I'm getting started in video editing and had a few question. I have been looking at Media Composer and Adobe creative Suite 3: Master Collection,.  I was wondering is Media Composer user friendly?  Can you make DVD menus?  What are the pros and cons to the two above softwares?  Which software would you recommend?  Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

It really depends on your goals.

If you are getting an editing application to cut home movies and wedding videos then the tight integration that the Adobe suite offers is nice if you are already familiar with Photoshop, Encore, etc.

If you are getting into this to cut feature films then get Avid without hesitation.  I'm not some unchanging seasoned editor - just got outta school in 2006 and cutting my third feature on just XPress Pro and it has been awesome. 

For DVD menus and such I've just used Encore.  You can get Procoder to encode, etc.

Just know that Avid is built for rock solid story cutting.  It is not designed to be the all in one FX, 5.1 mix, blah, blah, blah system that some editors want it to be.  It does more than just cut story....but is designed with the mindset that an editor tells the story while sound designers and FX people excercise their specialties with different dedicated applications.

Also, I think Avid is easy to use...but any NLE is going to require some time to learn.  Just like the first time I opened up Photoshop years ago....it was a mystery. =)

I'm getting into video editing and was looking for some advise on what kind of program to purchase. i will only be editing at this time my home movies. the softwares that i have been looking at are Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection, media composer and liquid pro. is there any other band at there worth looking at? what are the pros and cons to the listed three softwares? are they user friendly?

thanks

Let's get this clear - you come to an Avid forum asking which editing software you should use to edit home movies.

Why spend hundreds or a couple of thousand for editing home movies? All you need is a cut here and a dissolve there. No professional software is going to make your home movies look any better.

Go get Ulead movie studio or some home garbage and be happy.

Welcome to the world of video editing software. No clear cut answer, really. And your own research is essential.

Depending on what it is you want to do, your budget and how keen.

If you are keen to get into professional editing, then Avid is of course an important consideration but comes hand in hand with learning about the editing world.

However, it may be that something like Adobe's Production Premium Suite may be better suited than the Master Collection unless you really are going to use all that software. If you haven't used any of Adobe's software before; the Master Collection will be too much to learn and most of the expense would be wasted. The Production Premium Suite provides a very useful collection of software which should more than satisfy your needs.

There is also Premiere Elements if that's going to satisfy you. Better to spend less money and have a go before paying serious cash.

Or Pinnacle Studio 11. If you are interested in Liquid you should go to Pinnacle's website and find their forums to ask the users what they think. But as far as I'm concerned being an Avid editor, Liquid confuses me as to what its market position is supposed to be. I think that though will be cleared up in the near future.

Remember though, you'll need to go to other forums, read the product websites, watch some tutorial videos, read some magazines, books if your really serious, etc. to really know what you yourself need. Otherwise there are cheaper options as Solopost has already pointed out. You might want to check out Edius from Canopus and also Sony Vegas.

What surprises me though is you haven't mentioned Final Cut (FCP is always hanging in the shadows to make an appearance in any discussion). I assume therefore you are not an Apple user, for now anyway.

Hope that helps.

Hi,

I know you want to edit home movies now, but, what do you hope to do someday?  If you want to be a professional editor, and you're just working on home movies to practice, then I'd say get Media Composer.

If you just want to play around, there's no need for Media Composer, and you'd probably be better off with Liquid or Adobe, or something cheap like Kent suggested above.

good luck,
Carl

If you're doing home movies, why not start with Windows Movie Maker which is a valid app for editing home movies. It is simple, free, intuitive and has several plug-ins available for purchase.

When you feel more confident you could move on to more pro apps.

tink399:

I'm getting into video editing and was looking for some advise on what kind of program to purchase. i will only be editing at this time my home movies. the softwares that i have been looking at are Adobe Creative Suite 3 Master Collection, media composer and liquid pro. is there any other band at there worth looking at? what are the pros and cons to the listed three softwares? are they user friendly?

thanks

Hello tink399,

This is the sort of question that drives AVID diehards crazy on these forums, because the mighty AVID can do no wrong!

This is my opinion (I use media composer, premiere pro CS3, FCP)

In reality though, for someone just starting out, the AVID is not very user friendly and has a very steep learning curve for anyone who doesn't know the intricacies of video.

If you just want to get up and go with your editing, The Adobe CS3 Suite is the way to go. Adobe really listened to what the modern editor needs to 100% complete a project without using graphics departments and other services. It is a fully integrated system thst lets you just do what you want to do, without a technical explanation.

Unfortunately, AVID systems are losing value everyday. Just look at media composer. As software, It was $5000, then it was $2500, now it is $1799 at B+H.

On the other side of what AVID editors think, you can edit FILM, VIDEO, 24P, HD, ETC. on Adobe systems with no problem. It is being done everyday.

But beware, no editor out there is bulletproof. Premiere will give you a mountain of errors and crashes, along with FCP. (If you go with AVID, just make sure you get a certified system)

AVID has a great price for the Acedemic Version of Media Composer. It is only $299! But, what I foresee is that alot of students will buy it and just slap it on their home computers and OF COURSE, it will not work right, because it is not an AVID certified system. Your video card, driver, ram, processor, etc all have to be JUST RIGHT on the AVID.

It will be up to you to make a decision, but the best advice I can give you is that when you make your final decision, stick with it! In reality, a true editor and producer knows that the editing system doesn't really even matter.

Good Luck