When selecting video editing software, consider skill level, file formats, desired capabilities, computer requirements, and company support. Free options and trial versions are available.
Computer video editing, sometimes called professional digital video editing or home video editing when it comes to hobbyists, can be a very interesting area of interest. To get started, a person will need to select which video editing software package he wishes to use. This is one of the most important choices a digital video editor can make, as video editing software is the primary tool when it comes to computer editing. But what should a person consider when buying video editing software? Below are some areas that should be considered before purchasing video editing software to ensure you choose the correct program.
First, the prospective buyer should consider their skill level, both current and future. Those who are not proficient with video editing software should consider purchasing user-friendly software. Intuitive video editing software, however, is sometimes not as powerful as other video editing programs.
The prospective buyer should also consider how much additional work she is willing to put into learning the new software editing package. If she’s willing to purchase additional books and spend hours learning the program, more powerful but less user-friendly software might be considered. The prospective buyer’s skill level versus the ease of use of the software is one of the most important aspects to consider when buying video editing software, as video editing software that is too difficult for the buyer to use will simply collect virtual dust when not in use.
Second, the prospective buyer should consider what format the videos they will be editing will be in. Not all video editing software packages will edit every file type, so prospective buyers should check that the file type they will most commonly use is supported by the editing software.
Third, the prospective buyer should consider what format they want to save the videos in. Similarly to the second point, not all video editing software packages will save their files in all video formats. For example, if the prospective buyer wants to make a large number of videos in 3GP format for his mobile phone, he should make sure that his video editing software can save the files in 3GP. Since video format converters are relatively common, this isn’t as much of an issue as some other aspects, but it’s still something that should be considered before purchasing software.
Fourth, the prospective buyer should know the general price range they are willing to spend. Professional-grade video editing software can cost thousands of dollars, while home user versions cost a fraction of that. Versions for home users are usually scaled down and have fewer features than their pro-level counterparts. While the additional features of professional-grade video editing software are attractive, they shouldn’t even be considered if they are significantly outside the prospective buyer’s price range.
Fifth, the prospective buyer should consider the capabilities of the editing software in terms of what they want to do with it. Is the software capable of creating special effects such as blue/green screen? Can the color balance be easily altered? Are there a large number of transitions? Is it possible to add plug-in programs to make the software more powerful? What additional aspects will be needed and what can be ignored? These questions can be difficult to answer for new users, but the general rule is that the more options, the better.
Sixth, the prospective buyer needs to know if the software requirements match his current computer. In other words, does the prospective buyer’s current computer have enough RAM, processing power, hard drive space, and the correct operating system for the editing program to run properly? If the prospective purchaser’s current computer is not capable of running the software and she is unwilling to upgrade her system, the software should not be purchased.
Seventh, the prospective buyer should find out if the company that makes the software supports it properly. Does the company quickly produce software patches for bugs found in the software? Is there a way to get technical support if the prospective buyer has a question?
All the aspects mentioned above are important to consider when buying video software. However, there are other things a future video editor could try. For example, most people don’t realize that many operating systems already have free video editing software installed. Windows® XP and many versions of Windows® Vista come with a video editing program Windows® Movie Maker. Also, there are many free video editing programs available. Finally, the makers of most major retail video editing programs offer free trials or walkthroughs of their software on their websites.
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