Affordable Video Editing Software - A Review of 3 Picks (2 For Free Download!)
Doing video editing as part of my job as a social media marketer, many of my co-workers and friends come to me with questions about video making.
And I'm glad they do! I'm very passionate about what I do, and always love discussing it with anyone interested.
Recently, a friend, looking to start making some videos for his personal blog, asked me in an email "What is the best (affordable) video editing software? I want to basically cut and paste clips and create my own videos.
" I figured he wasn't the only one out there wondering about cheap video editors, so here's the gist of what I sent back to him (I've used all three): #1 Windows Movie Maker If you're running a Windows machine, then you've already got Movie Maker installed (Start>All Programs).
I started out learning video editing using WMM 2.
1 for XP.
A good first step for a beginner or just-for-fun user, but lacks advanced features like layering via multiple tracks.
#2 Wax 2.
0 Wax 2.
0e is a video editor free for download online.
In terms of features, it's a step up from WMM-allows for multiple tracks and is capable of chroma keying (effect for green screening).
Download here: http://www.
debugmode.
com/wax/ #3 Sony Vegas Movie Studio I currently use Sony Vegas Pro 8.
0; at a few hundred dollars for purchase, I certainly wouldn't call it affordable.
However, Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum has many of the same upper-level features and effects, but only costs $85.
Purchase here: http://www.
sonycreativesoftware.
com/products/vegasfamily.
asp If you're just getting into video editing or want only basic features, I'd recommend trying out Movie Maker first.
If you end up wanting to do something more advanced, you can always move up to Wax or Vegas Movie Studio.
Regardless of which you choose, though, if you're a blogger, the important thing is that you do choose--the days of text only are long gone! For all online content creators and marketers going forward, video is definitely going to be part of the picture.
And I'm glad they do! I'm very passionate about what I do, and always love discussing it with anyone interested.
Recently, a friend, looking to start making some videos for his personal blog, asked me in an email "What is the best (affordable) video editing software? I want to basically cut and paste clips and create my own videos.
" I figured he wasn't the only one out there wondering about cheap video editors, so here's the gist of what I sent back to him (I've used all three): #1 Windows Movie Maker If you're running a Windows machine, then you've already got Movie Maker installed (Start>All Programs).
I started out learning video editing using WMM 2.
1 for XP.
A good first step for a beginner or just-for-fun user, but lacks advanced features like layering via multiple tracks.
#2 Wax 2.
0 Wax 2.
0e is a video editor free for download online.
In terms of features, it's a step up from WMM-allows for multiple tracks and is capable of chroma keying (effect for green screening).
Download here: http://www.
debugmode.
com/wax/ #3 Sony Vegas Movie Studio I currently use Sony Vegas Pro 8.
0; at a few hundred dollars for purchase, I certainly wouldn't call it affordable.
However, Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum has many of the same upper-level features and effects, but only costs $85.
Purchase here: http://www.
sonycreativesoftware.
com/products/vegasfamily.
asp If you're just getting into video editing or want only basic features, I'd recommend trying out Movie Maker first.
If you end up wanting to do something more advanced, you can always move up to Wax or Vegas Movie Studio.
Regardless of which you choose, though, if you're a blogger, the important thing is that you do choose--the days of text only are long gone! For all online content creators and marketers going forward, video is definitely going to be part of the picture.