Video Editing software reflection

I tested three video editing programs- Windows Moviemaker, Videospin, and Video Thang. I identified windows Moviemaker because it was already installed on my PC, and it is widely known and used. I identified Videospin and Video Thang by doing a Google search for free open source video editing tools. All three programs are very easy to use. Since I have little or no experience with video editing, and I teach younger kids, I wanted to test simple editors for beginners. I found Moviemaker to be very user friendly. I was able to import video and audio easily with the drag and drop feature. Moviemaker has over sixty video transitions that easily added. It also has several video special effects that were fun to experiment with. I used a special effect to make my movie appear old. My film was easily uploaded to a standard .wmv file for play on my computer. Moviemaker will only publish to a .wmv file. I was disappointed to find out that Moviemaker only has one audio track. That means that I was unable to have multiple audio streams at the same time.
This software is great because it is already on most PCs, it is easy to use, and it has nice features. It is definitely not for professionals or advanced users because the features just aren’t there. I know that Moviemaker will be the primary editor that I use in my job because of its ease of use. It is perfect for students’ projects and assignments.
I also tested Videospin by Pinnacle. This program is highly recommended by online reviewers, and it is comparable to Moviemaker. It has the same dread and drop features as Moviemaker, and I could easily import my video. Videospin has over 70 video transitions, and an entire menu of audio effects ranging from crickets to car crashes. Although I was unable to add special effects using the fee version of the software, I was able to have fun with the audio because it features two audio tracks- one for audio effects, and one for music. This is in addition to the audio that is coupled with the video. Another great thing about Videospin is that movies can be published in eleven different formats including .wmv, and videos can be published directly to the web.
I think that I would use this program if I needed to create a school publication that required allot of audio support. Otherwise, I will use Moviemaker.
The last editor that I tested is Vide Thang. This very basic editor is designed for people that want to post simple movies to the web. It is extremely easy to use. It has the same drag and drop feature as the other tow programs, and I was importing video was very easy. The audio features are very basic. It has a single audio track; however, it does allow you import music from your computer easily. This program only has three video transitions, and it does not have any audio or video special effects. Video Thang will publish as an .mpeg file or it can be published directly to the web.
The strengths of this editor are clearly in its simplicity. I was able to create my movie faster than the other two programs. Its weaknesses, however, caused my end product to lack the sophistication of the other two.
I think that this editor could be useful for simple projects that require little editing. When my students want to create video quickly and then share it online, this editor is hard to beat.