Choosing The Best Movie Maker

Choosing The Best Movie Maker: Apple iMovie, Pinnacle Studio, or Windows Movie Maker

Anybody with the basic knowledge and the right equipment for movie making (which includes a computer plus movie making software) can create home movies at a reasonable costs.  The initial investment for the hardware plus the software can be a bit steep but you just need talent and perseverance (to master the software and the movie making techniques) later on.

There are several home movie making software on the market and you need to choose the best software to make the most of your investment.  The most popular and highly-used movie makers today include these three:

 Apple iMovie
 Pinnacle Studio
 Windows Movie Maker

All of the three has its own advantages and disadvantage but here is a closer look at the individual features of these movie-making software. 

Apple iMovie

This software, which was first released as a Mac OS 8 application (which was bundled with chosen models of Macintosh), allows video and home movie editing.  At present, it is included in the Macintosh iLife suite as a Mac OS X application.  It makes use of FireWire to import video shots and footage from the video camera (using the Mini DV format) to the Mac.  Once that is done, you can easily edit the footage and incorporate music, title and even graphics in the home video.  Even a newbie can create videos with fade in and fade out features. 

The latest version released in 2006 (iMovie6) is better as the user can take advantage of the iTunes, iDVD, iPhoto, iWeb and Garageband---all of which are incorporated in the software.  Among the latest must-have features in this version are:
 

 Real-time effects and real-time titling
 Better tools for audio and special effects
 Transition choices
 Ability to work on multiple projects at the same time
 More themes
 Special effects like transitions, disintegrate, warp out, twirl and many more
 Ability to create slow or fast motion and other video effects
 Ability to preview the edited work (special effects included) in real time

Pinnacle Studio

Manufactured by Pinnacle Systems, this software is ideal for those who are into non-linear video editing projects.  It is an all-in-one software that allows users to create their very own CD or DVD and burn them at the same time using the same software (unlike other video editing software requiring Nero or other CD/DVD burning software).  This is available in two editions namely Studio Plus and Studio.  The Pinnacle Studio Quickstart 9 is ideal for beginners because it boasts of very basic and simple editing tools for videos and home movies.

While it is an alternative and a competitor to the Adobe Premier home video editing software (containing fast and slow motion effects, color correction and Graphic EQ) it however has glaring disadvantages like:
 
 Non-availability of audio effects
 Non-availability of video effects
 Non availability of motion buttons
 Non-availability of motion backgrounds
 Non-availability of motion menus

Pinnacle Studio Plus 9 is however a different story. It is bundled with HollywoodFX Plus 5.5 version in addition to the editing tools found in Pinnacle Studio 9.  The 2005-released Pinnacle Studio 10 and Pinnacle Studio 10 Plus however contains the two-tracks video editing feature.  Here are the other features:

 Ability to do full resolution preview in real-time
 It can mix the following footage-NSTC, PAL, 16:9 and 4:3
 Can be operated on Windows XP
 HD editing

Those who would like to invest in this software (including 2007’s 10.7 version) should however consider the various negative reviews it's received like:
 
 Running slowly
 Crashing
 Doesn't work too well on 512 megabytes as indicated in the box

Windows Movie Maker

The latest versions of Microsoft Windows are bundled with this video editing software.  It became available in 2000 but suffered in comparison to the Apple iMovie.  Windows XP carries the new version 1.1, boasting of the ability to support the creation of DV, WMV 8 and AVI files.  Those who have this can get a free update of the new versions of 2.0, 2.1 and 2.5 respectively.

Those who have Windows Vista can take advantage of version 6 of Windows Movie Maker. Unfortunately it isn't bundled in the Windows Vista Starter but only in Windows Vista Home Premium as well as Windows Vista Ultimate editions.  The latest version boasts of the following:
 
New transition and other effects
 Compatibility with DVR-MS format
 Placement of title and credits
 Timeline narration
 Auto movie
 Audio track

Given the pros and cons of the Apple iMovie, the pinnacle Studio and Windows Movie Maker, you can now decide which of the three home video software are appropriate for your home video editing needs.  Of course, price can also be a deciding factor.