Video Editing Software: How do I Choose?

Choosing video editing software can be daunting for first-timers and seasoned pros alike. How do you make sense of the wide range of products available on the market—especially with new products being constantly released?

When choosing video editing software, you should pay attention to several important factors: the needs of your project, the computer and operating system on which you are going to edit and whether it can support the software you choose to use, and your budget.

Consider also your skills and capabilities as a video editor. Are you just starting out and are looking for a simple interface, or do you need a more sophisticated programme with a wider range of capabilities? Free programmes such as Windows Media Maker are known for being unstable and frequently crashing, and as such do not allow for complex edits. Can your software support handle the format and resolution at which you want to capture, import, and export? Is it compatible with other common software, for example Adobe Photoshop? A project is only as good as its tools—and serious editors may end up shelling out a great deal of money to purchase decent software.

Why We Offer Final Cut Pro
At Phase 3 Productions, we primarily rely on Final Cut Pro. We offer several Final Cut Pro Suites equipped to handle both HD and SD workflows. As of June 22, 2011, according to an article [link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/technology/personaltech/23pogue.html?_r=1] published in the New York Times, it commands 54% of the video-editing market. But really, our team just finds it a superior product.

Here are the reasons why:

  • Usability. We find Final Cut Pro 7 to offer the perfect combination of a friendly, intuitive interface with professional output, which makes it suited to editors of all skill levels. It offers keyboard and menu bar shortcuts, for example, with controls on the screen to help you if you if you forget your shortcuts. Whilst programmes like Avid are slightly more higher-end, they are a lot more technical and less easy to use. We also find Final Cut Pro X to have a less user-friendly interface.
  • Range. Final Cut Pro supports a range of plug-ins available from third party vendors to make using it easier, while other programmes tend to have fewer plug-ins available. There’s also the fact that the Final Cut Pro suite comes with a variety of applications that can satisfy every editing need, including sound design, motion graphics and colouring. This makes it better suited to the Jamaican market, where one editor or filmmaker must perform a range of duties. It allows them to get the project done—and to get it done fast.
  • Pedigree. At Phase 3 Productions, we don’t think you can go wrong with software used by thousands across the world to edit television shows, movies, and other projects. Final Cut Pro was used to edit movies like “The Social Network,” “True Grit,” and “Eat Pray Love”—which shows us the amazing quality this programme can produce.

Whilst Final Cut Pro is costly, you can save by renting one of our suites. If you are interested, contact us and we’ll be happy to provide you with more information.