Which program for basic business presentations?

Question

Forgive me but I need to ask for advice on what program to use for video editing for basic business presentations. I think Premiere Pro is way beyond my needs, mainly in terms of learning curve (as well as the cost).
For what it's worth, I'm an avid Adobe user, and have been for years, for other programs: I currently use InDesign, Photoshop Elements, Dreamweaver, Audition, and Acrobat Standard (and also subscribe to the Acrobat Connect service). So, I don't feel too bad asking this forum to recommend "different" software for video editing. (Maybe Premiere Elements is best for me, but maybe not.)
I do not have any experience in video editing, and I do not have any time for a significant learning curve. I also don't need to do anything fancy.
I bought a MiniDV camcorder (Panasonic PV-GS300). I'm using a PC (3.6G, 1G RAM, half the 160G HD available, though I'll have to add a Firewire PCI card shortly) and Windows XP Pro. I'll get tripod lights and a good headworn mic. I use Nero Burning ROM 6 to burn DVDs (I've used its simple wizard to convert files and burn DVDs).
My purpose is to create about a dozen or so 6- to 12-minute clips consisting mainly just of me standing and giving a verbal speech and with some still images created from the computer (PDF, GIF, or whatever) stuck in between the video (I'll probably want some of the speech from the video taping, or else some speech I create in Audition, to play through the showing of the still images).
I'm not concerned with fancy video effects! I don't need it and I can't justify the learning curve (or cost) for it! Fades in and out are probably as advanced as I will get, though I really don't even need that.
I'll want to create the videos in file formats for Windows and for Mac, and to put them on our web site for streaming video as well as burn DVDs.
I'm sure I'll want to be able to adjust the image sizes and file sizes by choosing the tradeoff level with quality, though I hope there will be a set of standard defaults. I also really need good user forum support (I have no idea if Premiere Elements is enough for me but I sure have come to rely on the users on the Adobe forums).
I need to ask whether I should get Premiere Elements or... yes, I know it's blasphemy but I swear I'm a loyal member of the clan in all other ways... whether there is another video editing program that's light-weight enough to be pretty quick in getting through the learning curve for the basics I want, and that's relatively inexpensive. (I've been told on one forum... blasphemy again, I know... that I should look into Vegas 7, but the price and sophistication seem way beyond my needs based on an initial glance on the web -- but maybe I should just spring for it and go. It also seems Vegas 7 is more practical for my needs than Premiere Pro -- but I'm really hoping I'll be pointed at much lower-end programs.)
I really appreciate any advice I can get. I run a small business with big growth ahead (I have a tiger by the tail) and need to jump on this and to do it myself for now, and I just do not have a lot of time for learning.
Thanks so much!
Jay

Answer 1

OK, fair questions.
In my opinion, the learning curve for the most commonly used 95% of the programs is exactly the same between Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements. It really is. Capture video, figure out what you want on the timeline, put it on the timeline, add transitions, add music, export to something a DVD program can use, all of that. It is darn near identical.
However... then you decide you want to do something interesting. You come online and we tell you that is it very simple. Just use Premiere Pro to do... oh, wait, you don't have Pro? Just Elements? Too bad.
OK. Then you say "How do they make those great motion titles?". We say "It's easy, just use one of the text animation presets in After Effects". What? No After Effects? Too bad.
So let's say you like using After Effects for titles and you decide you want to expand your knowledge. Simple. Get some projects from Dean Velez and modify them to suit you. Do you need to learn it all at one time? No. Just what you need when you need it.
This is one reason that if you buy the Production Premium, one of the choices for extra goodies is a one month subscription to Lynda.com to watch their tutorials.
Spend the time watching the tutorials. If something catches you eye, write down where you saw it so you can go back and really learn it.
Just because you own a hammer and a saw and other hand tools doesn't mean you need to learn to be a carpenter. It just means that when your wife asks you to do something, you will have the required tools so you can go on the web and learn how to do that task, without having to run to Home Depot - which may be closed at the time you need it.
I originally bought Premiere 6.0 and when I went to an Adobe demo at DVExpo in NYC back in 2002 I saw an After Effects demo. I called from the Adobe booth to order After Effects. Why? When I saw that the learning curve was only hard if you tried to tackle the whole thing, and I realized I could just use the part I needed, my whole opinion changed.
If you only used After Effects for text in motion and for Stills in motion (Ken Burns and much more), you would get your money out of it. And that stuff can be learned in 15 minutes. Add in the real need for you, the chroma key, and the time savings is HUGE. You really need to know less to use Keylight than you do to use Premiere Pro to attempt the same thing.
Having the full version of Photoshop is nothing more than you have now. Until you need more. Then you have it.
The ability to use all of the Adobe products together outweighs any Vegas or Avid (consumer) advantages.
Besides, we are much more helpful on this forum than those other guys! ;)