I have so many adorable video clips of my kids scattered among my iPhone, laptop, Flip Camera (RIP) and removable hard drive. I dare to dream about turning this jumble of clips into longer movies with real Hollywood-like transitions and effects. The problem is, I don’t have the time or patience to learn how to do so.
I recently came across a software program called Pinnacle StudioHD that helps ease the burden. This video editing software lets you import all your scattered videos into a single platform and then work your magic (or rather theirs) on creating a movie masterpiece. There are thousands of effects (like color correction, motion stabilization, lens flare) and transitions (like fade out, dissolve, panning out) that help make your movie truly look professional.
My favorite feature is called SmartMovie, which automatically edits video clips and still photos to the rhythm of the music you designate. It automatically creates music to accompany the duration of your slideshow, or you can use your own music and create a well-timed masterpiece (as I did with my roadtrip pictures and Willie Nelson’s, “On the Road Again”).
With the limitless options, it’s nice that the learning curve for StudioHD is quick. Well, kind of. The software offers an intuitive interface and employs helpful user-friendly features like drag and drop, decipherable icons and sliding cursors to cut video clips.Once you get the hang of the basics, you can start investigating more cool things this powerful software can do.
I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the options and could spend hours wading through each one. One of these days, I’ll get to that Hollywood-style DVD. -Jeana
Pinnacle StudioHD v15 is available for $59.99 from the company’s website.
I still haven’t edited video of my first 3 day walk two yeas ago! Thanks for the nudge. 😀
Is it better than Animoto? There is always an array of products out there, which makes it confusing sometimes. I have tons of Flip (rip) footage and would like to format it for perpetuity and would like to use the better editor. What do you recommend?
Hi Ivonne, it can definitely be confusing to wade through the myriad video editing options out there. Both Animoto and Pinnacle StudioHD are great options. Your choice will depend on factors like how much time you have, how simple (or complex) you want your video to be, how much you want to spend, to name a few. Pinnacle offers tons of options for creating very professional looking videos, but there’s also a learning curve (and cost) for the software. Once you get the hang of it though, you’ll certainly wow everyone with your video-making prowess. Good luck!