OPINION: Editing Software for Kids?
Todd
I'm looking to gather a few opinions on what might be the best desktop
video editing software solution for my niece, who turns 11 in a couple
weeks.
She's quite computer literate, and even more enthusiastic about making
movies with the family's home digital camcorder (you know the type,
epics starring her little sister, the pets, her stuffed animals...).
She's getting quite good at this. In fact, she seems to have
"outgrown" the editing software that came pre-loaded on her Dell PC,
namely:
"Roxio VideoWave Movie Creator".
So basically, what we're looking for is a bump up in sophistication
from this program.
Her mom is looking to spend less than $100 (so no "Final Cut Pro")
which still leaves a LOT of options based on my preliminary research.
So to help narrow down those options, I'd like to solicit the opinion
of those in this group.
To Summarize: What might be a good video editing program for less
than $100 aimed at a kid who loves to shoot/cut home movies and has
"outgrown" Roxio Videowave?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Todd
(The Uncle)
nappy
Final Cut Pro is indeed a kids program. Too expensive though. ;)
Have you looked at Premiere? Or Vegas?
Once you leave the sub $100 programs.. the next jump is into apps like
these.. If she's computer literate she could probably pick up either of
these.. And they will give her a great deal of capabilities. My son was able
to do it at age 12. I find that the cheap apps cause more frustration than
they are worth.
"Todd" <to...@wonderninja.com> wrote in message
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Pete D
Premiere you might be able to pick it up cheaper.
"nappy" <no_s...@sorry.com> wrote in message
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Richard M.
>To Summarize: What might be a good video editing program for less
>than $100 aimed at a kid who loves to shoot/cut home movies and has
>"outgrown" Roxio Videowave?
Try:
http://www.novadevelopment.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?productCode=vew§ionID=1
Also has a lot of good content - videos, images, music and sound
effects. When she outgrows this then she can move up to Vegas 6.
(google on Vegas 5, though)
Rich M.
Ken Maltby
You could get a partial working list by using the search engine
at www.videohelp.com it has $ range as one of the search
parameters.
Luck;
Ken
Tony
>
> I'm looking to gather a few opinions on what might be the best desktop
> video editing software solution for my niece, who turns 11 in a couple
> weeks.
I think I'm with the guy who said to check out older versions of Premiere,
etc.
I can't imagine Premiere 4.2 or 5.0 is all that expensive now. I learned on
4.2, and it was quite sufficient for me to do a TV pilot that looked as good
as anything comparable on the market. I got quite a bit of work using 4.2,
before I upgraded.
The biggest issue would be the lack of support. And, remember, a lot of
modern codecs may not be compatible, as might some of the more recent
plug-ins
fitwell
I searched and found this page:
http://www.video-editing-software-review.com/?engine=adwords!883&keyword=%28video+editing+software%29
This looks like an ideal page to look at the different options between
apps.
Ingeborg
is an amazing number of features. <$50 on e-bay. And, contrary to general
believe, I got excellent help from their Tech Service (Forum)
Fred
"Tony" <ton...@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
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francisco dania
Todd
Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who responded.
So far, I'm leaning toward "Video Explosion Deluxe" (after checking
out the link one of you posted - thanks Richard). This seems to be a
pretty good solution for my niece in that it has a lot of "bells and
whistles" (clips, effects, etc.) which she seems to enjoy
experimenting with.
[Note: The main "negative" I've read is that it doesn't include very
good DVD authoring software, which seems to be a common complaint for
these sub-$100 programs. However, since my niece's Dell PC doesn't
have a DVD burner anyway, this isn't really an issue for this
purchase.]
Further, in doing a little research on the software, it seems this is
similar to a "lite" version of the program everybody here seems to
like so much, namely "Vegas"...
...which, as an information bonus to me, seems to be the way to go if
she ever decides to step up to the NEXT level of desktop editing!
Thanks again for all your comments,
Todd
(The Uncle)
deco_time
You should have a look at Sony's Screenblast movie studio, there's an
upgrade path to Vegas if she decide she needs to move up.
Ken Maltby
Just be sure to throw away the Sonic MyDVD.
Luck;
Ken
Philippe
> Hi:
>
> I'm looking to gather a few opinions on what might be the best desktop
> video editing software solution for my niece, who turns 11 in a couple
> weeks.
>
> She's quite computer literate, and even more enthusiastic about making
> movies with the family's home digital camcorder (you know the type,
> epics starring her little sister, the pets, her stuffed animals...).
> She's getting quite good at this. In fact, she seems to have
> "outgrown" the editing software that came pre-loaded on her Dell PC,
> namely:
>
> To Summarize: What might be a good video editing program for less
> than $100 aimed at a kid who loves to shoot/cut home movies and has
> "outgrown" Roxio Videowave?
>
I would advise you to downlaod the trial version of Editstudio 4 from
Puremotion
It is a great editor. I am sure that your niece will enjoy it. It contains
all you need.
Also the forum from their website is really active and the support is great
/Philippe
David Chien
here -- the DVD menu & burning program; the video editing component.
If you like what Roxio can do with the DVD menu & burining side, you
simply need a more sophisticated editor.
Here, you can start with the free Windows XP Movie Maker and see if that
gives her enough flexiblity to do the job, otherwise, move up to a
pro-level editor (which anything above the basics basically is). Here,
like someone said, Vegas Video 3.0/4.0 or the current Screenblast from
Sony would be the closest, most powerful cheap video editors you can find.
http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/products/vegasfamily.asp
Screenblast is basically Vegas with features taken out, so at $99, it's
a very solid choice for an advanced video editor with enough features to
get a nice video out.
If the video editing component is fine, but you need heavier DVD menuing
and burning, then you'll have to bump up a few hundred $$$ to at least
Ulead DVD Workshop or far-higher (eg. Sonic Scenarist, thousands).
Mid-range programs that'll give you a bit of both worlds include Ulead
Mediastudio Pro (just about everything from titling to editing &
burning) for $295.
Richard M.
wrote:
>Screenblast is basically Vegas with features taken out, so at $99, it's
>a very solid choice for an advanced video editor with enough features to
>get a nice video out.
This and Nova Development's Video Explosion Deluxe seem to be
virtually the same product. Perhaps Sony has enhanced it since they
purchased it from Sonic Foundry, but on the surface, I am unable to
tell the difference. The good thing about the Video Explosion Deluxe
package over Screenblast is the content, which was one of the main
reasons I purchased it. Maybe the retail boxed version of Screenblast
contains the extra content, but the downloadable trial version didn't.
Now I have to get back to figuring out Vegas 5.
Rich M.
Jon
Well, Uncle Todd,
something else you might want to consider is that assuming your niece
is in school, (surely she is!!) then she would also be eligible for
the educational discount on Vegas Video. The lowered price for all
the bells and whistles PLUS the headstart she'd have on anyone else in
that age range might make that option something worth looking into.
I should sign up for a class, so I could get that discount too!!
Good luck to her AND you!!
Todd
Just to let you know, since this thread has gone on longer than I
anticipated it would (great group, by the way!), I purchased the
following for my 11-year-old niece:
Nova Development's "Video Explosion Deluxe".
It seemed like fate (or some form of positive shopping karma) that
when I went to Fry's Electronics to make the purchase, ready to spend
close to $80 retail, I found that
- The in-store price was only $60;
- There was a $10 rebate for being a first time purchaser (and if I
had had some proof of prior video editing software (like Pinnacle,
Ulead, or even Roxio), this rebate would have gone up to $30);
- There was an additional $20 rebate just for the week I had decided
to make the purchase!
Thus, my total cost (after rebates - I know, a pain, but I filled out
the paperwork) will be only $30 (and could have been as low as $10).
Anyway, it seemed like a good buy.
Thanks again, Richard - and everyone kind enough to post.
Todd
(The Uncle)
AnthonyR
while how well it works.
You know if it's buggy, freezes up the machine or reboots after setting
everything up after an hour or so like most cheap software does. If it is
good, post the link for info for us if you can, sounds interesting for only
$10.
AnthonyR
"Todd" <to...@wonderninja.com> wrote in message
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AnthonyR
search and found it.
Seems perfect for your niece! And I like that they give you so much content
to use, mp3's and
video clips etc... that helps, we don't even get that with pro software, LOL
I also found a cnet review, it got a 9 out of 10 rating, and the only bad
thing they said was it had a complicated interface, doesn't everything on a
computer look complicated nowadays? :)
The review link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Video_Explosion_Deluxe/4505-3635_7-8463542.html
Good Luck with it! Oh and you got a great price, bravo.
AnthonyR
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