good easy to use Video Editing Software??

[DoBie_Smalls]

I'm planning on making a little amateur movie with some friends then youtubing it. we're going to be using a standard miniDV cam however it shoots in 16:9 (widescreen). What i want to know is what's the best program to edit it in. I'll want to do cutting, adding effects, music and sound effects, plus fiddle with the colour and brightness and so on. i don't mind to much about the prices of the software. I've heard that the my best options are Windows Movie Maker or iMovie but i'm not sure their going to have all the features i want and good enough cutting and sound options. I've also looked in to Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro, which look good but somewhat over kill. I want something on a more intermediate level. any ideas?

I'm running a PC and a Mac

AMD Athlon 64 4000+
2GB RAM
80GB Hard Drive and 200GB Hard Drive
x2 Nvidia 7800GT in SLi
along with a 20" widescreen monitor

Power Mac G4
Dual G4 450MHz
1GB RAM
30GB Hard Drive
(if need be i will upgrade the Mac's CPU and graphics card)

 

[misterjingo]

I'm planning on making a little amateur movie with some friends then youtubing it. we're going to be using a standard miniDV cam however it shoots in 16:9 (widescreen). What i want to know is what's the best program to edit it in. I'll want to do cutting, adding effects, music and sound effects, plus fiddle with the colour and brightness and so on. i don't mind to much about the prices of the software. I've heard that the my best options are Windows Movie Maker or iMovie but i'm not sure their going to have all the features i want and good enough cutting and sound options. I've also looked in to Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro, which look good but somewhat over kill. I want something on a more intermediate level. any ideas?

I'm running a PC and a Mac

AMD Athlon 64 4000+
2GB RAM
80GB Hard Drive and 200GB Hard Drive
x2 Nvidia 7800GT in SLi
along with a 20" widescreen monitor

Power Mac G4
Dual G4 450MHz
1GB RAM
30GB Hard Drive
(if need be i will upgrade the Mac's CPU and graphics card)

I use FCP at work for editing, but at home, windows movie maker is mroe than enough. It works slightly different to pro software (no bins etc), but you can do more than enough with it to produce high standard material.
Switch to time line mode, then you can cut/end cut, move pieces around effects, transitions, rescale timeline items - all with the click of a mouse. More than enough for intermediate projects.
What extra features do you need?
I was impressed with vista movie maker as effects didn't require any rendering of video etc.

 

[masslac]

Sony Vegas.

 

[TomaHawk]

For a piece of software which is easy to use and gives decent results (with what you've described you want out of it).. I'd recommend Sonic MyDVD, which will work out of the box with simple wizards and preloaded templates plus all the features you listed, including more.

Sure it doesn't have the advanced features and capabilities of Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas etc.. but it will most likely cover everything you want from it, plus it can be picked up for a very good price online.