NLE Software comparison video review/tutorial
 

Hi all,

I'm working on planning the next meeting of our local video professionals association. By request, this time we'll talk about the different NLEs that are out there. In our group we have Avid, Edius, Premiere, Final Cut and Vegas users, so we can all offer some good input.

I'd like to find a video to show, though, that reviews/compares some of the big names out there. I've found several good articles to pass around, but I'm still searching for a possible video tutorial/review.

Thanks!

One of the problems that you will probably encounter is that anyone who is qualified enough to do a useful review of various NLE's is probably biased based on his or her own experience. All of the NLE's that you mentioned will allow a good editor to produce good work. I have seen some superficial comparative reviews in magazines and their associated web sites. These are pretty much useless because their producers don't want to offend advertisers. You might try a show and tell approach where some of your members demonstrate and describe their own NLE. Just be careful of overzealous "missionaries" and fan boys. Caution your members to not look for the "Holy Grail" NLE that will make perfect videos. Often a person will get more benefit from doing things to increase their proficiency with their current NLE than "NLE hopping" in a futile attempt to find the magic NLE that does it all for them.

Another thing that someone can do who really wants to take a close comparative look at various NLE's is to download the demo versions from the suppliers' web sites. One caution though is that it's a mistake to flippantly do this. Until one develops sufficient familiarity with a given NLE, they can't make an objective judgment. Their lack of familiarity with it leads to frustration and misjudgment.

Tough challenge that. I'd disagree with the blanket statement on user bias, although it exists. A good reviewer will work hard to squeeze bias out. To assume it exists is to give the review short shrift.

Certainly you do not have time to download and review all the products out there but you should encourage your cohorts interested in a new NLE to do so. Everyone's use case will differ and those differences could be large or small. In fact, my use case for PP has shifted over the last two years. Fortunately PP has, for the most part, kept up.

If I were asked to do your presentation, I might twist it around to "Things to consider when selecting an NLE" and then select a sexier title. (grin) The key to making a good near term selection is understanding long term needs. No small feat that, but not impossible.