Tools & Programs
When producing and making your own videos you have to consider the programs and tools that you use to edit your own videos. Here is a list of a variety of programs and their ratings. Most of the advanced programs that are expensive have free trails, which is great for those of you who do not have the money to afford these tools. At a couple grand they can be quiet pricey. With the variety of programs avaliable on the world wide web, you can move from one to another after the trails expire. By doing this you will gain expertise in a variety of programs and tools, allowing you to become very flexible.
Video Editing Software
Microsoft Movie Maker
Homepage:Microsoft
Microsoft Movie Maker is a free software provided to all Window's XP users in a SP update. The movie maker that microsoft provides is very simple, but it gets the job done for
most home movies. Microsoft movie maker is known for its limitations of effects, transitions, and layers. Some find it easier to work with programs that allow you to produce multiple
layers for audio and video. Movie Maker unfortunantly only allows one layer per channel. Despite being a free software, we have to rate this very high for its compatibility and codec platform.
Many digital cameras now-a-days come with very diverse codecs which limit movie editing softwares which only accept certain formats. If you are having issues with formats, movie maker
will more than likely be able to convert your video into a recognizable format for most video editing softwares. Conversion is a piece of cake. We HIGHLY recommend this program
for all beginners and advanced users looking to make simple movies.
Adobe Premiere
Homepage:Adobe Software
Adobe Premiere is the best rated production software avaliable for windows. Kids to adults to movie companies, use this program to make their compilations. Premiere features basic and intermediate effects and
transitions. This is the best software for creating high quality movies in movie like styles. The graphic user interface is very easy to use. It is more compelx than windows movie maker, but within a week you should
have it down pat. This software is very good for layering techniques. This software lacks in ease of use for conversion and compatibility issues. For that reason we can not recommend this software to the novice
and beginner users to video editing. If you are confident in your skills, this is the next step you should take up. Overall the best product on the market.
Adobe After Effects
Homepage:Adobe Software
This is the perfectionists dream. After Effects gives you a massive studio of tools to work with. If you are looking into creating advanced effects such as light saber battles, gun shots, muzzle flashes, smoke, clones, and anything else creative
this is the software for you. The GUI is fairly advanced and requires some training and reading to get familiar with. We suggest using premiere first before moving on to this piece of work! The layering featured in Premiere is also
produced in this video editing software too. We recommend this for effects only, intros, and other flashy themes ideas. After Effects requires a large amount of creativity if you are wishing to produce and come up with your own effects. Almost any effect
is possible in this software package. The production quality is not as great as premiere, but with the addition of premiere you will have a good movie. The same format issues that exist in premiere also exist in this program.
Sony Vegas
Homepage:Sony Vegas
This is Sony's hybrid of Adobe Premiere and Windows Movie Maker (unintentionally). Sony Vegas only features the bare minimum effects required for making a production movie. Color and picture effects are emphasized
in Vegas. Sony has claimed that movie studios use this software with the production of their movies, but we have yet to actually here from producers, movie studios, and special effects teams who use this software. We could be
wrong. The GUI is very Sony name-brand like, in the sense that it is very simplistic and basic. The GUI is one of the more attractive features of Vegas, but that is basically all that it offers. This software is suggested for novice users
who may not be very happy with Adobe Premiere, but are wanting to move up from Windows Movie Maker. Sony Vegas is meant for the codecs that most Sony Camcorders use. They have created unique formats that usually always fail or die out, however,
you will want this software if you are on of those unlucky few who decided to buy poorly budgeted innovative formats. Give this a try when you can to see what suites you best.