Best Video Editing Software

Looking for a great video editor to see your dream project to realization? Well, we don’t blame you if getting started seems difficult. Video editing is a truly deep field with a lot of art and science at play behind the scenes – and you need a great tool to help you navigate its depths. To get started, you’ll have to choose the best video editing software for your needs. These days, editing tools are easier to use and more broadly accessible than would have been possible in the previous decade. You no longer have to break the bank to obtain top-notch programs – they have even become more functional with basic hardware and come with fewer upfront costs. It might surprise you to discover that you can obtain complex packages for less than $100, which allow even amateur video editors to include special effects, stunning filters, and more. However, it’s worth noting that video editing software is created for a very wide range of user expertise – from top-grade professionals to your average joe. This guide compiles a list of the best video editing software for beginners, as well as others that are better suited for advanced users.

The term “video editing” denotes the process of rearranging and manipulating video shots to produce new work such as a film, video essay, vlog, etc. Editing is just one aspect of the post-production process. Other tasks associated with post-production include sound mixing, titling, and color correction.

At its simplest level, the process involves piecing together images, video clips, and sounds to produce a movie. These days, the process takes place on a computer with sophisticated editing programs. This means it’s possible to cut, arrange, and view digital material in whichever order without having to play through the entire thing.

Video editing can be as simple as piecing together various shots and scenes with simple transitions, or as complex as tying together various individual elements with audio and computer-generated imagery. This can take thousands of man-hours to accomplish, as it does with big-budget motion pictures.

With expert video editing, you can produce an emotion-evoking masterpiece. This could make or break your film, which is why it’s just as crucial to select the appropriate video editor as it is to own the appropriate camera equipment.

Generally, a video editor is responsible for assembling and editing recorded raw material into an appropriate, finished product for broadcasting. They deal with a variety of content, including camera footage, graphics, sound effects, and dialogue.

They’re usually part of a post-production team that links together recorded material by adding extra effects. Their projects can range from TV programs and feature films to commercials, corporate videos, and music videos.

The major role of a video editor entails cutting, trimming, and separating video clips into an inclusive narrative structure that will become the final release of a video or film. The skills related to this position can range from extremely few to a diverse and extensive list of capabilities – it’s all dependent on the video editor’s role within the specific production.

When it comes to video editing, there are numerous techniques from which to choose. The method can differ across users or depending on the requirement. Generally, expert editors favor digital non-linear editing methods for videos. Nevertheless, it’s essential to understand how various techniques work.

Linear or Tape-to-Tape Editing

This was the original method of editing videotapes before the birth of computer software in the 90s. However, it’s rarely used these days. This method involves copying the preferred video clips from one tape to another by linking multiple video machines, where one functions as the recorder and the other as the source. To do this, you’ll place the video film that needs editing in the source machine while the blank film will be in the recorder. Upon pressing play, the desired footage will be copied from the source to the recorder in the right order. This technique derives its name from the fact that the footage is copied in a linear form. The best part about this method is that it’s trouble-free and comparatively simple. However, it’s virtually impossible to re-edit if an editor changes his mind.

Live Editing

This method applies mostly to live coverage of an occasion or other live streams. In this approach, the editor will multiplex various cameras and other video sources to a principal mixing console while editing footage in real time. News coverage is the best example of live editing. Offline Editing In this method, copies of raw footage undergo development and compression into smaller editing resolutions. The compressed footage, which is termed proxy footage, undergoes editing thereafter. During editing, an editor exports the footage before replacing it with raw video. This technique comes in handy in cases where there are restricted software and hardware editing capabilities. If you’re just starting in the line of video editing, it can be quite inaccessible to own hardware with sufficient processing capacities for editing 4K videos. For this reason, offline editing is convenient for newcomers with a restricted budget. While this technique doesn’t require numerous computer resources, people rarely use it nowadays.

Online Editing

In this technique, there’s no need to produce proxy footage. Rather, an editor deals with the raw footage directly. Therefore, all customizations such as cutting, slicing, animations, and color adjustment take place in the raw video. Generally, the hardware prerequisites are top-notch.

Non-Linear

Non-linear editing involves recording video footage onto a hard drive before editing it with specialized hardware. Once editing takes place, the complete product undergoes recording back to an optical disk or tape. This method has numerous significant benefits over linear editing. Most remarkably, its flexibility enables you to adjust any aspect of the video at any time. The technique derives its name from the fact that editing doesn’t have to take place in a linear fashion. One difficult aspect of non-linear editing is the range of software and hardware options accessible. Furthermore, numerous video standards are incompatible with each other and it can be a challenge to set up an efficient editing system. Although it’s more difficult to learn this technique than linear editing, you’ll be able to accomplish more once you master the basics.

Being a good video editor isn’t merely about the best video editing software. You’ll need to possess other traits that are crucial to this profession. If you’re serious about pursuing a career in digital media, TV, or film, here’s a list of traits an editor should have.

Excellent Communication Skills

To perform this role effectively, you must be an excellent collaborator. Your job will require you to communicate with various team members, ranging from directors to interns. Editors need excellent communication skills to make sure the project runs smoothly.

After all, one editorial decision could make or break an entire scene, so all decisions must take place in a collaborative setting.

Great Listening

An editor should understand that all kinds of clients will approach them, some with a particular goal in mind and others with only a vague idea of what they want. You’ll need to listen to these different clients and implement their vision.

A good way to obtain some background that will help lay your video’s foundation is through asking questions. This might prove invaluable in steering clients in a certain direction by introducing ideas they might not have thought about.

When clients review the rough cut, you’ll have to listen to their feedback and integrate their suggestions. Beware that changes can sometimes be more conceptual than concrete, so you must have the ability to interpret what a client is saying.

Expertise

Being creative and tech-savvy is essential in this line of work. You simply can’t be a great editor without a knack for imaginative editing and improving yourself professionally with the latest technological advancements in your field. To become a great editor, you must recognize the leading tools in the industry and try to perfect your skills with the most prominent ones that function across the world of video editing.

Therefore, sound knowledge of applications such as Adobe Premiere Pro is beneficial, because it serves various editing purposes and most work occurs using the software.

Multitasking Ability

Production houses are keen to keep collaborating with an editor who’s a team player, has the ability to work individually, and can multitask under stringent schedules. It’s also great to be able to troubleshoot and remain calm under pressure.

Problem-Solving

In any creative field, you’ll come across clients with unreasonable demands. The editing industry isn’t an exception to this. As an editor, you should always seek a solution and determine how best to persuade your clients.

In addition, although certain errors may emerge during video editing, this doesn’t mean that you should abandon the video. Try to find the solutions to your issues on digital communities and forums. You’ll probably discover that another editor has dealt with the same problems.

Visualization Skills

Every editor needs good visualization skills, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran in the field. If you’re new to editing, you’ll soon develop the skill while practicing. As an editor, you should have the ability to visualize the final output before generating the result

The term “video editing software” describes any software program that can edit, modify, manipulate, or generate a movie file. Today, such tools are indispensable for any professional in the fields of design, marketing, filmmaking, and vlogging. They can perfect videos and convert a batch of raw footage into a cohesive, seamless whole – complete with tools to tweak the final look and feel.

Anyone who seeks to enhance the quality of their visual content will implement features such as resizing, cropping, contrast adjustments, brightness and color correction.

Video editing software performs the following roles:

Video Enhancement

Video editing allows you to enhance dull-looking footage that doesn’t capture the audience’s attention. The software can adjust visual details, making them pop and become instantly more captivating. This can help your footage better suit the overall tone of your project.

These tools work by adjusting saturation, light levels, and many more variables, allowing for color correction and visual effects to achieve your desired result.

Composition

The meat-and-potatoes of any video editor’s job is taking all of the footage and rearranging it to fit the greater purpose of your video project.

This requires an interface to view and sequence clips in the right order, tools to cut and rearrange shots as you see fit, and the ability to splice in B-roll footage and adjust playback speed to control the pacing of your sequences.

Aspect Ratio Settings

While this feature can be decided when recording your footage, most editors prefer to set their own ratio between the height and width of their footage – the aspect ratio – within the editing software they use.

Aspect ratio isn’t just important when considering which medium the final video will be displayed in, such as mobile screens or projection theaters. Editing footage in 4:3 ratio, for example, provides a vintage, old-school feel to your project that can’t be achieved with most modern aspect ratios.

File Exporting

Once you’re done editing your project, you’ll need to determine which file format your finished work should be saved in. This highly depends on the general purpose of your work. If you want to create quick videos that load instantly on websites, a compressed, universally compatible format such as MP4 will do the trick.

For higher-quality needs such as short film screenings or professional-grade YouTube content, you’ll want to export in high-quality formats such as AVI and MOV.

Once you’ve decided you want to begin creating videos, choosing the right software can be overwhelming. This guide examines the factors to consider when choosing editing software.

Price and Budget

A good starting point is determining the amount you’re ready to pay. Although you’ll come across free video editing software, some are likely to perform poorly, have restricted file format support, and lack major editing elements.

Conversely, higher-end software for experts could end up costing thousands but include numerous features you might never use. You should consider software that falls under the prosumer category, which meets your particular video editing needs.

Special Effects

The most popular YouTube videos include background music, expert-looking titles and graphics, and other effects. The best video editing software for YouTube will come at an extra cost, or you’ll need pricey plug-ins to attain your desired effects.

Make sure the software you purchase has music and effects included, or you might end up with substandard videos.

Ease of Use

When purchasing editing software, you should consider ease of use. You wouldn’t want to buy software only to spend months learning how to use it. You want software that offers editing templates and auto modes to start you off and make your initial projects easier to see through.

Auto modes help you to produce videos fast by allowing you to import media, choose a favored video style, and compose your video automatically. Templates are existing projects where you simply have to substitute the current placeholder media with your content.

You’ll also want software that comprises several tutorials to inform you on each feature. You’ll discover that tutorials are even more useful when you can access them easily in the program. This way, you’ll establish how to use a feature while editing, thereby maximizing your editing and learning time.

With so many options available, you might feel overwhelmed when trying to make a decision. Fortunately we’ve made things easy by giving you a comprehensive list, divided by specific overarching needs.

The Best Free Editing Software

Free video editing software allows you to edit videos that you’ve accumulated over time on your camera or phone.

The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert to produce a masterpiece. The best video editing software free also offers an inexpensive means of learning video editing fundamentals, for instance, how to produce transitions from one shot to another, or how to include special effects and a soundtrack.

If you’re wondering, “What is the best free video editing software?”, consider these options:

HitFilmExpress

This editing software is popular among up-and-coming filmmakers who need to include a special touch for an event or demonstrate creativity with a video blog. The latest version adds a range of improvements, including an integrated voice recorder and physically-based 3D rendering.

Other excellent features include the capacity to perform 360-degree editing and rectify lens distortion from action cameras. While the base program is free, you can buy various add-on packs, beginning at around $10, to add more program functionality. If you’re looking for free video editing software for Windows 10, this option is ideal.

Pros

• Cross-platform
  
• Customizable interface
  
• It’s easy to apply drag & drop special effects
  
• Free library of excellent instructional videos

Cons

• New users need to pay to access the dark interface

VideoPad

This program ranks among the best video editing software for beginners. It can export creations to Facebook, YouTube, Dropbox, and Google Drive. Remember, you must sign in to the named services first. It’s compatible with PCs and Macs, and allows you to edit 360-degree video with similar ease as you would conventional movies.

Pros

• Easy to learn and intuitive
• Extensive social media, YouTube, and mobile-output specs and formats

Cons

• It doesn’t have a free slideshow creator
• It lacks some superior elements, for instance, motion tracking and multicam editing

Apple iMovie

This editing software is the best for Mac users because it delivers video effects and Hollywood-style trailers with deep integration. Since it’s interlinked with macOS, it’s one of the fastest apps for video encoding.

You’ll also notice that it gives various sharing options, such as direct uploads to Vimeo and YouTube. You can also share video frames as images.

Pros

• Supports 4K
  
• Professional-looking trailers and themes
  
• Ample audio tools
  
• Super-intuitive interface

Cons

• Restricted output controls
  
• Lacks motion tracking, multicam, and 360-degree features

DaVinci Resolve

This free software is ideal for advanced editors. Its latest version allows users to collaborate on a project at the same time, a function which was formerly accessible to paying users only. Former versions also included features such as facial recognition, quick export to Vimeo and YouTube, and 3D audio.

The software also integrates Fusion, formerly a stand-alone app, which comes with high-end video production modules for color correction, editing, and video effects. If you’re seeking free video editing software with no watermark, this option is ideal.

Pros

• Intuitive interface
  
• Deep app for audio production, compositing, and color grading

Cons

• It lacks direct social media export
  
• A learning curve exists for advanced elements

Best Editing Software for YouTube

These days, YouTube isn’t merely a site for sharing videos. Many watch it instead of conventional TV. Whether you want to be a YouTube star or just need to share videos with friends, video creation for YouTube can be rewarding.

However, you’ll require the appropriate tools to develop and edit YouTube videos. Here’s a list of the best software to consider.

Premiere Pro

If you’re an expert YouTuber who’s proficient in video editing and needs cross-platform software with flexible collaboration tools and powerful elements, Premiere Pro is worth considering.

Premier Pro is popular in the movie and TV industries, and comprises useful features such as video syncing, automatic audio, and the capacity to watch a clip and perform editing simultaneously. The benefits associated with the software include a straightforward and customizable interface along with various tutorials.

Keep in mind that you can’t purchase the program outright; you can only rent it as part of a Creative Cloud Subscription. On a positive note, that implies that the software is under constant improvement. For instance, the latest updates offer the inclusion of pre-made graphic templates and titles.

Pros

• Industry standard
• Top YouTubers use it

Cons

• Requires subscription

Final Cut Pro

If you’re seeking subscription-free software for YouTube video editing, Final Cut Pro is ideal – provided you own a Mac, since it’s unavailable on Windows. This software has worked to edit numerous Hollywood films and renowned YouTubers use it to edit their videos too.

You can access it for a one-off fee, so it’s a good option if you don’t want to start a never-ending subscription. It’s an equally good option if you do all your work within the Apple ecosystem, since it functions smoothly with your Photos collections and iTunes.

The software comprises sophisticated features to help enhance the feel and look of your YouTube videos. These include 4K, HDR, and 360-degree video support.

Pros

• Professional tool
  
• It’s associated with top YouTubers
• It’s available on Mac only

CyberLink Power Director 365

This editing software suits both pros and novices. A mid-market option, it’s accessible for an affordable subscription price, despite incorporating some advanced elements like motion tracking and multicam editing.

If you want to produce a video very fast, Power Director comes with a mini-program which adopts clever tech to merge your clips and photos automatically in minutes. When it comes to learning video editing properly, the learning curve is fair and you can access various tutorials to help with skill development.

They also have a Shutterstock partnership, which allows you to easily incorporate stock assets into your video. Note that the tool only works with Windows and needs a subscription.

Pros

• Affordable
• Offers some advanced elements

Cons

• Compatible with Windows only

Video Editing Software for Video Games

You don’t need to be an expert video editor to create entertaining videos. With some practice, the appropriate software, and some beginner tips, it’s possible to create stunning videos in a short period. Some options for the best video editing software for video games include:

Windows Movie Maker

For basic editing, you can’t beat the price of Windows Live Movie Maker (WLMM). It’s free, provides decent effects, and permits you to make thumbnails and compress, edit and cut game footage. You’ll also find that it’s user-friendly, even for novices. Like most free merchandise, it comes with limitations and various glitches.

Pros

• Provides decent effects
  
• User-friendly
  
• Has a broad range of transitions and titles
  

Cons

• Difficulty saving projects unless you use a different program
  
• The software freezes frequently

Lightworks Pro

Lightworks Pro functions with Linux, Windows, or OSX. Experts have tested and assessed the software, so you can examine how it functions after mastering the system.

Pros

• Multi-camera editing
  
• Supports numerous file formats
• Accessible for Mac, Windows, and Linux
  
• Access to royalty-free video and audio

Cons

• The program takes some time to learn

AVS Video Editor

This editor provides all or most of what other game editors do, but with the increased capacity to create and edit videos with a broad spectrum of sound and visual effects. Special elements include subpixel accuracy, masking, and blending modes.

Pros

• Blu-ray video editing
  
• Numerous transitions and effects
  
• Supports numerous codecs and media formats
• Allows slideshow creation

Cons

• Limited trial version

Blender

Blender has a special appeal among gamers due to its blending effects for modeling, animation, and simulation. The program permits you to perform basic activities, for instance, video cutting and splicing, along with more intricate tasks like video masking. You can perform histogram displays, live previews, and speed control and blend audio and images.

Pros

• Tailored program interface
  
• Accessible for free
  
• The best video editing software for pros

Cons

• Can be complex for beginners

Edius

This free download software evolved out of what was initially Adobe Premiere Plus plugins. Since its release, the software has gained a dedicated following that values its business model and the operations it can perform. It’s common among broadcasters, who enjoy its ease of use and flexibility when handling different video formats.

Pros

• Fast processing, editing, importing, and video exporting
  
• It doesn’t need a subscription
  
• The flexibility of the user interface
  
• Supports a wide range of video formats

Cons

• Comparatively broadcast-oriented

Video editing is a very significant aspect of video production. It serves to maintain continuity throughout a shoot and helps strengthen the story’s integrity. For this reason, you need the right software.

The challenge comes when trying to determine the right one for your needs.

Thankfully, this guide offers valuable insight into the various software options, their benefits, and their drawbacks, so you can make the right decision.