What can you do with Video Editing Software?

Step aside Steven Spielberg. With Video Editing Software, you can create and share your own screen sensations with the world . Make your own action flicks, funny clips or video memories effortlessly or post to your video blog in seconds with a capable video editing program.

Good video editing software provides you with the tools needed to capture, edit and share your video creations. With the most functional programs, you can:

CAPTURE VIDEO

• Capture video from digital recorders; the best can capture video from DV, HDV, MicroDV, AVCHD and analog camcorders as well as from digital and PC cameras.
• Capture video from traditional entertainment formats, like analog TV and VCR recording with the right hardware.

EDIT VIDEO

• Rearrange, mix or combine video, with timeline editing, you can drag & drop video clips or files to where you want them to be.
• Add titles, menus and text to your video creations. Many programs come with numerous menu and title templates and also let you add text effects.
• Add music, narration or sound effects. Have fun with your video! Create memories with sound-tracked wedding or birthday videos or humorous clips with sound effects or a comedic narration.

SHARE VIDEO

• Post Online and share your creations with the world! Easily post to your video blog (vblog) or to YouTube, Google Video, Grouper or any other of your favorite video sites.
• Create an Online Video Album. Sites like Drop Shots, StashSpace or MyPhotoAlbum offer family-friendly protected accounts. So you can create a private online space where you can share your video with family and friends.
• Burn to DVD, create video gifts and marketing presentations or archive your collection on to DVD or Blu-ray disc.
• Upload video files in popular formats like video from players such as Windows Media Player, QuickTime and RealVideo.

What else will you find here? Helpful articles like "Video Editing 101," news and comprehensive reviews on video editing software that will help you make an informed decision on which software is best for your editing projects. At TopTenREVIEWS, we do the research so you don’t have to.™

What to Look for in Video Editing Software

When thinking about video editing software, first consider what you want to do. Some programs only perform simple tasks, such as converting formats or burning DVDs. Others offer complex editing tools such as timeline edits, special effects and advanced templates.

Also, keep in mind that video editing can task your computer, so you may need to upgrade your computer to run the program you want and you will need sufficient memory to work with video files. So look into the system requirements carefully before purchase, so you don't end up buying a program that your computer cannot run or that underperforms on your computer.

• Ease of Use – Video editing requires multi-step edits, which are inherently intricate and complex, so the program needs to be designed as well as easy to use.
• Capture / Playback - Godo video editing software allows capturing of video from multiple sources like DV/AVCHD/miniDV camcorders, analog camcorders, VCR, and TV. Playback should be as smooth as possible to make editing easier.
• Editing Tools– Video editing software must allow you to edit video in timeline and storyboard mode, and make trimming scenes, cutting video, and adding text simple processes. The best video editing software even corrects lighting, changes the aspect ratio on the fly and helps stabilize shaky camera work.
• Editing Effects / Transitions– It's important that video editing software includes a library of effects, or filters to give your clips a certain look. Transitions help you segue from scene to scene smoothly, so having a library of standard transitions is also paramount. Finally, the ability to overlay animated or static objects is key to giving your clips that professional touch.
• Audio and Photo Editing - Not all video editing software comes with audio tracks included, so you must be able to import your own music from CDs or your hard drive. Trimming, fading, and extending audio tracks to fit a scene is essential. Most video editing software programs allow you to import your own pictures and insert them as overlaid or picture-in-picture objects. The best software allows basic photo editing such as cropping, resizing, and adjusting lighting and color saturation.
• Export / Production - Once you've finished adding music, voice, effects, transitions, and titles to your video, you'll want to export it to a video format or two. Common formats include flash video (FLV, for YouTube), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4, VCD, SVCD, DVD, AVI, WMV, MOV, and even AVCHD.
• Disc Creation - If you want to showcase your videos on a computer or DVD player, you can create a disc with or without a menu. Good video editing software comes with a library of DVD menu templates, and even makes it easy to create your own.
• Help/Documentation/Tech Support– Quality product support for video editing software is not a perk, but a necessity. We look for comprehensive help documentation, tutorials, FAQs and support forums.

With video editing software, you can easily capture, edit and share your video like a pro. Check out our PowerDirector 7 review, our choice for the best video editor.