Well, it’s difficult for me to give you a definitive answer on what is the best video editing software. I am now and always have been partial to Apple products. Because I am an artist first and then business person second, Apple computers have always been my top pick. I’ve found most Apple products to be easy to use, easy to fix and a great tool for teaching others. But alas, there is always someone or sometimes, many people in the webinar crowd that are ardent PC users and will never EVER consider converting. So, if that describes you, I have included a link to a great article that reviews your options that was recently published on a website entitled:
TOP TEN REVIEWS, here below is the link:
Additionally, I have had the chance to review a product that is made for both Mac and Windows…It is called Wondershare, you can find it at:
Although I have not yet had the opportunity to really play with it’s features, this Wondershare product has amazing capability…sort of like having the controls of all your favorite photo, graphics and music software all in one. I like that this software company has many mobile products too, which helps with the continuity of your craft. At $39.99, this is one of the most affordable options out there once you get comfortable with the limited offerings from the free software, or if you want a fast track to looking like a pro! Check back with me in the future. After I have had enough time to work with Wondershare, I will review it further and share my Wondershare experiences!
In the Top Ten Reviews article, they also reviewed iMovie (which is the Apple version of video editing software) and I thought that might be a nice objective piece for folks to chew on…It comes free, already installed when you purchase an Apple computer, but my experience is that it has progressively become limited in what the editor can change and add.
Here is what they had to say: Like all applications developed by Apple, iMovie is a meticulously crafted experience. As such, it is accessible, user-friendly and well coded…In the final analysis, iMovie is great for nearly all amateur video editing projects. It has all the necessary tools you need to make a great home movie. The tools and features are basic but very easy to use. Before you spend your hard-earned cash on a more expensive video editing application, fire up iMovie and see if it meets your needs.
They also included in their reviews this info which I think will be helpful:
Video Editing Software: What to Look For
In truth, video editing is a time-consuming and tedious task. The best video editing software minimizes the tedium by creating a workflow that is fast-moving and instinctive. Below is a list of the criteria by which we judged the best video editing software.
Ease of Use The video editing software you choose should be able to import media from any device. Whether you capture your footage on a smartphone, camcorder, DSLR or any camera, importing should be quick and easy.
The editing workflow is where you’ll spend the vast majority of your time when you’re editing your video project. The best video editing software makes this environment intuitive and easily accessible to newcomers. Media bins, timelines, storyboards and preview windows should be arranged in manner that makes the best use of the available space on your screen.
Editing Tools Imagining what you want your finished product to look like is the easy part about editing video. The hard part is knowing which tools you need to achieve the look you want. Knowing how to use those tools effectively is even harder. Only time and practice can educate you on how best to use the tools at your disposal.
Video editing software should come with a vast array of tools to help you achieve the look and feel you desire. The best video editing software makes these tools easy to understand and simplifies their functionality so they’re accessible to users of all skill levels.
Sharing Options The whole point of using video editing software is so you can share your creation with an audience. These days the most common way to do that is to upload your finished product to the internet. YouTube and Facebook are the most popular destinations for homemade videos. The best video editing software allows you to upload your creations to these services from within the program.
The video editing software you choose should have the ability to export a finished file in any commonly used format. It should enable you to create discs that work in players with an optical drive, just like the movies you buy in the store. Furthermore, the best video editing software makes files that are compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Training and Community Working in obscurity can be lonely and frustrating; sometimes it really helps to have someone there to consult and collaborate with. The best video editing software offers free tutorials online communities, and technical support that’s helpful and easy to find.
Good luck out there in Storytelling land! Send me links to your work and remember to comment to this blog to keep the conversation robust and informative for you and others! Looking forward to the virtual campfires ahead!
Arts In Action’s Grace-Anne Alfiero will provide a 1.5 hour Digital Storytelling webinar for ASPCA members on January 23, 2014.
-Grace-Anne Alfiero