If we're looking for software under $500 you could do worse than look at some of the free stuff out there.
Obviously for really serious editing you're going to need something with a bit of grunt underneath it and some good, professional functionality. But don't write off the free stuff.
Wax
A free tool with powerful editing and compositing abilities.
Usability 8 Functionality 6 Performance 7
Video Spin
Video Spin is the free video editing tool from Avid. This maybe a little simple for you
Usability 9 Functionality 4 Performance 8
T@B ZS4
T2B ZS4 is a free video editing and compositing tool from Zwei-Stein. Its not for everyone, but it could be for you.
Usability 7 Functionality 7 Performance 5
Vivia
Vivia is a basic editing software which is currently being developed and is in Beta testing. If you are using Linux or Windows you might want to check this out
Usability 8 Functionality 5 Performance 8
Jahshaka
Jahshaka is a free multi-use offline editing tool. Although it is still fairly new on the market.
Usability 5 Functionality 5 Performance 5
Avidemux
One of the more stable and complete free tools available.
Usability 7 Functionality 7 Performance 8
Blender
Blender is a powerful, multi-use editing/compositing and modeling tool. It's one of the best on the market and it's free.
Usability 4 Functionality 9 Performance 8
If you're running a Mac there's Hyperengine A/v which does trackless editing (very neat!) Usability 8 Functionality 7 Performance 8
And if you're on Linux there are tools such as KdenLive (Usability ?? Functionality ?? Performance ??) and LiVES(Usability ?? Functionality ?? Performance??) to look at.
Now I'm not suggesting that these are world class tools along side such luminaries as Final Cut, Premiere or Vegas, but for software that is stable and free, and which will do a lot of the reasonably simple editing things we all need, it might be worth giving them a try
Thanks.
(NOTE All ratings are personal preferences apart from the Linux one's which are not rated as I don't run a Linux box yet)  |