VideoSpin: Free PC Video Editing by Pinnacle

Pinnacle Systems recently released a free PC editing program called VideoSpin, requiring only a 148-megabyte download from www.videospin.com. I decided to give the program a try to see what the implications were for MindBites users and those looking for cost-effective ways to edit on the PC. Unfortunately, my heart is not set on VideoSpin, and all-in-all it doesn’t change the landscape of free PC editing in any fundamental way.

I will start with what is good about VideoSpin and then mention my critiques. The program has almost no learning curve. Its interface is simple and linear. You have mainly two modes: Edit and Make Movie. All the editing, adding sound effects, transitions, titles, and so on is done in Edit mode, and then Make Movie is used to export your final product.

There is a nice volume bar that you can easily key-frame and move around, making fading audio in and out very simple. The program also renders transitions as you place them, which alleviates the problem of thinking you did something wrong when your un-rendered video plays choppy.

Now for the problems with the software: first of all, you, as participating members in a capitalistic society, should be very skeptical at the notion of free. Would it make sense for Pinnacle Systems to release a completely free piece of editing software that is inclusive enough to keep people from buying their Studio 11 line? Of course not. VideoSpin is an advertisement for Pinnacle’s more inclusive (and not free) products. It even goes so far as containing a section of the editing screen where scrolling advertisements of Pinnacle products appear!

VideoSpin does not allow you to capture video from a camcorder or tape device. All the footage you wish to edit must already be on your computer. This is sort of a pain for the amateur video-maker who wants a single system that can capture, edit, and export.

VideoSpin does not come with built in codecs, which are the pre-made algorithms that tell the computer how to efficiently compress video. You have probably heard of MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and DiVX. These are compression codecs that make your video’s file size smaller without reducing the quality very much. If you want to utilize these codes after the 15 day trial period, which you will for MindBites because without them your video will be too large, you have to pay $14.99.

VideoSpin has only one video track, making image compositing or picture-in-picture impossible. There are no time adjustment features such as fast motion or slow motion. You cannot leave spaces between clips, all your media must be touching in the timeline. Hark, it seems I was just writing these same words in another context! Ah yes, it was my review for Windows Movie Maker, the free editing software that come with windows XP and Vista. I was writing about exactly the same limitations!

The bottom line is VideoSpin shows very little improvement over MovieMaker. Both are free, so if you are in the mood to give it a try there is absolutely no reason to hold back. But if you are satisfied with MovieMaker or need something that does more than MovieMaker can, don’t bother with Video Spin. I would recommend reading another blog post I did on five pieces of editing software under $100 and moving up to a more powerful editing tool.

Use this free software to edit your own how-to video.

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6 Comments

1. Bill Kaulitz 1989, July 10, 2008:

   teleio!!!the best!!!i like this!!!

2. Constance, August 21, 2008:

   Thank You …Great Info!!!

3. Jesusdragon737, October 12, 2008:

   I downloaded this and really liked it until I realized that you could have absolutely NO special video effects. No slow motion, no color change, no fast motion, no flipping horizontal or vertical. Windows Movie Maker is bad, but if you like making nice videos, this is not what you want either.

4. Jeck, December 4, 2008:

   If you don’t like it buy pinnacle studio and all extras will be added. I use it and i like it it’s simple, useful and it’s free.

5. Megan, January 6, 2009:

   How exactly do you fade audio out on videospin? :)

6. Raj, June 21, 2009:

   I am not sure video editing software by Pinnacle but I found something interesting and easy to use movie making and video editing software i.e. muvee Reveal. I found its very easy to personalize movies and videos in few clicks.