Best editing software right now??????????

[mol3000]

i have been gone from the editingg scene for a while, and i am wondering which is the best and easiest software to editing my movies ?????? especially ones tht i have to get from my dazzle cs 200 capture device??????

PS... THEY HAVENT MADE A DO IT ALL SOFTWARE YET THATS STABLE??

[MachineMan]

There are many good editing programs availible. Check the the tools section on the left of this site.

Are you talking <$100, <$300 or the big $$$ ?


A couple of the best with endless features but not the cheapest are:
Vegas Video 4
Ulead Media Studio Pro 7


For basic editing and captureing I use Ulead VideoStudio 7. Its easy and only $99 or so.

[Nelson37]

Depends on what you call best, and what file types you are using.

Haven't tried all the tools, and I mainly just trim fore and aft, but I do some hard-to-edit files. ATI, real-time MPG2, VBR - these can be done in TMPGEnc (good but not frame-accurate), M2-Edit Pro (best IMO), UVS 7 (lots of features), Womble (don't like the interface), some others. Throw-in the real-time IVTC and everybody chokes or is grossly inaccurate. This function delivers slightly off (~24.13) framerates with a 3:2 pulldown flag imbedded.

EXCEPT, to my surprise, the rinky-dink trim function in Sonic MyDVD. Accurate and with no audio de-synch or silent video, even with IVTC. Still can't do multiple cuts but this is the only prog I have found that can correctly cut these files.

Now, if you are doing raw AVI and just want to edit (cut and splice), VDUB is a clearly superior, if limited, editor to all the others. It's not a Swiss Army knife, just a good pair of scissors.

[mol3000]

actually what i am gonna be doing is capturing from a video cam and editing it and burning it to dvd for a video show we are tryin to do

[BJ_M]

Vegas Video 4
Ulead Media Studio Pro 7

[MachineMan]

Ulead Video Studio 7 can Capture - Edit - Burn. The Burning or making disc feature is actually the same as the Ulead Movie Factory 2 interface. I use VS7 to capture from my video cam through firewire and convert to DVD format on the fly. Then edit the DVD(mpeg2) video.

[bpjenn]

For the price, there's nothin better than Ulead VideoStudio 7. Does everything very well!

[housepig]

I used to use Premiere, and was never that comfortable with it (even though I love other Adobe products).

I use Virtualdub for simple trimming and cutting, and I use Vegas Video for more advanced titling, compositing, etc. and I love it. Easy to use, not a tough learning curve (although I was familiar with Vegas when it was just an audio app, in version 1.0)

but the "best" one is going to be the one that's most comfortable for you, not for me or anyone else here...

[JasonK]

I have used Premiere 6.5, then tried MSP7, the Vegas Video 4+DVD, and now Pinnacle Edition. I really like the realtime performance, background rendering, and truly integrated DVD authoring of Edition. It took a bit to get used to it, but is really great. It's getting rave reviews.

[lordsmurf]

I won't lie: Premiere is not easiest.
But again, I won't lie: It is by far the best editing program around.

[racer-x]

Agree with lordsmurf. But the what's best for me may not be best for you. A trully excellent video editor is alway hard to learn.

But If you can't use the editor to it's potential, than what use is it for you.

[JasonK]

I won't lie: Premiere is not easiest.
But again, I won't lie: It is by far the best editing program around

This is absolutely false. Premiere 6.x is the least efficient/slowest and the least powerful of any of those as it comes out of the box. 3rd party addons and hardware realtime cards can enhance its capabilities and power/speed, but most 3rd party plugins for Premiere 5.x and 6.x will not work in the just-released Premiere Pro. Neither will many existing realtime cards such as Pinnacle DV500 and Pro-ONE. Premiere Pro has less efficient realtime rendering than Edition and MSP7 for example, probably not as good as Vegas 4 either. And Edition's background rendering and truly/fully integrated DVD authoring is a feature none of the others have. You barely ever have to "wait" for rendering. Over the years of video editing I've been doing, I've seen many professional users turning away from Premiere to those products mentioned as well as Apple Final Cut Pro, Avid XpressDV, and others. Adobe is trying to play catch-up now. It may be too little too late.

[txpharoah]

Premiere 6.x is the least efficient/slowest and the least powerful of any of those as it comes out of the box. ------------- Over the years of video editing I've been doing, I've seen many professional users turning away from Premiere to those products mentioned as well as Apple Final Cut Pro,Avid XpressDV, and others. Adobe is trying to play catch-up now. It may be too little too late.

I see the opposite.

How long have you been editing video?

While I will agree many MAC users turn toward Final Cut Pro, and I admit I like various aspects of it better, you won't see any small-timers or PC users turning away from Premiere.

Us professionals use specialized software on turnkey systems anyway, and you can often find Premiere loaded on some of them. BJ_M had a whole list once that was posted. I've done the same. I'd never trade in my copy of Premiere for anything else in the world. And why would I use Avid Xpress when I have a full Avid system?

Avid Xpress DV is starving in the marketplace and it's not a very intuitive program or interface. It's somewhat buggy software, on both PC and Mac, and too expensive for what little it offers. The program is several years old at this point too, behind the others. The only reason people ever bought it was because it carried the name "Avid", thinking it would be some miracle PC/Mac video software, however as we know, it wasn't.

I'd never use a Ulead product. MSP7 is fine for the person that cannot afford Premiere. Ulead hides in the shadow of Adobe, and can never surpass Adobe. Their company only seeks to provide cheaper products as a consumer alternative to Adobe.

Vegas 4 may be good, but seeing how Sony owns them now, I'd trust Adobe more when it comes time for an upgrade, as Sony may very well leave Sonic Foundry customers hanging out to dry. Vegas 4 is fine, I guess, but I see no reason to switch when Premiere is available. Why choose the runner-up when the best is only a few bucks more?

Why must the program make your DVDs too? This is a narrow-minded bullshit do-it-all-for-me consumer attitude. You do NOT need the program to do everything for you. Adding extraneous function that have NOTHING to do with editing does not make it a better program at EDITING. You just need it to edit. If you need DVD authoring, then buy some DVD authoring software. If it needs to be used for encoding, then buy some encoding software. In fact, Premiere 6.5 comes with MainConcept for MPEG encoding. And the Encore is supposed to cooperate with both Premiere and Photoshop for that intergrated workstation feel.

The speed differences are not too different on fast systems with sufficient, decent RAM. Try your hand at some of that RDRAM or maybe high-end DDR RAM. And don't skimp on the processor. Get a true P4 or an AMD+ system. If you need the fastest realtime transitions around, then buy a setup with hardware to do it for you. Canopus and Matrox have some nice cards for a few grand.

Adobe has never had to play catch-up at anything. Maybe with PageMaker vs Quark, but that is about it. And even then, PageMaker is only a recent Adobe product, having been bought from Aldus (plus Adobe InDesign is beating the crap out of Quark anyhow). And let's not overlook Adobe's new DVD and video software. I have not had the need to get any of it, but I see myself with Encore by the end of the year. I may get Premiere Pro if needed, but I'm happy with Adobe Premiere 6.5 for now.

Remember, the request for for the best EDITING software, which is an opinion, and we're all entitled to our own. But don't slap Premiere because it is not faster on YOUR system or it does not do more than it is SUPPOSED to do as an editing application.

Many of those other programs are fine. But the post was about the BEST! To me, best means quality and usability and learning curve. Price is not a factor, nor are extraneous functions like tying your showlaces. Everything has a drawback, but Premiere has the least amount of drawbacks AND all while giving us the most options. Adobe deserves nothing but praise.

[The village idiot]

Just to add a few notes....

The Razzle dcs200 that mol3000 is using is an mpeg device. So he would need mpeg editing. I've heard that Womble's mpeg2vcr is good, but I haven't used it.

If it was DV you were working with, I would suggest EditStudio 4 from puremotion.

And welcome back mol3000.

[cplevel42]

Adobe Premiere is the best for editing DV, regular avi, or Mpeg1. It cannot edit mpeg2, although mpeg2 is not really meant to be edited. BUT, Ulead Video Studio 7 CAN edit mpeg2. It is very close to frame accurate, and sound and pic stay in sync. All in all, Video Studio 7 is great for the money, but if you have cash, use what the pros use and get a copy of Premeire.

If you do go with Premeire, get a copy of Adobe After Effects. You'll be glad ya did.

[Paul_W]

After trying several editors, I found that Premier works consistently and does just about everything that an editor should do. It's not the easiest but it is the best in my opinion.

[Vejita-sama]

IMHO the best choice is all adobe:

Adobe Premiere - video editing
Adobe Photoshop - graphic editing
Adobe Encore - DVD Authoring (have not used but like what I see)

I use to use Ulead Videostudio and it's very nice and much for user friendly. But once you get to know Premiere (check out the quick visual basic series of guides) it's a lot more powerful.

Currently I author with DVD Maestro (got the software for nothing from a local dot.com that when TU) but plan to get Encore around XMas.

All of my MAC friends use Final Cut Pro thou

[Faceman101]

I would have to go with Premiere too. I've tried alot of what is out there (Rex Edit, Avid, Edition) and I am not fond of any besides Premiere. I've wanted to take work home just so I could edit with Premiere since the places I worked out preferred other programs.

Far as DVD authoring I've tried more low end stuff than high end. Alot of the high end aren't that easy to get into on your own. DVD Lab is very good for beginners and I'm looking forward to Encore.

Face suggests Premiere, it's easier to get into as some people say.

[JasonK]

I didnt realize how much this webboard sucked. I just typed up a very long response clearifying this issue about Premiere being outdated and slow with links to some benchmark tests and articles by highly respected professionals in the video editing industry. And when I hit submit, it asked me for a login, so I logged in, and then my entire post was gone. I used the back arrow, and no go, all I got was a blank reply window.

I'm not going to type it all again. But I will tell you this. The statements about Premiere being fast and the best for DV or anything else is ridiculous. And Premiere Pro is losing support for existing hardware RT card and existing 3rd party plugins. It's a complete rewrite as Adobe tries to catch up - too little too late. It's a shame this webboard lost that long post with all my links. Here's the only one I have handy:
http://www.hyperactivemusic.com/mspro65test.htm#MS%20Pro%206.0/6.5/Premiere%20Test%20Instructions

It shows the slow rendering performance of Premiere, but it doesn't show that Premiere also has a slow workflow, lower quality rendering, and less stability than the other popular professional levels applications such as Veags, AvidXpressDV, Edition, and MSP7. So I'm afriad that's all you get now.

I highly recommend you people get around more, because you shouldn't be living in the image of the past when Adobe once rules with their now-archaic software.

People are moving away from Premiere in droves. To say they aren't is a complete joke.

And integrated DVD authoring is definitely a great feature, and it's what the industry is calling for. That' why you are seeing more integration and bundling of DVD authoring with video editing. But Edition takes the cake there.

[freestyler]

Amen JasonK. I'm not a fan of Premiere at all - high rollin' "Vegas" user here

[BJ_M]

the best is the one you feel most comfortable with ..

I like adobe products also -- with new pro and encore, looks like it may be a really good package ..

but i must say for features and stability and rock solid fast editing w/ realtime preview with multiple tracks (30 - 40 - 50 plus is not uncommon) , vegas is an awesome program, and if you thought vegas was good before -- wait till you see the next version ...

the new version of aviddv is much better also than the old one --

The new FCP on Mac is awesome also ....

its good there are choices ... !

what ive seen ussually is that once you are used to a product -- you rather stick with it and get to learn how to use it to its full capibilities -
doesnt mater if its premeire or vegas or speedrazor or video toaster (another good package for the price) or whatever .. and rarely change.

[housepig]

the best is the one you feel most comfortable with ..

THANK YOU BJ_M!!!!!!

this is the problem with the "best" argument - it depends on the person.

I can sit down with someone who knows Premiere inside and out, and be amazed to watch them work, but for me, Vegas "feels" better, and I can get done in 20 minutes what it would take me 2 hours to do in Premiere.

I'm sure a Premiere-head would feel the same about Vegas. It depends on what you like, what speaks to you... not what other people dig.

that's like saying "what's the best car to drive" or "what are the best shoes to wear".... it depends on the person, the use, the situation.

[Faceman101]

the best is the one you feel most comfortable with ..

I can sit down with someone who knows Premiere inside and out, and be amazed to watch them work, but for me, Vegas "feels" better, and I can get done in 20 minutes what it would take me 2 hours to do in Premiere.

And I'm the exact opposite. It's better when people post like this and THEIR opinions rather than throwing in your face "STAY AWAY IT SUCKS" as fact.

[Rich927]

This is my opinion and I don't need to trash any other programs or persons opinions.

I think Premire is a fine well coded Editing Program. It may be difficult to learn but the results are outstanding. I do all my editing in AVI format. From what I have heard and read, Premire does less destruction to your data. I started with Videostudio 3.0 and once I could afford it, I moved up to Premire. My Videos look great. When quality counts, you will appreciate Premire. My next step, is to get a Pro Quality Digital Camcorder. Maybe Video Toaster in a few years. I also have the latest versions of Videostudio and Pinnacle studio and get a kick out of using Windows Movie Maker. They all are good programs and serve it's users well.

[racer-x]

Hey, Rich927. I agree with you 100%. I'm in the same boat as you, I use and love Premiere 6.5, but need a better Camcorder.

What Camcorder are you looking to get? I always wanted a Cannon GL2, but I just orderd a Panasonic dv-953. It's a 3 ccd - 3 Megapixel camcorder with a Lieca Sonar lens. It's about $1,000 cheaper, and has been given good reviews.

[Specialist]

i have been gone from the editingg scene for a while, and i am wondering which is the best and easiest software to editing my movies ??????

There are many great video editing applications on the market.

Have a look at all of them.

Download the trial versions.

VIDEOMAKER MAGAZINE just published a review of ULEAD MediaStudio Pro version 7.0:

Title: LEAD ON

"Ulead has been around as long as anyone and consistently comes out with industry-first technology before the other guys, sometimes months in advance."

"MSP7 is a technologically advanced editor (with seventh generation stability) that has a number of killer features that we expect competitors will incorporate (if they want to remain competitive) sometime in the future.

http://www.videomaker.com/scripts/article.cfm?id=9509

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net