Video editors and why

Yusaku_02 · Post by **Yusaku_02** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:19 am

I've only made one video, but after finishing it I felt a great sense of accomplishment as well as pride. I knew I wanted to keep on making videos and I decided to buy a better editing program. So now the question is which program? Most people would probably respond with the program they use, which is fine but it would be helpful if they could list off a few pros and cons of the program. As far as price goes, I'm would like to keep it under $100. (I'm not too sure how much editing software costs and I might be willing to stretch that to $150 if need be.) Thanks in advance for all your suggestions and help.

Yusaku_02 · Post by **Yusaku_02** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:27 am

I just noticed the software list near the top of the topics list, so based on those prices I'll probably want something in the $100 or less catogory.

CrackTheSky · Post by **CrackTheSky** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:37 am

Well, I use Sony Vegas 6.0, and I hear you can find OEMs of it for ~$100. It's a great program, and I don't think I'll ever switch, or upgrade to newer versions for that matter.

Pros:
-Easy to pick up (at least it was for me), and there's a pretty comprehensive help file if you don't understand the way something works.
-Unlimited video/audio tracks (that I know of; I've had somewhere around 25 video tracks going at once, which should be more than enough for most editors)
-Great exports; I haven't ever had any problems exporting videos.
-Vegas can handle 23.97 fps video, where Premiere can't.
-Very easy-to-use pan/crop/masking functions.
-Easy to make RAM previews so you don't have to render a portion of your video every time you want to check the sync.

Cons:
-Doesn't allow much manipulation of the camera, per se (although I don't know of any NLEs besides After Effects that do).
-Stock effects are so-so...if you get creative enough, they can be put to good use, but you aren't going to go and make the next True Fiction with Vegas.
-Time resampling can get to be a pain, and for some reason (at least with my version) Vegas doesn't let you speed up clips without giving you grief.
-Snap function is sketchy.
-Crappy blending modes (and the inability to blend a single clip; you have to change an entire track's blending mode to affect a clip, meaning that if you want to use blending, you may end up creating an entire track just for a single clip).

Overall there are far more pros than cons with Vegas, and the cons are mostly negligible anyway, in my opinion at least, and it's really a great program with lots of room for creativity.

I've dabbled in After Effects, although that's well beyond your designated price range of $100-$150, and I'm sure you'll get people telling you to check out Premiere too, which isn't all that different from Vegas. Oh, and I always have to suggest Magix Movie Edit Pro 11, which I haven't touched but I know is a good program, at the reasonable price of ~$50.

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:37 am

For under $100, you can likely find Magix cheap. I've heard people getting it for around $50. All the others are mighty pricey.

Willen · Post by **Willen** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:45 am

These seem to be the most recommended programs in your price range:

Magix Movie Edit Pro (16 video/audio tracks, $50 or less),
Ulead VideoStudio Plus (7 video tracks, $100, $85 until the end of Feb),
Ulead VideoStudio (2 video tracks, $70, $55 until end of Feb),
Adobe Premiere Elements (cut-down consumer version, $100),
Sony Vegas Movie Studio+DVD (cut-down consumer version, 4 video tracks, $80),
Sony Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum (HDV support, more effects, 4 video tracks, $120).

OR, it seems the offer for Sony Vegas 6 at $99 is still available. Details and link here: http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/v ... hp?t=70566

Yusaku_02 · Post by **Yusaku_02** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 12:59 am

Crack The Sky - Thanks for the info about Vegas. It was just the type of thing I was looking for.

Willen - Thnaks for the info, it's quite helpful. I think I've narrowed it down to Magix or Vegas, but I'd like to hear the arguements for other programs before I decide.

Minion · Post by **Minion** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:52 am

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/phpBB/v ... hp?t=76080
theres still 2 days on this, and the number of entires is pretty low.

Yusaku_02 · Post by **Yusaku_02** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:51 pm

I read the rules for that and I have a question. Would I be able to enter a video I started after your contest began but have already uploaded to a-m-v.org? It was started and finished on Feb. 19th.