Your Editing Station

Editing Software

You have a wide range of editing software selections in the market. Within one price range, these software programs offer almost the same features. The simplicity of working with them can be different based on the application..
If you are a beginner, do not buy any editing program. Windows Movie Maker 2.0 and iMovie are included for free with Windows XP and Mac OS. They cover almost all the features that you may find in editing programs up to $50-100.
If you are an advanced user and you want to do fancy editing for you videos, Adobe Premiere Elements is recommended. This is a simpler version of Adobe Premiere Pro that is designed for home users. While Premiere Elements has all the features that a home user may need, its price is one seventh of Premiere Pro. You can buy Premier Elements for only $99. Adobe Premiere Elements offers  options for making menu DVDs as well. (Windows Movie Making and Adobe Premiere Elements tutorials are covered in Home Video Making editing section.)
There are other software programs that you could choose depending on your budget. Use the tryout version of the software before you actually buy it.

Sony Movie Studio+ DVD 6: This software is designed for entry level editors and it also includes a DVD making program. The price is between $60 and $90.

Sony Vegas 6: This program offers more professional tools for advanced editors. You may also combine it with its DVD making program, DVD Architect. Price for Vegas 6 is $449 and with DVD Architect is $647.
(These are manufacturers’ prices (MSRP). You can always find better deals on the Internet.)

Adobe Premiere Pro: The features and tools of this program go beyond the home use. Premiere Pro is a perfect tool for budget short movies and semi-professional videos.

DVD Making Software

Similar to editing software programs, there is a wide variety of DVD making programs with a wide range of prices to select. Perhaps, Ulead DVD Factory would be the best choice. This program offers all the features you need for a good home DVD including an excellent slide show creator. The price is also very reasonable (only $99.) Working with DVD Factory is easy and fun. This software is recommended for both entry and advanced users for home DVD making.
Adobe Premiere Elements is also a very good software program for authoring DVDs with menus. Since this software is a combined solution for editing and authoring DVD in one package for only $99, it may be the best deal you can find. Although the menu creating and photo slide show is not as sophisticated and easy as Ulead DVD Factory.

Adobe DVD Encore is one of the best DVD authoring programs in the market. It offers features that you usually find in products with prices much higher that Encore (only $ 350). DVD Encore makes it possible to make Hollywood quality DVDs with subtitles, additional audio tracks and very sophisticated DVD navigation system. Working with Encore is also more complicated compared to simpler software like Ulead DVD factory. This software is recommended for advanced users that think they may use additional features (e.g. creating and editing sophisticated menus in Photoshop, subtitles or additional audio tracks)

Sony Vegas Movie Studio+ DVD 6 and Sony DVD Architect are other choices. The DVD making program comes as part of the bundle in these packages.

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