Most video editing software that comes with your video camcorder will be enough for basic editing. As you get more comfortable with video recording and editing using smaller free programs, you might want to someday upgrade to a more robust video editing software. When that time comes, I strongly suggest you take a look at Sony Vegas Movie Studio.

I’ve struggled my way through several audio and video editors and Sony Vegas Movie Studio is just plain easier to use than anything I’ve tried personally. I’m probably not even touching 20% of what Vegas can do, but that’s okay, because what I do use it for I can do quickly.

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Marty@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.

Technically, you don’t really need an external hard drive to publish video for the web, especially if you use a Kodak Zi8 pocket camcorder. All you have to do is get a YouTube account and upload your videos right from the Kodak to your account and you’re set to go.

But, when you start getting comfortable with video, you will eventually want an external hard drive to store your videos long term. For that reason, if you have another hundred bucks to burn, I strongly recommend you simply buy the biggest hardware piece of disk storage you can find.

My personal favorite is right here:

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Support@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.

This omnidirectional condenser lavalier microphone is perfect for recording professional level audio with your Kodak Zi8 Camcorder. Just clip it to your chest pocket or sport jacket lapel and you’re ready to roll. Users of the Flip video camera have all been anxious for the ability to use a connected microphone but only Kodak has it.

To accomplish many of the tasks outlined in my VideoCameraUser.com entries, you will need this essential component, so buy it here right now through my Amazon link:

If you give on-stage presentations like I do, you will also be able to use this microphone for recording audio using a digital recording device.

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Support@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.

Always buy an additional battery for your new Kodak Zi8 video camcorder so that you will always have at least one fully charged and ready to go. If you just buy it at the time you purchase your camcorder, you won’t feel the bite of a mere twenty-something additional dollar purchase. But, if you try to go with just the battery that comes with the unit, you will surely be surprised when your battery runs out at precisely the wrong time.

Here is the compatible replacement battery for the Kodak Zi8 Camcorder. Do NOT try to find a substitute unless you really know what you are doing:

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Support@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.

Video card add-ons are totally essential if you plan to make video for your website. Surely, video camera makers keep their in-camera storage space to a minimum so that they can charge less and make you have to buy more. But, that’s just how it goes.

After going to the Best Buy’s of the world and searching around, I found that this video card is a particularly good fit for the Kodak Zi8 because of its low cost, 16Gb storage capability and speed. Yes, you have to consider speed (sort of like processor speed on a computer) a part of your decision process.

Don’t even bother buying a video camera without planning ahead to buy a video card too…and here’s the one that I suggest for you:

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Support@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.

The Kodak Zi8 has arrived and I’m telling every author, speaker, and business owner I know that it’s the ultimate replacement for the Flip camera. Why? There are some very cool features that the Flip doesn’t seem to have, but the most important is that the Kodak has a microphone jack suitable for a lapel mic. And, that’s a big deal.

Throw away your Flip and buy the Kodak now through my Amazon link right here, right now, through this link:

Commission Notice: No secrets here. I will get a tiny commission if you buy through my Amazon link. No harm in that as it’s just business. But, I can assure you that I have not received any of the products I recommend as free gifts. Quite the opposite as I’m more prone to wasting my money three or four times before getting it right! I’d say that’s worth contributing a few bucks if I’m saving you that grief. It’s your financial support that inspires me to keep trying new things and recommending them.

Bonus to This Purchase: As added incentive to buy this product through my Amazon link, I’ve prepared a bonus guide to using all the video products I recommend. These are tips and uses that not even the vendors will supply to you, probably because they haven’t used their own products in the real world. Simply send an email to Support@VideoCameraUser.com along with your proof of purchase through Amazon and I will verify it went through my associates link and reply to your email with the document.