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Noobie Software - what do you recommend for beginner editor?

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Sam Smith
posted by - sunzhen 2009-08-03 04:51:47

Should I jump straight into something like Final Cut Pro or Avid. Or should I first learn to use Windows Movie Maker?

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Editing

Comments

  • A_up 4 A_down
    Michael Potton
    posted by - Mike2009-08-07 05:18:55

    iMovie and Garage Band on the mac side of things are a very powerful consumer combo. But Windows Movie Maker doesn't really cut it. On the windows side go for Premiere Elements. If your thinking about going pro later down the track then just dive straight into Final Cut Express/Pro or Avid. The steep learning curve will be worth it and theirs plenty of free tutorials available.

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    Ian Lawton
    posted by - rshorts2009-09-07 15:52:55

    I would imagine that Walter Murch himself would have no problem putting together a nice and beautiful sequence on iMovie. Don't think software is going to make you a better editor, use the tools you have, become fluent in the language of film before you progress.

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    Simon Ross
    posted by - SsorNomis2010-02-22 14:14:31

    definitely just go straight for final cut pro. don't waste your time with programs like windows movie maker. there basically useless

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    shane sutton
    posted by - shane2010-04-21 11:55:42

    I'd do about 3 attemps of cutting in i movie or something similar. if your happy with being able to chop and fade clips then move straight on to the higher proformance apps . once you have a grasp of basic cutting move on up. dont waste your time stickin in the lower end if you are serious. for work flow and using different types of footage and files - final cut is proably easier. That said Avid is also a great tool.

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    Philip McCaw
    posted by - pmccaw2009-09-03 02:47:08

    I've recently moved to a Mac and after about a week using iMovie I paid the money and went for Final Cut Express. iMovie can produce great simple movies but does not give you the finer control that FCE gives you. BUT FCE is much harder. On Windows i used to use Edit Studio (www.mediachance.com). For the money ($US89) this is an exceptionally good package and i haven't found anything in FCE yet that Edit Studio couldn't do.

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    Sam Smith
    posted by - sunzhen2009-09-10 19:00:25

    thx rshots.

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    Weston Woodbury
    posted by - halo_bone2010-01-19 00:01:37

    Keep in mind the easiest way to learn something is to do it. If you ultimately want to learn Avid or Final Cut Pro, for example, you're not making it easier by starting with WMM or iMovie. If you do want to keep things on an really easy learning curve and get professional results with more flexibility that those simple programs, though, and since you're presumably on a PC since you mentioned WMM, I'd recommend at least trying the 30 day trial of Grass Valley's Edius. It's great in many ways and it's growing big time, especially outside the US.

  • A_up 0 A_down
    Avatar
    posted by - 3rd1video2010-03-26 01:59:40

    Final Cut all the way

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    Evan Osborne
    posted by - amadeuskong2010-05-07 17:50:37

    I started out on some other editing programs but once I took my editing classes and started to learn the in's and out's of Final Cut I swore to never use anything else. So by all means if you can get your hands on a copy of FCP or express go for it and learn it you will not be disappointed.

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    Joana Morais
    posted by - JoanaMorais2010-07-05 13:48:58

    I recommend Corel VideoStudio Pro X3, easy and intuitive to edit, not a professional tool per se but quite good and you can use it with Windows XP or Vista, in any case all the aforementioned, Final Cut, Avid, have pretty much the same user end settings, with slight differences in terms of real time effects, renderings and editing. To use Avid [windows or mac] or Final Cut[mac only] be prepared to spend quite a bit of money, so better make sure that there will be some kind of reward, that is some financial return. Keep in mind that in both Avid and Final Cut you'll need external storage for uncompressed media, something like a SCSI tower. With a software like VSPro basically a normal PC, with a good graphic card, DVD(blue ray recording, with at least 2 GB RAM will do the job and it will look good. more specs in here http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1175714228541#tabview=tab4 good luck.