A Guide to Which Video Editing Software Package You Should Buy

Which is the best video-editing software to buy? Where can I get a great editing program that will do great effects for free? If only I had a nickel for every time I have heard these questions. I have been editing since about 1984. Through the years I have edited with VHS, S-VHS, U-Matic and Beta SP tape, Avid, Premiere, Media 100 and Final Cut Pro. Do I work in Hollywood or New York? No, I live near Albuquerque New Mexico, and am from Salinas California. Look, there are a lot of people who will strongly argue about my opinions on this topic, but I will say them anyway. Which editing software should you spend your hard earned cash on? This depends on a few things.

What do you want the software for? Do you plan on competing with local media production companies, and earn money with it? Do you plan on hiring out to clients who will demand that you finish projects with strict deadlines? Will you be pumping out high quality HD video to be distributed by your client? It there a market for high-end quality graphics and animations in your local area? Is there anyone willing to pay for these services? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, then yes, go out and get the best editing package you can get for your money. The current standards in the business are Avid (used to be -the- standard) or Final Cut Pro. These will set you back a few thousand, not to mention the systems and accessories you will need to run them. There is not very much difference between the two. They both can do the same things, only in different ways. Packages on the next tier like Premiere, and others have many options depending on which package you buy. It is just a matter of taste and pocketbook.

Look at it this way. I used to be a mechanic, and the standing argument between automobile enthusiasts is over manufacturers. Who makes the best car, Ford, GM or MOPAR (Chrysler)? You had die-hards on all sides. What was the difference between them? They all ran when you put gas in them, all used oil. Every car that has ever been made have a piston-type combustible engine, four wheels, a gas pedal, well you get the idea. Basically, if you want the best editing software out there, you have to pay for the best, whichever brand it is. If your intentions are to compete in an extremely competitive market like media production, you had better have the best. For the rest of us, those only wanting to edit for artistic reasons, or make a little extra money on the side, ask yourself what do I want to do with my editing software.

Try to keep in mind that if you want to create graphics and animations, or overlay video clips, manipulate video (pan, zoom, chroma key, composite, etc.), that this is not really editing. By the way, editing packages do not create animations in the sense of making 3D video games. These elements are considered graphic work. Yes, they are components of editing, but editing uses many more elements than that. The hardest part in editing is an understanding of the concepts. It does not matter whether you want to earn a living doing this, or just want to make a funny video to post on a web site. The main thing I am sure you want, is for somebody to -like- your video, and watch it all the way through. That my friends, is what you are trying to achieve in editing, and you know what? The actual mechanics of editing is not that hard to do, and it is even easier to do than the old days when we edited with tape. This is why the editing package you buy is not that important, unless you are after graphic capabilities, format compatability or just preference. If you do want these features, you can usually find inexpensive software on ebay that will serve the purpose. You can even purchase higher end software at good prices if you buy them used. There are educational versions for less money, but they are usually crippled in some way, so that you cannot access certain features. There are literally a thousand editing packages out there, all having the same basic features, but different application.

The important thing to remember is that creative editing actually starts in the script stages when writing a screenplay. It is then when you decide what camera shot to use, which will go after the other, and at which time. The way the video looks is created when you set up the camera and light the scene, and making the shots match with each other. When it comes time to edit, you are just combining these elements with other creative elements and splicing them all together. Editing is still a very creative process, trust me, and it is important to have everything you need prepared and ready. I just stress that the mechanics, or actual process is quite simple. Think of your favorite movie. Try to picture the story and scenes in your mind. Can you remember the plot and characters, and how they reacted with one another? Do you remember any action or love scenes? Can you picture any of their conversations in your mind?

You know what they all had in common? Cuts and dissolves my friends, cuts and dissolves. Just about everything you see in films and on television is cuts and dissolves. Why? Cuts and dissolves do not interfere with what is going on in front of the camera. If you threw in some special effect transition, it just takes away attention from the scene. Think about it. Can you even tell what editing software they used when watching any film or television program? Of course not, you were too busy enjoying the program. You will not know what they used to edit the piece until you read the credits, and most of what you saw was cuts and dissolves. Most special effects graphics are used in the front and on the back of programs, only lasting about thirty seconds at the most, unless you are editing commercials. In documentaries, educational, government or corporate videos you will see more graphics and animations. Children's videos, weddings, performances and music videos also use a good amount of graphics. If you are making any kind of sketch, dramatization, conversation, action sequence or anything involving people in front of the camera, you will find yourself editing with cuts and dissolves, cuts and dissolves. A cut is a logical transition because it leads the eye immediately to what it is supposed to be focused on. Dissolves are useful as transitions for changes in time or locations. Dissolves are also useful for adding simulated movement to static images or video.

Getting back to the question of which editing software to purchase. Most packages include a title application, some even with customized animation capabilities. If you want to manipulate video in some way, look for software that has chroma key, luminance key, video layering (video on top of video w/movement), image zooming and panning, and other desirable features. Most have some of these features, even the inexpensive ones. File format is an important consideration. What kind of compatible file formats can the software load, or save to? What formats do you have, or plan on working with? What formats or capabilities will you need to share you projects with others? The way things are going with technology, it is probably a good idea to have HD capability in and out. What connections will your video card need? Will the software you purchase require that you upgrade, or even have to buy another computer? If you want a free editing software package, just remember that you get what you pay for. Some are crippled packages with limited features like, not saving normal formats, saving limits, or no features at all. It may even have all the features you desire, but may be cumbersome in application, or slow in operation. If you only need it for titles, cuts and dissolves, these freebies might just be all you need.

Either way, the important thing is to have fun with editing. To quote myself, "Yes, there are many artistic aspects in the post-production editing phase. Elements like creating graphics, making and using animations, creating musical ambiance, integrating dimensional sound effects, and much more are tied together to create an audio and visual mood and feeling. It is the art of taking several creative elements and combining them into artistic expression. I love editing."