Windows Movie Maker vs Windows Live Movie Maker

After Windows Live Movie Maker released, are you going to upgrade from Windows Movie Maker to Windows Live Movie Maker? If you have no idea at which one you need to choose, simply have a look at the below comparison between Windows Movie Maker and Windows Live Movie Maker. Here the comparison will be put in the following four aspects: Layout, Video input, Editing and Output.

Windows Movie Maker VS Windows Live Movie Maker

1. Interface

Window Movie Maker: The layout consists of a storyboard view and a timeline view, collections for organizing imported video, and a preview pane. When in Storyboard view, the video project appears as a film strip showing each scene in clips. The storyboard/timeline consists of one 'Video' (with accompanying 'Audio' bar), one 'Music/Audio' bar, and one 'Titles/Credits' bar.

Windows Live Movie Maker: In addition to a lighter color scheme, Windows Live Movie Maker works differently through and through. You won't find previous functionality such as a Storyboard, drop down menus, and a time lines. Windows Movie Maker used a Task based approached to creating a movie, Windows Live Movie Maker introduces a clean design with most tools and functionality revealed through the innovative Scenic Ribbon which displays common functionality once buried under drop down menus and wizards in a gallery of easy to identify icons.

2. Video Input

Window Movie Maker: When importing footage into the program, a user can either choose to Capture Video (from camera, scanner or other device) or Import into Collections to import existing video files into the user's collections. The accepted formats for import are .WMV/.ASF, .MPG (MPEG-1), .AVI (DV-AVI), .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Additionally, the Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Movie Maker support importing MPEG-2 Program streams and DVR-MS formats.

Windows Live Movie Maker: With this totally new Windows Live Movie Maker, you can add video files, photo files and audio files. There are much more video formats will be supported with Window Live Movie Maker. The supported types are WMV, ASF, WM, M2TS, M2T, WTV, MP4, MOV, M4V, MPEG, MOG, MPE, M1V, MP2, MPV2, MOD, VOB, AVI.

Note: If your videos are not supported by Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker, you will need to convert the videos before importing with a Video Converter.

3. Video Editing

Window Movie Maker: After capture, any clip can be dragged and dropped anywhere on the timeline. Once on the timeline, clips can be duplicated or split and any of the split sections deleted or copied using the standard Windows keyboard shortcuts or clicked and dragged to another position. Right-clicking any clip brings up the range of editing options. An AutoMovie feature offers predefined editing styles (titles, effects and transitions) for quickly creating movies.

Windows Live Movie Maker: Previously, in Windows Movie Maker, your videos would require that you drag and drop into the Story board and edit in the Time line. Windows Live Movie Maker does the opposite. Task like re-arranging or cropping a video clip are more visual and interactive. In fact, one of the lovely highlights is the actual display of multiple frames in a clip. You can use the video cursor bar to scan through a video clip and see additional sequences within the video itself. The cursor bar itself is an important element of the software and allows you to accomplish many of the common tasks you would do in the previous Movie Maker time line.

4. Output Video

Window Movie Maker: Windows Movie Maker can only export video in Windows Media formats or DV AVI. Earlier versions of Windows Movie Maker did not support direct burning of DVDs. The project had to be first saved as an AVI file, and a separate authoring program used to produce and burn the DVD. The Windows Vista version of Windows Movie Maker passes the video project to Windows DVD Maker to burn DVD-Video discs. Movie Maker also allows users to publish a finished video on video hosting websites.

Windows Live Movie Maker: As to output, there is an absolute plethora of choices for you to make concerning your completed movie, you can just save it as a normal standard definition file, or a HD 720 or even a full HD 1080p file! Videos are for sharing, so Live Movie Maker makes it easy to share online with a few clicks. Post your video to YouTube right from the main menu, or add a quick plug-in and easily publish to Facebook. We will be adding more plug-ins to popular sharing sites in the future. You can also burn your creation to a DVD or save it in high definition to play on your TV. Save it down to a smaller format and transfer it to a mobile device or send it via e-mail.

In conclusion, we highly recommend Windows Live Movie Maker, here are a few reasons I think you will enjoy the new-and-improved Windows Live Movie Maker for it's easier to create beautiful videos wit more customization features and convenient to share your movies with the world.

Software you may need for Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker

1. Video Converter

Since some video formats are not supported by Windows Movie Maker or Windows Live Movie Maker, in order to edit those video files in Movie Maker, you will need to convert the videos to Movie Maker compatible video formats first with a video converting tool.

Free download Video Converter

2. DVD Ripper

If you want to edit DVD movies in Movie Maker, just get a DVD Ripper and rip DVD to Movie Maker highly compatible video files and then edit the ripped files and create a home movie with ease.

Free download DVD Ripper

3. DVD Creator

When you finishes your movie making in Movie Maker, you may want to burn the videos to DVD for preservation or sharing with family and friends on the big TV screen. Just get a DVD burning software and convert the homemade videos to DVD with custom DVD menus!

Free download DVD Creator