I have not picked up a pc editing softward yet, but was informed the Newteks speededit is a great new product. For simplicity sake, i was going to go vegas 8...but speededit was recommended. want to dissolve, cut and add music, nature sounds. keeping things simple. also add time dissolve with a nikon digital camera, or deshaking wildlife footage shot in a boat.

question...i am familiar as a still photographer with adobe cs3 extended. can you increase contrast, darken and saturate images digitally without a lot of time involved. any one out there use newtek ?
\
bill, bothell, washington

I always strongly recommend to people that they choose their editing software carefully and stick to it. Try to choose something that many people use in your area, so it's much easier if you want to exchange files or work on their computer. Therefore on a PC investigate either Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas (or perhaps Avid Express).

One of my friends changed from Premiere to Apple Final Cut. None of his friends can help him with his problems as we all use Adobe Premiere. We get very confused with Final Cut (because it's not what we're familiar with).

I use Newteks Video Toaster (which includes Speededit) for live switching & editing and find it quick,easy and intuitive to use (far more so than Adobe or Apple).
It can easily handle the things you say you want to do.

As not that many people use it, it is a bit of a closed system. As Colin says if you need to work with other people or ask advice one of the more popular might be better.
If you are happy to work by yourself I'd recommend it.