Editing Software Buyer's Guide 2008

Heath McKnight
July 2008

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2007 seemed to be the year of the video editing software application. Apple Final Cut Pro, Sony Vegas, Apple iMovie, NewTek SpeedEDIT, Apple Final Cut Express, Adobe Premiere Pro and others released major new versions. This means filmmakers have some excellent professional and consumer applications for 2008.

New formats means new support, and you can now cut AVCHD with virtually all of the new versions of editing software. The AVCHD format is becoming more and more popular in the consumer world, and it's making an appearance in prosumer video as well. Better 24p and 60p support made many editors happy, with projects shot on cameras such as the Panasonic HVX200 and the JVC HD250.

Among the consumer offerings are Apple's iMovie and iDVD, part of iLife '08 (purchased separately for $79, included with new Mac computers), which saw a major revision. Some longtime iMovie fans cried foul when they discovered the app is even more consumer-centric, although a new update from Apple seemed to add in professional tools and functions. Some iMovie editors have returned to older versions, like the one included with iLife '06. There are also many third-party plug-ins you can use with iMovie, no matter which version you choose.

More consumer-friendly applications include Roxio's Easy Media Creator 10, Windows Movie Maker, Sony Vegas Movie Studio 8, Pinnacle System's Studio 11, Movie Edit Pro from Magix, Corel/Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus, CyberLink PowerDirector 7 and many more. All the apps can support HD, output to tape or DVD and compress and upload to YouTube, one of the biggest reasons consumers are buying video cameras and editing software.

Adobe's Premiere Elements 4 (for Windows) and Apple's Final Cut Express 4 (Mac only) are a great way to dip your toes in the professional realm, while still working in the comfort of an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). Both applications are affordable and well worth checking out, if you aren't quite ready to move into the professional realm.

If you're working on major video projects, like event video, film, commercials and more, you need to be working with a professional editing software application. These apps can handle everything from digital video (DV) to high definition (HD) and everything in between. Whether you prefer a Windows PC or a Mac, there are plenty of software apps that will suit your needs.

The Avid Liquid family gets better and better and includes Liquid Pro (with an SD, standard-definition, I/O device), and Liquid Chrome Xe (supports the AJA Lhe card, available separately). The Avid Media Composer line includes video editing hardware and software solutions. Avid has been an industry standard for years and is constantly updating its family of digital video editing systems. Avid Mojo SDI adds I/O and monitoring support. Avid recently dropped it's Xpress Pro line, offering the full-size Media Composer at a discounted price from it's original hundred-thousand-plus.

Adobe introduced several new iterations of its famed software, including Photoshop CS3, After Effects CS3 and Premiere Pro CS3. Premiere Pro also marks a return to Apple computers after a long absence. The Creative Suite 3 Production Premium package is a great way to get a bundle of Adobe software, including the latest versions of Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Soundbooth (audio), Encore (DVD) and more. There is also support for burning Blu-ray Discs. For Windows users, CS3 versions of OnLocation and Ultra are included. OnLocation was once Serious Magic's DVRack, a field monitoring software solution for video cameras connected to a workstation or laptop; Ultra is an excellent keying application for green- and bluescreen work.

Sony Creative Software released Vegas Pro 8 + DVD Architect Pro 4.5 with much fanfare, and many Vegas users were happy with the latest version. (By the time of print, DVD Architect will have been updated to version 5.) Vegas Pro's GUI is a little different from what you may be used to, but the excellent tools and functions make this one of the newest industry standards. Add a copy of Cinescore to put together musical arrangements for your video masterpiece, and you're ready for prime time, including support for burning Blu-ray Discs and standard-definition DVDs.

Final Cut Studio 2, also an industry standard, made its appearance at NAB 2007 and includes many upgraded apps, like Final Cut Pro, Motion (graphics and animation), Soundtrack Pro (audio and music), LiveType (graphics) and Compressor (compresses video for output, the web or DVD). Color, formerly Final Touch, is a professional color grader and finisher, at no extra charge. Curiously, DVD Studio Pro didn't see a major upgrade, so no Blu-ray Disc burning support, though you can create high-definition DVDs (via standard-definition DVD-R discs) that will play on Mac computers. There is more attention to web and handheld device support. Other professional editing software applications include the amazingly fast SpeedEDIT from NewTek, which allows lightning-quick editing and output. Grass Valley's EDIUS Pro and Neo editing software applications and hardware solutions are worth a closer look.

Whether you're choosing a consumer or professional editing software solution or even something in between, like Apple Final Cut Express or Adobe Premiere Elements, make sure you're familiar with system requirements and ensure you have a separate hard drive to capture and store video. This will keep it off the start-up disk, where the operating system resides, and will avoid the possibility of fatal damage to the drive.

Nearly all the applications come with additional software to create and burn DVDs, compress and upload to the web, create music, edit sound, and provide graphics and animation support. If the company offers a free trial, try out the applications; this will further help you in your decision. One last note: don't switch platforms (Windows to Mac or vice versa) because you think a certain app is better than another. Stay with what's familiar to you, unless you've tried another NLE software application and decided it's worth the switch. All these applications can meet most editors' needs, so try to find something that feels comfortable for your particular workflow.

Heath McKnight is a filmmaker and writer who co-wrote the book, HDV: What You NEED to Know, Volume 2, from VASST.

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