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What is THE best video editing software?

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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
I'm becoming tired of the extent that I can edit footage in Windows Movie Maker and iMovie(is it iMovie? I forget). They have basic special effects which was good at first, but now I'm looking for a program with a little more advanced techniques and effects which will put my unique signature on whatever video I create.

I've heard Sony Vegas was a good one, but is there a better one? What do some pros use to edit footage? Suggestions and help are appreciated.
Dec 10 2009 6:46PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9931 - Karma: 9,399
Try Adobe Premiere Elements 7. I found it was a nice balence between features and ease of use. I went into it after becoming a pro windows movie maker-er and it wasn't too difficult to start editing, and you learn features over time. Sure its nowhere near as good as other software, but I liked how I wasnt looking up endless how-to guides online after I installed, I could just jump right in
Dec 10 2009 6:56PM
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dylansiggers
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 6,089
this is what i did, but with sony vegas instead of adobe
Dec 10 2009 7:07PM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
Was there a specific reason you chose Sony Vegas?
Dec 10 2009 7:14PM
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icantskiiFILM
Posts: 2113 - Karma: 140
ive done tons of edits and shit im pretty experienced and i stick with Final Cut Pro. Its pretty solid all the way around. i own Avid and have used Sony Vegas numerous times. FCP is the best bet
Dec 10 2009 9:55PM
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knblhjgkfjxdzsg
Posts: 354 - Karma: 491
Final Cut Pro, or anything in the Final Cut family.
Dec 10 2009 10:24PM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
^unfortunately I don't own a mac, so it's no good to me. I also unfortunately don't actually own a camera(yet) so I have to use my school's cam. It's old, and requires something called a firewire which is only on the school mac which is why I brought up iMovie.
Dec 11 2009 1:49AM
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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
i think most video cameras require firewire, anything with tapes does, and most pcs should have them
Dec 11 2009 8:32AM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
Well then I need to find one.
Dec 11 2009 9:35AM
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iLLbiLLy
Posts: 2865 - Karma: 2,631
I've been using vegas since vegas pro 5.  I also have had premiere for just as long.  Vegas is a great program that is excent with workflow.  It's simple and clean.  Premiere is also a great program with alot of bells and whistles that vegas doesn't have. However I don't really use any of these features so I stick with vegas because i can work faster on it.  It's really just personal preference. If I had as much experience editing with premiere as i do on vegas maybe i would like it better.  As far as final cut goes, I'm sure its a great program but I'm just not a fan of the mac GUI.

Remember its the man behind the program that makes a good edit, not the program.
Dec 11 2009 11:13AM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
I know, the program just assists my ideas and visions.
Dec 11 2009 11:42AM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,814
Avid Mojo DX is probably THE best editing system. I personally think the Avid workflow is about five years behind FCP and Premiere, but it can handle large amounts of HD-4k footage vastly better than either program. This is also why it costs four thousand dollars more than FCP or Premiere.

If you don't have five thousand dollars to drop, I'd recommend getting a $25 firewire card and an older version of Premiere on eBay for a couple hundred bucks.
Dec 11 2009 1:25PM
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A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
Went from WMM to Sony Vegas 8 pro. I've been using sony vegas for almost 6 months now and I tried premiere at my friends house and I just didn't like it. I guess i have got so used to vegas I just stay with it.
I find premiere more beginner friendly though ,but other people beg to differ.
Dec 11 2009 3:47PM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
Yeah I decided on Vegas too.
Dec 11 2009 4:49PM
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EH_DUBS
Posts: 3080 - Karma: 969
ive always wanted to try avid.

is it really like 4 grand? haha.
Dec 11 2009 6:54PM
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4ReeL_
Posts: 3187 - Karma: 1,563
FCP
Dec 11 2009 8:27PM
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knblhjgkfjxdzsg
Posts: 354 - Karma: 491
TORRENTS FTW (if you are broke and are independent)
Dec 12 2009 1:02AM
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Cincher
Posts: 3403 - Karma: 535
Yup. I basically torrented a disc crack and a liscense generator. Works great.
Dec 13 2009 10:19PM
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