DV For Beginners
A common query we get here at Digital Media Net is, "What would you recommend for a starter DV editing system?" or, "I want to get involved in DV editing, and have no idea where to begin." Need to know which computer is best for editing? How about which operating system you should use? Well, we're here to help. Here's a beginner's guide, showing you how to get started -- it's certain to get you pointed in the right direction.
Just about any computer you buy today will be able to edit video, it's just a matter of how quickly you want to get it done and how many effects you'd like to create. Just getting the video in and out of the computer can be accomplished with a low-priced DV card (called an OHCI-compliant DV or 1394 I/O card, Macs call it FireWire) that can be had for as little as $30, and is included on every Mac. Once the video is in the computer, it's a matter of deciding which shots stay and which ones hit the "cutting room floor" (editing). For that, you'll need software. Of course, Windows includes an application called Windows Movie Maker, a too-basic application that's pretty lame, in my opinion. Give yourself a better chance than that to spread your fledgling DV-editing wings.
The new Apple iMac is a great choice if you're looking for the easiest way to get started. You can plug your DV camcorder into it and start editing your movies right away. It's hard to beat. The computer is well-designed and comes with iMovie software that's basic, but unlike the brain-dead Windows Movie Maker, effective for a beginner. Another worthy choice for the PC that's a notch above the most basic editor is Pinnacle Studio 7 (about $80), which combines a simple, drag and drop interface with professional features like fast/slow motion and lots of wild-looking effects.
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| Click graphic for enlargement -- Adobe Premiere |
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| Click graphic for enlargement -- Vegas Video 3 |
For a more advanced user, a card that accelerates the editing is a good idea, but these can cost $800 -- $1200 or more. Examples of these are the Canopus DV Storm (for PC), Matrox RT-2500 (for PC) or RTMac (for Mac), or Pinnacle Pro-ONE (for PC). These cards let you add titles to your videos or transition between one shot and another without having to wait for the effects to be blended together (called rendering). These circuit boards are called "real time" cards for that reason. Without them, every time you want to dissolve from one shot to another or add graphics, you'll have to wait for the computer to render these elements together. All three cards mentioned are good, solid choices, all include a full version of Adobe Premiere, and allow editors to do more and do it quicker. Also, if you're not sure you're going to stick with DV editing as an ongoing pursuit, these accelerator cards can be added on later. For lots more on these DV capture cards, click here for a detailed comparison of the three. There's no question these cards make DV editing much more fun, but then, that kind of fun comes at a price.
Another factor that's crucial when determining which kind of computer to use for editing is, do you already know how to use a Mac, or did you cut your teeth on a PC? I'd say go with whichever one you're already familiar with, and whichever one for which you already have software. Getting all-new software for a Mac, if you're already PC-equipped, can get very expensive. Most importantly, to learn a new way of doing things, whether Mac or PC, takes a lot of extra time and effort.
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