How to Choose an Editor

This feature of modern consumer editing software is probably one of the most prone to marketing hype and useless "gee whizz" promotion of all of them. Don't be fooled! Most editing programs will have a layout that generally looks like the image above. There will be a screen at the top (left or right) to preview files and your project. There will be a section next to that where … [Read more...] about Number of Tracks Available for Editing

One of the questions regarding video editing for the home user that I most often see on the various user forums I contribute to is, "Where can I get more transitions?" This is an endless source of amusement for the "old hands" and would make any pro editor throw his hands up in horror! Let me explain why because this point is one of the major sources of distraction for the … [Read more...] about Video Transitions – Much Ado About Nothing

If there is any area of video editing where you can go hog wild and create all sorts of crazy visuals it is here in the special effects area of the video editing software you choose. Having said that it is also important to understand that in most cases the "less is more" approach is oft times far more advisable! Remember, someone else is supposed to be the audience for your … [Read more...] about Video Editing Special Effects and Filters

The history of audio editing capability within video editing software products was such that in the past I never even bothered with it as a feature to look at. The average editor almost invariably carried with it the most pathetic attempts at providing the consumer with some kind of useful tools for their sound files. However things have changed over the past two or three years … [Read more...] about Audio Editing Features

All non-linear video editing software handles the video and audio assets you are using to create your project in a particular way. None of them ever actually touch the original video clips, audio clips or still images you are using. Similarly they all never actually do anything until you are totally finished making all your decisions and creative choices. Until you do finish … [Read more...] about Video Rendering Encoding Features