TelevisionTutor

What is the best video editing software? This depends, in part on the needs of the user. Video editing software is now available for every level of expertise and pocketbook. At its simplest level, editing software can compile photos into video slide shows, incorporate video clips and allow the addition of background music for a complete production. This production can then be placed on a DVD or published to a website such as YouTube. Advanced consumer and professional software will allow entire professional productions to be made complete with transitions, titling, special effects, timeline control, and advanced DVD mastering. Whether an interest exists in turning some video footage into the latest web hit or it is desired to mix the latest family outings into a polished home movie, software is available to help meet these goals. Beyond those offerings are the professional software tools for commercial and theatrical productions.

Many video software manufacturers will offer both professional and consumer versions of their product. The differences can be slight or quite stark. This may be reflected in the pricing with the true professional software costing many times the listed price of the consumer software. Software used by industry professionals typically sells for hundreds or even thousands of dollars while software aimed at the consumer is often less than a hundred dollars. The consumer market may even be further divided so that the beginner software is less than fifty dollars while the advanced consumer or semi-pro market price is just above or below the hundred dollar mark. Additionally, the operating systems that come with today's computers may even include basic video editing capabilities.

The following are a few of the products offered by their respective manufacturers. Adobe Inc. makes Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements for the Windows OS. Apple Inc. makes Final Cut Studio and Final Cut Express for the Mac OS. Arcsoft Inc. makes ShowBiz DVD for the Windows OS. Avid Technology Inc. makes Media Composer for the Windows OS and the Mac OS. Avid also makes Pinnacle Studio for the Windows OS. Corel Corp. makes VideoStudio Pro X2, VideoStudio Express, and Digital Studio for the Windows OS. Cyberlink Corp. makes PowerDirector, PowerProducer, and MediaShow for the Windows OS. From the open source community comes Kdenlive, a free editing program produced under the GNU Public License for the Linux OS. Magix AG makes Movie Edit Pro and Movie Edit Pro Plus. Sonic Solutions makes Roxio Creator for the Windows OS. They also provide disc authoring solutions for professional film makers with Scenarist and CineVision for the Windows OS. Sony Creative Software Inc. makes Vegas Pro, Vegas Movie Studio Platinum, Vegas Movie Studio, and Vegas Movie Studio HD for the Windows OS. Wondershare Software Co. Ltd. makes Wondershare DVD Slideshow Builder for the Windows OS and Wondershare DVD Creator for the Mac OS.

Many of the linked sites below provide free trial downloads of some of their products.

All links are provided as a convenience and are not intended as an endorsement by this website.

Video Editing Software