The video editing software marketplace today has settled into what appears to be a 4 leveled arrangement derived from both price and features. Everyone's decision on a choice of video editing software ought to at least include an understanding of every layer and what it provides. Often the software maker will make an effort to tell you what you want but if you understand your own needs you can base your preference on those.

By appreciating the actual target market of the software you are checking out, you can keep any video editing software reviews you come across in perspective. Also make sure the individual writing the review is taking this into consideration. Regularly home user video editing software gets a inferior score from pro editors reviewing the software. Most times this is because the software is unable to do what it was in no way intended to do.

Earlier, video editing software roughly fell into two divisions. Either they were home user level video editors or they were professional video editing programs. At one end we had products like Ulead VideoStudio and at the other end products such Avid for wholly professional use.

As the field developed this changed into three classes with several of the video editing software makers introducing advanced consumer video editing software products. These software products were dubbed "prosumer" because they fell in between the consumer level and the fully professional level. Sony Vegas Pro and Ulead MediaStudio are examples of this category of program.

Presently the marketplace has evolved once more with an even bigger choice of video editing software on offer to suit all requirements. A new class of incredibly easy to use basic movie making software has just been introduced and for many people these new products might be exactly what they were looking for.

Examples of such recent products are Magix Video Easy and Corel Digital Studio. Each of these products present rather straightforward video editing, image editing and audio production. They are wizard based programs meaning that you go along with straightforward instructions regarding the way in which you desire your production to appear. To finish they make use of more straightforward steps and wizards to steer you painlessly to the final production whether it be to DVD, Blu-ray or directly uploading to YouTube.

Such software suites are perfect for the individual who is not technically minded or just not that interested in the production phase. It is purely a matter of pointing and clicking as you are guided all the way through the process.

Next we find the recognized consumer level video editing software such as CyberLink PowerDirector or Magix Movie Edit Pro. These programs have improved greatly ever since they were initially introduced into the consumer video editing field. Currently they are inclined to seem more like the prosumer software of the past.

Here there is a greater amount of control given to the user and each stage of the video creation route can be customized extremely specifically to the editor's requirements. There are countless special effects available and the audio, titling and output choices become wider.

After that we have the prosumer level products like Magix Video X Pro. Here we begin to observe the beginnings of the kinds of features and control that the experts use. They provide a larger quantity of tracks on the timeline regardless of if they are for video, audio, narration, subtitles, titles or anything!

You start to see very complex features like moving paths which means things can not only be overlayed but can be made to move around with the action as well. They naturally, have all the functionality of the video editing software under them nevertheless all of this carries a price.

The truth is there are two prices to factor in. The primary one is purely what you pay. The next price comes in the shape of a greater learning curve on your way to mastering the broad functionality of the product. Nevertheless the advantage of these products in the long run is that unless you would like to become a professional video editor there is no need to think about upgrading and the expenditure concerned in doing so.

In conclusion we arrive at the professional echelon of video editing software. Candidly speaking if you are reading this then there is no need for you or I to spend too much time on this point! They are fearsomely daunting in their complexity and at the same time amazing in what they can do. Not for the faint hearted and not for the novice by a long shot.

In choosing video editing software be certain to keep in mind your definite needs and goals for the product. Don't be duped by the cool features you may not need. Read the reviews and bear in mind which market it is intended for and always make use of the free trials.