Video Editing Software (page 2)

In the over-$1000 category, we find applications for the high-end video producer in mind. Though Hollywood video editing houses usually purchase complete systems that include hardware as well as software in an integrated package (albeit a package that starts at $20K), some companies opt to sell just the editing software as well.

Such is the case with Avid's Xpress Pro ($1,695). Avid has made a name for itself as the creator of the Avid Media Composer, an integrated hardware/software system that has become the standard in Hollywood television and film creation circles. In Avid Xpress Pro, the company offers much of the functionality of the media composer in a software-only package. The list of professional-level features that Xpress Pro offers reads like a litany of high-end video and film jargon. Features include support for professional video formats, 2D and 3D OpenGL-based effects and the new 15:1 offline resolution (which is great when you are trying to edit uncompressed HD frames). Incorporating video, audio, film, DVD and effects software in one package, Avid Xpress Pro does it all. If you dream of going to Hollywood and editing for one of the big studios, this package may be your first step in that direction.

It can be difficult for an aspiring video editor, or even an experienced video editor, to make a choice in such a rapidly expanding and ever changing environment. The good news, however, is that it's common to find features and capabilities in the under-$200 category that weren't even dreamed of on $100K edit bays a few years ago. Even if you're independently wealthy and have a huge budget to work with, you may want to consider one of the simpler video editing packages if all you want to do is create your own home DVDs of family vacations. If you plan to go professional, however, you may find that you need one of the industry workhorses to achieve the kind of quality you desire in a finished product. And if you plan to move to Hollywood to hang around with the big boys and girls of the film and video editing world, god help you, for you may need more than just a top-notch video editing software package to get you through that experience.

Joe McCleskey is an instructional media specialist and plays a mean guitar.

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