If you need more video editing power than Windows’ built-in tool, take a look at these more powerful apps
Video editing is a something that anyone can try, but only a few get just right. It’s one of those tasks that many dismiss as easy, but then find is quite complicated if they want to create polished and professional results. The truth is you need imagination, and to develop an eye for design along with the technical skill to operate the software if you want to excel.
Even within the YouTube community there’s a wide spectrum of skills on show, from total newcomers using mobile phone cameras, to seasoned professionals with high-end equipment and a real understanding of what it takes to make professional videos. The difference between the two is like night and day, and the magnitude of skill and effort the best YouTubers put in really does show.
One of the main reasons for this difference in quality is the software used to edit the videos. Many people starting off on YouTube are still learning, and stick with entry level editors like Windows Movie Maker or YouTube’s own online editor, while more advanced users and enthusiasts graduate to more powerful options that open up all sorts of new possibilities. These more powerful programs allow greater control over cuts and transitions, as well as the addition of professional effect. These features, in turn, gives content creators more options, which can lead to better videos if used properly.
We’re going to take a look at some of these editing options, focusing on software that users with more advanced skills should consider moving to – though these programs will take users from entry and mid-level editing all the way to full-on professional creation. Some are expensive, a fairly common drawback in the market, whilst others are free. The latter options obviously don’t always provide quite the same amount of power as expensive suites, but for YouTube content, they should provide ample power. So let’s begin with the freebies.
Free
Windows Movie Maker (www.microsoft.com)
We’re looking at the more advanced programs here, and we’ve already said Movie Maker is a commonly used starter program, but we should include it for reference, and as it can be used to make some good quality clips.
Movie Maker features a simple design that focuses on ease of use to make it very approachable even for the video editing layman. It’s mostly drag and drop, and by simply dragging and dropping clips into the timeline, you can easily create many types of movie. Additions of audio tracks, subtitles and other effects are easy to add later on, with the minimal, and familiar interface that borrows from Microsoft’s usual Ribbon GUI. So, if you know how to use Windows, Office, or nay other Microsoft app, it’s not hard to make the jump to Movie Maker.
VirtualDub (www.virtualdub.org)
One of the oldest options available, VirtualDub has long been a staple in the video editor’s toolbox. That is, if you’re a fan of .avi files, which the format supports exclusively. Even with this limitation, and the arrival of more, very popular formats, VirtualDub is still a very useful, and surprisingly effective free tool.
The interface is well-designed and not bogged down with clutter, yet is packed with filters and other video manipulation tools. Admittedly, the menu system itself is a little stodgy, and needs work to get used to, but if you need to work with .avi files, VirtualDub is a good option.
Lightworks (www.lwks.com)
If we had to pick the most powerful free video editor, as well as possibly the best all-round, Lightworks would almost certainly win. It’s an amazingly powerful editor, especially considering it’s free. It has a full timeline editing suite of tools packed with features such as real time effects, trimming tools, support for HD resolutions (up to 720p) and multi-cam support.
The program is so powerful and effective, the developer is keen to point out that it’s even been used in Hollywood, on such films as The Wolf of Wall Street, Pulp Fiction, and LA Confidential, to name but a few. That’s high praise indeed, and if a multi-million dollar movie can make use of it, it’s a sure-fire bet YouTube videos are covered.
There is a cost to the program, and that’s your time. Due to its power and flexibility, Lightworks isn’t the easiest editor to use, and will require a lot of practise. However, we’re here to look for more advanced editors, and this perfectly fits the bill.
VSDC Free Video Editor (www.videosoftdev.com)
Arguably the most difficult kind of video editing to get to grips with is non-linear. Because of this, VSDC Free Video Editor can be one of the trickier applications to use if you’ve no prior experience. As a more advanced user, however, it’s a good program to try if you want to broaden your skills and try a different way of editing your footage.
The interface is well-designed, and the app has a wide range of tools that make it easily better than many competing programs. The addition of a tool that can be used to create movies specifically for mobile devices is a major bonus for social media content creators, as mobile devices are only getting more and more popular as devices to view such content.
VideoPad Video Editor (www.nchsoftware.com)
If you’re focusing on the creation of footage for social media and/or YouTube, VideoPad Video Editor is surely one of the best options. It’s a powerful editor that supports just about any video format you can name, and it has a respectable amount of features. However, the major draw it it’s ability to handle tasks any online star will relish.
It can export videos directly to the likes of Facebook and YouTube, and even has the option of capturing desktop activity, a commonly required ability for YouTube content creators and reviewers. It also has a flexible export option, and can burn footage directly to disc for easy archival.
It’s not the most well-designed interface, though, and the actual editing GUI is very cluttered and not as well laid out as some alternatives. If you put in the time, however, you’ll find it is a very competent editor.
Jahshaka 2.0 (www.jahshaka.com)
This is an open source editor that packs in some unique features that advanced users will no doubt appreciate. Along with a powerful set of timeline editing tools, there’s support for 2D and 3D animation, as well as Chroma key effects (a technical term for the now-ubiquitous ‘green screen’ effects used in almost all major movies), and a lean towards more visually impressive effects that many other competing programs (certainly free ones) don’t feature.
On the flip-side of the positives, the program’s core interface is a little confusing, not allowing the almost universal drag and drop loading of clips. It demands a different approach, one that you’ll have to learn to love if you want to make full use of the program. If you’re planning on getting into animation, though, this is a task you might just want to tackle.
ivsEdits LE (www.ivsedits.com)
This is an editor that’s aimed at the more advanced user, and although the free incarnation has some restrictions placed on it – mainly in terms of the formats it can work with – it still offers a lot of options. These include support for HD video up to 4K and the real-time video input from external devices.
Other features include 3D transitions, the ability to crop video, colour and brightness alteration, multi-camera mixing, and a slew of other higher-level editing tools. It’s quite the app, and clearly has the power for even expert users. The interface isn’t the best, however, and it’s quite complex and counter-intuitive, but again, we’re looking at software for the advanced user, so a complicated interface shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Shotcut (www.shotcut.org)
Shotcut is an open source editor that can work with almost any video source, with a very flexible import set up. It supports wide file video formats and packs in a range of filters. However, its real strength comes from its specialisation in the more mundane, practical tasks, such as colour touch-ups, picture quality adjustments, and camera fixes (stability). This makes it a very powerful post-production touch up tool, especially for advanced users, who will certainly get the most out of this.
As powerful as it is (and it’s very powerful), it’s specialisation in video optimisation means you’ll likely need another editor if you also need to perform more glamorous edits, such as special effects and the like.
Machete Video Editor Lite (www.machetesoft.com)
It’s not hard to guess the speciality of this program. As the name clearly suggests, this tool is all about trimming down video, and you can use it to get rid of unwanted footage. What’s different about this tool than many other apps, even more powerful editors is the fact the program does it’s trimming without the need to re-encode the video. This means that you’ll lose no video quality, no matter how many edits you make.
The interface is simple, and the program easy to use, even for beginners. For advanced users, this is a great tool to have alongside a more general purpose editor.
Wax (www.debugmode.com/wax)
This is another very specialised program, and one that focuses on .avi files. Wax isn’t really a powerful editing tool in the strictest sense, but is instead mainly concerned with special effects. It’s here where the program stands out, so much so it’s been used as a plug-in for big name editors from the likes of Adobe and Sony.
Along with standard effects and filters, Wax can apply all manner of pro-level additions, including particle effects, masks, and even mapping video footage onto 3D objects. It’s a very interesting app, and its specialised tools make a good addition to any editor’s tool set, It comes into its own in tandem with another editor, though.
MPEG Streamclip (www.squared5.com)
This is a very interesting program, and like some of the other apps we’ve looked at, it’s also specialised. It’s also very small in size, with a download smaller than 400KB. Within this tiny package you’ll find a surprisingly competent editor that can manipulate video, rotate it, and work with the soundtrack.
It’s able to open a range of file types, including DVD video and video streams via URL. Additionally, it has a very flexible export function that’s one of the best we’ve seen. It may be small, but this app has plenty of power within its tiny frame.
Avidemux (fixounet.free.fr/avidemux)
Compared to some of the other programs we’ve listed here, Avidemux isn’t one of the most powerful, but it still has plenty to offer those looking to expand their editing options. This includes easy to use trimming tools, that perform their task without any need to re-encode, alongside additional features like filters and quality touch-up tools.
What’s even more pleasing is that these are all contained in a simple, easy to use GUI that, while still undoubtedly being for the more advanced user, makes it one of the programs that’s easier to get to grips with. It’s also open source and has a very good online wiki that contains plenty of information and tips to get the most out of the title.
Wondershare Filmora (www.wondershare.net)
As our focus is on more advanced applications for users who’ve earned their editing stripes with the simpler options, Wondershare Filmora certainly fits the bill. It’s a powerful application that has a lot of advanced features while staying just the right side of approachable for beginners.
It performs this trick by offering up two modes: Easy and Advanced. This allows users of all abilities to use the program, with the more skilled able to delve into the program’s more powerful tools.
The interface is well laid out, with an intuitive drag and drop system and image editor-style options and tool layout. Filters, overlays, transitions, split-screen and more are all on offer, and footage can be quickly exported or burned to disc. You can also upload directly for Facebook and YouTube, making it another great options for online video content creators. Sadly, the free version does place a watermark on the final video, so if you plan to use it extensively, you’ll need to purchase a license.
Commercial
iMovie (Mac OS) (www.apple.com/mac/imovie)
Packaged within the iLife suite on any Mac, but also sold separately, iMovie is basically Apple’s version of Movie Maker, although its users would argue it’s far superior. While it’s aimed at the consumer, it packs enough muscle to also be used in more advanced ways. The drag-and-drop interface makes it very simple, and the various effects and transitions – which will be very familiar to many – are great. Videos can be quickly exported to various media, including discs and YouTube.
Sony Vegas Pro (Windows) (www.sonycreativesoftware.com)
Sony Vegas Pro is a very expensive (£600), but very powerful set of tools for high-end users. The editor supports full HD and 3D video, Blu-ray authoring and multi-camera editing, as well providing all the effects and filters you’d expect. You can use a very wide range of file types, and the excellent video tools are accompanied by a range of audio options, so you can handle sound and vision in one place. It’s surprisingly easy to use, too, giving it even more appeal to those venturing into the advanced editing sphere with a bigger budget.
Final Cut Pro (Mac OS) (www.apple.com/final-cut-pro)
Apple’s Final Cut Pro, as one of the easiest editors to use in this price and power bracket, is a great way of transitioning from basic to advanced editing, It features a superb multi-track editing interface that clearly displays video and audio tracks in one place, making it easy to edit even complex projects. It supports a wide range of file types, including HD and 4K, and its preview mode is an essential tool that allows you to view all edits and changes before you actually commit to them.
Avid (Mac/Win) (www.avid.com)
This is the consumer version of the immensely powerful and expensive Avid Media Composer (which costs around $2,500) that’s routinely used to make movies, TV shows and more. This paireddown incarnation is no slouch, however, and easily stands up to other alternatives.
It features all of the standard and advanced tools you’ll need to author any kind of video you’d care to mention, as well as a wide range of tools you’d find in other high-end packages. It supports a large range of file types, has flexible export options, and can handle all smaller-scale projects, including YouTube content and indie movies.
Although Avid may not be as well known to many, and not as popular with consumers, it’s often the program of choice for professionals and within the industry, such is its power and flexibility.
Adobe Premiere Pro (Mac/Win) (www.adobe.com)
Probably the most popular commercial video editor, certainly at a ‘prosumer’ level, Adobe’s ubiquitous Premiere is a powerhouse, albeit an expensive one. It features support for a vast amount of formats, 3D video editing, HD and 4K, multi-camera, and has a wealth of effects, filters and extras wrapped up in an interface that many users will be familiar with, as it follows Adobe’s standard design scheme.
Also available in a watered-down Elements version, it’s possible to get to grips with that before upgrading to the Pro version. It’s integration with other Adobe software makes it even more flexible, and when used in the Creative Suite, many avenues of creativity are opened.
There are, of course, many other package out there we’ve not covered, but the above options are, in our opinion, some of the very best. Each is well worth checking out if you’re developing your video editing skills, but need more power under the hood.