Video Editing Programs

Introduction

An overview of the available video editing programs.

Available Video Editing Programs

While iMovie 3 is a model of simplicity, its speed and high quality make it an ideal candidate for putting together video material in a very fast and painless manner. The video capture, edit, and playback capabilities of iMovie are truly amazing.

We'll start by covering some basic Analog and Digital Video Editing terms and concepts.

The Video editing is the act of moving video frames from one location to another. In the old days, video was edited by cutting the physical plastic film or magnetic and taping it back together or making a copy of it onto a second tape. This was called linear editing.

Now, with our huge hard disks, we can store the video right on our computers and edit it much quicker and easier. Editing with a computer is called non-linear editing. Getting the video from a camcorder to the computer is called "importing". Then you use special software to edit the video. Finally, you can publish, or "export" the video many places, including to the web, to a VHS tape, or to a DVD.

Editing software will import, edit, and export video. There are many video editing applications. In 1999, Apple released iMovie, the first free video editing application to become widely popular. Today it is still popular. Here is a cost comparison with other software (prices as of late 2003):

Application	Retail $	Edu $	Platforms
iMovie	FREE	FREE	Mac Only
Windows Movie Maker	FREE	FREE	PC Only
Adobe Premiere	$549	$249	Mac & PC (Future PC Only)
Final Cut Express	$299	$199	Mac Only
Final Cut Pro	$999	$499	Mac Only
Avid	$12,000-$53,000	N/A	Mac & PC

iMovie is credited with reviving interest in video. It is also credited with reviving interest in computers. iMovie is so easy to use, children can easily learn how to use it (children how have access to camcorders, of course). It is also powerful enough that some professional studios use it for many low budget productions.

Reviewers like iMovie more. WMM 2 lacks video CD or DVD burning options. It cannot paste stills, graphics or other video clips over existing video while keeping the underlying audio unchanged (a less used, but very powerful feature of iMovie). It also cannot handle some complex editing tasks.

There is no way to put this gently. None of the commercial applications are intended for consumers. PERIOD. If you are going to use any other video editing applications, you must get professional training or read lengthy manuals.