What is Video Production Software?

Video production software is a professional non-linear video editing tool used to produce motion pictures, commercials, corporate communications, etc. These industry leading software packages usually require specially built computers and professionally trained editors to operate them effectively. We aren’t talking about your everyday do-it-yourself video editors here. Companies like Apple and Avid produce products that have been used to edit award-winning major motion pictures such as “Crazy Heart,” "Iron Man 2" and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

Video editing, or the “invisible art,” as many practitioners refer to it, has been an Oscar category since 1934. For those of you not keeping track, nearly two out of three films that win the Academy Award for Best Film Editing go on to win the Best Picture award as well. Video editing is a big deal and the best editors in the world use the products featured on this site. Also be sure to read our articles related to video production.

Post-production video editors produce mind blowing masterpieces. Video production software is the palette these artists use to put paint to canvas by combining video, sound, and effects all in one magical package. A professional video editor wants a tool that will allow seamless integration between the various phases of the post production process.

The difference between video editing software and video production software is integration. With video editing software you can edit video and maybe apply a few visual effects; with video production software you can edit video, create visual and sound effects, mix audio tracks, and combine these elements to produce a masterpiece of cinematic proportions.

What to Look for in Video Production Software

Features
To keep up with the demand of post production you need a software package that can handle any situation. It needs to be able to manage imported media, work seamlessly with other applications in the suite, offer a high degree of customization, provide a simple and easy to navigate interface, and include a tool for authoring DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Video Editing
Video editing is the core of each of these products. Everything else is usually built to support this function. A good video editor is one that is easy to use, works well with associated applications, and offers a variety of options and effects.

Sound Editing
As one of the final steps in the post production process, sound editing is commonly overlooked or under considered. Sound editing can be as basic as removing background noise or adding minor effects, or as complex as mixing 5.1 surround sound tracks. Luckily, each application featured on this site has an audio editor. Most integrate seamlessly with the video editors and include video/audio synchronization tools.

Native Editing
How nice is it to be able to drop media into the timeline and just start editing? Having to wait for transcoding and rewrapping is a waste of time and valuable resources. These video production software packages each offer native editing to an extent, although they all approach native editing differently. Take a look at our comparison matrix for a quick overview of which formats each developer claims to offer native support for.

Supported Operating Systems
Few video production software packages are available for both Mac and Windows. Whatever your preference, it is important to know what works with your system. For example, if you are only interested in video production software for your Windows PC, don’t plan on looking at Apple Final Cut Studio.

Help and Support
Video production software featured on this site tends to be complex. Even seasoned editors will run into something they don’t understand or need help with. For that reason, it is imperative that the software developer offer product support. Support can come in the form of telephone assistance, email, tutorials, online chat, or user moderated forums.

Be sure to check out our top ranked reviews of video production software, Apple Final Cut Studio, Adobe Production Premium and Sony Vegas Pro as well as our articles related to video production.

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Video production software can make your movies into masterpieces.

What is Video Production Software?

2012 Video Production Software Review Product Comparisons

TopTenREVIEWS  |  Software  |  Multimedia  |  Video Production Software Review
Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Apple Final Cut Studio Adobe Production Premium Sony Vegas Pro Avid Media Composer MAGIX Video Pro X Edius
Apple Final Cut Studio Adobe Production Premium Sony Vegas Pro Avid Media Composer MAGIX Video Pro X Edius
Reviewer Comments Read Review
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Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good
Ratings
Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good
Video Editing Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent Good
Audio Editing Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair
Native Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent
Supported Operating System Very Good Excellent Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good
Help/Support Excellent Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots View Apple Final Cut Studio screenshots View Adobe Production Premium screenshots View Sony Vegas Pro screenshots View Avid Media Composer screenshots View MAGIX Video Pro X screenshots View Edius screenshots
Pricing
Purchase new license $1,299 $1,699 $599.95 $2.495 $399 $799
Upgrade from previous version $499 $599   $395 $299  
Features
Media Management Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
Application Integration Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
Resource Sharing Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Customizable Workspace Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
Customizable Keyboard Check Mark   Check Mark   Check Mark  
External Control Surface Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Script Search   Check Mark   Check Mark   
Blu-ray Authoring Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Open Timeling Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Third Party Plug-ins Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Free Trial   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Video Editing
Video Tracks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Integrated Effects Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Compositing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Stereoscopic (3D) Editing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
Multicamera Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Color Correction Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Video Stabilizer Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
A/V Synchronization Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Image Editing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Audio Editing
Audio Tracks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Integrated Effects Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Multitrack Mixer Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Voice Over Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
5.1 Surround Support Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark  
Automatic Volume Adjustment   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
Background Noise Removal Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Native Support
XDCAM Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
XDCAM HD Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
XDCAM EX Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVCPRO Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
DVCPRO HD Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
P2 Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
R3D Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
AVC-I Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
AVCHD Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Supported Operating System
Windows XP Pro SP2/3   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Windows Vista (32 bit)   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Windows Vista (64 bit)   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Mac OS X 10.4.11-10.5.4 Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Mac OS 10.5.5/6 (Leopard) Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark   
Help/Support
Telephone Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Email Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Live Chat Support       
Knowledge Base/FAQ Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
User Moderated Forums Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Tutorials Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   
 
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