one of the most usual questions i have gotten is about the programme i used to make my amv's and several questions about each , so i decided to make a post pointing out clearly experience that i got from the programmes I tried before



Windows Movie Maker


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no need to explain more, since this is the basic of basic programme you must have if your comp uses Windows, except for some special cases . although WMM is a bit choosy for files, but you can always make it with any convert programme.

Plus points:

-automatically cut scenes for you when uploading file from certain videos (especially handy for making videoclip and amv, since you can keep track in the important or needed scenes. it allows you to delete unneeded parts which makes things even better )

-separated audio and video

-easy to use, friendly control

-has almost of everything that you need to make a video, for both audio and video

-can save/zoom while watching your work

-save directly to .wmv

-allows you to size your own work


Minus points:

-Fixed video size and scenes

-unstable run

-does not support overlay

-limited manage for titles/subtitles





Ulead Video Studio (Plus)


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after WMM, i changed to Ulead 11. personally it is ok for me

Plus points:

-quite friendly control

-active in managing transition's time

-more effects to use

-overlay is available (but with limited amount)

-Video filters are available, "Chroma Key" supports the bluescreens and greenscreens effect

-crop and resize video scenes

-the "Save current image" option is very helpful unexpectedly

-really helpful to speed up or slow down your vid. totally free control

-much better titles choices



Minus points:

-doesnt help you splitting the uploaded videos (it may sound ok with some fmv's, but with the whole movie that is a few hours long, you will understand the pain ) ---> i recommend Virtual Dub in this case

-fixed video's audio file: forget it if you want to put a scream or an impressive sound in fmv to your work. audio file is fixed! it only can be faded and thats all.

-totally inactive in saving your work. the available choices for .wmv files are at terrible quality, and the choices for .avi and .mpeg are all at terribly big size.

-takes loads of your comp's memory for nothing (since the whole file contents 2 parts, video editing and image editing), but good if you need both of them though




Sony Vegas


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when you use Sony Vegas well, you are already close to a pro and if you master it then you are absolutely a PRO!

Note: if you actually just use SV's video effects well, then you are even worse than me


Plus points:

-huge storage of effects and filters, you can even expand it by updating

-you can control EVERYTHING in a video, as I said, everything

-Video paint is available, make it a new Photoshop on your own mind


Minus points:

-surprisingly (I dont know whether in the later versions they have fixed it yet or not), it doesnt have preview for you to see o.0" most likely you start with a filter or editing work, then delete, then try another one

-not so helpful in saving file as well. usually you will have a really huge file for a few mins of vid, but it's worth the quality at least. just when you need to upload then it will be the pain





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as a conclusion, i still vote for WMM the highest. firstly because im not into the way of a professional editor so Im not much into editing a vid, i focus more on expressing things and blending them with music . secondly WMM supports splitting your vids which makes you manage and remember really well even the smallest moments of your files, therefore you can use them in the most efficiently way .

but well the rest depends on people. there are also many n00bs "which" depend on SV's effects only and there are also many masterpieces that made using WMM.

so yea, i hope this post finally helped you guys to decide on your own, so please stop spamming my message box lol

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PS: all of the above softwares only can be used in Windows. Im planning to try with Ulead Studio Pro which is between Ulead Plus and Sony Vegas, but it will be some later time, when im not busy anymore