If a picture is worth a thousand words, a vodcast is worth a million. Walls of text flood the Internet and can easily cause the readers of a Web site or blog to skip important information. Vodcasts are a great way to deliver large quantities of information in an exciting way, and they can be easy and fun if you have the right tools.
Today's high-def video cameras require a new generation of video software. Video editing software has taken a giant leap in recent years. What before took a large team of professionals to create can now be done by a single creative person with some free time. With the right software, you can produce video fit for TV to stream for your awaiting fans.
Apple's Wares
iMovie HD is a simple solution for the novice vodcaster. It is inexpensive, yet it contains all the major tools necessary for taking your recorded video and outputting it to a nice, Web-friendly format. It has quite a few transitions and effects, though it is very limited with the two video and audio tracks. This software is intended for beginners, and anyone serious about vodcasting would quickly outgrow it. It retails for US$79 and runs exclusively on Macs.
Final Cut Express HD is the next step up in Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) 
arsenal of video editing software. Upgrading from iMovie HD is a snap. The controls are nearly identical, though Final Cut Express offers so much more. Final Cut Express HD supports up to 99 different audio and video tracks. This increase in tracks makes video editing much more intuitive, which will speed up your editing to a whole new level. The software also includes an amazing collection of effects and transitions you can include in your videos. This is a great choice for someone serious about their vodcast. Final Cut Express HD retails for $299 and runs exclusively on Macs.
Final Cut Studio 2 is the cream of the crop of Apple's video editing software. This software contains all the features of Final Cut Express HD, but with a major overhaul. It also has an amazing collection of 3-D tools that professionals use to create their best videos. This program is amazing, though its expense generally reserves it for professionals only. If you can afford this software, this is the way to go. Final Cut Studio 2 retails for $1,299 and runs exclusively on Macs.
Adobe and Beyond
Adobe Premier Pro CS3 is another solution to professionals' video editing needs. This software can create flash videos with DVD interactivity and menus. It can also create flash markers to update content on your Web site to match key sequences in your video. It comes with software to help you record studio-quality video with advanced tools designed to replace expensive hardware. It has a large number of features, though it does not include the 3-D effects of Final Cut Studio 2. Adobe Premier Pro CS3 retails for $799 and runs on Mac and Windows 
systems.
Adobe Audition 2.0 is software for professionally editing audio for your podcast. It can also be used to increase the quality of audio on your vodcasts. This software has multiple audio tracks for easy manipulation of music, sound effects and speech. It is all the software you need to record and mix radio-quality podcasts from your home. Adobe Audition 2.0 retails for $349 and runs exclusively on Windows systems.
Freevlog.org is a Web site that will help you set up your vodcast. It contains several video tutorials to teach you to do everything from compressing your video for the web, to creating an RSS (really simple syndication) feed to keep your viewers up to date on all your latest videos. This Web site takes all the pain out of learning the basics of vodcasting.
You have your video ready for the world, but now what? You'll need to distribute your video by using a normal Web server . Professionals to intermediate users expecting high traffic will want to rent a server, but a free server will work just fine for the casual vodcaster. Blip.tv is a Web site that will host your vodcast for free. It simply requires a quick registration, and it will serve all your video distribution needs. It supports multiple video formats including QuickTime , Flash 8, and DivX. Blip.tv is a great way to get your video on the Internet with an extremely short setup time.
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