Video editing for a newb ... Where to start ?

[shadyshabby]

So, I am looking to get into video editing. I want to eventually make professional style videos but I don't know where to start.

1. Should I go with Avid, Adobe, or some other brand (suggestions?)

2. Should I maybe start off with beginner software like adobe elements ? Will the tools I acquire using the limited software translate when I transition to professional software ? This is mainly cost concerned :lol:

3. What other programs should I looks into (I've heard something about "after effects") ? What will these programs add that the initial software doesn't provide ?

4. Will my specs (see sig) be a sufficient rig for the task at hand ?

5. Will I need a Monitor better than 1080p (what I have right now) or can I produce higher quality video without having to shell out the extra x amount of dollars. Once again, this is a cost issue.

I have a few more questions but I don't want to overwhelm anybody just yet :lol: Any wisdom you could pass down would be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Shabby

 

[Athena]

The three best known "professional" video products are Avid Liquid, Sony Vegas, and Adobe Premiere. They run betwwen $500 and $800 retail (academic licenses are available if you qualify). Each of those publishers also offer "consumer" products that run between $80-$100 -- Pinnacle Studio (3 levels), Sony Vegas Movie Studio (3 levels), and Adobe Premiere Elements. There are also some other video products that are consumer only -- Corel Video Studio, Roxio Creator, etc.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio and Adobe Premiere Elements are subsets of the professional products so the commands and formats are consistent. Pinnacle bought Avid a few years ago; the professional and consumer products have similar function but some relearning is needed if you go from Pinnacle Studio to Avid Liquid.

IMHO, Sony Vegas Movie Studio is the best all-around consumer level product. It may not be quite as easy to use as Pinnacle but you can get high quality output with much less work than with Premiere. Also, the DVD authoring component, which is how you combine videos on a disk and make menus is much better than anything included in other packages. There were so many bugs with making menus in Pinnacle that I bought a separate authoring package -- which is not needed with Sony Vegas.

Fry's seems to have one of the Sony packages on sale every other week. Fry's also promotes other entry level video products too. For example, Corel Video Studio X2 is currently going for $10 after rebate. That might be a good way to get started with the basics to give you a better idea of what you need going forward. If you think you'll be doing a lot of work in this area though, might want to wait a few weeks for a deal on Sony Vegas Studio Platinum.

You can also download 30-day trials of the Pinnacle, Sony, Adobe, and Corel products to see what works best for you.

Note: There are also some specialized products that are better for specific kinds of videos such as slideshows (ProShow Gold) or computer training (Camtasia).

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: shadyshabby
3. What other programs should I looks into (I've heard something about "after effects") ? What will these programs add that the initial software doesn't provide ?

Adobe After Effects is a package for professional video producers that manages extensive visual effects. It's highly unlikely that you would need that.

There are lots of add-ons/plug-ins for sound and visual effects to use in amateur videos. The editors all come with some effects and you can buy extras as you go along. Visual effects are generally sold in downloadable packages and you can also purchase sounds or music to suit your projects.

Sony Vegas Movie Pro is a bundle that includes two other Sony products -- Sony Sound Forge and Sony Acid Music Studio. I use Sony Sound Forge (which I got free after rebate) to convert analog recordings and add them to my videos. Sony Acid Music Studio is a is consumer version of Sony's digital music editor.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: shadyshabby
So, I am looking to get into video editing. I want to eventually make professional style videos but I don't know where to start.

The first place I'd start is with the camera. If you want "professional style" videos, you'll need a high quality camera to capture your subject material.
Once you determine what camera you'll be using, you can research the best software (at your price point), that can edit the format your camera uses.

There's lots of variation in the power, ease of use and complexity in video editing software.
You need to find the editor that works best for YOU. Download as many trial versions as you can, to see what type you prefer.
A low cost editor may work out to be the most comfortable for you to use.
High end software titles have tons of bells and whistles that most people will NEVER need.

Another thing to remember is that a "professional style" video doesn't need to be cluttered with vast quantities of special effects, etc...
Simpler and cleaner is most often BETTER.


Common Mistakes During Video Editing (Shane Burley)...
"<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/video/articles/23640.aspx">Over using effects is a way that new filmmakers think that they can cover up the things that were lacking with their technique and resources during production.
This is the absolute opposite of the truth.
This will highlight problems in the film and limit its view-ability over all. All effects should have a real purpose that the editor and director can justify when questioned.</a>"