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Video Editing
The growth of home videos, the rise of
the easily affordable camcorder, and the sheer power of the modern PC have
come together in average consumers wanting to edit their home produced
videos... at home.
The basics elements of home digital video
editing are, of course, the video itself in digital or analogue format, a PC
capable of importing, storing and processing the video through appropriate
software packages, and the skill to use the video editing software.
Except for the last item - the editing
ability - all the others are easily available from your local PC shop, via
mail order suppliers, or technology superstores. And, they are all fairly
affordable.
However, as a new technology video
editing has its hiccups. Several products don't work with other products,
there are incompatibilities with software and hardware and, often, the PC
still lets the side down. It's not unknown for your middle of the road home PC
to take several hours (or days) to apply a visual effect you've chosen to use
on your video masterpiece. Where then does that leave the consumer?
Fortunately, several websites have
cropped up with useful advice and tips. There are forums dedicated to the
video editor, the prospective video editor and their myriad of problems. There
are numerous reviews written by experienced video editors and full time hacks
on the various video editing software packages and the accompanying hardware [video
hardware] that some of them come with.
After having read the reviews you may
still be unsure about which package is right for you and cautious that
spending a lot of money on a program could end up being an expensive mistake.
The good news is that most of the top video editing programs are available for
free download. Yes, that's correct. They're available free but generally only
for a limited period of time, usually 30 days, which is more than enough to
help you decide if it's right for you.
Here's a collection of links to free downloads of video editing programs.
The chances are that unless you using a
really basic package you're going to need some help. You can muck it out, read
the manual, learn through trial and error or you can take a course. You don't
even have to attend in person, many of them are available as downloads, videos
(why not?!), DVDs and easy to read books. There are also the classes you can
attend where you get to handle/manhandle a real video editing system and, more
importantly, raise questions with an experienced user of that software
application.
Some
links to training courses available.
If you're the independent type and want
to do it yourself the chances are that at least on some occasions you're going
to get stuck with the system not doing exactly what you want it to do. Don't
despair, there are a lot of forums and other help sites where friendly other
users may have resolved the exact problem you're stuck with and they're
generally willing to share their knowledge.
Some
links to video editing related fora.
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