Guide to Video Editing Systems

In the last few years, video editing systems have greatly evolved and in many instances, have even become a commodity. Years ago, there was an incredible diversity of functions and capabilities between entry level and professional editing systems. Today, that gap has closed immensely.  Free bundled editing systems like Apple's iMove2 or Microsoft's MovieMaker II can provide many of the same functions as professional video editing systems costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Up to very recently, you needed to have the three main components of a video editing system if you wanted to be able to capture, edit and output completed video editing systems. You needed a video capture card that could convert your incoming video and audio in digital files that you could work with, If you wanted to record your video back to tape for distribution, that card also needed to be able to handle video output.

You needed special software that would actually handle nonlinear editing aspect of the process - controlling the capture of clips, trimming and managing the clips, moving the various clips around on a storyboard or timeline, adding titles, special effects and transitions, compressing the finished video for distribution and output. If you were serious about effects and transitions, you also needed acceleration hardware that would make the special effects and transitions happen quicker. Of course, you needed BIG HARD DRIVES to store the raw video and audio clips, the rendered special effects and transitions, and your finished video files.

All that has changed - except for the need for big hard drives. Luckily, big hard drives have become a lot more affordable and a lot more reliable.

No more need for video capture cards - 

Over the last few years, most prosumers and event videographers have adopted digital video camcorders that capture video and audio in a digital format. Many computers now come with DV inputs - iLink, 1394 and Firewire making it a no-brainer to get digital video into the computer. Most programs automatically recognize the camcorder make and are able to remote control it - making it very easy to capture to transfer clips from the camcorder to the computer. In addition to handling DV in, DV also handles DV out over the same set of wires. If your DV camcorder offers DV in; you can record your finished video projects from the computer back to your camcorder.

Of course, IF you are still working with analog video (VHS or 8mm) there are a wide variety of video editing systems that include a video capture (and video output) card or standalone box. Many professional and broadcasters still work with high end analog gear and require video converter/capture devices to input their video into a computer for editing.

No more need for video acceleration - 

Because of the ongoing growth in processor speeds - 2 GHz processors are now commonplace and the accompanying availability and drop in price of RAM, many of the special effects and transitions that required special acceleration hardware to accomplish in a reasonable bit of time, can now be handled by the computer's onboard processor and RAM. In addition, motherboard improvements have also resulted in less need for specialized acceleration hardware.

Software has greatly improved.

Most of the fancy effects, titling and transitions that used to require editing systems costing thousands of dollars can now be handled by "consumer" grade video editing systems. Even the "free" video editing systems bundled in most new computers - Sony's VAIO software bundles, Apples, iMovie2 and iDVD, and Microsoft's MovieMaker II, offer incredible power and range of capabilities. Not only are the programs free, they are also easy to use and master. 

Over the last few decade, video software makers at all levels have realized that usability is the most important aspect of their products. It costs more to handle a single customer questions than the price of the product itself! Two calls and the manufacturer is losing money. 

The easier it is for the end user to install and use the video editing software, the more money the manufacturers will net. Yes, fancy effects and transitions are important, but at the end of the day, especially for the home user and prosumer, usability is what makes a product a success. In addition, most software makers have greatly improved their online help, tech support and FAQ web pages. 

So what is out there - we have broken the video editing options into a few levels - free bundled video software that comes with your computer.

Inexpensive video editing systems that cost $200 or less - some of these include hardware for analog video capture and output. Most of these also bundled DVD authoring and burning capabilities.  

See Doug Dixon's guide to video editing systems. Also see ULead VideoStudio 7,   Nova Video Explosion, muvee AutoProducer3, VegasVideo and Magix Video reviews

Pioneer AO5 Review, How to Burn DVDs, How to Make DVD Movies and Video Editing Programs with DVD Authoring 

Prosumer gear - most of these $200 to $1,000 systems include a video capture card with acceleration as well as sophisticated video editing software. 

Finally, professional systems. Many of these come pre-configured and are targeted to power users who utilize these systems day in and day out - often with uncompressed video streams and HDTV. They have to move lots of video around and need the extra power and oomph provided by special hardware.