Chapter 9
IN THIS CHAPTER
Choosing a computer platform
Knowing your workstation requirements
Adding extra equipment
Selecting video editing software
Technology has come so far that “editing suite” often refers to your table of choice at your favorite coffee place with your laptop computer. You can literally put a movie together with headphones on while sipping your latte. You can sip a cappuccino when downloading footage from your camera and immediately start editing your movie. All it takes is a machine with enough horsepower — most consumer models have it these days — to run GoPro Studio Edit, or your favorite editing app.
Not all computers are created equal; some are clearly a little more robust when it comes to efficiently handling all that you throw at them. Often that difference comes down to having a faster processor and an abundance of RAM.
The rivalry between Macs and PCs used to have the same intensity as debates between Yankees and Mets fans or Ohio State and Michigan followers. Although the sports rivalries are still intense, the one between Macs and PCs has softened a bit.
Both operating systems can help you achieve your goals; they just happen to go about the process differently. Chances are that the computer you already own can meet your video editing needs.
Walk out of an Apple Store with a Mac, and you can start editing your movie not long after you take it out of the box, because iMovie is loaded on every Mac.
Currently, you can choose among these models:
For optimum video editing, choose a Mac with these specs or better:
At entry level, Windows PCs are cheaper than Macs, though cost is significantly affected by component quality. These days, PCs have enough initial power to edit video, but they may not include a fast-enough hard drive or a complete set of connection types.
Numerous manufacturers make PCs — including Dell, Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Sony — and each manufacturer makes several lines that use a variety of components. Even when you isolate your choice to laptops, you still should consider differing screen sizes, processors, and connectivity arrays.
PC models come in the following types:
For best video editing performance, choose a Windows PC with these specs or better:
When it comes to editing video, some computers are clearly better suited than others. Here’s what you need for your moviemaking workstation.
Often, older computers are more replaceable than upgradable. An older iMac that doesn’t include a Thunderbolt connection, or at least a FireWire 800 connection, for example, won’t be usable with a fast external hard disk. Neither will a Windows PC with a slow graphics card or a processor that can’t run the latest operating system.
Editing HD video is serious business, so your computer’s processor had better be up for the challenge. Whether you’re using a new machine or an old one, be sure it exceeds the minimum requirements to run your editing software (see “Picking Software That Suits Your Needs” later in this chapter).
If you have a desktop computer, get the biggest screen you can afford. With a laptop, you’re a bit limited, but try to get at least a 15-inch screen.
Your computer can’t live without random access memory (RAM), and you can never have enough of the stuff. It feeds your processor-hungry video editing software while updating your Facebook status. The more RAM you have, the better, and because HD movie files require a lot of memory, buy as much as you can afford. Fortunately, RAM is relatively cheap.
Think of the graphics card as a specialist hired by the processor to reproduce the image and redraw the screen 30 times per second. Today, video is recorded and played back at 60 fps — and 120 fps and higher rates loom on the horizon. Your graphics card has its work cut out for it. Many computers built over the past couple of years are more than adequate to run GoPro Studio Edit.
Accessorizing your outfits makes good fashion sense, and so does adding accessories to your editing workstation. If you have room on your desk and in your budget, add a second monitor and some comfortable peripherals.
Your video footage and your video editing tools reside on the same monitor, so it’s a good idea to connect another monitor to separate the editing tools from the actual video (see Figure 9-3). Also, adding a high-quality monitor helps with video quality control.
The hardest part about connecting a monitor is making sure that you have the proper connectors. Even if your computer doesn’t have a dedicated video connection, you can connect another monitor via USB or Thunderbolt.
To set up an additional monitor on a Mac, make sure you have the right connector, and enjoy dual-screen bliss. Here’s how:
Connect the second monitor to the Mac, using the appropriate connector.
Use one of the following:
Select Monitors in the System Preferences window.
If you don’t see it, select Detect Monitors.
Adjust the resolution, colors, and refresh rate as desired.
If your Mac is running the Mavericks operating system, simply choose Best for Monitor.
Specify how you want to use the second screen.
The default setting extends the screen between the two monitors. Rearrange the orientation of the monitors by dragging one over the other and clicking the Arrangement button. If you want both monitors to show the same screen image, select the Mirror Monitors check box.
Using another monitor with your Windows PC is simple. Follow these steps:
Turn the computer and the second monitor on.
The Windows operating system looks for both monitors. Don’t be alarmed if the new monitor doesn’t turn on.
Activate the second monitor.
To do this:
After some churning, the second monitor should come on.
Specify what you want the monitors to do.
If you want to extend the video across the two monitors, for example, select the second monitor and select Extend these Displays.
Be sure to pick the keyboard and mouse that work for you. Some manufacturers make keyboards designed for specific nonlinear editing programs, such as Apple Final Cut X and Adobe Premiere CS.
Maybe it’s not as much fun as snowboarding — especially if you love strapping a board to your feet and negotiating a snowy hill — but there’s something incredibly pleasurable about using the right keyboard. Whether you like one that has a specific action or helps with your repetitive-stress injury, it’s key (pun intended) to select the right one.
Although the keyboard that came with your computer does the job, you may want to upgrade to one of the following:
This popular peripheral got its name because it resembled a mouse with a tail. These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find a mouse with a tail: Most modern mice are wireless. Some pointing devices aren’t even mice; they’re trackpads or trackballs.
Many novices think that their unedited video footage stands on its own. It’s possible to understand an unedited clip of some specific action, but that case is more the exception than the rule. But more often, raw footage doesn’t satisfy anyone but the person who shot it.
For that reason, it’s important to edit your footage with a nonlinear editing program. Which one? You have a lot of programs to choose among, and all of them do pretty much the same thing, so you may want to base your decision on your needs and budget.
You can download GoPro Studio Edit gratis, but you may already have a pretty decent moviemaking program on your Mac or Windows PC.
For many of your needs, you may not have to go further than GoPro Studio Edit (see Chapter 11 for more information). The software is free to download — and more important, it’s designed to work with GoPro cameras.
GoPro Studio Edit is packed with features, including a series of templates that allow you to produce GoPro-style videos by just adding your video to appropriate places. I discuss this software in more detail in Chapter 10.
GoPro Studio Edit doesn’t discriminate and works well with both Windows PCs and Macs. Computers running Windows XP, Vista, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows RT can all run the software. So can any Mac running OS X 10.6.3 or later.
Standard issue on Macintosh computers for more than a decade, iMovie (see Figure 9-4) is a popular choice among amateur video editors. It offers many special effects and fully integrates with Mac programs such as iTunes and iPhoto. Although the software is easy to use and loaded with functions and themes, some people may find it limited for advanced editing.
Included on most Windows PCs, this powerful little program lets you make movies easily. It’s intuitive to use and includes many fun effects.
GoPro Studio Edit provides a great starting point for creating your movie, but it’s not the only game in town. More elaborate programs are available that go beyond GoPro Studio Edit.
Considered by many people to be the de facto standard for nonlinear editing, Final Cut Pro appeals to the prosumer market. Robust, powerful, and filled with every imaginable function, this video editing program lets you do anything your creative heart can dream up. It captures or transfers video files in just about any format and exports them with a great deal of flexibility.
One of the oldest nonlinear editing programs on the market, Premiere has a devoted following. It helps you edit professional-quality movies, and it integrates nicely with the Adobe programs After Effects and Photoshop. Native DSLR editing presets in the newest version make it ideal for creative GoPro moviemaking. The software runs smoothly on both Macs and Windows PCs. Just make sure that your workstation has enough RAM and a decent graphics card.
This abridged version of Premiere Pro (see the preceding section) is not only affordable, but also powerful. Version 14 includes a wide range of new features. It behaves the same way on a Macintosh as it does on a Windows PC.
If you’re looking for a PC video editing application that lets you edit pro-quality movies, there are worse choices than Vegas. Designed for the professional on the go, it includes a healthy selection of effects and 3-D capability to boot. When you get the knack of the software, you can use it to crank out quality material. It comes in a variety of configurations and ranges in cost from affordable to pricey.
Macintosh users need not apply; Pinnacle Studio HD is strictly a Windows program.
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