For those videomakers who have a computer, but don't have a big budget, there are some great options for getting into a computer-based edit controller.

On the PC and Mac platforms, Pinnacle offers the Video Director ($99), the cheapest way to get into VCR edit control. To run the program, all you need is a 386 or better PC, (I'd recommend a 486 at least), 4 MB of RAM, an available serial port and a 256-color display. The software comes with a "Smart Cable" that plugs into the serial port and provides Control-L and infrared links to your decks. Just tell the program what kinds of decks you're using, and it does the work for you. It has an easy-to-use interface and features to simplify editing. It can even print tape labels for you!

Mac users can also check out Videonics' Video Toolkit 2.2,($99), a similar product that controls any VCR and outputs an edit decision list (EDL), so you can save your edits and use them in the future if needed.

Aver offers the Video Editor ($499), a Windows-based edit controller/SEG combo that works with any Control-L or Infrared-capable VCR or camcorder. Features include a storyboarding view of your video using small still images, called "picons," captured directly from your raw footage. It comes with Curtain Call software to generate wipes, dissolves and special video effects. You can watch your video on the computer monitor, and make edits by dragging and dropping picons from one place to another. The Video Editor uses an external box that connects to the computer through an available serial port.

Aver's Video Suite, ($700), a more advanced controller/SEG combination, also works with Windows-based PCs, and offers composite or S-VHS/Hi8 video signal support. The Video Suite includes customized versions of the Video Director and Curtain Call software from Aver's Video Editor, and adds 2D and 3D titling software as well.

If you have an edit controller, but want a special effects generator, check out Fast's Movie Machine Pro ($449) for Windows. It offers 18 A/B roll effects including chroma and luminance keying. (Luminance keys lets you overlay clip art or logos over a video image. Chroma key lets you shoot someone against a solid green or blue background, and then replace that color with a video image in editing.) The Movie Machine Pro can also import titles from any Windows graphics applicat…