Professional Video Editing Software, Part 1

There are a lot of strong professional editing software packages, so over the next few days we'll talk about a few of the best. This information mostly comes from a post on masternewmedia.org, but I can tell you first hand that Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut are my personal favorites. They operate differently and have different strong points, but they are both very effective in the end. Nevertheless, here is what I found in doing some research:

Inside the category "professional video editing", belong those video editing tools like Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut which are the standard inside professional film and video production houses and among advanced video-makers who want full control over their video production.

These professional video editing software tools allow you to trim to the single frame, to slow down or speed up your video or audio tracks, to add filters and special effects just like it is done inside professional Hollywood film productions. If you need to capture, import or encode in just about any video format, whether in standard 4:3 aspect ratio or in full 16:9, the professional video editing software tools selected in this comparison guide have all you may have ever need on this front.

Most also include support for de-interlacing, chroma-key, and other video editing and post-production features not normally found in the less expensive, free or consumer solutions.
All this power comes for a price, obviously. Professional video editing tools are generally priced at over $300, though there are a few exceptions which are a bit more affordable.

Let's have a look then into some of the key traits that characterize these professional video editing software tools:

Drag and drop video editing: Manage your video in a drag and drop fashion. Just move your clips around the timeline, then re-order and trim to get the output you desire.

Special effects: Enhance and personalize your video with a wide spectrum of transitions types, 3D effects and filters.

Audio import and editing: Utilize and edit one or multiple audio tracks from your computer to create a soundtrack for your movie.

Title and credits: Add an overlay text and final credits to your video. Choose among different fonts, colors and styles.

HD support: Crete and edit videos produced using 1280x720 pixels (720p) or 1920x1080 pixels (1080i / 1080p) resolutions.

16:9 Support: Produce or upscale videos recorded in 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9 format.

H.264 support: Take advantage of the H.264 compression codec to produce high-quality video clips.

DVD creation: Create compatible discs that can be read in any DVD or Blu-Ray disc player.
Here below is also a set of comparative tables and individual reviews to help you compare all of these professional video editing software tools. The additional criteria selected include:
Platform: Specific operating system supported to run the video editing software tool.
Input formats: Supported video file types that you can upload to the video editing software tool (AVC-Intra, DV, GFCAM, HDV, R3D, XDCAM, etc.)

Output formats: Video formats used to save your video projects once edited (FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MP4, WMA, etc.)

AVHCD support: High-quality video format used by tapeless consumer camcorders that can be used for authoring and distribution of high-definition video.

FLV support: Input support for the popular video file format developed by Adobe which is the standard technology to distribute video on the web.

Multicam editing: Real-time mixing and selection of multiple video camera angles just like it happens in a professional recording studio.

Online collaboration: Web streaming in real-time of the video you are encoding to allow members of your team to provide live feedback.

Free trial: Free evaluation period to test the video editing software tool.

Price: Cost of the retail copy or digital download video editing software tool (applies to what is less-priced).

Tomorrow we'll take a more in-depth look at the individual pieces of software.

SOURCE: http://www.masternewmedia.org/professional-video-editing-software-comparison-guide-to-the-best-video-editors/

Top Editing Programs for Beginners

If you want to add titles to that wedding you taped, or remove unwanted scenes from your son's birthday party movie, you can do it with a video editing program.
The cheaper programs will give you automated or 'quick-n-easy' methods of editing video, while the higher end programs will let you customize and tweak every video frame to your heart's content. Here are my top 7 recommendations for video editing programs that are suitable for novice video enthusiasts.

Ulead VideoStudio
Ulead VideoStudio has long been a favorite amongst digital video enthusiasts. It's an easy-to-use software that allows you to quickly convert captured video into DVD movies. If you want to get creative, there are also more than a thousand stylish effects, transitions and audio tools. Other great features include Video Pan & Zoom, Chroma Key and DVD motion menus - all of which are normally found in expensive commercial applications.

Pinnacle Studio Plus
Pinnacle Studio Plus is another great video editing tool for beginners. This video editing and disc authoring application features an intuitive interface and seamless workflow so that you can easily create professional looking videos. With hundreds of professional-quality functionalities such as Chroma Key, Picture-in-Picture effects, image stabilization and digital surround sound, this versatile video editing package is sure to please. You can check out my full review of this software for more information.

Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements is considered by many as a 'lite' version of its more commercial cousin Adobe Premiere Pro. Premiere Elements offers the perfect combination of creative control and reliability for home video editing. Whether you just quickly edit your footage, add fun effects, and create custom DVDs, or experiment with more complex effects, this software package will allow you to do it. I highly recommend it - for more information, check out this review.

Roxio VideoWave Professional
Roxio VideoWave 7 Professional is a quick-and-easy video editing tool that allows you to turn your captured video into DVDs in a jiffy. There are in-built Hollywood-style transitions, special effects, text credits and music which you can experiment with. Throw in Dolby Digital sound, along with a very reasonable price - and we have a winner.

muvee AutoProducer
This little gem of a video editing tool is a big favorite amongst many beginner digital video enthusiasts. Muvee AutoProducer lets you compile a movie project in a few simple steps. Start with some raw footage captured from a digital camcorder, choose some MP3 background music, pick a style and voila! The rest is magic - you get is a professional looking video complete with scene transitions, soundtrack, opening titles and end credits.

WinDVD Creator
WinDVD Creator 2 from InterVideo is a simple, low cost software package that can convert almost any video source to a VCD or DVD directly - without having to first store it on a hard drive. Beginners can easily accomplish taks with a startup wizard or progress to a more complex storyboard-editing mode. This mode shows the video clip sequence and allows the addition of special effects, transitions or audio. I also like the interesting built-in feature of removing commercials from videos
directly downloaded from a TV source.

Video Explosion Deluxe
The final tool in this list of top beginner video editors is Video Explosion Deluxe. This video editing program allows you to turn ordinary videos into professional productions quickly and easily. With an enormous library of video clips, music and sound effects, you can experiment to your heart's content. On the whole, a highly recommended video software for both home and business.
Conclusion
Which of these video editing programs would you pick? Well it's a close fight between Ulead VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio Plus . Both of these products are simple enough for beginners yet have sophisticated features for intermediate level users. They will satisfy your video editing needs for a long time to come. Besides these programs, Ulead MediaStudio Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro are also high on my recommendation list if you intend to go into professional video editing.

SOURCE: http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-7-video-editing-software-review.html

The Top 5 Free Editing Programs

Once you shoot some video, you probably are going to want to edit it. I'll look at all different levels of video editing software over the next few weeks, but I'll start with the free ones today. I don't have a ton of experience with any of these as I have always had professional editing software... even at home. However, here is what I found out about free editing software:

Microsoft Movie Maker
Already installed on newer computers that are running Windows XP, Movie Maker has drag and drop features to make creating and editing your movie easier. Microsoft has many add-ons for this software, and upgrades are available through the website. This is one of the best free video editing software programs available.

Apple iMovie
Apple iMovie is comparable to Windows Movie Maker, but Apple iMovie is used on the MAC operating system. Apple iMovie has many advanced features and add-ons. Unfortunately, the software is only free if you buy a new MAC system. If you want the software without buying the system, it is available for purchase. One of the best free video editing programs available for MAC users.


Avid FreeDV
Avid FreeDV is available for both Windows and MAC operating systems, and includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, as well as up to two streams of real-time effects. On the whole, a solid video editing program that is slightly hard to use, but very powerful once you learn its ins and outs.


Wax
Wax is a high performance and flexible free video editing software program. It
started out as a college project, and has since grown. Wax is good for both
home users and professionals. It can be used as a stand-alone application, or
as a plug-in to other video editors. The software also features unlimited video and audio tracks with top-down compositing.

Zwei-Stein
Zwei-Stein is great free video editing software, but the user interface is
very technical. It is full featured, offering many different effects. It can
edit up to 256 video, audio, and still image clips. There are up to 64 effects, which can be chained serially. An interesting program that's worth looking at.
Conclusion
Microsoft Movie Maker for Windows users, and Apple iMovie for MAC users are probably the two easiest to use free video editing software programs available. Both of the products will allow you to do what you want to do with your videos. However, trying out the others, you may find that you are able to add more effects and such to your videos as well. Of all the available programs out there, these are the top five free video editing software programs available.

Source: http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-video-editing-software-review.html

Lighting Basics, Part 5

Lighting Effects

Cold / Warm
You can add to the feeling of coldness or warmth by using additional filters or doubling up on gels. Very blue means very cold, very red/orange means very hot.
Moonlight (or any night-time light)
This is an old standard technique which has become something of a cliché. You can make daytime seem like night by lowering the exposure slightly and adding a blue filter to the camera. However a convincing illusion may require more effort than this — you don't want any daytime giveaways such as birds flying through shot. You also need to think about any other lighting which should appear in shot, such as house or street lights.

Firelight
To light a person's face as if they were looking at a fire, try this: Point a redhead with orange gel away from the subject at a large reflector which reflects the light back at the subject. Shake the reflector to simulate firelight (remember to add sound effects as well).

Watching TV
To light a person's face as if they were watching TV, shine a blue light at the subject and wave a piece of cloth or paper in front of the light to simulate flickering.

Source: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/effects/

Tips for Lighting People

Harsh light is not flattering; soft light creates a warmer feel.
Avoid strong nose shadows or any strong contrast on the face. Place the key light on the same side as the camera and fill the shadows.
Avoid reflections from glasses. You may need to adjust the position of the subject and/or lights to do this.
Beware bald heads — they can reflect a lot of light and appear over-exposed. Try weakening or softening the light with a diffusion gel.
Soft light and diffusion helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Source: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/tips/people.html

Lighting Basics, Part 4

Lighting with Background Windows

Shooting pictures indoors with external windows is a common issue for photographers and video makers. The large difference in light levels between the room and the outside view make finding the correct exposure a challenge. Video is particularly susceptible to this problem due to it's relatively low contrast ratio.
If you can't avoid having the window in shot, in most cases the only thing you can do is use the manual iris to set your exposure correctly for the subjects in the room. This means that the window will be over-exposed but that's a necessary compromise. If you wish to show the outside view, expose the iris for the window (which will make the room dark).
If you have time and resources available, there are two things you can do to help even out the lighting so it's possible to capture both areas effectively:
Add more light to the room
Reduce the light from the window
(1) Increase the Lighting in the Room
Any extra light you can shine on the subject will decrease the contrast ratio between them and the window.
In some cases switching on the standard room lighting can help, although this often introduces new problems such as clashing colour temperatures and harsh downward shadows.
It's possible that a reflector board could be useful.
(2) Reduce the Light from the Window
You can reduce the amount of light coming through the window by placing some sort of filter over it.
In the example pictured here, black scrim (a fine mesh material) is taped to the window. You can see that the background is much more manageable through the scrim.
If the entire window needs to be in shot you'll need to be careful and discreet with the scrim/filter. It can be difficult getting exactly the right fit. If only part of the window is in shot it's a lot easier.
Filters can cause unwanted side effects such as ripple and the moire effect. Being further away from the window helps.

Source: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/background/windows.html

Lighting Basics, Part 3

DIY Lighting Kit

Professional lighting kits for video and photography are very expensive. Fortunately for the budget-impaired enthusiast, it is possible to put together a perfectly adequate lighting kit for less than $US100.

A good beginner's lighting kit should include:
Three (or more) lights with stands
Reflector board(s)
Power cables, extension leads and a multi-box.

The Lights
The standard budget light is the halogen work lamp which can be found at any hardware store or purchased at amazon.com for as little as $US10. These come with or without a stand and range from around 150W to 500W.
The stand-less units have a small handle and can be rested on any solid surface such as a table or the floor. This is not ideal for your main lights but it can be useful for fill lighting, backgrounds, etc. In any case these units are so cheap that it can't hurt to buy a couple.
Lights with stands are more versatile and you should have at least one of these (preferably two or three). Try to find a stand which goes up to around 2 metres (the height of a tall person).
Some lights can be used with or without the stand, making them even more versatile.
One drawback of these cheap lights is that the colour of the light is quite yellow. As long as you white-balance your camera this isn't a huge issue, but if you want the best quality lighting you can try one of these solutions:
Purchase a 32K white bulb (ask your hardware supplier).
Place a coloured gel in front of the light to correct the colour.
Speaking of gels, the other big drawback of these lights is that there is no built-in system for mounting accessories like gels and diffusers. You can improvise by creating a wire holder or separate stand for accessories.
You will also find that you can't alter the spread of these lights, i.e. from floodlight to spotlight. This is not a big concern for most people but if you do need this functionality you might need to consider a professional video lighting kit.

Reflectors
Professional reflector boards are used to add or control light in a scene. You can make your own from just about any large reflective object, although the exact colour and reflectivity will obviously affect your lighting. Common suggestions for an improvised reflector include:
Windshield sunshade
Sheet of foamcore
Polystyrene sheet
Stiff cardboard, or tin foil on cardboard (try both sides of the foil for different effects)
Whiteboard
Survival blanket (gold on one side and silver on the other)
Hobby shops have a lot of items which may be of interest. Online auction sites are also worth checking as reflectors can often be found fairly cheap there.

Power
You will need a few power extension cables of varying lengths, plus one or more multi-boxes with built-in trip switches. It helps to have a separate carry case for power cables.

Safety
Lights get very hot! Seriously, you can burn yourself badly or set fire to things.
Lights can draw a lot of current so be careful not to overload power sources.
If you're working outside, use an isolating transformer on your power.

Source: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/diy/

Lighting Basics, Part 2

Lighting For Video & Television

Video lighting is based on the same principles as lighting for any other visual media. If you haven't done so already, you should read through our general lighting tutorials before reading this page, which deals specifically with lighting issues for video.

Light Sources
All video uses some sort of lighting, whether it be natural light (from the sun) or artificial lights. The goal of video lighting is to choose the best source(s) to achieve your goals.
First and foremost you need enough light. You must ensure that your camera is able to record an acceptable picture in the conditions. With modern cameras this is seldom a problem except in very low light or strong contrast.
Assuming you have enough light, you must then consider the quality of the light and how the various light sources combine to produce the image.
If you have clashing light sources (e.g. artificial interior lights with sunlight coming through the windows), you may find the colours in your image appear unnatural. It's best to control the light sources yourself if possible (e.g. turn off the lights or close the curtains).
When moving between locations, think about what light source you are using. If you move from an outside setting to an inside one with artificial lights, the amount of light may seem the same but the colour temperature will change according to the type of lights. In this case you need to white balance your camera for the new light source.

Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio is the difference in brightness between the brightest and darkest parts of the picture. Video does not cope with extreme contrast as well as film, and nowhere near as well as the human eye. The result of over-contrast is that some parts of the picture will be too bright or too dark to see any detail. For this reason you need to ensure that there is not too much contrast in your shot. See Camera Contrast Ratio for more details.

Camera-Mounted Lights
The camera-mounted light is an easy, versatile solution used by amateurs and professionals alike. Typically the light will draw power from the camera battery, although a separate power supply can be used. Be aware that lights which draw power from the camera battery will significantly shorten the battery's charge time.
This type of lighting does not create pleasing effects. it is a "blunt instrument" approach which is really only designed to illuminate the scene enough to allow normal camera operations. However it is a simple, practical solution.

Night-Mode Video Shooting
Some cameras offer a special "night vision" option which allows you to shoot with virtually no light. This mode uses infrared light instead of normal visible light.
This is useful in extreme circumstances when you have no other option. Unfortunately the results tend to be poor-quality monochrome green.
Of course, you can use this mode for a special effect if it suits the content.

Source: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/video/

Lighting Basics, Part 1

One of the most important things you can do when acquiring (shooting) video and film is light the subject properly. This is particularly important when you are using a less than professional camera indoors. So, I feel like the next thing we should talk about is lighting. There is a wealth of information on this subject, so I'll do this over the course of the next few days. Here's Lighting 101... The Standard 3-Point Lighting Technique:

The Three Point Lighting Technique is a standard method used in visual media such as video, film, still photography and computer-generated imagery. It is a simple but versatile system which forms the basis of most lighting. Once you understand three point lighting you are well on the way to understanding all lighting.
The technique uses three lights called the key light, fill light and back light. Naturally you will need three lights to utilise the technique fully, but the principles are still important even if you only use one or two lights. As a rule:
If you only have one light, it becomes the key.
If you have 2 lights, one is the key and the other is either the fill or the backlight.

Key Light
This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.

Fill Light
This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. To acheive this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.

Back Light
The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.
If you have a fourth light, you could use it to light the background of the entire scene.

This information was found at: http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/three-point/

A Brief Look at Camcorders

I saw this list on a CNET review and found the information pretty interesting. I agree with most all of what is said here. I will say that I would add the Sony EX1 to this list if it was my list. Also, these are really all consumer camcorders... or at best the higher end ones are prosumer. We'll get into the professional cameras another day, but expect to see the Sony XDCAM and the Scarlet from RED. That said, most consumers can't afford the more expensive cameras (over $1000). That is why I think there is no doubt that for the average consumer there is no better camera for the money than the Canon VIXIA HV30. I own one myself for shooting video at my boys baseball games and on our trips to the river. The image (at least outdoors) is phenomenal. That is the one camera on this list that I can personally recommend.

Canon XH A1
Have you ever wanted to be the next Ken Burns? Do you have an incredible independent film hidden away in the folds of your brain? If you want to unleash your cinematic vision upon the world, the XH A1 has the tools you need to get the job done and will leave your production budget in better shape than a lot of its competitors would.
Price:$4,999.95 - $4,999.95 (check prices)
Filed in: Best pro camcorders, Best HD camcorders
Read full review

Panasonic HDC-TM300 (Black)
While its touch-screen interface might annoy, the TM300 provides lots of manual controls, produces very good HD video and is one of the few camcorders left to offer an EVF.
Price:$1,056.95 - $1,299.95 (check prices)
Filed in: Best HD camcorders
Read full review

Canon Vixia HV30
With all the talk of hard drives, flash memory, and DVDs, you might think that tape doesn't cut it any more. But, it's still one of the best ways to capture high-definition video and this Canon maintains the high video quality and comfortable design of its predecessor, the HV20.
Price:$599.95 - $1,499.99 (check prices)
Filed in: Best home movie camcorders, Best HD camcorders
Read full review

Canon Vixia HF200
Recording video onto flash memory instead of tape or hard drives lets manufacturers create smaller, lighter camcorders. The main downside is that you need big cards and that can get pricey. This Canon delivers great video quality and makes the most of its flash-based design, while leaving a little room in your budget to buy some memory cards.
Price:$539.00 - $889.95 (check prices)
Filed in: Best home movie camcorders, Best HD camcorders
Read full review

Flip UltraHD (black)
While direct-to-Web minicamcorders provide pretty lackluster feature sets, they can't be beat if you're looking to cheaply create viral cat videos for YouTube. And for that, the UltraHD goes to the head of its class.
Price:$169.99 - $214.99 (check prices)
Filed in: Best budget camcorders
Read full review

This information comes from Lori Grunin Senior Editor (link: http://reviews.cnet.com/best-camcorders/?tag=rb_content;contentNav)

Well, that's it... I've become a blogger. What else can I do in my life that I said I would never do. I guess this is what happens when you get old. I have been working in the professional video industry for over 15 years now, and I just can't help but want to help young aspiring video editors as well as hobbyists. I suppose many don't want my help, but, well, they don't have to take it if they don't want it. Just so you know, my plan is to try to post some interesting tips, facts and such about video editing, videography, lighting, audio editing, video and audio software and equipment each day. Well, I'll do my best to put something up every day, but please don't give up on me if I miss a day or two. Additionally, be aware that some days I'll cater to hobbyists and others to professionals... and sometimes in between (prosumers). So be patient while I figure this whole blogging thing out, and I'll do my best to give you some useful stuff every day. Also, feel free to send me information or to request my thoughts on a certain subject that you are struggling with at this very moment. I feel sure that my colleagues and I will be able to supply you with some quality advice for almost any issue. Alright blog addicts, that's it for now. I'll look forward to seeing y'all here tomorrow as I begin with the basics... affordable cameras.