How to Choose the Best Video Editing Software

The video editing software market today is saturated with seemingly identical products that all appear to do the same things. So how do you choose the best video editing software for your needs?

Even the simplest video editing programs available currently can produce a range video outputs, quality and effects that a few years ago could only be done with some of the most advanced software around.

Some video editing packages can cost upwards of $500 or more while others are under$100 and then there are others that form part of some kind of multimedia suite.

What I am going to at least attempt to do here for you on this site is to  show you the important points from the unimportant in the hopes that I can help you choose a video editor to suit your needs.

The video editing software I cover here are mainly consumer video editors. That means they are suited mostly to home user and not the professional video editor. Some of the video editing programs I mention might also be described as “prosumer” video editors but in reality the  difference between video editing software for newbies and video editing software for the serious video enthusiast (prosumer) is becoming less and less each year.

So before you even begin to look at the technical stuff the first thing to do is get your attention on the right things for the right reasons.

The first question you must ask yourself is this, “What am I REALLY going to do with the video editing software I choose?”

A realistic answer to that question should be your guiding principle throughout the video editing software selection process.

The popular video editing software companies all offer camcorder to output format (DVD, YouTube, etc,) video editing programs that make them look the same as  each other.

So try to remain focused on what you REALLY need!

They will try to distract you with all sorts of “bells and whistles” and “dog and pony show” features in an effort to attract your attention and make them seem different from the rest… don’t be fooled and stick to your original plan!

In the navigation bar of this site you will see buttons for the latest posts as well as a whole range of categories and articles on how to choose the best video editing software based on your specific requirements.

Although the subject of this site is technical by default, the language is not! I have intentionally tried to keep everything in plain English as much as possible.

Take your time! Those video editing software programs are not going anywhere. Good luck (although good research is better!) and I hope this site can help you.

The video editing software you will be looking at for home video editing goes by the name of Non-Linear Editing (NLE).

NLE video editors differ from old video editing techniques due to the entire process being carried out within a computer environment.

The main concept of this, that benefits you the user, is that all editing decisions you make, everything you do to a clip or a project is only a “virtual” change. The original video files are never touched so the process in completely non-destructive.

It is not until you go to the final step of actually creating your finished product is the project turned into the real thing. Even then the original files remain untouched.

The current batch of video editing software for the hobbyist or home user is actually three programs in one. These three main functions are usually integrated into a logical work flow and below there is brief outline of what you should expect to get from a good video editing software program.

The three functions can be generally described as video capture, video editing and finally video rendering. The rendering feature could be said to include DVD / Blu-ray authoring as well.

1. Video Capture / Video Transfer.

Any video editing software you look at if it is of any quality at all, will offer firewire (ieee1394 or for Sony, iLink) transfer of dv.avi footage from a standard definition tape based camcorder. Note carefully that this is the ONLY way to capture or transfer video files from a DV camcorder to a computer at full quality.

All camcorder manufacturers always include a USB cable with these DV camcorders and it is an endless source of confusion for the new user. The USB cable is included with the cam for the transfer of photos from the camcorder to the computer or for low quality streaming video. They NEVER include a firewire cable…I have no idea why!

The USB cable can also be used to transfer video files from camcorders that record in any other format, MPEG2, HDV, AVCHD etc.

If you are using a camcorder to source your original files then these days it is not really a feature you need concern yourself with too much. Good video editing software will accommodate all types of capture / transfer methods.

More importantly at this point is to check the video software can handle your particular file type.

Video Capture Cards.

If you are using a video capture card to transfer video files from your TV to your computer for later editing or transferring old VHS tapes for editing and archiving then this is an area that you need to check carefully.

These capture cards are a source of great frustration for many video editing software users because of incompatibility problems between the card and the video software. The cause of this is not the cards themselves nor is it the fault of the software. The problem here is that there are no rigid technical standards or protocols in place for the way in which they work or interact together.

Video editing software makers try to make their products accept as many types of capture card as they can but it is an impossible task.

If you are going to use this method as the source of your video files then you have two alternatives: Select only video editing software that has been tested and verified as compatible with your card. You can check this out at the software manufacturers website usually.

Alternately you can use the capture software provided with the card for the purpose of getting the footage on to your computer. After that you can simply link the files to your video editing software and edit from there.

2. Video Editing

Any good video editing software should provide at least the following functions and features:

The ability to actually handle the video file types that you have and the ability, within the technical limitations of those file types, to convert them into other video file types.

To join video clips, cut segments from the ends of video clips to shorten them as well as being able to cut out sections from within the video files.

To make at least some adjustment to the audio tracks of the video files as well as add additional audio like voice-over, sound effects and background music to the project. Check for audio file compatibility as well, MP3, Dolby etc.

To apply basic corrective video filters to poorly shot video again taking into consideration the quality and video file type being worked with. Also there should be a good range of special effects video filters available.

To be able to add video transitions between video clips on the timeline to create cross-fades, cuts, fades to black, fades to white etc.

To be able to add titles and subtitles to the projects with good control and a wide range features for creativity.

To be able to overlay additional video tracks to create a “picture in picture” effect and to be able to apply transitions to the overlay tracks.

Handle a wide range of still image formats (jpg, gif, etc) to incorporate them into video footage as well as create slide shows. At this level a pan and zoom feature should be standard so that you can add some motion to your still images as they appear on the screen.

3. Video Rendering / Video Output.

Your use of this final part of the software will depend heavily on what you intend to do with it. But let’s at least go over some of the basic points.

First and foremost it is a good idea to check each type of video editing software to see if it has some kind of function at the rendering stage that inspects the elements you have in your project and can decide which parts need to be converted and which do not. The name of this feature varies from software to software but usually it has a name like “Smart Render, “Smart Encode” or similar. This can be a real time saver and quality saver at the point of outputting to your final video file.

If your intention is to burn either DVDs or Blu-ray discs then you need to check out the authoring options on offer. Make sure there are good options for the creation of menus and the ability to to exercise good creative control over the look and functionality of the menus created.

If you are looking to upload to YouTube or a similar online video sites then the ability to either output in MPEG4 per YouTubes specs is essential. These sites will convert your videos resulting in loss of quality unless you can output to either their exact specs or to a file they prefer. Remember every time a compressed file is re-rendered quality is lost so here you would definitely want an MPEG4 capability as well as the ability to use other codecs like DivX.

The same features for online video sharing will also apply if you are intending to create video files for viewing on computer screens as the same video file formats will apply.

If you are working in high definition right now but do not have a suitable output format worked out yet (another way of saying, “I think I’ll wait until Blu-ray prices drop!) a handy feature to look for is the ability to record your project back to the HD camcorder the originals came from or some other storage device.

Ok! I think that’s about it off the top of my head! In later posts I will be delving a little deeper into some of these points but in the meantime the links in the menu will take you to a range of video editing software I feel comfortable in recommending.

Realistically speaking you could almost say that every computer in the world is an an individual unto itself. Now this is not an article on the development of artificial intelligence nor a prediction that your computer has attained a state of self awareness!

This is a post about the absolute necessity to always take advantage of free trials when looking for video editing software.

My point is this. Every computer will have a different array of software already loaded on to it for various purposes depending on the user. That software will occupy different positions in the pecking order of the computer depending on the usage habits of the user. Each one will have a particular hardware set-up covering a vast array of choices with regards to processors, motherboards, DVD drives, hard drives, RAM and on and on.

Each computer will also have reached an individual “operational state” based on the factors above and more. Add to this (especially with Windows) the need for the basic operating system to permit each individual software program wide permissions to change things within the computer system for compatibility purposes and I think you should be getting the picture.

An often asked question is, “Is this video editing software compatible with my operating system?” Or, “Is this video editor stable?” Well really there is only one way to answer that question specifically and that is by the use of trial software. You can read any number of reviews of any video editing software and discover the new version is ideal for you and your operating system. You can load it, start it and then for the next few weeks never get it to work.

As an old hand on a number of video editing software forums my observation is this: When you choose a video editor that is supposed to be compatible with your operating system and is also reputed to be reasonably stable you have about a 75% chance that it will be that way.

In about 20% of cases there will be some minor adjustment needed to make the software run as promised or there may be minor adjustments needed to the user!

For the remaining 5% it will just be that no matter what you do, it wont run.

Read the Manual

RTM on forums means “Read The Manual” and is an often used term… I wont go into what RTFM stands for but let’s just say that it is generally used after RTM has been suggested (and ignored) many times!

So, in choosing video editing software for your needs it is vital that you take advantage of the free trials and have a good play around with the video software to see that it plays nice with everything else on the computer.

Check the Forums

Find the user to user forum for the software, see that it is active, check that questions are being answered reasonably quickly and that there are other resources available there like user tutorials etc. Look at a few entries by newbies and make sure that the members of the forum are polite and respectful of each other and that new people are treated with kindness and patience.

There is nothing worse than being spoken down to by someone on a forum with an attitude problem when all you are asking for is a little help. Of course you will be polite yourself!

I would be most reluctant buy any software that does not offer a free trial. Also understand that often free trials are cut down versions for a few reasons:

First, to reduce the size of the download as much as possible so you can get to play with it faster.

Secondly, because some video and audio codecs necessary for editing are licensed and the video software company may not be able to provide that codec in a trial offer.

A Word on Computer Resources.

Make sure when you are checking for a suitable video editing software package that you take note of the minimum system requirements that the video software manufacturer recommends…then double it! Ok, well maybe not everything but some.

If they recommend 2gig of RAM for your computer you had better have four. Video editing is very, very demanding of computer resources especially memory so either make sure you have double the recommended or be prepared to learn how to shut down everything possible on your computer prior to editing.

Hard drive real estate. Ah, there’s nothing like the wide open spaces and with video editing this is vital. DV.avi files are the least compressed and will occupy about 13gig of space for one hour of video. MPEG2 comes in at around 6 to 7 gig per hour depending on compression and all of the other will come in under that.

Eg. If you had a one hour DV.avi project and you wanted to render it to a DVD you would need 13gig of free space for the DV.avi, another 7gig or so for the MPEG2 that the program would create in a temp file prior to burning which means about 20 gig free.

BUT… understanding that the operating system will be throwing bits of data all over the place to keep up with the processor you would safely need about 25 to 30gig of space to be safe. Otherwise the entire process may choke due to interruptions in proceedings.

Ideally two hard drives with lots of space can really make a difference in stability and processing times because you can set the video editing program to be reading from one hard drive while writing to the other instead of reading and writing to the same one.

CPU. With the exception of AVCHD files the only effect the speed of your CPU will have on any part of the video editing process will be speed itself. Digital video editing is simply a mathematical numbers game and the faster the CPU, the faster the final product can be achieved. This is most noticeable when you are rendering your final projects to whatever output format you have chosen.

As for AVCHD, note carefully what the manufacturer says about this. AVCHD achieves much of its greater compression abilities by placing a huge workload on the CPU and for these files having the biggest, nasty-ass CPU will be necessary. In general, editing AVCHD at the moment remains a challenge for the average home computer so if you are using these files make sure you test thoroughly.

Video Cards

I am editing video so surely the video card in my computer must be important… right?

Well yes and no. In reality, video editing software minimally only uses the video card in your computer to display what is on the screen while you are editing and while you are in playback mode. The bulk of the work is being done directly by the CPU and within the system RAM.

However the latest versions of most video editing software have been substantially reworked to allow them to use any available processing power offered by the video card.

So now it is no longer a case of just getting something with a bit of RAM on it. If at all possible get the highest end card your budget will allow.

Video File Import and Export Choices

As I mentioned in another post in this series on how to choose the best video editing software for you one thing to keep in mind during the selection process is, “What is it that I am REALLY going to do with this software?” There is absolutely no point in spending extra money on software that handles all sorts of exotic video file formats because it seems cool to be able to have that capability if you are never going to use it.

Many video file formats available today are owned by software companies and this involves paying a license to use their technology. Paying all sorts of license fees that are included within the video software package that you have no need for makes no sense at all.

Similarly, incurring extra expense for High Definition Video features or Blu-ray features when you you don’t have a Blu-ray burner or player and don’t have a High definition TV or camcorder is just wasting money.

In choosing the correct video editing software for you probably the first point to consider is (realistically),

“What will be the main video format (or formats) of the raw video files I will be importing into the program for editing?”

Secondly,

“What will be the main video file format that I will be producing so as to playback, store or distribute my final productions?

Here is a quick round up of the current video formats you are most likely to be using as input into your video editing projects:

1. Standard Definition (SD)

DV.avi
This is the video format recorded to mini DV tapes on many camcorders. As a format it is still very popular because it is a virtually uncompressed video format and provides the best quality in standard definition video combined with the greatest suitability for editing. The video format itself was developed specifically for this purpose which is why it is so video editor friendly. It requires the least amount of computer resources of all the various video file types.

MPEG2 video recorded to mini DVD either on a camcorder or DVD recorder.
MPEG2 video recorded to an inbuilt hard disc drive on a camcorder or DVD recorder.

MPEG2 was originally designed as a distribution video file type for the DVD standard. It was never designed to be edited so of course as soon as it became available on the original Sony DVD camcorders…everyone wanted to edit with it!

What ensued was about three years of heartbreak and a lot of whining and moaning from the public until the video editing software engineers finally got the format sorted out and presently this is the easiest of the compressed video file formats to edit.

It is reasonably easy on resources but because of the compression involved can be a little twitchy if your computer gets stressed. Provided you don’t keep re-copying and re-compressing the files the quality will maintain pretty well.

MPEG4, H.264, H.263, .MOV, .WMV, .FLV, DivX, Xvid and on and on and on!
This group represents the rest of the pack and all fall under a general heading of highly compressed files most often used for distribution online (YouTube etc.) or for replay on a computer monitor. They produce tiny files and considering the size of the video files they can produce some excellent quality.

The main point to remember with these files is that they were specifically designed to be video distribution formats, the final product after you have used a more video editor friendly input format. There is nothing in their design specs that included how to edit them. So it is important to note that editing with these formats will always be a hit and miss affair and should be avoided if possible. (See the note at the end of this post.)

2. High Definition (HD):

HD MPEG2 recorded to mini DV tape on a camcorder. This format is called HDV and is kind of like MPEG2 on crack! Of all the new HD formats this one has proven to be, by far, the most conducive to video editing.
AVCHD (an MPEG4 variant) usually recorded to inbuilt hard disc drive on a HD camcorder.
AVCHD recorded to DVD on a camcorder.
AVCHD recorded to solid state (flash etc.) memory on a camcorder.

AVCHD in any format and from any device is the baby of the bunch and is currently the bane of the video editing forums. It’s day will come but for now is beset with editing problems and requires huge processing ability from the computer.

On to output formats:

DVD.
This will be in the form of MPEG2 files authored (organized and written) to DVD in standard definition. It is possible to write a high definition video file structure to a standard DVD and have a High Definition player and HDTV handle it however compatibility at present is is not widespread.

Completed projects or edited material written back to the original recording device. E.g. A completed project written back to a tape camcorder for archival purposes in the original format.

High Definition material written to a Blue Ray disc or what is called a “hybrid” disc. This is an AVCHD file and file structure that can be played back on a Sony Playstation connected to a HDTV.

Finally, any of a number of very highly compressed formats for viewing on computers, hand held devices or loading on to internet services such as YouTube.

As an added note here you also need to be aware of the various sound recording and playback formats. If your particular recording device, camcorder or DVD recorder uses Dolby Stereo (AC3) or 5:1 Surround or you wish to output these audio file types, a license for that technology is needed. Check the software to see if it is included in the purchase price or whether it must be purchased as an add on.

A note on video compression.
The term compression when speaking of video files tends to give an incorrect impression regarding exactly what is happening to your files. You would think that what is happening is that your video file is being squashed in some way so as to occupy less space. Nothing could be further from the truth! The truth is that the compression software is throwing away a large part of the original information and it is this point that causes the problems in video editing.

Of course if the software marketers called it video trashing, or data dumping I don’t think, somehow, it would convey the hi-tech sexiness that they are trying to promote!

So, your first task in deciding on what video editing software is suitable for you is to work out what your most common source files will be and what your most common output will be. That represents the core of what you will be using the software for and should be your main focus. After that look through any other formats you may need to narrow down the choice.

Remember if you like click on the RSS feed button you can receive automatic updates and if you would like to ask a specific question or have something to add to the conversation feel free to use the comments box.

This is part of the series on choosing the best video editing software for you. Although this is only a short post it is an important one.

In sales I think they say that the very last thing you should discuss with the customer is the price. So in the spirit of not selling… let’s discuss the price!

A realistic approach to whatever video editing software you select must include the price point you are will to go to in order to get the software you want.

So before you get too “into” the selection process lets talk some ballpark figures and some points to keep in mind.

First. If you are a beginner and can see absolutely no possibility of your ever wanting to go beyond just the most basic functions of a video editor then purchasing standalone video editing software may simply be a waste of money.

At this level you can look at Windows Movie Maker, which comes free with the Windows operating system and although quite limited in what file formats it can both input and output it may very well suit your needs. Let’s face it, you can’t beat the price! Apple iMovie is even better at the same price for Mac users.

A couple of alternatives at this level that offer greater functionality and versatility are the Roxio Creator Series and Nero Multimedia Suite. Both of these programs are actually multimedia suites that offer many features as well as having a video editor included. Roxio is particularly suited because it contains a lot of wizard driven automatic functions to assist in the editing process.

Because they are both suites of software rather than a specialized product you get all sorts of other features like DVD authoring, photo editing, an audio editor and on and on. In addition to this it is also worth noting that as the DVD software aspect of these programs has become less commercially valuable they have added value in the form of better video editing.

So if this level of interest sounds like you those products may well suit your needs. The downside of this is that if, in the future you do want to get more involved with the editing process they offer no upgrade path to a more senior product.

You can take a look at both programs at Roxio.com and at Nero Multimedia. Alternately you can get a better idea of what they do by visiting this site for some independent video editing software reviews.

If your level of interest is already at fever pitch regarding video editing (or you feel a fever coming on!) then the field of choices opens up considerably. The majority of popular and functional video editing programs range in price from around the $50 mark to $120 or so.

When you go above that point you are entering the “prosumer” area such as the full version of Sony Vegas, Adobe Premier, Final Cut Pro etc. I really have a problem recommending any of these to any hobbyist no matter how enthusiastic he is. The prices will go anywhere from $500 to $1000 and up from there.

The problem with this software is that you are paying for features and functionality that you may never use in a “home video editing” situation. And, they are aimed at the pro or semi pro so require an enormous effort to overcome the learning curve involved to actually USE the thing. Sure, if you do learn to use them they are amazing, but realistically, it’s a whole lotta cash to outlay only to find out you just can’t make sense of it.

As final point in prices you should also take into consideration the question of upgrading and updating the software as technology and your abilities evolve.

The only brands of video editing software I mention in this blog are those that have at least a three year upgrade policy. This means that as the software is updated you can choose not to upgrade if you are happy with the software “as is” and “sit out” at least three upgrade cycles. In the long run that can be a major saving.

A couple of the programs, Eg. Adobe Premier Elements will also provide an upgrade path to their premier prosumer or pro version of the video software and this too is a good point to keep in mind.

So, what does it all mean?

Just this. I would strongly recommend that if you are interested in video editing for yourself and your interest ranges from mild to insanely fanatical (based on nothing in particular!) then go the middle ground.

Take a look around at the market and get to know what is out there first and in the next post I will get into some of the important points to consider in choosing the best video editing software for you.