| Video editing software provides
tools to capture, edit and share your video movies.
Video Capture
Capturing video includes uploading video from:
- Digital video recorders. The best programs capture video
from DV, HDV, MicroMV and analog camcorders, as well as
digital and PC cameras.
- Video players such as Windows Media Player, QuickTime
and RealVideo.
- TV and VCR recordings [with the right hardware].
Video Editing
The video editing tools allow you to:
- Delete, rearrange, mix or combine video. Combined with
timeline editing, you can drag & drop video clips or
files to desired locations in the film sequence.
- Add titles, menus and text to your video. Many programs
include menu and title templates and text effects.
- Add music, narration or sound effects.
Video Sharing
Video Editing Software helps you:
- Post videos online to your website, video blog (vblog)
or to video sharing sites such as YouTube and Google Video.
- Create an Online Video Album on websites such as Drop
Shots, StashSpace or MyPhotoAlbum.
- Burn to DVD or Blu-ray disc.
Choosing Video Editing Software
There is a vast range of video editing software available.
When considering which video editing software to buy, first
decide what you want to do with it. Some programs only perform
simple tasks, such as converting formats or burning DVDs.
Others offer complex editing tools such as timeline edits,
special effects and advanced templates.
Also consider your computer specifications. You may need
to upgrade your computer to run the program you want; especially
sufficient memory to work with video files.
There are four key factors to review:
- Ease of Use – Video editing requires
multi-step edits, so easy of use is a major factor.
- Feature Set – Features vary in
quality and quantity. Remember, the more tools the program
has, the harder it is to use. Again, look for programs make
the tools easy to use.
- Ease of Installation and Setup–
If you can't set it up, you can't use it. Check the software’s
ability to recognize the camcorder, and setup of all software
options.
- Help/Documentation/Tech Support –
Quality product support for video editing software is critical.
Look for comprehensive help documentation, tutorials, FAQs,
support desks and support forums.
Comparative
Ratings of Video Editing Software < $100
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