How to Choose A Computer For Video Editing

If you intend to capture and edit any of your video footage, a computer system is a must. 
It can, however, be confusing for the beginner video enthusiast. Should you use a desktop or a laptop computer? How much processing power is needed? How much hard disk space is needed?

There's a whole multitude of components in a computer - choosing the best components can be tough.

Well, the way I'd approach this problem would be to consider your budget and video editing needs. Let's take a look at the various options.

1. Desktop Computers

When buying a desktop for video editing, try to get a model with a good, large monitor for viewing your video. Ideally, the desktop should also come integrated with a FireWire port so you don't have to buy a separate FireWire card.

The other thing to look out for is a fast enough CPU with ample RAM, so you can run your video editing software smoothly. You don't want a computer which lags when you're opening a video frame or dragging clips on the editing timeline. I'd also look out for a BluRay writer if I intend to create BluRay discs, others you can stick with a normal DVD writer.

Budget Desktop Computer

If you're a budget user, I'd recommend the getting a reasonably powerful computer with an affordable price tag. A budget desktop computer, in my opinion, should come with the following specifications:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2 GB DDR2
• Hard disk: 500 GB
• Video card: Integrated with motherboard

These specifications give you the power to handle almost every video editing task. An excellent choice for those who are just starting out in video editing.
 

Mid-range Desktop Computer

If you have a bit more spare cash, or have heavier video editing needs, you can go for a slightly more expensive system. Look out for specifications like:

• CPU: Intel Core i5
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3
• Hard disk: 750 GB
• Video card: Integrated with motherboard

Brand name manufacturers like HP and Dell make very good desktop PCs of practically any configuration you desire. You can also choose to build your own.
 

High-Performance Desktop Computer

For those with quite a big budget, you can go for a system that will provide the ultimate in video editing performance.

• CPU: Intel Core i7
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3
• Hard disk: 1 TB
• Video card: Dedicated graphics card with 512 MB VRAM

2. Laptop Computers

For the mobile user, getting a laptop system may be a better choice. Even if you're at home, getting a laptop for video editing may be better as it allows more freedom of movement.

One good thing about laptops is that the mid to high-end models tend to come with FireWire ports already built in. Many of the high-end models also offer BluRay writer drives which is a boon for video editors.

Of course, laptops come with a bigger price tag. Let's take a look at what laptop systems are suitable for video editing. Again, I classify them according to budget and video editing needs.

Budget Laptop Computer
For a budget laptop computer, you should look out for specifications like:

• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
• RAM: 2 GB DDR3
• Hard disk: 250 GB
• Video card: Integrated with motherboard

If you buy a budget laptop, the money you save can then be channeled to buying better video equipment like a camcorders and accessories.

Mid-range Laptop Computer
For a mid-range laptop, I'd say the specs are something like:

• CPU: Intel Core i5
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3
• Hard disk: 300 GB
• Video card: Integrated with motherboard

If you get a mid-range model, it usually comes with an integrated FireWire port - which is good news for video editors.

High-Performance Laptop Computer
Well, those who can afford a bit more will do well to consider the high-end laptops with specifications like:

• CPU: Intel Core i7
• RAM: 4 GB DDR3
• Hard disk: 500 GB
• Video card: Integrated with motherboard

These models come decked out with not only FireWire ports but also great graphics and audio capabilities - usually with gorgeous screen displays.

Conclusion
Hopefully, this article has given you some insight on the choices available when buying a computer for video editing. My suggestion to most people is to go for a system which meets their needs. You also need to consider other users for the computer. Will you use it to play graphics intensive games or do only simple word processing tasks?
Don't waste a ton of money on a super powerful system if you don't need it. Considering these factors will help you choose a proper computer system.

Top 5 Video Editing Software Programs For Video Hobbyists

If you're new to the digital video hobby, one of the things you'll very quickly realize is the need for a good video editing program. A video editing program allows you to add special effects to your otherwise boring video.

You can add in things like titles, transactions, time lapse, audio and even use advanced techniques like chroma key to enhance your video production.

Here are my top 5 recommendations for video editing programs that are suitable for video enthusiasts. Pick one of these programs and learn it well. Once you master the basics, upgrade to more professional level suites and you can really begin editing broadcast quality video.

	Corel VideoStudio Corel VideoStudio is a real gem of a program. You get professional level editing capabilities for a very reasonable price. Some of the special effects I like in the VideoStudio suite include time lapse and stop motion animation. Of course, you can access a huge variety of ready-built templates for titles, transitions, DVD menus and more. Top-of-the-line software and it sits high on my recommendation list.
	Movavi Movavi is a nice little video editing tool for beginners. This video editing and disc authoring application features an intuitive interface and seamless workflow so that you can easily create professional looking videos. Don't be deceived by the brand. While it is not as well known as Adobe, Corel or Pinnacle, Movavi has been getting a lot of rave reviews on the Internet. Find out more about Movavi here.
	Adobe Premiere Elements Adobe Premiere Elements is considered by many as a 'lite' version of its more commercial cousin Adobe Premiere Pro. Premiere Elements offers the perfect combination of creative control and reliability for home video editing. Whether you just quickly edit your footage, add fun effects, and create custom DVDs, or experiment with more complex effects, this software package will allow you to do it. Very nice option for those intending to upgrade to Adobe Premiere Pro at some point.
	Nero Software I used to love Nero for its DVD burning software. Nero has now moved on into video editing and the outcome is no pushover. You get solid capabilities like basic editing tools, transitions, effects also also a nice variety of output formats for your video production. Again, not as well known as your Adobe, Corel or Pinnacle video editing suites, but a solid option if you just want a small, neat video editor.
	Pinnacle Studio Pinnacle Studio is a full fledged editing tool which competes directly alongside Corel VideoStudio. In my view, Pinnacle Studio can let you do everything you want with your digital video at the beginner and intermediate levels. Whether you want simple transitions and titles, or complex options like chroma key, Pinnacle Studio has it all. One of the better video editors and also high on my recommendation list.

Conclusion

Which of these video editing programs would you pick? Well it's a close fight between Corel VideoStudio and Pinnacle Studio. Both of these products are simple enough for beginners yet have sophisticated features for intermediate level users. I also like Movavi for its amazing and fun approach to editing videos.
These programs will satisfy your video editing needs for a long time to come. Once you get comfortable with these programs, you can then venture into professional video editing with suites like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

Top 5 Free Video Editing Software Programs

There are many free video editing software programs available for download today, but not all of them are good.

Many programs simply don't do what the manufacturers say that they will do, and others don't provide enough - or any support.
Of course, most free software does not include the same level or quality of support that you would expect to find with software that you purchase commercially.
While it is true that you get what you pay for, there really are some good free video editing software available out there.

Here are the top five that we have found:

	Microsoft Movie Maker Already installed on newer computers that are running Windows XP, Movie Maker has drag and drop features to make creating and editing your movie easier. Microsoft has many add-ons for this software, and upgrades are available through the website. This is one of the best free video editing software programs available.
	Apple iMovie Apple iMovie is comparable to Windows Movie Maker, but Apple iMovie is used on the Mac operating system. Apple iMovie has many advanced features and add-ons. Unfortunately, the software is only free if you buy a new Mac system. If you want the software without buying the system, it is available for purchase separately. One of the best free video editing programs available for Mac users.
	Avid FreeDV Avid FreeDV is available for both Windows and Mac operating systems, and includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, as well as up to two streams of real-time effects. On the whole, a solid video editing program that is slightly hard to use, but very powerful once you learn its ins and outs.
	Wax Wax is a high performance and flexible free video editing software program. It started out as a college project, and has since grown. Wax is good for both home users and professionals. It can be used as a stand-alone application, or as a plug-in to other video editors. The software also features unlimited video and audio tracks with top-down compositing.
	Zwei-Stein Zwei-Stein is great free video editing software, but the user interface is very technical. It is full featured, offering many different effects. It can edit up to 256 video, audio, and still image clips. There are up to 64 effects, which can be chained serially. An interesting program that's worth looking at.

Conclusion

Microsoft Movie Maker for Windows users, and Apple iMovie for Mac users are probably the two easiest to use free video editing software programs available. Both products will allow you to very quickly perform simple video editing tasks.

However, if you want to able to add more interesting effects and transitions to your videos, you might want to check out commercial video editing software. These programs provide very intuitive user interfaces to complete basic editing tasks, but are also complex enough to let you experiment with advanced video effects.

Guidelines for Shooting Quality Videos

Have you ever had this experience? You grab your new digital camcorder (replete with the latest features) and happily shoot that wonderful family event or vacation.

Only later do you realize that the video footage was too dark, or the video quality was terrible. Isn't that a terrible feeling? What makes it worse is that you can never re-shoot that video as the happy moments are now gone. The best way of avoiding these problems is to learn some basic video shooting skills. You need not learn complex cinematography or directorial skills, of course. But you should have some fundamental knowledge of what goes into a good video shoot and doesn't.

Let's take a look at these shooting tips in turn.
 

1. Avoid Zooming In and Out Too Much

Many digital camcorders come with a super duper 1000X zoom in and zoom out feature. This is a good thing, but the problem is, many people get carried away. I've seen countless videos which keep zooming in and out during the shoot - they generally succeed in giving me a bad headache. Use the zoom in and out feature sparingly. Even if you must use it, do it slowly. A slow, well-controlled zoom is much more professional looking than a quick zoom. Another tip is to restrict the usage of the zoom in between scenes.
 

2. Steady Does It

The professionals always say "Keep It Steady". There is no doubt that when we're shooting videos, our hands tend to vibrate a little. If the vibration is too much, it will badly affect the quality of the video footage. There are two ways to overcome this.
One way is to do it like the professionals - get a good tripod stand. These can be obtained rather cheaply. Another way is to brace yourself against something like a wall, or perhaps stoop down on your knee while filming.
 

3. Where Are You?

One tip that I've picked up while shooting family vacations is to always, always look for a landmark, a sign or natural monument that tells the audience where you are.
Do you notice the professionals do this as well? For example, in the movies, you may see the camera zooming in on the Statue of Liberty first, before cutting to a scene that happens within. Or there is a shot of the White House before the director cuts into a scene within the Oval Room. Another tip is to make the people you're filming talk or smile. This makes the whole video much more lively and interesting.
 

4. The End or The Beginning?

Another good video shooting trick is to use the end of the story at the start of the video. Again, experts do this all the time. If you're filming a wedding video, you can start off with an interview of the happily married couple on the wedding day before you cut off into scenes of how they met, how they grew up, etc.
 

5. Keep Them Short and Simple

Never, ever, shoot long, drawn out video clips of more than two minutes. It bores the audience to death! Using many short clips of 5 to 10 seconds duration is much more effective. It also brings variety to the audience. Imagine if a television commercial lasted two minutes focusing on the same video scene - wouldn't that be boring?
 

6. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting

Of all the factors listed here, nothing spoils a video shoot as much as poor lighting. Sure, you can use video editing software to brighten up the scenes, but they can only do so much.
I've seen many innovative videos marred by poor lighting. One important tip is to shoot video with the light source behind you, shining on the subject. An example is an outdoor shot where the sun is shining. Make sure the sun shines on your subject and not on your camera lens! Another tip is to use the camera's backlight feature if there is one. It allows you to compensate for overly bright light.
 

7. Change Your Perspective

Don't limit your shots to one angle only. Approach your subject from all angles. Come from behind, come from the top, whatever. Perhaps you can even film yourself walking up the steps and opening a bedroom door before reaching your subject.
 

8. Learn from The Movies

You'd be surprised how much you can learn about shooting video from the movies. Very often, we just sit down and let the movie scenes come at us without considering what went through the director's mind. Try it - for once, when you watch your next movie, consider how the director framed that shot or scene. You will learn a lot and maybe even get interested in directing films!
 

9. Conserve the Battery

I've seen or heard so many people forgetting about the battery that I must emphasize it here. Please buy extra batteries! Preferably two extra batteries. Nothing is worse than shooting a video outdoors and having the battery die on you. Also, always bring the AC adapter too - so that you can charge your current battery whenever time permits.
 

10. Check The Sound

This tip may not be important for the average home user. But if you're a serious videographer, you'll have a microphone attached to your camcorder. Microphones are an essential tool for sound focusing and result in better audio quality during video shoots.
 

Conclusion

It's not tough picking up better shooting skills. Once you've learnt the basics, I assure you it will come to you very naturally, almost like riding a bicycle or swimming. If you're truly interested in enhancing your shooting skills, I'd recommend you check out some books on the topic. This was the way I learnt digital videography - reading, reading and more reading - then constantly experimenting with what I learnt.

Digital still cameras

Introduction

This tutorial covers principles of digital photography in general, but refers to these Canon cameras as examples:
PowerShot G1, G5, Pro1, Rebel XT
If you have a different camera, you'll find that the same functionality is present on your camera, though buttons and menus may be in places other than those shown here. Consult your owners' manual.

About Digital Cameras

Digital still cameras store photographs as digital bits on a memory card or tiny hard drive, as opposed to the film used in traditional cameras.
Rather than developing and printing film, digital images can be downloaded easily to a computer. A photographer also can instantly review shots on an LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor built into the digital camera. The memory cards can hold a large number of images. After downloading the images to a computer, the flash cards can be erased for reuse.
The main drawbacks to digital still cameras are:

• A slight delay that occurs between clicking the camera's shutter button and the camera actually taking the picture. The better the camera, the shorter this delay will be. Professional digital cameras do not suffer from this lag time, and the problem is becoming less pronounced even with cheaper consumer/pro-sumer cameras.
• A battery is required for operation, so you'll need to periodically recharge it (this can be done by connecting the camera to an AC power adapter and charging the battery in the camera, or by purchasing a separate AC battery charger).
• Photos that are not quite as high quality as what you get with traditional single lens reflex (SRL) cameras, unless you purchase a very high-end (and expensive) digital camera. But even a mid-range digital camera produces photos that are suitable for the vast majority of purposes, including Web publishing.

SLR vs. Non-SLR

There are two basic kinds of digital cameras: Digital SLR (single lens reflex) and non-SLR. Digital SLRs are generally more expensive and more accurate than non-SLR cameras, and include more professional features.
SLR cameras -- whether film or digital -- use a system of mirrors to take the image coming through the lens and reflect it up into the eyepiece. Thus, what you see in the eyepiece is exactly what you get on the camera back, where the image is recorded. In contrast, the eyepiece on a non-SLR camera looks out through a separate hole at the top of the camera. As a result, what's seen through the viewfinder is slightly different from what comes through the lens. What you see is not exactly what you get.
While we sometimes think of the ability to preview a shot as a hallmark of digital cameras, there is an interesting side-effect of using an SLR camera in the digital world: The mirror that reflects light from the lens up to the viewfinder blocks the digital image sensor on the camera back until the image is shot. Therefore, digital SLR cameras generally do not let you frame and preview your shot on an LCD screen before shooting -- you must frame your shot in the viewfinder, as you would with a traditional SLR camera.
Here is an animation showing how SLR cameras work.
Here is an animation showing how non-SLR digital cameras work.
There are a few digital SLR cameras that have come up with clever workarounds for this problem, but most digital SLRs, including the Canon Rebel, do not allow for LCD preview.
In this tutorial, the Canon Rebel is a digital SLR with no LCD preview; all other cameras are non-SLR with LCD preview.