Have a Flip UltraHD and a GoPro HD Hero that I'm starting to use more and am looking for some good editing software. I've got Quicktime Pro and it does the basics, but there has to be something more powerful out there...
Video editing software
- Thread starter woody
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Mac or Windows?
Final Cut Express and Final Cut Studio for the Mac depending on what level you are looking for.
Final Cut Express and Final Cut Studio for the Mac depending on what level you are looking for.
I'd have to second the Final Cut recommendation. If you're working on a mac, there's little reason to use anything else. The full version is a top of the line professional tool, but the interface is efficient and intuitive enough that all the pro features shouldn't overwhelm the hobbyist or beginner.
I'm a video and film editor by trade so I use Avid Media Composer 5, but since most folks can't justify the
$3.5K for an Avid install or the time for the learning curve, I'll suggest Windows Movie Maker - the old one which came with windows XP. It''s a great little program to learn on before stepping up to something more advanced. The one which comes with Windows 7 - called Live Movie Maker or something similar - kind of sucks and isn't really worth downloading.
After learning the basics on Windows Movie Maker, I'll shout out a hearty "+1!" on e99999's recommendation of Adobe Premiere Elements. Then if you really want to start playing around with video editing after that, it's only a short jump to Adobe Premiere CS5, which is a great little program, especially the included Media Converter which I actually routinely use to convert my AVCHD footage to MOV format for Avid. Avid doesn't like to edit native AVCHD all that much.
For a PC rather than an Apple, the Adobe stuff is about the best option. If you had a Mac, I'd say start with Imovie, then step up to Final Cut Express before moving onto Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Studio.
Folks, keep an eye out for the VLC Video Editor which is currently in production and due for release in the near future. It's an open source video editor which has some very, very powerful features and, just like the outstandingly free VLC Media Player, it will include just about every codec known to mankind. Sucks when you buy video editing software and then have to track down the correct codecs. Remember at Christmas when your dad bought you a remote control car? You ripped it open and set it up only to find that there were no batteries and because it was Christmas Day, no shops were open to buy any? The video codec issue can be just like that. Unless... you download the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) - CCCP - Combined Community Codec Pack
$3.5K for an Avid install or the time for the learning curve, I'll suggest Windows Movie Maker - the old one which came with windows XP. It''s a great little program to learn on before stepping up to something more advanced. The one which comes with Windows 7 - called Live Movie Maker or something similar - kind of sucks and isn't really worth downloading.
After learning the basics on Windows Movie Maker, I'll shout out a hearty "+1!" on e99999's recommendation of Adobe Premiere Elements. Then if you really want to start playing around with video editing after that, it's only a short jump to Adobe Premiere CS5, which is a great little program, especially the included Media Converter which I actually routinely use to convert my AVCHD footage to MOV format for Avid. Avid doesn't like to edit native AVCHD all that much.
For a PC rather than an Apple, the Adobe stuff is about the best option. If you had a Mac, I'd say start with Imovie, then step up to Final Cut Express before moving onto Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Studio.
Folks, keep an eye out for the VLC Video Editor which is currently in production and due for release in the near future. It's an open source video editor which has some very, very powerful features and, just like the outstandingly free VLC Media Player, it will include just about every codec known to mankind. Sucks when you buy video editing software and then have to track down the correct codecs. Remember at Christmas when your dad bought you a remote control car? You ripped it open and set it up only to find that there were no batteries and because it was Christmas Day, no shops were open to buy any? The video codec issue can be just like that. Unless... you download the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP) - CCCP - Combined Community Codec Pack
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2003
- Threads
- 69
- Messages
- 4,592
- Location
- Sunnyvale, CA
- Website
- www.george4wd.taskled.com
I've been using Sony Vegas for a few years now - can't complain, works well, doesn't crash and has more features than I'll ever need.
cheers,
george.
cheers,
george.
We do quite a bit of video at our web startup and have used both Final Cut and iMovie... Honestly, for 90% of our shoots iMovie gets it done... Unless we absolutely have to have something that's totally unique and creative then the templates, royalty free music, transitions work just fine...
Get a Mac and don't look back!
Get a Mac and don't look back!