Video Editing Software For Your Camcorder

We take an in-depth look at the most common video editing software packages, including the basic programs that come packaged with your camcorder.

January 21, 2010 – Over the next few months, we will be taking a look at a wide variety of video editing software programs, from iMovie to FinalCut. Most importantly, we'll be looking at the software packages that ship with camcorders from every major manufacturer. This article isn't a 'how-to' and, therefore, isn't designed to show you how to use any of these programs. Our goal is to give you an overview of the various programs available so that you know what is available to you as a consumer. Is it worth it to buy an expensive program? Can you just use the one that came with your operating system? Or should you bother to install what came with your camcorder?

We'll keep updating this article as we cover more and more programs. I hope you find it a useful resource for understanding all the options that lie before you!

- Kaitlyn Chantry, Editor-in-Chief

Introduction 

If you want to do some basic video editing, you have essentially three choices:

• Use the software that comes with your computer's operating system. On PCs, that's probably Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker. On Macs, that's iMovie.
• Use the software that ships with your camcorder. This will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. We describe all the major ones below.
• Purchase a more expensive, more fully-featured editing program. Some popular programs are: FinalCut, Vegas, Avid, and Adobe Premiere. (Many of these have a more affordable 'express' version and a more expensive 'pro' version.)