Recommendation for affordable and simple video editing software?

[Krtismo]

I know there are a lot of threads about recommending editing software on here, but most of them go a little over my head.

Here is what I would like to do...

I would like some affordable software to edit clips from my Canon SD780 IS into videos that I can post on youtube for my friends and family. I would obviously like to be able to avoid video quality loss along the way. I would also like to be able to do some sort of blue color fixing like I can do in CS3.

I'm new to this, so you may have to dumb down some of the format and codec talk because I don't have a good grasp of it all.

Here is an example of what I've been doing with free software, but I think I can get a better result with better software and knowledge.

YouTube - krtismo's Channel

Thanks Everyone!!

-Kurt

[drbill]

First, it would be really helpful to know what OS you are using... Mac or Windoze?

If you've used CS3 on a Windows-based machine, would something like Adobe Premiere Elements do what you want? You can download trial versions of Sony Vegas products and I'm pretty sure you can do the same with Adobe Premiere. If you are just editing SD and not HDV or HD, consider buying a used copy of an older version.

[Krtismo]

I'm using Windows and I will be editing 720p HD.

And with CS3, I've only been able to do very basic editing as well as this method:
Best fix I found using Photoshop.. For people with no strobes

[kwestby]

I've been very happy with PowerDirector 9 (http://www.cyberlink.com/products/po...iew_en_US.html)

[mozaik]

I would very much recommend switching to a Mac , their built in video software is excellent for basic stuff.

I bought a Mac Mini for 600$ mostly for that , it works great and I was able to edit movies in half the time than I would in any other software like Adobe Premiere or others.

[ScubaVideo]

First, it would be really helpful to know what OS you are using... Mac or Windoze?

If you've used CS3 on a Windows-based machine, would something like Adobe Premiere Elements do what you want? You can download trial versions of Sony Vegas products and I'm pretty sure you can do the same with Adobe Premiere. If you are just editing SD and not HDV or HD, consider buying a used copy of an older version.

Ditto on Premiere Elements, its cheap and does 90% of what the full version does.

[BDSC]

I use Sony Vegas Movie Studio and am very pleased with the results. You should be able to buy the latest and greatest version for less than $100.

This is the version I am using at the present:

Amazon.com: Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 10 Suite: Windows: Software

It has some really good white balancing adjustments.

[diversteve]

I am also ^. Links to several sub- $100 options. All have trial versions:

Adobe Premiere Elements
Pinnacle Studio
Sony Vegas Movie Studio HD9 or HD Platinum 10

Vegas Movie Studio HD9 is $45 retail:

Share movies on top social networking sites like YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and more!

[Hashime]

I use a combination of Pinnicle Studio 12 (cheap / free is you are morally ambiguous), Virtual Dub (free), audacity (audio track,free), and handbrake (encoding for devices, free)

[Krtismo]

I see that some of of these are "Optimized" for 64bit Windows, which I have. Should that play a factor into my decision?

I was hoping there would be clear winner for me, but I'm still having a hard time deciding. When I get some time, I'll have to get the trial versions.

Thanks for all of the help guys, I really appreciate it!