Best video editing for beginners

[jamesg1979]

Has anyone got any recommendations? Not for serious, just home videos in the main part.
Used Vegas before which was good, but massively complex. Ulead is OK too, but would like some advice from the professionals

[24 P]

Not a professional, but have done a lot of editing.
I have used many an editor, my favorite for ease of use, is Ahem, don't laugh, NERO...
Having used Vega, Ulead, Premiere, Nero seems tro be able to be quick and basically Idiot proof..
Yes I am still talking about Nero the burning suite, but it does have an editor in it..
I did 80 hrs worth of editing for a 5 minute video, worked great, just very complex editing..

[aet3]

Hi
I use PINNACLE ULTIMATE V12 - a superb program.
It looks confusing, but once you start using it, it becomes easy to use. Also there is a Pinnacle Forum, similar to this Forum, and again you get tremandous help from other members and Pinnacle staff.
Wait until September as there is the latest version being released. BUT, you will then be able to pick up the V12 very cheaply, even a second hand version is perfect.
Cannot recommend it enough.
Good luck.
cheers.

[jamesg1979]

Thanks both, very different opinions. I shall look at both over the weekend

[aet3]

You are welcome - I hope it was of some help.
Good luck with your comparisons.
cheers.

[rickyt]

I have quite afew programs I've tinkered with over the years , Sony Vegas , Serif Movie Plus etc ,but one of most easiest to use is Pinnacle . I know lots of folk have had trouble with some versions , but I use Version 9 and I can honestly say it has never given me problems and the finished result is'nt at all bad .It captures well ,has a good selection of transitions etc , you can easily build a movie adding background sounds , titles and transitions and the program will directly put it onto DVD .Newer versions arn't expensive either .Maybe worth checking out .

[jacko5]

Another vote here for Pinnacle. I have just upgraded from Studio 9 to Pinnacle Studio 12 Plus to do HD editing. It is very intuitive and easy to use and works like a dream. I still use an HDV camcorder and with my existing computer, a medium power setup, I import the video from the camera via firewire, then edit. Adding titles, transitions, importing stills , if required, add a music track imported from my Windows Media library, adjust sound levels of original sound track and music track and finally burn a disc in either AVCHD to a DVD disc for high def. recording, playable on a Blu-Ray player, or burn a standard definition disc for playing on standard DVD players.

[chrishull3]

Regarding pinnacle 12 ultimate the biggest problem ive had with it is at times i have had to rerender because sound goes awol a sort of repeating echo that sounds awful,the latest update cured it until the last film i made which needed rerendering 5 times,i have not heard anyone else getting this problem.

It wont render to hdv tape at all now the sound goes into a film echo repeating, discs seem to render fine still but i need the masters to tape so they can be put on hard drive.

[weetsie]

premiere pro and after effects CS4

but i used to use sony vegas 6, 7 and 8 which are easy enough once you know the basics.

[parkinpants]

I prefer Ulead Media Studio over Pinnacle by a country mile, except for HD which I use Pinnacle for.

[foolsgold99]

I'm also looking for an easy to use video editing software which will also allow me to burn to a DVD (with chapters, etc) that will play on a normal DVD player.

I have a wee canon FS100 camcorder which records onto SD card. I was using windows movie maker but that crashed a lot with longer clips and the worst part is that it doesn't allows the clips to be played on a normal DVD player.

I'm pulling my hair out trying to decide on a programme so any help would be great. I'm looking for something that is easy and intuitive to use and doesn't cost a fortune. I just looked in PC world and I see that they have 'Corel Ulead DVD MovieFactory 6.0 Plus' for £30 and was considering that.

Any help would be fantastic

[dsw182]

I would suggest Adobe Premiere Elements for beginners. It has both ease of use and the capability for growth as you get used to editing.

Sony Vegas has always seemed far too fiddly to me.

On a related note, have you tried the new beta of Windows Movie Maker? I know the previous versions weren't up to much, but this new one seem promising.

[senu]

I have used Pinnacle Studio since ver 7 . It really is easy to use in basic terms but capable of better if you get more creative. In GUI terms it is hard to beat .. but
It has put of a significant minority of folk due to inconsistency in stability
Ver 9 was very stable.. after 3 ipdate patches and ver 10 likewise
Nero is far too basic IMHO , but it has amazing format support and is quite cheap considering you get a decwent burning program and sound editing ect along with it and a cpable media player
Adobe Premiere Elements as not previously newbee friendly but more recent versions are better
Sony Vegas Movie Studio is good but its initially unfamilier GUi put somr folk off.
It is very easy to have a lot of control over cuts , fades ect and I quite like and use it
Some swear by Ulead Movie Studio , other Roxio and then some Magix Softwae,
Cyberlink also had Power producer and director
To be honest they all have their strengths an weaknesses and none is without merit
Movie Factory is excellent for creating DVDs.. Its Plus versions have some editing but it wont replace a proper editing program
In short.. they are all learnable:
FWIW I mainly use Vegas Pro and Avid Liquid 7 pro and Adobe Premiere CS4 sometimes now but I wouldnt recommend them for a newbee unless you just want to go for it and get into it