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Best video editing softwares for amateurs - Free Video Software Trials

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You bought a video camera and started filming, now what?

Now you have to capture your images to your computer in order to start editing all those videos with the objective of getting a understandable and amusing film to watch.

This is even more important if you want to show it to your family and friends or even to publish it on the web and show it to every one.

There are lots of video editing softwares available and the difficult task is to choose the right one for your needs.


How to choose the right one for you

There are a few factors that will help deciding which one it is the best for you:

  1. How easy it is to install and setup – For many people the first difficulty starts here!
  2. How much help and support is available – You do not want to get stuck without anyone who can help you, or at least without the necessary documentation to move forward.
  3. How easy it is to use – Some softwares are so difficult to work with that you might as well edit your films directly on the camera!
  4. How much tools you will have – Depending on your needs you may want to have some specific instrument to achieve your goals.

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Next I will plainly describe some of the best reviewed ones by magazines and major websites. They are alphabetically ordered to avoid any type of suggestion.

Adobe Premiere Elements 4 [OLD VERSION]
Amazon Price: $19.99
List Price: $99.99
Adobe Premiere Elements 7 [OLD VERSION]
With Adobe Premiere Elements 7 software, making incredible movies is easier than ever. Get started quickly with new, automated options that instantly turn your raw footage into polished movies.
Amazon Price: $29.99
List Price: $99.99

Adobe Premiere Elements 4

Very easy to install and you will not have problems getting all the information/help needed. It may not be the easiest one to use but anyone will catch up rapidly and after a while you will learn how to use all his great tools. You can save your projects in the following formats: MPEG, DVD, Dual Layer DVD, Blu-ray, DV/Micro DV, Email, Windows Media and Quicktime. It also allows you to publish to video share websites.

Minimum system requirements:

· Intel® Pentium® 4 or Celeron® 1.7GHz processor (or compatible processor, SSE2 support required);

· RAM - 512MB for Windows XP and 1GB for Vista;

· Usable hard-disk space – 4.5GB;

· 16 bit color video card required;

· Color 1024X768 resolution monitor (96dpi or less);

· DirectX 9 or 10 compatible sound/display driver;

· DVD-ROM drive;

· Interface to connect your camera.

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Pinnacle Studio Plus 11 613570221197
Powerful home video editing made simple. Pinnacle Studio Plus version 11 helps you harness the power of the latest technologies - HD Windows Vista Web Publishing and more - without compromising ease of use.
Amazon Price: $11.00
List Price: $99.99
Pinnacle Studio Plus Version 12
Combining power and simplicity, Pinnacle Studio Plus version 12 lets you take control of the latest HD video editing technologies, including Blu-ray and AVCHD.
Amazon Price: $99.99

Pinnacle Studio 11

Quite easy to install, has great help documentation and a good tech support system. Like the Adobe Premiere this one it is not the easiest one but you probably won´t have any problems using it after a little while. Pinnacle Studio will allow you to save your work as: MPEG, Video CD, Super Video CD, DIVX CD, DVD, Dual Layer DVD, Blu-ray, DV/Micro DV, Email, Real Video and Windows Media.

Minimum system requirements:

· Intel® Pentium® 4 or Athlon® 1.8GHz processor (2.4GHz recommended for Windows Vista);

· RAM - 512MB for Windows XP and 1GB for Vista;

· 128 MB graphic card required;

· Usable hard-disk space – 4GB;

· Color 1024X768 resolution monitor (96dpi or less);

· DirectX 9 or higher compatible sound/display driver;

· DVD-ROM drive;

· Interface to connect your camera.

Do you wish to try this software during 30 days? Then you have to download this Pinnacle Studio free trial!

================================================================

PowerDirector 7 Deluxe [OLD VERSION]
CyberLink PowerDirector 7 is a comprehensive, semi-professional video editing software, featuring end-to-end support for high definition video, from importing to editing and output, and includes advanced authoring features for DVDs.
Amazon Price: $49.99
PowerDirector 7 Ultra [OLD VERSION]
Powerful Video Editing With Unlimited Possibilities.
Amazon Price: $69.99

CyberLink Power Director 6

Perhaps the better choice of all if you relate price and quality, the Power Director it is excellent in every choosing factors you can think of, except for the help documentation and tech support even though they were consider very good in almost every major review. It is the one on this review who has the most tools of all. You will be able to save your projects in the following formats: MPEG, Video CD, Super Video CD, DIVX CD, DVD, Dual Layer DVD, Blu-ray, DV/Micro DV, Real Video, Windows Media and Quicktime. It also allows you to publish to video share websites.

Minimum system requirements:

· Intel Pentium 4 - 3GHz or AMD Athlon 64 processor;

· RAM - 512MB (1GB or higher recommended);

· Usable hard-disk space for program installation – 1GB (10GB for DVD production);

· 16 bit color video card;

· Color 16 bit (or above) 1024X768 resolution monitor;

· DVD-ROM drive;

· Interface to connect your camera.

Do you wish to try this software during 30 days? Then you have to download this Power Director free trial!

================================================================

Ulead VideoStudio 11 [OLD VERSION]
Ulead VideoStudio 11 is an all-in-one solution for producing professional-looking videos, sideshows and DVDs with Dolby Digital sound.
Amazon Price: $99.99
List Price: $89.99
Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus [OLD VERSION]
Ulead VideoStudio 11.5 Plus is video editing and DVD authoring software for anyone who wants to easily produce professional-looking videos, slideshows and DVDs.
Amazon Price: $117.50
List Price: $129.99

Ulead Video Studio 11

Very easy to install and you will not have much problems getting the information/help needed. It is also very easy to use being only passed by the Power Director in this factor. The tools available are at the same level as the Adobe or the Pinnacle. You will have the following formats available to save your work: MPEG, Video CD, Super Video CD, DVD, Dual Layer DVD, Blu-ray, DV/Micro DV, Email, Electronic Greeting Card, Real Video, Windows Media and Quicktime.

Minimum system requirements:

· Intel Pentium 4 (or equivalent);

· RAM - 512MB (1GB recommended);

· 128 MB graphic card required;

· Usable hard-disk space for program installation – 1GB;

· Windows compatible sound card;

· CD-ROM drive;

· Interface to connect your camera.

Do you wish to try this software during 30 days? Then you have to download this Ulead Video Studio free trial!

================================================================

Vegas Movie Studio 8
Take your digital video and photos to a new level with Vegas Movie Studio Video Editing and DVD Creation Software.
Amazon Price: $89.95
Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9  [OLD VERSION]
Vegas Movie Studio software is video editing and DVD creation made easy. Quickly create captivating movies with transitions, titles, and special effects.
Amazon Price: $45.97
List Price: $69.95

Sony Vegas Movie Studio

Very easy to install but also very difficult to use with the worst help documentation and tech support system in this review. It is the one with less tool options but has the benefit of being made by Sony and that is very important if your video camera it is a Sony. The Vegas Movie Studio will allow you to save your work as: Video CD, Super Video CD, DVD, DV/Micro DV, Email, Real Video, Windows Media and Quicktime. It also allows you to publish to video share websites.

Minimum system requirements:

· Windows XP sp2 or Vista;

· 800MHz processor;

· RAM - 256MB (512MB recommended);

· Usable hard-disk space for program installation – 200MB;

· Windows compatible sound card;

· CD-ROM drive;

· Interface to connect your camera.

Do you wish to try this software during 30 days? Then you have to download this Sony Vegas Movie Studio free trial!

================================================================

AVS Media video tools

This one has been suggested by nikoman and after download it I have to agree with him. It is a great software with very complete set of tools and very easy to use. You will be able to save and convert your work in almost every format: AVI (DivX, XviD, etc.), DV AVI, MP4 (including Sony PSP and Apple iPod), WMV, 3GP, 3G2, QuickTime (MOV, QT), SWF, DVD, VOB, VRO,MPG, MPEG 1,2,4, DAT, VCD, SVCD, ASF, ASX, MJPEG, H.263, H.264, Real Video (RM, RMVB), DVR-MS, MKV, OGM, FLV. It is possible to record your work into DVD, VCV or SVCV.

Minimum system requirements:

· Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista*;

·1500MHz processor (* 3GHz single core or 1,8GHz dual core);

· RAM - 512MB (* 1GB);

· Windows compatible sound card (* Vista compatible);

· CD-ROM drive;

· Internet connection to register;

· Interface to connect your camera.

Do you wish to try this software during 30 days? Then you have to download this AVSMedia software free trial!

===============================================================

Video Editing Tips by valsartdiary

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Right now you have no excuse to keep your videos unedited anymore! Go find your old videos or just start to record on film right now so you can have your first movie edited in no time.

I really hope this hub has help you choose your video editing software.

Comments

John Chancellor 4 years ago

Very helpful. Lots of info. Well done.

Sally's Trove 4 years ago

This is excellent information, funride. And the way you lay out the Amazon and eBay adds along with the product descriptions is very effective. Nice job!

rbnstr08 4 years ago

Nice info here! I was just wondering what hardware and software requirements would be needed for these to work properly. Lately, my monitor and PC has been hanging just viewing videos and even after updating drivers.

prems4u 4 years ago

Nice hub ..Am created a short film by my video camera . Now am trying re-edited that with the software precribed by you..

Can u publish a hub about publishing videos online .

dsasser 4 years ago

useful guide, thanks

LdsNana-AskMormon 4 years ago

hey funride!

Oh, I see work on the horizon... eeks:-) I like your new pic! And thanks for welcoming my sis.

tDMg

LdsNana-AskMoron

pjdscott 4 years ago

That's extremely interesting! Nice hub and thumbs up to you.

funride 4 years ago

Thank you for all the kind comments!

rbnstr08, I already post the minimum system requirements for all the softwares. Remember that they should perform better with higher specifications.

prems4u, if you notice some of the softwares allows you to publish your videos directly to share websites like youtube ;)

coachrj 4 years ago

You know what ironic?? I am looking to apply all this to my projects in the near future. I need to learn to get this accomplished and now I have somewhere to go to get the info and products!!!

Thanks Mate!

Take care

funride 4 years ago

You are most welcome Coach ;). I´m glad it was useful to your projects.

Rob Jundt 4 years ago

Great information. I was just thinking about doing some video hubs. I'll have to get a camera first but this hub is a gret start for me. Thanks.

Raven King 4 years ago

Great hub, I just got my camcorder and I actually uploaded raw footage! You can hear the car humming in the background and the actual camera click! Have you uploaded video's to you tube?

funride 4 years ago

Rob, I hope you find the right camera for you and I´m looking forward to read/watch your films hub ;)

Raven, that is why video editing software it´s a must have if you want to make your own movies. It´s the best way to change the images sequence and to add some music. To be honest I only uploaded one film to youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MtbPQ0u59s ) and the only editing made was the music and some labels added. But I already edited lots of videos, specially mountain bike sequences and, of course, my daughter while growing :)

BTW, it´s not me on that video ;)

Raven King 4 years ago

Nice video, what kind of bike is it?

funride 4 years ago

Thanks for both comments ;). It´s a Freeride/Downhill type of bike. If you wish you can see my own bike, which it´s like the one on the video, in http://mdebikes.blogspot.com/ I hope you like it, I add some new photos just a few minutes ago.

Raven King 4 years ago

Cool website. I like how you turned that third wheel into a trim utility trailer. Very interesting!

funride 4 years ago

It was not me who made that extra wheel. If you want you can see more about it in this hub http://hubpages.com/hub/The-worlds-lightest-one-wh ;)

nikoman 4 years ago

There is also AVSMedia that offers great software and a full suite of tools. Though, next week I will be buying an Apple MacBook Pro... can't wait. No need to pull out my hair anymore with the unstable Windows operating system.

Nice hub and thanks.

funride 4 years ago

Hi Niko, thank you for commenting. I´ll search AVSMedia and add it to the list ;). Nice choice you made, I´m also becoming almost bald from pulling my hair LOL.

shyamchat 4 years ago

I hv done some shooting in (1) architectural sites, both in daytime and in the night with illumination and (2) an xhibition of painting of my close relative.

I find that on 'full screen' mode, the images are not sharp and a little too fast.

I finf Windows Moviemaker does not provide tools for in creasing sharpness .PD does.But, Mm is more user friendly.

Is it possible that I do the editing in Mm first and then increase sharpness and slowdown the show in PD ?

How many times,do u think, a casstte shd. be used?

funride 4 years ago

Hi shyam, thank you for passing by. You´re right about MM being very easy to use but that also means you´ll miss some very useful tools. If you are already using PD I would advise you to make the all project with it, you´ll find better quality in the end ;) . As to the reuse of cassettes I must say I only use them once and keep them as the best quality backup. Of course if you don´t want to keep your footages on tape you can use them more than once but you will loose quality in the subsequent filmings :rolleyes:.

shyamchat 4 years ago

Thanks.

I shall try to work with PD.But, I have a question :

Suppose,I work with Timeline of Mm, do the sequencing/deletion ,save and move over to PD for other editing tools, will it work ?

I understand that some of the outdoor shooting I did early this year on an once-used cassette has been disappointing. I am doing work on Iconography of the terracotta panels of temples of West Bengal.I have lost a bit of the good work.

A lesson learnt !

:-(

funride 4 years ago

I guess it should work, the question is if the video captured through MM will be as good as captured directly through PD :rolleyes:. I´m sorry to hear about your lost work :( I learned that lesson thanks to my father, he reused some of his old hi8 cassettes and it ruined those footages. I keep all my cassettes like backup, if I ever need those images again I´ll have them just like they were shot ;)

Karen Ellis 4 years ago

I haven't purchased a video camera yet, but you gave me a lot of pointers - thanks, I took notes for when I do.

ripplemaker 3 years ago

There is so much one can do if you know how...thanks for all this info. I would like to forward this to a friend who loves to edit stuff for fun. :)

funride 3 years ago

Karen - Have you bought it yet? I hope those softwares help you ;)

Michelle - thanks for passing by and for sharing this hub with your friend. I hope it can be useful ;)

Liam 2 years ago

what about TOTALY FREE programs. is there any

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