (like how to put in simple titles).



Editing video takes a determined mind... not everyone gets into it.

Ok, it's 2 to 1 now... I enjoy the editing part as much as I do taking the video...I must be doing it wrong:lol:

It's 2 on 2 now... :)

Personally, I like it. It's a journey and the sense of achievement at the end is worth all the effort.

Sorta like doing a painting or drawing... or making a jigsaw puzzle.

Photography is good because (with digital) you get quick satisfaction (unless you go crazy in PP) ;)

I actually prefer it over shooting video. Shooting video is boring IMVHO. Sitting around, waiting for lighting to be set up, shooting a scene, packing up that scene (after 20 takes) and setting it all up again for the next scene... IMHO

[sprinkles]

final cut pro or adobe premiere pro.. if you use either one, you will be able to use the other as it has already been said, the interface are very similar. i started out on premiere but i'm using FCP now as i've swtiched to a mac. i like them both though there are certain elements which i prefer on each of them to the other..

i think the industry standard is avid, i've used that once back in school, but i'm not very fond of the program.

i'll have to join the editing camp.. i love editing! i used to work as an editor :mrgreen: though that said, i opened imovie the other day, i couldnt figure out how to use it, lol :o

[Stealthy Ninja]

final cut pro or adobe premiere pro.. if you use either one, you will be able to use the other as it has already been said, the interface are very similar. i started out on premiere but i'm using FCP now as i've swtiched to a mac. i like them both though there are certain elements which i prefer on each of them to the other..

i think the industry standard is avid, i've used that once back in school, but i'm not very fond of the program.

i'll have to join the editing camp.. i love editing! i used to work as an editor :mrgreen: though that said, i opened imovie the other day, i couldnt figure out how to use it, lol :o


Avid is the standard for FILM not video. FCP is fast becoming the standard IMHO. Which is good, because like you (and a lot of others) I also don't really like Avid.

I am currently working as an editor. In fact my computer is rendering out (using compressor) some stuff for a DVD right now. :)

[sprinkles]

Avid is the standard for FILM not video. FCP is fast becoming the standard IMHO. Which is good, because like you (and a lot of others) I also don't really like Avid.

I am currently working as an editor. In fact my computer is rendering out (using compressor) some stuff for a DVD right now. :)

yay for FCP! :mrgreen:
lets go back to splicing for film.. lol.

[SYS]

I like Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate.

[watson10]

When I was a complete noob, I learned Premiere (6.0 at the time), the learning curve was pretty steep. After learning a few things I received Vegas 6.0b as a gift. I wish I could've learned Vegas first it was a WAY easier interface to learn. If this is your first attempt at Video Editing and you like my idea of Vegas, I would buy Vegas Movie Studio, it's a lot cheaper, a little easier (but a little less powerful, but shouldn't matter to a learner). Most of the ones mentioned have trial versions, so try before you buy. Editing software seems to be highly personal depending on how you learn.