Popular Video Editing Tools For Beginners

There’s no doubt that video is one of the most relevant and engaging content formats today, and this trend is expected to continue. However, suppose you’re looking to take your video to the next level for personal or professional reasons. In that case, you will want to understand what kinds of video editing software are out there and what they can do.

How Much Does Video Editing Software Cost?

Most popular video software offers subscription-based pricing from $40 to $120 annually. Others are one-time purchases with pricing ranging from $100 to $300. In addition, subscription-based software often comes with automatic upgrades and access to new features and add-ons that typically need to be bought separately with one-time-purchase products.

The difference between lower- and higher-tier product pricing usually comes down to the sophistication of editing features. Lower tiers are more basic, while higher levels offer effects, filters, and advanced editing for studio-quality productions.

Here are a few solutions for your video editing needs:

Shotcut

Shotcut is one of the best free video editing software programs available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is a fully open-source program. This means that after downloading it, you get access to all the features without the need for a paid upgrade. In addition, this video editor supports a wide range of video formats and boasts a great collection of tutorial videos.

While this video editing software has excellent features, some users may find the interface quirky. That’s because Shotcut was initially designed for Linux, and it definitely shows. But, under the hood, it’s still a quality video editor.

Two of Shotcut’s most striking features are 4K HD resolution support and its timeline editing. Not many free video editors offer 4K resolution support. Plus, Shotcut doesn’t require you to import your video into the editor: this can be a timesaver if you are dealing with large video files.

Pros: Native timeline editing and 4K resolution support.

Cons: The quirky interface may be off-putting for some users.

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is a video editing software that comes with drag-and-drop effects, templates, audio, filters, soundtracks, and more.

You also get plenty of features like split-screen, motion tracking, green screen, and more. For example, the Keyframing feature helps you add custom animations between clips, while Motion tracking helps you with intuitive object tracking. Then there’s a color matching feature that allows you to take the color settings of one clip and apply them to other clips in a video.

The video editor even lets you assign hotkeys shortcut commands for different tools to save time. Plus, you can add other transitions, filters, motion elements, clips, audio, titles, etc., with the drag-and-drop features.

You also get the Green screen feature that lets you change or remove the background of your video. Additionally, you can use ‘Audio Ducking’ to reduce background music volume and fade one audio track into another.

Other key features include:

• Keyboard shortcut

• Color grading

• Upload your videos directly to YouTube from Filmora.

• Hardware acceleration for Mac that provides a faster editing experience.

• Blending mode to layer media for special effects.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is arguably the most advanced video editor on the list. While it has many professional video features, its interfaces remain intuitive. Alongside video slicing and trimming, you can master audio and correct color. The app also lets you add 2D and 3D titles to your video.

If you just want to trim and upload your videos, the rich feature set of DaVinci Resolve may be too extensive. However, if your video project is a little more advanced, the free version of this software is hard to beat.

DiVinci Resolve’s features include the following:

· Advanced trimming

· Multicam editing

· Color correction

· Audio mastering

Pros: Intuitive interfaces and excellent color correction.

Cons: Its wide array of features make it a little overwhelming, and not all tutorials are free.

Best for: More advanced projects where you need to correct colors.

iMovie

If you are a Mac user, Apple iMovie is a classic free video editor to use. iMovie offers a great starting point for straightforward, professional-looking content. iMovie comes preinstalled on any Mac computer purchased after 2010 or can be downloaded for free from the App Store. The video engine can support the 4k video you shoot on your professional camera, meaning you can transform footage into beautiful and impressive clips. When working on those videos, you’ll use an incredibly simplified interface that has made iMovie a very easy video editor for beginners and pros alike. Among the tools at hand is a green screen feature that will allow you to get as creative as you want and other special effects and filters that will let you add depth to your production. Lastly, the program is fully compatible with the iPhone 6 and above. So even without access to a professional camera, you only need to reach as far as your pocket to show off your business’ cinematic side through video content marketing.

Final Thoughts

Suppose you’re interested in learning how to create videos and just starting in this field. In that case, learning some tools on your own or even taking a course will be safe bets, given the popularity of videos in content marketing and social media today. When choosing a video editing software, make sure that it fits your budget and your needs. You don’t need to end up with something overly complex and technical when you’re mostly going to be doing short and personal videos.

And if you’re a small business looking to create something super high quality, hiring an agency is probably a good idea. Many creative agencies offer professional video services these days. But to figure out what you’re looking for, there’s no harm in checking out some of the beginner software versions listed above.