1. iMovie
2. A very close tie between a full Avid system and Final
Cut Pro. Premiere is quite excellent, too.

Based on you experience and extensive research what
do YOU think is the best free non-linear video
editing software and the best non-linear video editing
software in general?

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I think the Best is too relative a term to be meaningful. All professional grade non linear editing programs are going to be high quality, it gets down to which you are used to, price, and which works on your platform of preference.

RJSchwarz

Very intriguing responses from both of you.

My answer to certified investigator would be:
1. I too have heard many good things about iMovie. Unfortunately, I own a PC, not a Mac.
2. Final Cut Pro seems to get very good reviews from users. From what I've seen, this software would probably fit my needs most.
Also, I think you misunderstood my comments on experience and research. I have a lot of experience for my age (which is 15), however not as much as a seasoned professional. With regard to research, editing software is an area in which I am not well-versed. I probably should have included this info in my original post.

In response to rjschwarz, I agree with you in some respects. Perhaps "best" was a poor choice of words. You'll have to excuse my vocabulary, but I could think of nothing better to say when I created the original post. However, there are some software packages that many people would agree have a good balance of features. I was referring more to these programs.

Thank you for your valuable opinions!

I didn't misunderstand your comment on research and experience. I asked
MY question wanting to know what you have found out from your current
research and experience. Not from the research and experience of a seasoned
professional. Since you have extensively researched this field, I'm curious
about the research and experience of a 15 year old.

And you're right, using "best" is what a lot of people use when they really
mean; "What programs do you like?" Kind of like asking, "What's the best
soft drink?" That answer will change depending on the person asked. But
asking "What soft drink do you like?" will get answers you can use in your
research.

Since you cannot use Final Cut then you need to research programs for
the PC. You probably cannot afford "the best" so you should figure out
your budget and check the software available. Download a demo version
and see what feature YOU need and like. That's invaluable research. It's
fine to ask what other people use, but where it counts it doesn't matter.
As rj said, it comes down to personal preference. Use "Vegas" for a period
of time and you'll like that program, use "Premiere" for a period of time
and you'll like that program. Try CyberLink PowerDirector, Corel Video
Studio and Vegas. See what YOU like.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, certified investigator.

I had forgotten that Final Cut was a Mac program. You are correct about the demos. Unfortunately, I cannot download much because of some computer issues I am dealing with. However, your suggestion is very good.

Thank you once again for the valuable input!

JAMES

Being 15 also has advantages. Student discounts and possibly the opportunity to use a computer lab to try out programs others would have to buy. Hopefully these things still apply at High School levels, I know they do for college.

RJSchwarz

You're 15, you have time to experiment and figure out things for yourself. Try the free demos, or even what free software is available (Movie Maker is the Windows equivalent of iMovie, maybe try that out to get a feel around a timeline).

And yes, be wary of directing your question to such a limited group of people. I haven't directed a feature, yet I could sure explain to you how to get around FCP and elaborate on why I prefer Premiere to other NLEs. Not to mention that a producer could very well know next to nothing about editors. 😉

Also, you write very eloquently for one your age as well James. But if you're writing this way because you're anxious about coming across in an immature or uneducated way, there's no need to be anxious. There's some really kind people here.

rjschwarz: based on my own research, virtually every educational discount I've found applies to K-12 as well.

My personal preferences as also Mac (FCP/FCE, and for quick home-movie stuff, iMovie). The little work that I have done in Windows, I did in Premiere/After Effects combo. Many seem to totally swear by AfterEffects for all their post work. However, if you're starting out and can't afford $500+ or so for CS4 Production Premium, you should try tools such as Sony Vegas, or Pinnacle Studio. I have heard very good things about Vegas and it seems that it is a well integrated tool with a lot of potential. The Platinum edition is below $100, supports full HD and 5.1 surround sound, so it should meet your needs at this point.

I must say, I'm impressed with your effort to write good English. So many first-time young posters here tend to write all lower-case, no punctuation, bastardised spelling and incomprehensible endless single-sentence posts, that it is difficult to motivate others to make an effort and write an answer to someone who chose not to even bother with proper English. I am absolutely certain that your chances to actually succeed in your moviemaking aspiration are significantly greater (all other things being equal) than those who don't bother communicating well.

Best of luck in your pursuits!