Movie+Maker+Tutorial+Podcast

This is a podcast of Microsoft Window Movie Maker tutorial.

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Movie Maker is simple to use. It's an ideal application for novice video makers.

Review of Movie Maker vs. Video Pad The two open source video editing software I chose to review are the Microsoft’s Movie Maker and NCH Software’s VideoPad. They both run under PC format. Movie Maker comes automatically with Windows operating system and new updates and versions can be downloaded for free on the Microsoft website. Basic version of VideoPad can also be downloaded for free. Both software offer similar functions. They both accept variety of video formats, and could import video from a camera or from a computer. They accept music audios and record audio with a microphone. They both have video effect tools. Both could produce the video as .avi format that can be read on various computer formats. Both could produce a video as a DVD or upload it to the websites such as YouTube.

Movie Maker, however, is the most popular free video editing tool. It is very user friendly. The steps to making a movie are shown clearly on the left side of the screen under “Movie Tasks.” First time users can easily make intelligent choices by following the steps. With help of online tutorials users can become familiar with all the functions very quickly. There are some hidden advance options that can be learned through tutorials. One function that can easily be missed is the cutting tool, which is located under the preview window.

VideoPad could be more friendly to slightly more advanced users. First, the layout of the screen looks similar to Adobe Premiere. To use this software it would be more beneficial if a user were aware of typical functions and jargons of video editing realm. The tools are buttons that run across the top of the screen. They are not numbered like Movie Maker, but they are in some sequential order of use. Once the files are imported they are shown on the left, then can be dragged to the timeline. There are two viewing screens like Adobe Premiere. One on the right is to play the video and the other is to see the sequence in detail. One option that users may want to choose VideoPad over the Movie Maker is that there are three options for audio. The user can put voice audio as well as two additional music audios in the timeline.

For schools that are under tight budget I would recommend using Movie Maker as a beginning stepping stone to learn video editing, then move on to VideoPad for advance options. Once students learn and get used to the format they can easily move over to the Adobe Premiere if they choose to become professionals.