Ok so the good news . . . → Read More: Lazy-Ass Video Blogger Finally Reviews Corel VideoStudio Pro X3]]> Holy Crap! After months of procrastination not only did I finally unpack that new copy of Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 and install it on my computer but I also took it for a spin! Then, in a move destined to shock all those that know me well… I actually compiled a review of the aforementioned video editing software! Will wonders never cease!

Ok so the good news is that Corel have actually done a pretty good job on their latest version of VideoStudio Pro X3.

Probably the most notable point for me was the speed of the software both in installing as well as operation. Ever since the days that VideoStudio was being produced by Ulead in Taiwan the program has been noted as a total pig as far as installation time taken as well as load time. In fact the only software I know of that took as long to install as this one was the last version of Nero 9… and believe me, that’s saying something!

I am all for having the time to grab a cup of coffee while my new software installs but with these two you could have dinner and take in a show in the time it took. Anyway Corel seem to have taken a stick to either the software or their programmers and the results are quite impressive. From unpacking the installer from the compressed download file to the program fully installed, opened up for the first time and ready for business took exactly 7 minutes. I know cos’ I timed it!

Continuing in the speed vein here VS was also a complete sloth for load times and again we were talking dinner and a show. They made a pitiful attempt to address this a few versions back by adding a pre-loader to the Windows start sequence. I guess they figured we would all blame Windows for starting slowly and not notice yet another program half loading itself when we booted up.

The problem was that the pre-loader did absolutely nothing to speed up the load time of VS… all it did was slow down the Windows boot time!

But that is all now water under the bridge and I guess one day we can all look back and laugh about it… actually I am already because dang but this program now jumps out of the gates ready for action in moments.

There’s a whole bunch of other good stuff about the program now and for today my two typing fingers really have had enough.

You can take yourself over to my site here to see the full Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 Review

or

Click Here to Check out VideoStudio Pro X3 for yourself. (Use the free trial)

This tends to make me think that the software makers have been actively surveying their customer bases and by these releases are seeking to plug a gap in the market.

. . . → Read More: Easy Video Editing Software]]> Over the past few weeks there has been a spate of releases from the major video editing software manufacturers. There’s nothing really special about that except that many have come out with very simplified versions of their video suites squarely aimed at the home user that has modest demands.

This tends to make me think that the software makers have been actively surveying their customer bases and by these releases are seeking to plug a gap in the market.

By the looks of the products themselves it appears that gap is the person who wants to make video and get it on to DVD, Blu-ray or online fast and is not too concerned with being able to apply all the “bells and whistles” effects etc offered by the average consumer video editing software program.

It is easy to understand how this has happened. Over the past few years the big software companies have been engaged in a development war with each other for the consumer level video editor market. In the heat of battle the consumer has definitely been the winner in that the capabilities of the current batch of consumer video editors is very, very advanced.

Possibly the cost in all of this has been that now, anyone entering this market at a beginner level or at a level that they are not really that interested in the whole editing process would find the current programs a little daunting. Five or so years of relentless addition of features tends to result in video editing software programs that seem quite complex!

In answer to this Magix, Corel and Cyberlink have released video editing products that are very simple to use, have the basic features needed to get the job done and include all the tools necessary within the package. Of course Roxio has had similar features within it’s multimedia suite for a long time now.

Here’s a quick round up of the field as it stands for easy video editing software.

Magix Video Easy

A very easy to use wizard driven interface for video editing with lots of help functionality. Magix seem to be banking here on the usability of the program and the exceptional ease of use. The wizards and help are impressively extensive.
It includes AVCHD support for burning to disc (Check the minimum specs first.) as well as ability to handle MPEG2 and MPEG4 files and output.
There is basic editing  providing transitions, titling and the ability to import audio. The program offers very little in the way of features compared to traditional video editing software but hey!… that’s the point!
You can export to DVD, Blu-ray or upload directly to YouTube

Click Here to Take a Look at Magix Video Easy

Corel Digital Studio 2010

Another easy to use video editing software package offering the cut down functionality of their main product range.

It combines a video editing module with an image editing module and and overall output module that allows the creation of DVDs and direct uploading to YouTube etc.

What separates it from the rest is that all of the functions within the program are accessible through one user interface. It doesn’t matter what you are doing the interface always looks the same.

Additionally it is rated to work with the new Windows 7 touch functions.

Click Here to See Corel Digital Studio 2010

CyberLink DVD Suite 7

This one is probably my favourite of the bunch. Although it originates from the viewpoint of a DVD creator Cyberlink have gone to great lengths to include some great features and functionality.

It combines cut down versions of PowerDirector (video editing), their image and audio editing programs and ties up the package with great DVD and disc authoring capabilities.

The Ultra version comes fully loaded for Blu-ray creation and of course the necessary codecs for online video.

Slightly less smoothly integrated than the Corel product and far more advanced than the Magix product without introducing needless functions and complexity.

Click here to See CyberLink DVD Suite 7

Roxio Creator 2010

Roxio Creator 2010 comes with video, audio and image editing tools.

The beauty of Roxio Creator has always been that although the various media modules are separate, they integrate very well together. Because of that you can tweak a photo from within the video editing program or use all the power of the audio editing module the same way.

Obviously the DVD burning module and DVD authoring features are very good because that’s how the software came into being in the first place.

Feature-wise it is on a par with the CyberLink product and there is probably not much to separate the two.

If your emphasis is on disc creation rather than video editing then possibly this would suit more.

Click Here to See Roxio Creator 2010

The simplest or most basic video editing programs available currently can achieve an array video outputs, quality and effects that were a few short years ago, only able to be achieved by the very high end video programs.

Some of these video editing packages can cost upwards of $500 or more while others come . . . → Read More: Best Video Editing Software]]>

It’s pretty easy to get confused about video editing software given the large number of apparently similar programs available in the market today.

The simplest or most basic video editing programs available currently can achieve an array video outputs, quality and effects that were a few short years ago, only able to be achieved by the very high end video programs.

Some of these video editing packages can cost upwards of $500 or more while others come in below $100 and even others that come as part of a multimedia suite.

So how do you choose the best video editing software for your needs?

Well, that’s what I am going to attempt here so let’s see if we can’t separate the wheat from the chaff and over the next few entries on this blog. I will try to cover (in plain English) some of the key points in choosing a video editor to suit your needs.

The type of video editing software I will be covering here are best described as being consumer video editors. That means they are squarely aimed at the home user and not the professional video editor. Some of the video programs I will be mentioning may also be described as prosumer video editors but in reality the line between video software for newbies and video software for the serious video hobbyist (prosumer) is beginning to blur with many of the top brands offering very powerful feature sets these days.

So to start with let’s first begin with the video editing software “mindset!”

One of the overriding questions to keep in mind whilst selecting the right video editing software for you is this:

“What is it that I am I REALLY going to do with the video editing software that I choose?”

The answer to that question based on reality, rather than a vague desire has to remain uppermost in your mind when selecting the video editing software for you.

All of the major home video editing software companies offer camcorder to DVD (or other output format) video editing solutions that make them almost inseparable from each other. So concentrate on what you REALLY need.

It is too easy to get distracted by the “bells and whistles,” “dog and pony show” feature offers that the video software manufacturers provide. The reality is that many of those types of features will ultimately prove useless to you and may prove to be an unnecessary expense.

So to that end it is a good idea to understand why these features are sometimes found in software.

Like any other highly competitive software market video editing software is caught up in a never ending race to keep up with technology as it develops.

This can mean new operating systems for computers, new storage devices, new file format or video formats for camcorders as well as new video file formats for online viewing, computer viewing, home viewing and portable device viewing. The list goes on and the drive for better, faster, cheaper, “whatever” is relentless.

In the midst of all if that the video software companies still have to make the product seem “sexy” to the customer. Dry dissertations about the effectiveness or superiority of one video file type over another is hardly the stuff of exciting advertising copy that will make you want to leap off the sofa and buy that product!

The video editing software mindset you will be most helped by is that of being able to separate the necessary core functions of a video editor for home use and the “bell and whistles” offered by all the video editing software companies designed to distract you and make you desire what you probably don’t need.

Stick around and over the next few posts I will cover some of the current video software available and what you should be looking for. If you like click on the RSS feed button or the e-mail subscribe button to receive automatic updates as I post them.