Thoughts on Video Editing Software -

[hd883chopper]

Hello folks,

I did a couple of "search" attempts but didn't come up with much and I'm not even sure if this is the best section for this, so my apologies to the admin's.

But have any of you fooled around with video editing software with footage taken from your SLR's? I noticed that Adobe has the Adobe Premier Elements package, I wondered if its worth a hoot. Seems to have some interesting features.

I just would like something a little nicer than the Window's Movie Maker that came with my pc set-up. This is strictly hobby/family stuff that I'm looking to put together. Your typical b-day party, day on the lake or picnic etc...

Thanks,
HD

[3bayjunkie]

I mainly use After Effects, Although it is not the best program for editing, it more used for enhancing video, kind of like photoshop for video, but you can still make cuts and custom transitions which is what I do with it also.

If all you want to do is make simple cuts go with Adobe Premier. I don't use any of the elements programs because you get everything in the regular version.

If you have a Mac I would suggest using Final Cut Pro, which is only available for Apple computers.

[Gobae]

I'd second the Premiere Elements. Although I've mostly used Premiere Pro, the Elements edition is definitely aimed at people who are looking for a decent, easy to use editor and it beats the pants off Movie Maker.

[3bayjunkie]

The only reason I don't like Elements because it gives you limited tools. If you want to have access to everything then just get Premier. Ive only used photoshop elements on a friends computer and it was useless compared to the full version of Photoshop, If thats not a problem for you then you can get elements, I'm not sure what the price difference is or if price is even a factor for you. If price doesn't matter id stick with Premier or Final Cut Pro.

Those are just my recommendations from personal experience.

[UlpilotSC]

Originally Posted by Gobae

I'd second the Premiere Elements. Although I've mostly used Premiere Pro, the Elements edition is definitely aimed at people who are looking for a decent, easy to use editor and it beats the pants off Movie Maker.

I love premiere.... I use it for work stuff sometimes and for making home movies from video and stills.
Our local tv station reporters use it for putting together their segments. Nice program.

[DanielLane]

I was the senior editor for Starz (cable Movie Channel) for 13 years. I was a video editor for 15 years until I got sick of the stress in that world and gave it up for photography and life on Kauai.

Premiere Pro is a good Pro-Sumer video editor, and if you already have it due to having the full Adobe collection, go with it. It's perfectly fine for basic editing. It's not great at compositing but works fine for editing. If you want to composite with it, export your clips to After Effects, do your composite, and export back.

If you are on Mac, Final Cut Pro is the way to go. Though if you have used an older version of FCP, don't get the newest version. You will hate it. They changed it all up and pissed everyone off big time! FCP is a pro level video editing system. You can do a lot in it, but it is still not the best for compositing video and effects. You can do quite a bit, but if you want to get too complicated, it won't handle it. As a beginner, you will not run into the compositing limitations so no worries.

And if you want to go full on pro high end, you go with Avid. They are the industry standard for non-linear video editing hardware and software. I ran the Avid DS Nitris for many years. It's the highest end video editing system out there. (Or was two years ago. I stopped following it now days). Full resolution editing of SD, HD, 2K and 4K (HD is 1920x1080, 2K is 2048x2048 and 4K is 4096x4096 also known as huge freakin files!). It is also a full blown graphics box and a full audio suite all in one system. They do make a software only version of DS, but it will still run you about $10k, and you'd better have one hell of a machine to run it!

There are other systems out there like Vegas and whatnot. Not really worth it for the longevity of a video editing system though. But if you are looking to do home video, it's fine. To go even semi-pro, you should go with something from Apple, Adobe or Avid.

[Izzy]

I use Sony VegasPro 9

[Phoenix_Jackson]

I haven't touched any video making/editing for a while but I've always been with Sony Vegas Pro (I upgrade whenever I get the video-editing-fever). It gives me everything I need whether simple or with a lot of effects.

[hd883chopper]

Thanks Daniel and everyone else.

Like most folks, price will be a factor so I'll probably compare Adobe Premier and After Effects.

Thanks for the advice!
HD

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by hd883chopper

Thanks Daniel and everyone else.

Like most folks, price will be a factor so I'll probably compare Adobe Premier and After Effects.

Thanks for the advice!
HD

You are comparing apples to oranges. Both are meant for completely different jobs. Think of Premier (horrible learning curve and overpriced) as the main editor, After Effects is just that a special effects editor and not really meant to work with full size files unless you have a boat load of memory. One is meant to compliment the other.