This week’s assignment was to compare two open source video editing software programs. After searching through the web and reading reviews and blogs on a number of programs, I chose Microsoft’s Movie Maker and VideoSpirit Pro.
Window’s Movie Maker came installed on my computer. I found Movie Maker to be very easy to use. Throughout the district, campuses have access to Flip Cameras which are used by teachers and students to create videos for use in a variety of ways, to video announcements and assign projects for students. The features I found to be most beneficial are the drag and drop features. The ease in which one can record a video, import it and add creative features such as transitions and text makes Movie Maker a product that is easy to use and can be used by students who have little or no experience in editing video. According to Desktop-Video-Guide.com, Microsoft Movie Maker is one of the best free video editing software programs available (http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/top-5-free-video-editing-sfotware-review.html).
Editing video utilizing Movie Maker was as easy as 1, 2, 3. The menu located on the right hand side of the screen directed the steps that must be taken to editing video from importing, editing, and finishing the editing process. Each video that is imported is segmented into smaller, more manageable clips and placed into collections. This allows for ease in editing effects and transitions. Movie Maker’s features also allow for the import of pictures, additional video, and the creation of title slides and credits, making the final product a professional piece, one that you would be proud to share.
As a beginner editor of video, I found Microsoft Movie Maker to be user friendly, easy to use and a product that can be utilized in a classroom with little or no introduction. Students will enjoy the multiple features such as adding effects, slide transitions, and audio editing that is offered with Movie Maker.
The second piece of software that I reviewed was VideoSpirit Pro. Once the program was downloaded, it required me to download K-Lite Codec Pack, Real Alternative, and QuickTime Player. Importing video into VideoSpirit was confusing. If the video was not in .visprj format, it had to be converted. VideoSpirit has a built in converter which is a nice feature of the program. The help files are written with step-by-step directions as well as with screen shots. The program has the capacity to convert a multitude of video types, depending on the platform you are going upload the video to.
The editing features were a bit confusing. As with MovieMaker’s 1, 2, 3 set of instructions made visible on the left-hand side of the screen, I found VideoSpirit’s editing process to be a bit tedious. While is provides some of the same features as Movie Maker; transitions, slide effects, editing of audio, these features were not as easy to use as Movie Maker.
As a beginner in the world of editing video, VideoSpirit is a program worth utilizing, but would require more instruction with students than required of Movie Maker. While both programs have features that make them appealing to the general public, my choice is with Movie Maker.
Desktop-Video-Guide. (n.d.). Top 5 free video editing software programs. Retrieevd on August 23, 2010, from http://www.desktop-video-guide-com/top-5-free-video-editing-software-review-html
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