Video Editing Software
Drag-and-drop video editing? Yes, it's really that easy. Creating professional looking movies with snazzy effects can be as simple as drag and drop.
Take heed of suggested system requirements: at least 128MB of RAM, 4GB of disk space, and a 30GB hard disk are needed for best results, Ulead claims. A 700MHz PIII is recommended, at the least, although you won't see any of the rendering speed benefits gained from the software's use of Pentium 4 commands.
Ulead VideoStudio 6 is a breeze to "use. The new release builds on previous versions, offering a slick and simple inter-"face, automatic detection of your PC's capture driver, and direct MPEG video capture from your DV camera (saving you from the hassle of conversion).
VideoStudio's interface guides you through the process of making a movie - tabs along the top take you to each step - capturing video, arranging scenes on a storyboard, adding effects, titles, audio, and outputting the movie in a range of formats.
The components of your movie are arranged horizontally against a timeline - frame-by-frame footage, overlays (giving the picture-in-picture effect), titles, voice-overs and music.
A drop-down menu enables you to select media libraries that organise your video footage, images, effects, and sounds. Numerous effects such as "fade in" and "fade out" can be applied by dragging to your chosen point on the timeline.
Edit footage with frame-by-frame accuracy by dragging "handles" on each end of the clip, or play the footage in the preview window and drag the trim bar to where you want to snip. To add music, select a file already on your PC, such as a WAV, or record audio from a CD. Voice-overs can be recorded in time with the movie in preview mode. You can save the final package in a number of formats for the Web, CD or DVD, and record back to a DV camera.
Ulead VideoStudio 6
VideoStudio offers excellent value to the home user - quick, easy, and packed with effects to give your production a professional look.
Price: $249 (full version); $120 (full version education); $120 (upgrade).
Distributor: Pineapplehead.
Ph: 1800 657 601, www.pineapplehead.com.au.
Distributor: Connexus.
Ph: 02 9975 2799, www.asiapac.ulead.com.
