Adobe Premiere Really that Bad? I set out with great enthusiasm to get started with video, using my Lumix FZ1000 or my Panasonic V770. The major hurdle appeared to be in the video...

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

I set out with great enthusiasm to get started with video, using my Lumix FZ1000 or my Panasonic V770. The major hurdle appeared to be in the video editing phase. As a long time fan of Adobe PS, LR and PSE, I went directly to Amazon to buy the latest version of PSE + Premiere.
The cited comments by the buyers are simply gawd-awful !
"worst program I've used in 20 years."
"fastest refund I've ever asked for."
and that''s just for starters!

Can the program truly be that bad?
OK then, what's an alternative video editor for a senior dummy?

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Some people expect really good programs to be "push one button and done". Try Premiere Pro for 30 days.

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

OK, David! I didn't pick up on the trial offer. Thanks or the lead!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Patw28 wrote:

I set out with great enthusiasm to get started wit... (show quote)

Amazon reviews aren't the best. Look for real reviewers.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&ei=Cw0ZW-DkDNLI5gKYwJKQDw&q=adobe+pse+premiere+review&oq=adobe+pse+premiere+review&gs_l=psy-ab.3...14770.19536.0.19775.6.6.0.0.0.0.119.573.3j3.6.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.1.103...0i13k1j0i13i30k1j0i8i13i30k1.0.-nlke2uyCqo

tripsy76 Loc: Northshore, MA

I agree with Jerry! I run a Premiere house as do many other film television and advertising companies. Many of the television shows and movies that people go to see are cut in Premiere now. It’s not the program that it used to be which was terrible!

Patw28 Loc: PORT JERVIS, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

Amazon reviews aren't the best. Look for real reviewers.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&ei=Cw0ZW-DkDNLI5gKYwJKQDw&q=adobe+pse+premiere+review&oq=adobe+pse+premiere+review&gs_l=psy-ab.3...14770.19536.0.19775.6.6.0.0.0.0.119.573.3j3.6.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.1.103...0i13k1j0i13i30k1j0i8i13i30k1.0.-nlke2uyCqo

Thanks for the lead, Jerry. I was referring to the comments at the Amazon sale site for the 2018 version. 37% one star ratings, near libelous language in the user comments.

I'll take advantage of the free trial version when I'm ready to take the plunge.

(Always enjoy your comments!)

jgangjr

Premiere Elements and Premiere Pro are two different programs.

I use both due to my work not wanting to spend the money for Pro.

Premiere Elements has a lot of limitations. Premiere Pro CC is much much better.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

I only use Premiere for my video work. I've played with Final Cut a few times, always went back to Premiere.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Patw28 wrote:

Can the program truly be that bad?
OK then, what's an alternative video editor for a senior dummy?

No, it's not that bad. I have it and it's easy to use but editing video is really time consuming. I bought version 15 and the next month version 2018 came out. I think you are only reading the bad reviews and not some of the good reviews. Try that. If you get really good at editing video and find Elements Premiere to be not able to do certain things, then it's time to upgrade to the CC version of Premiere Pro.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

jerryc41 wrote:

Amazon reviews aren't the best. Look for real reviewers.

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS716US717&ei=Cw0ZW-DkDNLI5gKYwJKQDw&q=adobe+pse+premiere+review&oq=adobe+pse+premiere+review&gs_l=psy-ab.3...14770.19536.0.19775.6.6.0.0.0.0.119.573.3j3.6.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.1.103...0i13k1j0i13i30k1j0i8i13i30k1.0.-nlke2uyCqo

It looks like most of these are from Adobe. Bias could likely be possible. Just saying. I don't shoot video.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Take a look at Cinelerra. http://cinelerra.org/ It's quite powerful and free. Of course, there is also included at no additional charge a learning curve. This is a professional level editor/compositor.
--Bob

Patw28 wrote:

I set out with great enthusiasm to get started wit... (show quote)

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

I've been using the Adobe CS6 version of Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Adobe Audition (for audio editing) for years. When the CC version of the Adobe suite came out I tried it for 30 days and deleted it (I think the current trial period is just one or two weeks). There wasn't enough difference between CC and CS6 for me to upgrade. I've never used Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements but based on the Amazon reviews it seems like it could be terrible. The big advantage of using Premiere Pro and Audition together is that you can edit your audio and video at the same time on the video timeline. The Premiere Pro features are very good. You can change the intensity, color and direction of lighting, add spotlights, change the speed of the clip or dissolve or title, zoom into the frame, show more than one clip in a frame at a time, do color grading. It is pretty much Photoshop for video. With Audition you can change the volume, remove mic pops or static, cut and paste, EQ, add echo, fade in or out, etc.

don26812 Loc: South Bay of Los Angeles, CA

I have use Premiere Elements for years. Currently, I use PRE 2018. I have never used Premiere Pro, but I am sure that it is much more powerful than PRE - as it should be. PRE includes several Guided Edits that get you started in editing video, and it includes the capabilities to go well beyond the simple basics. If you are just starting out with video, I suspect you will not outgrow the program for some time.

You can download a free trial at this link.
https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere-elements.html

This site has lots of info and books on PRE.

http://muvipix.com/

FWIW

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Patw28 wrote:

I set out with great enthusiasm to get started wit... (show quote)

Adobe like any company screws up now and then. But Adobe is a customer centric company, they value their customers and they listen to customer feedback.

Using the current version would be the best way to answer your questions. Have you tried going to the Adobe site and seeing if they offer a free trial Version?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Patw28 wrote:

I set out with great enthusiasm to get started wit... (show quote)

I taught Adobe Premiere on Windows back in the 2003-2006 at a local arts college. It was a bit finicky but once the hardware was fine-tuned, it worked great. The big issue was getting big enough and fast enough hard drives. Today that is no longer an issue. Like Photoshop, it has a learning curve, but it is very functional software and you can do just about anything you want. A very good companion to it is AfterEffects.

I know nothing about Premiere Elements - my guess is that it's a dumbed down version for casual users, but they may have removed or disabled too many good features in dumbing it down to make it worthwhile.