Editing Info Base

Various Nonlinear Editing Packages Explained

As nonlinear editing software/hardware packages are changing all the time, I'm not going to go into things in great detail. Instead I'm simply going to cover some of the most popular editing packages for both Mac and PC. There are of course many different packages available, but the ones outlined below are by far the most popular. They are listed in order of price and basic functionality; starting with the most basic and cheapest packages first, leading up to the higher end professional packages at the end
APPLE MACINTOSH

iMovie
Starting with Apple computers there are various packages available. At the bottom end there is the basic iMovie software package made by Apple themselves. Although iMovie is a basic editing application, it is capable of great things. Most Hollywood blockbuster movies are made up of nothing but straight cuts with the occasional cross-fade or fade to black along with several audio tracks and perhaps a few video tracks overlaid; iMovie can do all this. However, it's colour grading capabilities are very limited. If you are just starting out in the world of nonlinear editing iMovie is a great place to start.
Final Cut Express
Again, made by Apple, Final Cut Express is a slightly cut-down version of Final Cut Pro, omitting some of the colour grading features and a few other high-end features that Final Cut Pro has. A lot of editors, most in fact, would not need these higher end features, which is why Apple brought out Final Cut Express as it fits into that intermediate marketplace perfectly.
Final Cut Pro
Apples high-end nonlinear software package. Since it's launch back in 2000 Final Cut Pro has taken the professional world of editing by storm. Final Cut Pro is in direct competition with AVIDs high-end packages. Even back at version 1 Final Cut Pro was a massive hit, costing a fraction of the price of an AVID package. Final Cut Pro has been through many upgrades and updates over the years, and today it is one of the most comprehensive software packages you can buy. Considering Final Cut Pro is aimed at the high-end professional market, it is incredibly logical and easy to use. Final Cut Pro will do pretty much everything you will ever need and the Suite version comes with every tool you'll need for sound editing, colour grading and lots more. If you are a high-end movie maker, corporate video producer, independent production company, music video producer etc etc, Final Cut Pro should definitely be on your very short list of software applications to look at.
AVID (coming soon)
AVID DS, Media Composer, Nitris DX are the current crop available from legendary AVID.