Home : Blogs : David W. Bolick : The Network Blog

Windows Movie Maker - Sometimes the BEST is FREE

I started doing real Home Video Tours about 6 years ago and the biggest problem, and still to a degree, was finding a web host to upload the video to. The next biggest problem was finding a Video Program to edit the raw video shot to add some flair. After using a complicated program for about 2 years I finally went to CompUSA and asked the advise of the "experts" and they suggested a program that costs about $230 that was so damn complicated to use that I had to make notes on how I did things because the next time I tried to duplicate an edit I couldn't figure out how I did it. I fought this program for years until one day my 14 year old daughter (should have been the first one to ask) was making Home Movies from video clips and still pics on her computer with her friends and she had all kinds of fancy twists from one scene to the next, blending music and voice overlay, adding cool distortions to pics with zoom in and out features and when I saw her first one I was like WOW...how in the world did you accomplish that. She said she was using Microsoft Windows Movie Maker...a FREE program on her computer.

Folks...I'm here to tell you that I now use Windows Movie Maker and couldn't be happier. It is sooooo simple to use and has more features, whistles and bells than I care to use. It's amazing at just how easy it is to use and the learning curve wasn't but a couple of days. I highly recommend it. I'm still looking for a good quality video host though.

Here's my latest home video movie made with Movie Maker:

Posted by David W. Bolick on 10/28/2009 12:43 PM

Comments (8)

33 winterfern cv video tour, little rock, ar, west little rock, network real estate, woodlands edge

Post is included in group: Real Estate Video Marketing
Post is included in group: Online/Offline Marketing and Advertising
Post is included in group: Making Real Estate Better with Technology
Post is included in group: Audio & Video Q&A
Post is included in group: Active Rain Virtual Tours

8 Comments on Windows Movie Maker - Sometimes the BEST is FREE

OCT

I've used that also with great success. I also taught others in the past to do their own VT's by using Photo Story 3 and then hosting the tour. I've been doing that for years now and haven't paid dime one for VT's other than for Host Monster. Hope others see this and apply it!

Now Lyn...what is Host Monster? Is that a video host?

OCT

I use a program called Power Director that I have had for a long time. Don't think the Windows product was good back then. As a suggestion you might want to look at getting a wider lens for the camera.

OCT

Thank you! Very timely for me. I completed my first youtube video last night. I had been struggling with another program, read your post - and in 15 minutes in Windows Movie Maker had completed my project. There is free software out there also to convert .wmv files to mp4.

Nancy...glad to have helped some. Yeah...there are some good conversion programs out there too. I bought one for about $39 that converts from any format to any other in a jiffy that I love.

OCT

Thanks again Dave, can I ask which program you are using to convert the files. I downloaded a free program but am having trouble uploading my mp4 file to youtube. Also, have you ever had trouble uploading to youtube? Thanks in advance.

Hey Nancy...here is the url of the convertor I use. In fact, I take the DVD from my camcorder and put it in the computer and use this program to open and convert it so Movie Maker can read it. I've had some problems uploading to youtube before..yes.

http://www.movavi.com/videoconverter/buynow.html Called Movavi Converter. I think I bought the Personal Version

NOV

Thanks once again, you're very kind.

Leave a response…

Name:

Email:
(optional)

Comment:

What does the graphic say?