How to choose the best vidding software for you: Mac and PC
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Recommended for Newbies | Vidders' choice | Doesn't make the grade | Pro-level | This vs. That: Is this program better than that program?
What software is "best"? Not everyone will agree. There are several programs that often are recommended for newbies. Other programs are often used by advanced vidders because of the features they have. And there will always be software that frequently scorned for being underpowered and inadequate.
If you're willing to consult tutorials and software manuals, you might consider trying out the demo versions of the software listed in the "Vidder's Choice" category, as well as the "Recommended for Newbies" software.
How I base my opinions: I try to be impartial but I have my own biases and partialities, like everyone else. I realize that if you're using a Mac, you're not going to switch to a PC just to make fan videos, and vice versa. Fortunately there are great vidding apps available in both platforms.
Recommended for Newbies
The Vidding for Macs and Easy & Cheap vidding for PCs tutorials on this site focus on newbie-friendly programs, because it's typical (and generally recommended) that you start with fun and simple software, get your feet wet with editing, and then move on to something more advanced (or not—many won't find any need to do so).
Corel VideoStudio is the simplest of the consumer-grade video programs for Windows. It is robust, has some great filters and effects, and a shallow learning curve. The "Easy and Cheap Vidding for PCs" tutorial here is devoted in part to VideoStudio, because it gives happy results and isn't too intimidating for the newbie. There are limitations, however. Some of the advanced special effects that you saw on the example videos (listed on the previous page) would not be possible in VideoStudio. Some vidders report of VideoStudio crashing or misbehaving. (I have not had any problems so far and suspect that some of the instability is due to trying to edit with "non-editable" codecs, which is a bad habit with many vidders.)
The great thing about VideoStudio is how shockingly fast some people can go from vidding newbie to prolific vidder while using it. For example, Catgirl posted a message on a "North & South" message board, suggesting a certain song for a potential fan video. She couldn't do videos herself, of course, but wouldn't someone else? It was such a great song! Well, no pity for Catgirl—she was told that she should learn how to make her own video, by following the tutorials here and on VideoStudio's site. A few days later (a few DAYS!), she produced this: My Confession (link goes straight to the video hosted on this site, because YouTube made CatGirl do an audio swap).
Catgirl is not the first vidder to have this experience with VideoStudio, and that's very encouraging. It's a great program for beginners, and—while not as advanced as other software—does give you quite a bit of room to grow. For example, HeathRA's video Sexy Back (Richard Armitage) pushes VideoStudio to its limits, and the result is fantastic! HeathRA is an exceptional vidder who has an incredible aptitude and is very resourceful, so she made the most of VideoStudio's features. Another remarkable vidder using VideoStudio is Spikesbint—for example, "Tears of an Angel." (Spikesbint is the queen of squeezing everything possible out of VideoStudio.)
But, alas, there are limits to how far you can push VideoStudio's effects. You have to work within VideoStudio's templates and built-in tools—it doesn't always let you fiddle or tweak all the things to get exactly the effect you'd like. So, as you become more skilled, it can be frustrating at times if your goal is to do a very specific kind of effect. (And this explains why HeathRA has since abandoned VideoStudio and moved on to a more "pro" level program and Spikesbint is working on doing the same.)
iMovie is part of the iLife suite, which comes bundled with every Mac. iMovie is a capable vidding program for newbie vidders. One important thing it has—and has in common with the other recommended video apps listed here—is chapter markers (or timing markers). These help you easily edit your video to beat of the music. (It's very time-consuming to try to make a fan video without markers!) iMovie also has more adjustable audio levels (so you can bring down the volume level of your music just a little to allow for dialog to be heard, then bring it back up again) as well as highly adjustable filters. Having these capabilities (among others) separates iMovie from Windows Movie Maker, which can't do these things as well, or at all.
The latest version of iMovie, (version 09) is what I call "crack for vidders." It has a completely unique interface that makes vidding very fast and easy. I am so enamored of iMovie 09 that I created a separate YouTube channel (and web site) to show off my iMovie 09 fanvids: vogonfanvids. Also, here's one of my more popular fanvids on my YouTube channel (made with iMovie 09), "Feeling Good."
There's an older version of iMovie (iMovie 6 HD) which many vidders still use, including Damaris. Click to see one of her videos made with iMovie 6, using additional add-on title effects. (This video is hosted on my other site, RAfanvids, so it's okay if I hotlink to a file hosted on my own site.) There are ways to still be able to use iMovie 6, and as of this writing (Summer of 2010) it is still compatible with new Macs running Snow Leopard. But . . . alas, sooner or later, iMovie 6 will probably become obsolete. But that time is not yet, and so for now, many vidders continue to enjoy using it.
Vidders' choice—more advanced software often used for fan videos
When you see videos with fancy special effects like a split screen, "floating boxes" or gorgeous overlays and other visuals, it's quite likely that the vidder used one of the software programs listed below (or its "pro" counterpart).
Sony Vegas Movie Studio is priced between $50-130 (upgrades less). Movie Studio is a big favorite for many Windows vidders. It has an incredibly loyal following and there's no doubt that some lovely videos can be made with it. I call some Sony Vegas users "True Believers" because of their undying enthusiasm!
Sony Vegas Movie Studio comes in three flavors: Movie Studio HD, and two types of Movie Studio Platinum. The Platinum versions cost more and have more goodies so it's up to you to decide how high you want to go in expense. All versions will make fine fan videos.
I frequently pimp Movie Studio to vidders for a few reasons: It's cheap, cheap, cheap, and has a lot of features considering the price. One can even save more money by getting an older version. (I got version 6 of Movie Studio to work in Vista.) But even after all my encouragement and pimping, some vidders just can't warm up to Sony Vegas. They find the interface confusing and strange. (And I have to admit that this was my first reaction to it as well.) While many vidders say that Vegas is super easy and intuitive, others have the opposite experience. So, it's extremely important to test the demo before committing to it. You may instantly love it, or you might not. But, with some patience, perseverance, and consulting tutorials, Movie Studio can be learned, even if you at first are baffled by it. It's definitely worth considering.
In fact, I wrote my Newbie Sony Vegas tutorial in part for those who might find Vegas a bit convoluted at first. While I don't think Vegas is the be-all and end-all of video editing apps, its advantages (inexpensive, sufficient effects) as well as lower system requirements (you don't need a super fast computer to run the low-end version) make it worthy of a second look. So, if you find the demo for Vegas a bit confusing, I recommend that you follow along to the Newbie Vegas tutorial during the trial period and see if that helps.
To see some examples of Vegas Movie Studio in use, check out "Carry On" (Guy of Gisborne) by 19bt80. I also made a Vegas video with Gratuitous Effects (from the BBC series "Spooks"). It's rather goofy, but gives you more ideas of what can be done with it. (I used Movie Studio 9, a previous cheapo non-HD version.)
If you don't take to Movie Studio right away, don't dismiss the possibility of picking it up later. Many vidders start with VideoStudio (or even the dreaded Windows Movie Maker) and then progress to Vegas after a while, and are most happy with their choice. (They become "True Believers"!)
Final Cut Express is the software I use most often, so yes, of course I have a bias towards it. But some Mac vidders won't have any interest in moving past iMovie to use Final Cut Express. That's understandable, since iMovie is a great vidding app, especially for "storytelling" type videos (but it has the ability to handle some effects as well).
Final Cut is priced at $200, and ships with an excellent program for making titles, LiveType. It also enjoys many professional-grade features and abilities. With the exception of some high-end features (that most non-professionals—especially fan vidders—will probably never use anyway), it's got the whole enchilada in regards to features and function—not crippled or limited the way some other consumer-priced video applications are. But, of course it's $200, compared to $50-$130, which is the price of the other (more "crippled") video programs. You pay more for Final Cut Express, but you get more. A lot more.
To give a background of Final Cut Express, it's the "prosumer" version of the professional video editing program, Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro is an industry standard in the video business (in the same way that Photoshop is an industry standard in professional graphics). Being proficient in Final Cut is a marketable skill (if you want to take it that far), and many feature films have been edited with the software.
So, Mac users are very lucky to have Final Cut Express—which is similar to the "pro" version in so many ways—available to us, at such an affordable price. But of course, since Final Cut Express is tailored after a "pro" video program, it's got a steeper learning curve, when compared to iMovie (or VideoStudio). The learning curve is no worse (in my opinion) than Adobe Premiere Elements or Sony Vegas Movie Studio, however.
Fan videos made with Final Cut Express include Revolution (link goes to video file hosted on my site, RAfanvids) by Penelope. This was Penelope's first effort in Final Cut Express. Prior to this, she made several videos in iMovie, over the expanse of several months. She studied the Final Cut manual steadfastly, which helped her use the amount of effects that you see in this video. Another example of Final Cut Express in use is Man on Fire, one of my eccentric and "arty" videos, made mostly as an excuse to have fun with the software!
I started using Final Cut Express probably a month after first getting into vidding. I made about two videos in iMovie, and then, fool that I am, decided that I must have Final Cut Express. Armed with the software manual and another instructional book, I was able to make "Lonely" (John Thornton) shortly after installing the application. The video is deeply flawed, rough around the edges, its attention to timing is tenuous at best, but it shows that a newbie vidder can use Final Cut Express if they follow the manuals and books and really want to learn. (Had I been as dedicated and disciplined as Penelope, my skill with Final Cut Express would have increased far more rapidly than it did. The secret of success with any of this software is to read the manual!)
In the iffy department: Adobe Premiere Elements costs $99 (or less for an upgrade version). It's been my favorite (so far) amongst the consumer-priced video programs for Windows, but I have my biases, just like the Sony Vegas "True Believers" do. Like with the other video apps, it's vital to test the demo before buying. Not just to see if you like the way the program works, but to see if it'll even install (or remain stable!). [Updated July 2010: It looks like the newer versions of Premiere Elements are not getting good marks for stability. So it's extremely important that you try the demo before buying.]
The versions of Premiere Elements I've used were versions 3 and 4, and they had a good interface and lots of options for vidders. But it seems like the newer versions (7 and 8) are getting abysmal ratings on Amazon. I decided to give the demo for version 8 a chance, and it froze on me before I could even start a project! This is such a disappointment considering how much I enjoyed the previous versions.
Some examples of my videos made in Premiere Elements are Dear Frankie and Guy of Gisborne. I don't pretend that these are great videos (in part because I'm still learning the software), but certainly a more dedicated vidder can bring out all of Elements' many talents! Catgirl has taken to Premiere Elements in an enthusiastic way (after doing a few videos with VideoStudio) as you can see in this fun video, A Little Less Conversation.
Bottom line: If you have Vista or XP and want to pick up a used copy of Premiere Elements 3 (confirming that your PC meets the system requirements first), then I'd say you'd have a very good vidding tool. If you try out the demo for a newer version of Premiere Elements and it works for you, then go for it!
Video Software That Doesn't Make the Grade
Vidding newbies will often stumble upon bad software because they are lured by the low price, it came on their computer, or because they saw some review for the software which praised it (but the reviewer was not thinking of the unique needs of vidding, which is different from light home movie editing). Here are a few programs that it might be best to avoid.
Pinnacle software has products that can be used for vidding, but I continually hear horrible reports of Pinnacle's instability, and with each new incarnation of their consumer-level software, it seems to get no better. So I haven't even bothered with it. If you like Pinnacle, more power to you, but if you decide to start using it, all I can say is good luck with that.
Cyberlink PowerDirector is used by some vidders, but after trying out the demo, all I can say is no. [Update July 2010.] I tried this software again, and while it seems to have improved, I find the usage of markers to be useless for vidding (only one marker every two seconds? No thanks). I'll have to do more tests with it, but I have to say that considering that the price is as much as or more than Vegas or VideoStudio (both which have great features for vidders), that I'm not sure it's worth the bother. If you are already using PowerDirector and are happy with it and have learned all its quirks, then enjoy! But I'm not sure I can recommend it for a newbie vidder, when the alternatives are cheaper and more vidder-friendly.
Magix Movie Edit Pro is still not worth the bother. [Update July 2010.] The full price online is as much as or more than software like Vegas and VideoStudio, and it has a miserable interface for vidding. Plus, some files I imported (tried-and-true MJPEG AVI) were funky--the audio shows up in some but not others. What's up with that? No doubt Magix Movie Edit Pro is fine for people with camcorder footage, but for vidding, just NO.
Windows Movie Maker is an abysmal piece of software. I know it's free, but it's unstable, it has very little flexibility with effects, it has no chapter markers, and makes the messing up of frame dimensions (aspect ratio) too easy to do, so . . . ugh. I understand that many new vidders are going to gravitate towards Movie Maker because it's already installed on their PCs, but it's got so many drawbacks that I cannot recommend that anyone choose to stick with it for very long.
Professional-level Video Software
Some vidders fall in love with the hobby of vidding to such a point where investing in more expensive, professional grade software is their next step. In addition, frequently hobby vidders start using their video editing skills in a semi-pro context.
Sony Vegas Pro is reportedly a fantastic editing program and many vidders swear by it. (And are "True Believers"!) The new version also comes with a well-reviewed feature to make titles. (But I happen to dislike its titler. So your mileage may vary on that.) Because Vegas Pro has a similar interface to Vegas Movie Studio, that means that either you'll find it simple to learn, or you'll find it foreign, confusing, and strange. (But even if you are among those of us who are put off by Vegas's unusual interface, don't give up on it—give yourself time—you can learn it, and may end up being well-pleased with all it can do for you.) For Windows only. Priced at $549.
Adobe Premiere Pro is another excellent program for vidding and should have all the features you'd require for advanced effects. Like Adobe Premiere Elements, I found it fairly easy to learn and enjoyable. For Windows and Mac. Priced at approx. $800.
Final Cut Studio is a suite of video apps, which includes the editor Final Cut Pro. (The "big brother" of Final Cut Express.) Other programs in the suite include Soundtrack (audio and scoring), Motion (motion graphics, special effects), Cinema Tools (reverse telecine), Color (advanced color adjustments), Compressor (encoder and converter), and DVD Studio Pro (designing commercial DVDs). Final Cut Studio is an industry standard and very popular among film professionals, in part because (for all that it offers) it's inexpensive. For Mac only. Priced at approx. $1300.
Avid is the "top dog" in the professional realm of video. Anyone serious about video editing as a professional will probably need to learn how to use Avid (as well as Final Cut Studio). It is expensive, often has stringent hardware requirements, and a quirky interface that many find frustrating to learn. However, it is apparently very capable in many ways. It's unlikely that most hobby vidders will find Avid attractive—in part because of the price, and also because of the steep learning curve. For Windows and Mac. Prices vary depending on the version of the software.
This vs. That: Is this program better than that program?
Is this program better than that program? I give you my unvarnished opinion. Remember: Opinions are like . . . well, a certain part of the body—everybody has one. But I'll do my best to explain my reasons.
iMovie (version 6 or 09) vs. Windows Movie Maker: Which is better? Easy. iMovie (either version). Reasons: iMovie has chapter markers or beat markers (this is really helpful for making music videos, so you can more efficiently edit to the beat), better quality, support for more codecs and file types (export your video as iPod, uncompressed, etc) more customizable effects (fine tune color balance, light/dark). There is no contest. None at all. iMovie beats Windows Movie Maker hands down. And it's also easy to learn. (Now, some WMM advocates will say WMM is even easier, and that could be true—but we are talking about making fan videos here, and certain qualities are desirable, including the need to cut to the beat and access to effects. iMovie is superior to WMM in these areas.)
Windows Movie Maker vs. Sony Vegas, Corel VideoStudio, or Final Cut Express: Which is better? You're kidding, right? Windows Movie Maker is a very simple, primitive video app that ships for free with Windows, and it proves the saying, "You get what you pay for." (Me? Scathing? No, say it ain't so!) Okay, okay, if you're just starting out, Windows Movie Maker can be okay for the first few videos. But after that, do yourself a favor and upgrade to one of these other apps which have far more features.
Sony Vegas Movie Studio vs. Corel VideoStudio: Which is better? Now, that is hard. It depends on what you are looking for. For ease of use, good for newbies while still having enough effects options (like beat markers, fine-tuning color balance, some customization of filters), I'd say that VideoStudio has an edge. For more effects (more sophisticated options for layering, masking, etc) I'd say Vegas Movie Studio. So really, it's a judgment call and depends on what is important to you. To decide for yourself, download demos for each program and make a decision.
Sony Vegas Movie Studio vs. Premiere Elements: Which is better? TOTAL judgment call. Premiere Elements has 99 video tracks (compared to Movie Studio's 4-10). And I think Premiere Elements has a very intuitive titling feature, while Movie Studio . . .not so much. But in Vegas Movie Studio's favor is that it seems to be more stable and not so monstrous in size. (And the low-end version of Vegas Movie Studio is within reach for even the most broke vidder while still having some nice features.) But still . . . many people find Vegas's interface weird and hard to learn. (But some don't.) I'd say that you should try out demos of each and decide for yourself.
Vegas Movie Studio vs. Final Cut Express: Which is better? If you talk about price only, well, Vegas Movie Studio is obviously cheaper. But if you talk about features and effects, it's Final Cut Express, hands-down. Vegas Movie Studio has fewer effects options (is in fact quite crippled compared to Final Cut Express). Final Cut Express has almost all of the same filters and goodies as Final Cut Pro. (What it lacks are advanced features that professionals need but we vidders don't.) So with Final Cut Express you're getting an "almost-pro" application for a consumer price. It also comes with LiveType, an outstanding standalone titling app. And, since Final Cut Pro is one of the industry standards in professional editing, there are a lot of filters, plug-ins, and add-ons available for it, and these are usually compatible with Final Cut Express too. (Compare the plug-ins available for Final Cut Pro & Express vs. plug-ins available for Vegas.)
So in summary, if we're talking about effects and features that will be important for making fan videos, Final Cut Express gives you much, much more than Vegas Movie Studio. (Sadly, there is nothing "consumer priced" on the Windows "side" that offers as many pro-level features as Final Cut Express.)
Rendering in Final Cut vs. Vegas (both Pro and Consumer versions): Which is better? You just pick when you want to wait for your rendering. With Vegas it happens when everything is done, and then you wait, wait, wait as Vegas renders, renders, renders. In Final Cut, you "render as you go" (add filter, render, add filter, render), which means you wait in short little increments, but when it's time to export your finished video, rendering time can be quite speedy. For instance, when I am finally finished making a vid in Final Cut, the final render can take maybe . . . 2-5 minutes (if I pick to export as ProRes HQ and my project settings were also ProRes HQ). Even if I export as some other format (like DivX or H.264) it doesn't seem to take that long . . . Where with Vegas, that final render sometimes seems to c-r-a-w-l along at a glacial pace. So it seems to me that you have to wait for both apps to render, it's just a matter of when. And what is "better" depends on what you prefer.
Vegas Pro vs. Final Cut Pro (Final Cut Studio): Which is better? What can I say? These are professional grade applications and we're talking about vidding here. It's a tough call. On one hand, Vegas Pro is definitely cheaper. (You can get a competitive upgrade from Corel VideoStudio for about $400 or so? That's great.) On the other hand, Vegas Pro has nothing like Motion (which is fantastic for special effects), and I'm sorry, but I hate hate hate Vegas Pro's titling feature. (Give me LiveType or even one of Motion's templates any day. They are easy and so, so slick.)
If you have your eye on possibly going pro at some point, you owe it to yourself to learn Final Cut Pro. It is an industry standard (kind of like Photoshop is an industry standard for graphics professionals) and no amount of "but I want to use Vegas instead" or, "But I don't want to buy a Mac" is going to change that. And, because Final Cut is one of the professional standards, there will be more tutorials for it, instructional books, professional organizations, plug-ins, filters . . . a lot of developers have made filters available for Final Cut, but I see significantly fewer for Vegas.
If you are intending to remain a hobby vidder and are currently using Windows, then a video editing app like Vegas will serve you very well. A lot of people love Vegas and find it powerful and efficient to use. So it's a bit difficult (in some ways impossible) to say which app is "better." They both will make excellent fan videos.
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