Hi,

1. Since we are on a Magix user forum, you should expect that we are not using a free editor. I have not tried any except Windows Live Movie Maker which you undoubtedly already have. To edit I use Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 Premium Magix Video Pro X6 as they offer much more than anything that is free. You need a 64bit computer to run these.

2. No, unless you have an ATI All-in-Wonder video card with audio and video inputs or something similar, you have to buy an adapter. Magix has one, as does Pinnacle, Roxio and a few others. The adapter has S-video or Yellow RCA video plus red and white RCA audio plugs on one side, and a USB connection on the other. You should use whatever program comes with the adaptor to import/convert the VHS tapes to digital.

3. Samplitude Music Studio 2014 does not do any video editing and does not even load the video portion, only the audio portion. You would need a video editor like MEP2015 and I suggest at least the Plus version.

4. MEP2015 Plus or Premium. All programs are complex, depending on what you want to do. I find that the work flow in MEP is quite easy, but it allows me to do complex editing and effects. With lesser version, you quickly run into limitations and that one effect or possibility that you would really like is the one that you won't have because you wanted to save a few dollars or didn't want the "complicated" version.

Take a look at many of the threads under the Forum tab, All about Magix's programs, Movie Edit Pro and you will see much more. Look at the tutorials in the Magix.com site for Movie Edit Pro. You have to go to the bottom of the detailed screen to find tutorials.