Choosing Video Editing Software By Price

An important aspect of choosing video editing software is the price you are willing to pay for that software. Of course if you are on an unlimited budget then hey... buy them all and see which you like!

However for the rest of us, starting out with a price range can actually simplify the process greatly. The other point to keep in mind is a realistic appraisal of your current skills as a video editor and just how far you want to take them.

Beginning Video Editing Software

If you are just starting out and all you will ever really want to do is the most simple video editing then there is probably no point in buying specialist video editing software.

You can use Windows Movie Maker which comes free with Windows. It is quite limited in the video file formats it can handle as well as its other features. Having said that, for simple video editing tasks it is quite good and let's face it, you can't beat the price! Apple iMovie is an even better free video editor for Mac users.

The other products you can check out that would suit beginners are multimedia suites such as Roxio Creator and Nero . Programs like this offer a range of features including video editors. The only real downside is that if you decide in the future to pursue video editing more enthusiastically they offer no upgrade path to a more advanced product. They generally cost around $80.

Consumer Video Editing Software

If your level of interest regarding video editing is already high then the field of choices opens up considerably. Most consumer video editing programs range in price from around the $50 mark to $120 or so.
There is a wide range of available products in this area and to be honest there is very little that separates them. Some of the known ones are Magix, Pinnacle Studio, Adobe Premiere Elements, Corel Video Studio, Sony Vegas... and on and on!

One of the key points to keep in mind if you are choosing from this group is where you want to end up as a video editor. Magix, Adobe and Sony all offer upgrade paths to their professional video editing software programs.

Prosumer Video Editing Software

As we move up the video editing levels we are entering the "prosumer" level. It all gets a bit blurred at this point between what we can call a prosumer video editing software and what we could describe as professional video editing software.

For Full versions of Sony Vegas, Adobe Premier Pro, Final Cut Pro etc the prices will go anywhere from $500 to $1000 and up from there. The problem with this software is you are paying for features that you may never use even in a semi-pro situation. They will require a big effort on your part to overcome the learning curve so be warned.

An interesting exception within this category is Magix Video Pro X which for around $300 makes a compelling choice for a prosumer video editor.

Which Video Editing Software?

Take your time and have a good look at what is available today. Check the features you need and the ones you think you may need. Use the price to narrow the field then take a look at the upgrade possibilities if that is relevant to you.

Above all... make use of free trials.