Best Software for Video Editing on a PC

Editing your videos on a PC can be very frustrating if you don’t have the right video editing software. For me, there are three important features to look for in a video editing software for Windows: allows for easy video editing, supports a variety of file formats including the various HD video formats, and can directly upload your videos to YouTube or other online video sharing sites. So, what is the best video editing software out there today?  Let’s have a look at an affordable tools (around $40) called Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD.
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When editing a video with the intention of posting it online, I recommend you keep it simple and do as little video editing as possible.  Nobody is going to complain if you video is not perfectly edited.  As long as you deliver value, they will keep coming back for more.  There are at most 5 steps you should consider doing when editing any video intended to be posted online:
1. Cutting Your Videos: Cut out unwanted clips in the beginning, middle, or end of your videos.
2. Stitching Clips Together: If you have multiple video files, join them together so you now have one complete video.
3. Adding Text: I highly recommend putting the URL of your website inside your video.  Another idea is to create a title page in the beginning so the people watching know what this video is going to be about.
4. Adding Music: Consider adding background music to the intro of your video
5. Putting Your Videos Online: Get you videos online as quickly as possible.  Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD has the option to directly publish your video directly to YouTube.  This saves an enormous amount of time and ensures the best video quality as it goes onto YouTube.
I highly recommend you download the 30-day fully functionally FREE trial of Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD and try it out for yourself.
Additional Online Video Tools:
If Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD is having trouble opening any of your movie files, I suggest you download a copy of a software tool called FFDSHOW.  This installs some additional files on your computer that can understand more video formats (Also known as Codecs).  Once you install FFDSHOW, you can open Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD and try to open those movie files again.
1. FFDSHOW – http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow/
2. FREE Royalty-free music – http://www.incompetech.com/
If you have not yet decided on which camera you are using to film your online video, what are you waiting for?  Start with what you have already.  If you are looking to buy a new one, it might be worth looking at last week’s post called the Best HD Video Camera for Creating Online Video.
Do you have a favourite video editing Software or tool.  I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Best Software for Video Editing on PC | Best Software for Video Editing on a PCEditing your videos on a PC can be very frustrating if you don’t have the right video editing software. For me, there are three important features to look for in a video editing software for Windows: allows for easy video editing, supports a variety of file formats including the various HD video formats, and can directly upload your videos to YouTube or other online video sharing sites. So, what is the best video editing software out there today?

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Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD is an affordable (around $40), simple (yet powerful) tool. When editing a video with the intention of posting it online, I recommend you keep it simple and do as little video editing as possible.  Nobody is going to complain if you video is not perfectly edited.  As long as you deliver value, they will keep coming back for more.  There are at most 5 steps you should consider doing when editing any video intended to be posted online:

1. Cutting Your Videos: Cut out unwanted clips in the beginning, middle, or end of your videos.

2. Stitching Clips Together: If you have multiple video files, join them together so you now have one complete video.

3. Adding Text: I highly recommend putting the URL of your website inside your video.  Another idea is to create a title page in the beginning so the people watching know what this video is going to be about.

4. Adding Music: Consider adding background music to the intro of your video

5. Putting Your Videos Online: Get you videos online as quickly as possible.  Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD has the option to directly publish your video directly to YouTube.  This saves an enormous amount of time and ensures the best video quality as it goes onto YouTube.

I highly recommend you download the 30-day fully functionally FREE Trial of Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD and try it out for yourself.

Additional Online Video Tools:

If Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD is having trouble opening any of your movie files, I suggest you download a copy of a software tool called FFDSHOW.  This installs some additional files on your computer that can understand more video formats (Also known as Codecs).  Once you install FFDSHOW, you can open Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD and try to open those movie files again.

If you have not yet decided on which camera you are using to film your online video, what are you waiting for?  Start with what you have already.  If you are looking to buy a new one, it might be worth looking at last week’s post called the Best HD Video Camera for Creating Online Video.

What is YOUR Favourite Video Editing Software for PC? I know there are a lot of video editing software out there, so please share a list of the ones you like to use in the comments below.

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Written by Hani on February 14th, 2010 # Filed under Online Video, Video Editing # 144 Comments #

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  • http://www.buildmourramuscle.com Ron

    Hani, thanks for being such an awesome BVC (Blog and Video Coach). I am cranking out 2 videos a week because of your help. In the past a 2 min video would take me 5 hours to convert, edit, and upload. I was getting so frustrated. I guess the old saying ‘When the Student is ready, the Teacher appears’. You are my go to guy now when it comes to my site. Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Rocks, and you can upload the editing video right away, brilliant! Gotta run and work on my next blog and I actually look forward to it now because I know how easy it is to convert it onto my Vblog.

    Ron

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    You’re welcome…I’m glad to see that your video editing pains are now over! I’ve been there before and I know how frustrating it is. Video editing is not meant to be difficult at all…to me it is the fun part. It is your chance to put your masterpiece together and share it with the world. Keep pumping out those videos Ron…they look awesome!

  • Pablo Gonzalez

    Hey Hani, great info bro! As a PC user myself, I’ve been looking at a video editing software that’s reasonable and easy to use. Thanks for the valuable info as always. Take care and talk to you soon!

    Pablo

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    Hey Pablo…it’s great to see you again. Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD is really a perfect tool for online video. It is really simple to use and very affordable. Let me know what you think about it…I think you’ll get hooked quickly.

    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=valcor347 valcor347

    [..YouTube..] Thanks!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] You’re welcome…I glad to help.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=CursedKitten666 CursedKitten666

    [..YouTube..] can u download it for free ?

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] You can get a free 30 day fully functional trial at sonycreativesoftware website. Give it a try..

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=megawealth1 megawealth1

    [..YouTube..] Great piece of softward Hani, thanks for telling us about it. I am on your mailing list and have received some real diamond information in terms of do’s and dont’s with video marketing. Unfortunately most of them after I’d published mine but lessons learned and great knowledge for the future. Thanks for continuing to provide great value in the world of video marketing

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] Hey Trish,

    You’re most welcome. I’m glad I could help. Let me know what you think about this software…i just love it. So easy to use and yet sooo powerful! And the best part is that it is only $40 (and a free trial is available)

    Leave me a comment on my website about your thoughts on Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD.

  • http://www.bestnetworkmarketingsystem.com/go Sergio

    Hi Hani I sign up for the Vegas Trail

    I have some problems it wont get my avi video files I just wanted to add some text on it but it just dosen’t appear the video images when I click to play just a dark screen with the original audio and the tex link I added.

    if you know where Im’ mistaking please let me know

    Sergio

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    Hey Sergio,

    I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. Sometime we run into these types of video file format compatibility.

    Have you tried downloading and installing the FFDSHOW Video Codecs from http://www.ffdshow.info/
    1. First close the Sony Vegas program.
    2. Install FFDSHOW
    3. Restart computer
    4. Re-run Sony Vegas Movie Studio and try to open the AVI file

    If that doesn’t help, try playing the file with Windows Media player. Does that work?

    Let me know if this helps.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SonyPhotoshop SonyPhotoshop

    [..YouTube..] is this better than
    Sony Vegas Pro 9?

    thats the one i have at the moment

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] Sony Vegas Pro 9 has a lot more features than the basic version described in the video (Movie Studio HD)

    Movie Studio HD is perfect for people creating videos strictly for online purpose or who want to do basic editing only. Plus is costs under $40 compared to the Pro version which costs around $600

  • http://www.123videomagic.com watson

    there are lots of software ,these are mostly used.

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    Thanks Watson..you’re right. There are so many video editing software packages out there ranging from free to thousands of dollars. I’ve tried most of them :) I found this package to be a great value for what you pay for (around $40). It is a perfect tool for editing and publishing videos online (especially YouTube).

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=k6yardotcom k6yardotcom

    [..YouTube..] @SonyPhotoshop SV Pro seems demand a higher CPU (budget won’t work or you will end up with a lot of crashes. i have a taste 3; Power Director, Magix, and Sony Vegas 9 Pro. The only one that hasn’t crashed not even once is the 1st one. If you are on .m2ts file format, my recommendation is the PD Ultra. It loads faster and even works on HD videos; perhaps it seems to use your CPU to the MAX. I am not sure if there is a trial version, if there is, check it out!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=traceurturk traceurturk

    [..YouTube..] Really helpful video.. Thanks? I have a question tho?

    How do you ad the text only, I mean stop the video add text, and then start the vid again?

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=traceurturk traceurturk

    [..YouTube..] @traceurturk Never mindd I found it ;) Really really great video though :) Ant the software is preety simple ;) Thanks

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @traceurturk Sweet…it is pretty simple to use, but also very powerful! That’s what I like about it.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=tranvoz tranvoz

    [..YouTube..] does it has hd cuz im looking 4 one thats has HD and perfect and without download anything its already have hd

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @tranvoz It definitely supports HD video very nicely. The problem with HD video is that it depends on if you have the video codec on your computer (fancy word for “video translator” that can show the video properly on your screen). Please see description of this video above to learn more about the single codec that you MAY need to install (FFDSHOW)

  • http://www.thepianobyear.com Matt

    Hani, Glad to see this online. I’ve been flopping back and forth from iMovie with a crappy camera and then considering using my Sony HDD DCR-SR200 (which has amazing quality) and trying out Sony Vegas. I’m making my own instructional videos that need to be appropriate for video AND on DVD with excellent video quality. Do you think I’m going to get that with Sony HDD SR200 and Vegas? I’m videoing in a classroom like setting.

    Matt

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    Hi Matt,

    I personally don’t have experience with Sony cameras but I see and hear that produce amazing HD quality. I would bet (hope) they are compatible with Sony Vegas since they are from the same company. One thing to note is that in order to get better quality of audio you need to connect an external microphone to your video camera. It seems like the DCR-SR200 has a microphone input through the Active Interface Shoe. You should ask at the store whether they sell mics that connect to it.

    In terms of video quality, you will get more than DVD quality (you will actually get HD quality video from the DCR-SR200). Sony Vegas has a companion software called DVD Architect that produces DVD as well.

    One last thing is to watch the lights…make sure you have enough lights in the room, but avoid having lights behind you.

    Have you considered trying out a Kodak Zi8 (or other Flip style pocket cams like the Flip Mino HD and the Creative Labs Vado). They shoot excellent HD quality (especially if you plan on setting it on a tripod in your case) and most have an external microphone input connector (not the Flip) which can improve the audio quality significantly. You might be interested in this article:
    http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com/best-hd-video-camera-for-creating-online-video/

    Definitely try out the free trial version of Sony Vegas and make sure the file compatibility is there.

    Let me know if I can help in any way.

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=slaughtergryl slaughtergryl

    [..YouTube..] Nice video, very informative!!!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @slaughtergryl Thanks for the comment! This video editing tool is great because it is affordable, easy to use, and yet it is powerful and can produce professional-looking results.

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=imffgene imffgene

    [..YouTube..] I finally think I’m not too stupid doing my video editing, Thank you so much to make learning this software not too hard.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @imffgene My pleasure…online video and video editing should be (and IS) lots of fun!! Very addictive too :)

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=luckygrommet22 luckygrommet22

    [..YouTube..] dull mutch ?

  • Sam S.

    Hi Hani,

    Thanks for the great advice.

    I liked your comment (in the comments) about including background music, a title in the beginning to describe the video, etc.

    Have you written more articles about these kinds of video editing tips? If so can you please provide the link to it. I’ve recently started video editing using the extremely limited features of my iPhone 4 iMovie app. It’s been fun but I’m ready to graduate to the next level so I’m going to simultaneously test out the Sony Vegas HD program as well as Cyberlink’s PowerDirector 9. Unfortunately my video recording quality is limited to the capabilities of my iPhone 4 for the time being but I’ll see what I can do with fully iPhone recorded videos!

  • http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com Hani

    You’re welcome Sam! The iMovie app on the iPhone 4 is pretty decent. You can see an example video blog post I’ve done while at the cottage here:
    http://www.easyonlinevideotips.com/rapid-video-blogging-iphone-4/

    Other apps worth trying out for the iPhone4 are ReelDirector and Splice.

    The only other video editing post I have is how to use YouTube’s online video editor, which itself is limiting, but great for quick video edits.

    Play around with Sony Vegas Movie Studio and let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll be glad to answer them for you…maybe even create a follow-up video on tips and tricks on how to use Sony Vegas Movie Studio.

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=clubhenco clubhenco

    [..YouTube..] thank you so much! you are amazing I can not thank you more, I have a dream to become a great filmmaker and this helps so much! I used to have adobe premiere elements 8.0 and it sucked!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @clubhenco Awesome! Good luck with your video dream…I know you can do it. Let me know how else I can help.

    Cheers,
    Hani

    Online Videopreneur

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=damasc80 damasc80

    [..YouTube..] will this allow me to make a video from scatch? I have JPEGS that i want to make into a video. thx

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @damasc80 Definitely…you can make a video from scratch using JPEGS.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=andrademeza andrademeza

    [..YouTube..] @hanimourra hey i just saw this at target…i was thinking about getting it but is it much better than windows live movie maker or is it the same thing or what?

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @andrademeza Great question..I would definitely recommend this over Movie Maker. I suggest you getting a free 30 day trial from Sony online (download for free) and try it out. If you like it, then go ahead and buy it.

    There is also another great product called Avid Studio from Pinnacle. Download a free trial of that software too.

    Cheers,
    Hani

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MrRizcross MrRizcross

    [..YouTube..] heeey, can you remove a background image from the video clip, and add another image? so like if i record in the garden and want to remove the garden image and place another, like a prison cell for example, can you do this using this prgram? pleasse reply back :)
    kind regards

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=MrRizcross MrRizcross

    [..YouTube..] heeey, can you remove a background image from the video clip, and add another image? so like if i record in the garden and want to remove the garden image and place another, like a prison cell for example, can you do this using this prgram? pleasse reply back :)
    kind regards

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @MrRizcross I believe it is possible to do that. You can’t do it with any background…you need to film your video with a “green screen” behind you and they you can put any background image or video to replace it. You can search of YouTube for “Green screen Sony Movie Studio” and you will find more video tutorials on how to do this.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @MrRizcross I believe it is possible to do that. You can’t do it with any background…you need to film your video with a “green screen” behind you and they you can put any background image or video to replace it. You can search of YouTube for “Green screen Sony Movie Studio” and you will find more video tutorials on how to do this.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @MrRizcross I believe it is possible to do that. You can’t do it with any background…you need to film your video with a “green screen” behind you and they you can put any background image or video to replace it. You can search of YouTube for “Green screen Sony Movie Studio” and you will find more video tutorials on how to do this.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hanimourra hanimourra

    [..YouTube..] @MrRizcross I believe it is possible to do that. You can’t do it with any background…you need to film your video with a “green screen” behind you and they you can put any background image or video to replace it. You can search of YouTube for “Green screen Sony Movie Studio” and you will find more video tutorials on how to do this.

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmrey ohmrey

    [..YouTube..] Thanks a lot… VERY much helpful!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmrey ohmrey

    [..YouTube..] Thanks a lot… VERY much helpful!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmrey ohmrey

    [..YouTube..] Thanks a lot… VERY much helpful!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ohmrey ohmrey

    [..YouTube..] Thanks a lot… VERY much helpful!

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ltm1488 ltm1488

    [..YouTube..] I think the best place to buy software is at software select. i bought software from them at less then retail prices. they have everything in terms of software.

    w ww.softwareselect. org

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ltm1488 ltm1488

    [..YouTube..] I think the best place to buy software is at software select. i bought software from them at less then retail prices. they have everything in terms of software.

    w ww.softwareselect. org

  • http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ltm1488 ltm1488

    [..YouTube..] I think the best place to buy software is at software select. i bought software from them at less then retail prices. they have everything in terms of software.

     w ww.softwareselect. org

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