Vegas Movie Studio 9
Digital camcorders are dropping in price every week, and the feature sets on consumer level models continue to expand. Combine that with free video hosting services like YouTube, it’s now not only possible to produce something of decent quality, but develop an audience as well. The problem is, unless you have an uncanny eye and sense of production, you’re going to need to edit these videos before posting!
Mac users have iMovie, and I’m incredibly happy for them. I’ve used it, found it to be a very productive program, but I’m a PC guy. Steve Jobs doesn’t care about me. And that’s fine, I’m not his biggest fan either. He produces over priced equipment, and cares more for form than function.
Windows Movie Maker is a cute little program that I’ve used to create some nice looking pieces, but the feature set is a bit limited. Works great in a pinch though, and syncs well with Windows DVD Maker. It’s very intuitive, and is great to learn with before you invest in more advanced software. I recommend it for absolute beginners.
But I found that I needed something more, but not too much. Adobe was great, but it’s really geared towards the professional. I just kind of got lost in it. After hours of careful research, I found that Sony Vegas Movie Studio might be firmly anchored in that ‘middle ground’ between ‘beginner’ and ‘pro.’ For under $100, you can be well on your way to producing some snazzy looking stuff.
The are three different versions, and I recommend purchasing the most full featured one you can afford; with things like this it’s best to have more than you need, and not the other way around. The package includes software to make royalty free sound tracks, a package of sound effects, a DVD suite, and some other cool goodies. Best part is, everything is up-gradable, so you’re not locked into a feature set.
There is room to grow as well. Once you become a master editor, Vegas offers a ‘Pro’ suite for experts. Everything you learn should transfer over. All thing considered, I think Vegas Movie Studio may be your best bet for balance between features, ease of use, and cost. (I’d try eBay if you’re considering purchasing, it’s often cheaper)
–Jeremy Hobbs
