Do you have trouble selecting and buying digital video equipment? Can't
decide which digital camcorder to buy? Or what factors to consider when
selecting a video editing program?
Take buying camcorders as an example. You certainly don't want to end up
spending thousands of dollars on a digital camcorder if you only intend to
shoot simple home videos. On the other hand, if you'll need a high-end model
to shoot broadcast quality video.
This article will give you some tips on selecting the best desktop video
equipment. We'll break down the article into the various categories, namely,
digital camcorders, computers, video capture devices, video editing software
and DVD authoring programs.
1. Buying A Digital Camcorder
To shoot a desktop video, you'll definitely
need a camcorder. There are both analogue and digital camcorders out there, but
digital camcorders are more the norm now.
To select a quality camcorder, you'll
need to focus mainly on your budget and the camera's intended usage. A low to
mid-range digital camcorder is more than sufficient if you want to shoot only
home videos. Don't waste money on higher-end models which are more suitable for
professional videographers.
You should also consider other factors like Firewire
support, lens quality and still image capability. For more on this topic, you
can read my
detailed guide on buying a digital camcorder.
A HD digital camcorder from
Canon
2. Buying A Computer For Video Editing
A computer will be needed if you intend to
capture, edit or produce your own movie creations on DVD or BluRay disc. Desktop and
laptop computers pack a lot of power these days and you should have no problems
selecting a decent model for your video editing needs.
Again, consider your
budget and intended usage. Other factors like future expandability, size, and
even customer support are also important. I've written
a
short guide on selecting a good video editing computer which will be useful
to you.
3. Buying A Video Capture Device
When I speak of a video capture device, I refer
to two things - Firewire video capture cards and analog-to-digital converters.
Firewire cards are needed to transfer video from your digital camcorder to the
computer (you cannot use the USB port). It is an absolute must-buy if you have a
digital camcorder.
If you own an analog camcorder, or if you want to convert
analog video footage into digital format, then analog-to-digital converters come
into play. These devices take the analog video and convert them into digital
format so that you can preserve those precious videos forever. Check out my
guide to choosing Firewire cards
for video capture.
4. Buying Video Editing Software
There are so many video editing software
packages out there, it can be mind boggling to the newbie.
Traditionally, Adobe Premiere Pro has been recognized as the industry standard in editing
video. It is an excellent package which has all the possible video editing
features and special effects you'll want.
VCD, DVD and BluRay authoring packages are very
popular these days. These are available as standalone products (e.g. Nero
Burning ROM) or built into video editing packages like Corel VideoStudio or
Movavi.
Typically, these simplify the process of burning a DVD with point-and-click user interfaces. They are also quite cheap and affordable. Traditionally,
Corel has been the
industry leader for many of these products and I would recommend buying their
software.
Whew! Considering the huge array of digital
video equipment out there, it is most confusing to the beginner digital video
enthusiast. I hope this article sums up the types of video equipment you need to
buy and gives you some idea of what you will and will not need.
The most important thing, as I always
emphasize, is to consider your budget and intended usage of a particular digital
video product. If you follow that simple rule, you will, in general, make a good
selection and purchase.
Frustrated
by your video editing efforts? You and try but just can't produce a professional
looking movie? Then you
should check out
Movavi Video Suite. This all-in-one package contains powerful yet easy-to-use tools for any video processing need - edit, enhance, convert and share. You can easily create brilliant movies by adding special effects and convert your video into any of 170+ video formats, or burn it to Blu-ray Disc & DVD.
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has been recognized as the industry standard in editing
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features and special effects you'll want. 
The
All-In-One Video Editing Program