Beginner Free Video Editing Software

Apr 03, 2020 A basic yet well-thought-out editing experience awaits the novice, while you can also look forward to advanced sound editing, travel maps, and a slew of effects down the line. Overview of Features. Unlike most video editing software, Movie Edit Pro places the preview window on the left while the contextual part of the interface sits next to it.

Videos are widely used on video sites, social networks, and news platforms for sharing, entertainment, education, and other purposes. With a growing need for videos to convey information, the demand for video editing software surges. For example, you may need to make video clips into an impressive short film for sharing, an amusing video for recreation, an instructional video for education.. All these require a video editor.

Many of you look for free video editing software to apply. However, freeware always adds the name or logo of the software to the video automatically, which is undesired. Given that, I'll introduce 8 free video editing software (no watermark) for you.

Top 8 Free Video Editing Software (No Watermark) in 2020

What video editor does not have a watermark? You will know from the list below. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, using Windows or Mac, you will find the free video editing software as you need.

Aug 31, 2020 Best Video Editing Software for Novice Video Content Creators in 2020 Anyone who has access to a computer that runs on a macOS or Windows OS can edit videos for free because both of these operating systems have built-in video editing software. Let’s take a look at the free video editing options Mac and PC users have at their disposal in 2020. In this post, we reveal our favorite video editing software for beginners. We’ll discuss each in detail below, but if you’re just interested in the name of the top picks, find our shortlist below. Best video editing software for beginners: VideoProc: A full-featured editing software that offers great value for money. Comes with a 30-day. Want to make better video content for your business? Check out this list compiled by Oberlo of the best free video editing software for 2020. Whether Youtube, Instagram of standalone web videos, this list has you covered. Read the list to learn how to create stunning video content for your business.

VSDC Free Video Editor - Wide File Formats Support

Applies To: Windows

VSDC Free Video Editor is a video editing software application that helps to edit videos and create videos of any type and of any complexity. It has no watermark, ads, or trial period. And thus it is a good choice for both beginners and professionals.

• Supports a wide range of image/audio/video formats
• Provides an excellent selection of effects, transitions, and filters
• Provides advanced features, like picture-in-picture, video stabilization, and color blending
• Allows to create masks for hiding, blurring, or highlighting the content in the selected area
• Offers the options to export edited videos to social networks
• Allows to share videos to social media and upload videos to YouTube directly

In addition to video editing features, VSDC Free Video Editor is also equipped with extra functions like DVD burning, video converter, video capture, and more. If you want to turn clips into videos via basic skills, this app is advisable for you.

iMovie - Easy to Command

Allis chalmers wd timing manual. Applies To: macOS and iOS

iMovie is a free video editing software tool developed by Apple for macOS and iOS devices. Simple and intuitive, iMovie is the of the most user-friendly video editors available for beginners. Although being free, iMovie won't add any watermark to the item you edit unless you want.

• Supports video/audio/image editing, such as trimming videos, detaching audio, and sharing photos
• Allows to add transitions and effects
• Provides pre-set trailers and themes
• Supports 4K resolution
• Supports multiple video/audio tracks

Compared with other equivalents, iMovie has an exclusive benefit that it offers the app version of iOS devices. That means you can also edit videos on your mobile device if you need to.

A more advanced video editor that is also developed by Apple is Final Cut Pro X. Compared with iMovie, it has more advanced features and is more suitable for professionals who need professional video editing software and attempt to create videos with high quality. However, Final Cut Pro X is a paid tool and charges $299.99. If you are using a Mac, choose either the free or paid application according to your needs.

VideoProc - One-Stop Video Processing

Applies To: Windows an macOS

VideoProc is a powerful yet free video editing software program with no watermark for beginners who need basic video editing. It supports 4K videos and is compatible with many digital cameras and devices via the built-in wide range of video codec library. And thus is also advisable for users who attempt to make a video without watermark.

• Allows to trim/merge/crop/rotate clips
• Offers visual effects and filters
• Allows to enable, disable, add or export subtitles
• Provides advanced features like video stabilization, Fisheye fixing, noise removal, and GIF-making
• Supports 4K/HD videos from iPhone, GoPro, DJI, and other 4K cameras

In addition to common video editing features, there is an exclusive function in VideoProc - hardware acceleration, which contributes to faster file processing. If you have a video to edit, which is large and of high-quality, VideoProc could be helpful for you to experience a smooth editing process.

OpenShot - Award-Winning App

Applies To: Windows, macOS, and Linux

OpenShot is an award-winning, open-source, and free video editing software tool with no watermark. It doesn't overstate the usability of the tool when saying OpenShot is easy to use and quick to learn. You can use it to create stunning videos without worrying about watermark or limitation because all there are what you can use.

• Support video/audio/image editing
• Supports multiple video/audio tracks
• Offers various effects and 3D animations
• Enables slow motion and time effects
• Allows to add titles to videos

A worth-mentioning advantage of OpenShot is that it supports 70+ languages, which is significantly more than other free video editing software. The simple interface and clear feature display make OpenShot a good choice for beginners who have the need for basic video editing.

Shotcut - Timeline Editing Support

Applies To: Windows, macOS, and Linux

If you are searching for 'free video editing software no watermark' in Google, you will find many recommendations of Shotcut. Indeed, when it comes to truly free video editors, Shotcut should count. Shotcut is an open-source and cross-platform program for video editing. It provides enough features for users to turn video clips into amazing videos.

• Supports a wide range of file formats
• Shows excellent compatibility with devices that capture videos and audio
• Provides a flexible and intuitive interface
• Offers unique video effects, filters, and templates

Similar to the freeware introduced above, Shotcut allows no watermark, adds, trial versions, plug-ins, and unrelated bundled software. Being different from other free video editors, file import is not required in Shotcut, due to its native timeline editing feature. Again, if you are a beginner seeking an easy video maker, Shotcut is an option worth considering.

DaVinci Resolve - 8K Video Support

Applies To: Windows, macOS, and Linux

If you are a beginner, you will be overwhelmed by the features of DaVinci Resolve. Personally, DaVinci Resolve is one of the most versatile video editing tools available. This free video editing software offers rich functionality than you may have expected and is well-known for providing professional-level features. Whether you want to create a high-quality video or movie, you can apply this program to get things done.

• Provides basic & advanced video editing options
• Offers intelligent edit modes to auto-sync clips and edit
• Has built-in tools for retiming, stabilization, and transform
• Allows to create projects with different frame rates and resolutions
• Supports frame rate conversions and motion estimation

DaVinci Resolve is an innovative tool for video editing with amazing features like cut page, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction, and more. If you prefer professional video editing software with no watermark that you can use for free, DaVinci Resolve should be your first choice.

Video Grabber - Online Video Editor

Applies To: Any Browser

If you are looking for an online video editor without watermark, Video Grabber will meet your demands perfectly. Editing videos can be easily done via this tool. Users only need to choose a function, import an item, and then create a video according to their needs. If you need to, you can also download the app to edit videos on the computer.

• Supports to edit video online
• Allows to merge/trim/rotate/crop/screenshot/mute/split videos
• Enables audio extraction
• Allows to make GIFs from a video

Video Grabber is a free tool that can serve as a video downloader/editor/converter and screen recorder simultaneously. Given that, it's quite suitable for users who want to make educational videos for teaching.

Blender - Rich Special Effects

Applies To: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Although Blender counts more like a 3D creation tool, it can also work as a free video editing software. Claiming to be free forever, Blender won't add any watermark on the video being edited. What's unbelievable with this freeware is that you have up to 32 tracks to add videos, images, audio files, and more. If the tracks available on other programs are not enough for you, Blender should fulfill your needs.

• Offers live preview, luma waveform, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays
• Allows audio mixing, syncing, scrubbing and waveform visualization
• Provides up to 32 tracks for adding clips, images, audio, scenes, masks, and effects.
• Enables speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, keyframes, filters and more

Since Blender is an advanced 3D creation tool, it's an optimal choice for users who like to beautify their videos with special effects.

These are the most popular free video editing software (no watermark) in 2020. Apply the one best suited to your needs to start your video editing right now.

Some may say Lightworks is also a free video editor. It used to be but not now. In the latest version of Lightworks, you only have a 7-day free trial to enjoy. Hence, it falls out of the category of free products.

Extra Recommendation: EaseUS Video Editor - Powerful Video Editing Software for Beginners & Pros

Except for DaVinci Resolve which is for professionals, other free software tools are more suitable for users who are beginners of video editing. EaseUS provides free video editing software for beginners and pros to make attracting videos in an easy way. If you want to have a video with no watermark, you can upgrade to the pro version - no watermark, high-quality video, and more features.

• Allows to edit video by trimming/splitting/merging/rotating/mixing the item
• Adds various simple or complex transitions
• Adds filters/titles/subtitles
• Enables multiple video and audio track
• Imports media files from storage devices and videos taken by camcorders, DVs, vidicons, webcams, cell phones..
• Convert video to various formats, like convert YouTube to MP4
• Provides templates that are ready for use

EaseUS Video Editor is near the professional level and thus is recommended for both newbies and professionals.

Other Questions You May Be Interested In

There are some hot questions related to free video editing software.

What video editor does not have a watermark?

A small portion of free tools and paid video editors won't add watermark to the video unless you want. The tools introduced in this article are the ones you can use at no cost.

How do I make a video without a watermark?

To make a video without any sign of the software, you can either use a tool that won't add the name, logo, or sign of the product or remove the sign by using the features.

What is the best free video editing software for beginners?

If you are a Windows user, software like VSDC Video Editor and VideoProc is for you. While if you are a Mac user, iMovie is the best choice for beginners.

The Bottom Line

There is more than one free video editing software without a watermark available. But they vary slightly or significantly in features. Other than the functions you need to change footage to videos, you may also need to consider other features like screen recording and video downloading. Choose the perfect one based on your level and demands.

Video editing has become more and more common in the recent past with social media becoming the new normal. Video sharing is a part of the modern person's life whether it is for content creation or sharing of information. It is an aspect of the digital world that is now being explored to its fullest. This creates the users to know the free video editing software for beginners that are available and are easy to use.

Video editing also forms an important part in businesses today where the business owners can showcase their products through a visual medium. The video editors which are easy to use for beginners provide the business owners a chance to create the content through many easily usable free editing programs which can help the business owners differentiate their products from their competition.

The products that are produced well make more engaging content and are marketed better than the ones where photographs are the only source. They cannot influence their customers in quite the same way. The trends all over the world have been telling the same story as well. In this article, we bring you up to date with the top free video editing software for beginners.

Lightworks

Lightworks is simple as software that has an intuitive interface and therefore it is very easy to pick up. Lightworks also is a superb software for beginners because it provides a video tutorial collection which makes it one of the best beginner free video editing software.

Lightwork has been operational for 25 years and has been one of the most preferred software when it comes to filmmakers because of its features and a simple and intuitive design which enables even beginners to understand it and work on it. Few other features which make it one of the best software are mentioned below.

• It has high quality and simple trim functions which make it precise
• The speed is optimized and the editing can continue while new content is imported
• There is multiple camera editing so that different footage can be synced
• There is a real-time project sharing option where there is complete control over which of the users has to access to edit
• Easy to edit
• Supports many video formats

iMovie

For those who have been asking a question on how to edit YouTube videos for beginners free? This is the best software. The iMovie editor is a popular standby which comes along with the Mac OS. The interface of iMovie is not a very complicated interface and normal drag and drop works effectively.

The best thing about the iMovie is that its files are saved on the Apple cloud which means that the projects can be worked on different devices. It is extremely easy to use but that doesn't compromise on its power. The other features which make it such valuable software are given below.

• It supports the 4K resolution which allows the users to create films which are cinema-quality
• Cloud storage functionality is what allows editing from multiple devices.
• There are title animations which are studio quality and make the credits look professional
• The video filters are stylish and contemporary and have been built for just particular film genres.
• Sound effects and music is built in. Voiceover recordings are also available and can be consolidated with sound and picture.
• There are speed controls that can help in editing the action sequences as well as sports highlights.

Openshot

Openshot is the best free video editing software without a watermark for beginners because it provides great editing options to go with an intuitive interface. The minimal design which it provides is best suited to the businesses which are only starting off or are small in scale. Another thing that works for this software is that it is available across the platforms

It offers all the possible options such as trimming, scaling, resizing, and rotation. It is available in more than 70 languages and is among the most powerful software with unlimited tracks. Some feature its other features are enlisted below

• There are unlimited backgrounds, watermarks, and audio tracks
• The title card templates are customizable
• There is drag and drop functionality for the easy adding of videos and audios
• There are digital video interfaces, effects, brightness, hue, greyscale, and green screen effects.
• There are powerful abilities for keyframe animation

VideoPad

VideoPad is a brilliant starting point for getting them acquainted with the video editing software concept. It has been reviewed extremely highly by many experts and has received good reviews form one and all for being intuitive yet powerful.

This is an uncomplicated and easily usable interface. In spite of the easy controls, it does come with many features that can make the videos look professional such as the multiple displays for faster editing and many layers of audio which provides the users with multiple options for more control over the sound mixing. A few of its features have been listed below.

• The double built-in screen makes it easy and intuitive when it comes to editing.
• There are pre-made, customizable transitions for professionalism
• Export presets create videos easily for many specific platforms like YouTube and Facebook. And posting them on the software directly.

Corel Videostudio

This is an award-winning video editor which is very helpful particularly for beginners because of its easy combination of the features and easy interface. It is a perfect tool for the users to turn their memories and make stories out of them.

It offers a plethora of creative features and visual animation along with elegant tiles other abilities which makes it brilliant software to use for the beginners. It is easy to learn and execute too and also provides some of the best audio functions among the editors. There are more than 1500+ filters that are available to the user. Some more features are provided below.

• Creative features
• Easy to use
• Creative effects
• Simultaneous multiple editing
• Creation of elegant tiles

DaVinci Resolve 16

This is the video editing software that is usually associated with professionals however it is also usable for beginners since it is extremely easy to use. It combines 8K editing, visual effects, color correction, and audio post-production.

The free version in particular is suitable for many users who don't want to go too extensive. It also provides a unique array of audio and speed features which make the edited video reach the quality of professionally edited work. It is easily editable and can be exported quickly too. Some of its other brilliant features have been enlisted below.

• Multiple timelines for quick trimming and cutting of videos
• Trim interface for better editing
• Picture in picture tool along with stabilization and re-trimming
• Facial recognition which can detect the faces in the clips
• High-quality speed changes for motion estimation and frame rates conversion.

VSDC

VSDC is available free for the desktop. The free version though does not have all the features of the paid version it does come with the full editing suite which includes the mask tool and the key functionality for the green screen editing effects.

The free version also provides the audio convertor options and other options such as screen capturing. It is also easy to edit on because it accepts all video and audio formats apart from its very powerful Chroma tool to enable green screen editing. The features of this software have been enlisted below.

Features

• Color Correction tools for making videos look professional.
• A plethora of transitional effects
• Easy to use filters for images at the level of social media filters
• Social media linking to major platforms
• Mask tools for hiding and blurring.

Kapwing

Kapwing is the software which provides different features such as editing of videos images or gif. It provides the ability to upload, share, and edit all in one place. Work can now happen from any place because it provides secure, back up abilities and cross-device services.

There are templates and resources which help the younger professionals and students to make their media a lot faster than other editors. It has some of the most reputed companies in its clientele and that surely adds validation to how good this software really is. A few of its amazing features are enlisted below.

• Resizing, trimming and other major options are available on the software
• Audio can be added on this software
• Secure with back up
• Subtitles can be added on this software
• Real-time editing.

HitFilm Express

This is one of the software which might be a little difficult to learn at first although once the user gets a hang of it, this can provide Hollywood film level editing. This is regarded by many as one of the best all in editing software. There is no need to create the composite shots which makes sure that the editing is done in a lot less time

This is among the best for young content creators particularly gamers who are looking for high-quality content without having any budget. Some of the other features offered by this software are given below.

• Professional video editing
• Composite shots being enhanced
• Unlimited tracks for video and audio
• Adaptive trimmer which lets re-trim happen
• Copying one clip attributes to the other
• Audio mixers for tuning of the sound
• Transition options.

Media Composer

It is a video editor that provides many features that make it one of the time-saving software. It helps in speeding up the entire experience of editing and makes it creative. It keeps editing and offers the best editor to create the best story like experiences.

Another thing that makes it among the best is the fact that it offers some of the best security features which keep the content that is being edited safe and away from any kind of intrusion. This can be accessed from multiple places so it allows work to be done across many channels. A few other features are listed below.

• Importing and managing is easy
• Editing and VFX is one of the best in class
• The color correction is easy and professional
• Updates available
• The free version has many features too

Extra Recommendation: Wondershare DemoCreator

Apart from the ones which have been recommended above, we would also like to recommend Wondershare DemoCreator is a good option. It offers all the basic features which a video editor is required to provide and has a very basic and intuitive interface. It has a picture in picture mode, scale videos, Freeze frame options, and playback resolution.

There are other features such as audio denoise, fade in fade out, voice-over, and draw border which makes this an amazing editor for the content creators. This does all the editing work in the easiest and most non-complicated manner which makes it a sought after editor.

Conclusion

The beginner free video editing software given above provides great features for the beginners to use and create the best content easily. Some of them even provide features that are professional-level editing however they may be a little hard to learn. The basic features can help mostly the product creators and business people to market their products in a more effective manner through a visual tool. The videos created professionally without the cost of a professional editor can make it easy for businesses to stand out and be better than their contemporaries. Video editing can be an effective tool to create professional videos for services too like how-to videos and tutorials for social media. In case there is other editing software you come across. Do let us know.

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Getting a YouTube channel off the ground is a lot of work, but it’s also exciting and immensely rewarding as you start gaining your first loyal followers. It all begins with a story worth telling, but how you shape that story matters even more for viewer retention. You’ll never get a captive audience if your videos consist of a single cut of you staring into the camera and talking. Virago 500 service manual. The key to any successful YouTube video is a mix of worthwhile content and an engaging presentation. You’ll have to take care of the former and let an editing program handle the rest.

It’s easier than ever to turn your ideas into videos that rack up millions of views. There are dozens of editing tools out there that will get the job done. However, not all of them do a good job of explaining the workflow and easing you into more complicated edits. That’s why newcomers need appropriate software that will teach them the basics, make publishing to YouTube a breeze, and ignite in them the passion to take editing to the next level eventually.

The following are reviews of the best video editing software for YouTube beginners. These six programs ease you into editing and let you create impactful videos from the get-go. Some of them are limited and best used as stepping stones for more advanced software. Others offer the full experience and will be of use even with hundreds of videos under your belt. Make a choice and start building your online community in the best possible way.

1. Adobe Premiere Elements

Adobe’s Premiere Pro is one of the world’s most critically-acclaimed video editing programs, but the company has an equally impressive e tool for beginners as well. Think of Premiere Elements as both an exceptional learning tool and video editing software that can do much more than the basics. It’s the perfect choice for YouTubers who don’t have a clue about editing and want to grow into competent creators fast.

Overview of Features

Unlike its older brother, Premiere Elements is a one-time purchase and works well as a standalone product without utilizing the Creative Cloud. Opening it for the first time presents you with three choices. You may either make a Quick video or edit one from the ground up in Guided and Expert modes.

Quick mode is outstanding for producing simple content that speaks for itself like family or vacation videos. You select the clips and photos to be added to it, add some music, and Premiere Elements will competently create a catchy video. Your editing options are minimal in this mode, but trimming the fat off of boring clips or adding titles is still possible.

Guided mode is where beginners will spend most of their time. Adobe did a fantastic job designing it to function as a comprehensive tutorial area that teaches you with guidance and repetition. The editing steps are logically laid out from start to finish, so you’re first prompted to add media, then adjust video and audio parameters, and finish off with effects and filters.

Each task is accompanied by a step-by-step guide and an arrow that points at the pertinent part of the user interface. Speaking of which, the UI is clean and same for Guided and Expert modes. That lets you learn the necessary steps and effortlessly remember and repeat them once you’re ready to ditch the training wheels. Guided edits like filling the frame left by a vertical video and time-lapse are universally applicable. Others are more situational and fun, like adding a glass pane effect or freeze-frame transitions.

Expert mode puts all of Premiere Elements’ tools at your disposal. Smart Trimming is one of the more interesting ones. It uses the Sensei AI to identify boring parts of clips and deletes them to speed up trimming. There’s a suite of audio editing options, color correction and matching, chromakeying, a versatile text tool, and more.

Premiere Elements runs smoothly and crash-free even on older hardware. It’s not the fastest editor around, but its rendering speeds are above average. Publishing a video to YouTube is easy, thanks to a dedicated button. You just have to specify the title and quality, and Premiere Elements will handle the rest.

What We Didn’t Like

Premiere elements is a wonderful tool for growing content creators, but it will only get you so far. There are only three audio and video tracks, so your multicam options are limited. There’s currently no support for 360-degree and VR footage, either.

Pros
Fantastic as an introduction to video editing
Lets you jump between Guided and Expert modes at any time
Clean and intuitive interface
Lots of text tools and video effects

Cons
Few tracks to work with
Doesn’t support some newer video formats

2. iMovie

iMovie is to Final Cut Pro X what Premiere Elements is to Premiere Pro. In other words, a simplified yet effective and highly-polished editor for producing striking YouTube videos with little effort. It’s firmly entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, so PC users will have to look elsewhere. On the other hand, iMovie is the epitome of stability and speedily renders videos, even in 4K. Best of all, using iMovie will help speed your transition to Final Cut Pro when you feel like growing as an editor.

Overview of Features

iMovie is the epitome of simplicity. Everything from importing files to manipulating titles or audio is done in an accessible, sparse interface. There are no windows and settings unnecessary to the current editing step, which helps to focus on the task at hand and speeds up your workflow. iMovie doesn’t come with tutorials per see, but hovering over various icons displays tooltips that will help inexperienced users get a good grasp on the interface.

Importing files is straightforward as iMovie recognizes a wide variety of codecs, including action cam footage. It will automatically pull up all the media you have stored on the iCloud and various Apple devices too. There’s no tagging or rating system, but you can designate clips as rejects or favorites and trim or rotate them before adding anything to the timeline.

There are only three tracks or lanes on the magnetic timeline. Clips placed on it move out of the way without creating gaps, and repositioning one you placed earlier moves everything to its right as well. You can even link clips with transitions and effects that remain applied when you move the clip elsewhere.

iMovie has a solid selection of effects or Clip Filters as they’re referred to here. On the one hand, you have color correction and chromakeying tools. iMovie lets you brighten up dull footage, adjust the contrast and color temperature, or match the colors of footage shot with multiple cameras to ensure consistency. Chromakeying makes working with greenscreen easy. On the other hand, you may add different filters that impact the mood and overall visuals. This has a powerful impact on appearance and can turn a normal-looking video into a nostalgic retrospective or give it a horror vibe.

Text effects and audio are equal robust. You have access to many fonts and can import more from the mac. Associated effects and transitions can be configured in minutes, and properties like alignment or size can be changed straight from the preview window. There are several audio enhancement features like noise reduction and a tool that increases voice volume. You may even give your voice a distorted or robotic sound.

What’s Bad About It?

As said above, iMovie is an Apple exclusive. Other than that, Apple’s minimalistic design philosophy means you’ll sometimes need to search long and hard because some obscure tools are tucked away and it isn’t clear where to look. You can’t customize the interface either, which places iMovie among more rigid video editors.

Pros
Beautifully simple interface
Magnetic timeline makes editing intuitive for newcomers
Has an abundance of titling and audio tools
Excellent chromakeying and color grading given its price and purpose

Cons
No PC version
Rigid interface that makes less-used tools hard to find

3. MAGIX Movie Edit Pro

Movie Maker Pro from MAGIX is a versatile video editor YouTubers of all skill levels will embrace. It has enough features to accompany you throughout your YouTube career without ever feeling the need to move on to more advanced programs. A basic yet well-thought-out editing experience awaits the novice, while you can also look forward to advanced sound editing, travel maps, and a slew of effects down the line.

Overview of Features

Unlike most video editing software, Movie Edit Pro places the preview window on the left while the contextual part of the interface sits next to it. You can toggle between the timeline and a storyboard mode that makes conceptualizing your video easier. Clips and photos are all represented equally in storyboard mode, so moving elements of different lengths around is straightforward. Even so, you can access an audio mixer or trimming tools from this view without needing to switch to the timeline.

Templates are another feature beginner YouTubers will love. They are guided storyboards that help you lay out a video in an engaging way while supplying appropriate titles, transitions, and sounds. Each template type comes with a distinct number and sequence of shots. Simple graphics tell you when to insert nature scenes or close-ups to get the desired effect.

You can tinker with finished templates or make videos from scratch on the traditional non-linear timeline. The Pro version of Movie Edit contains 32, while upgrading to either Plus or Premium ups this to 200. Other benefits include access to more filters and effects as well as multicam editing. You can always start off with the basic version and upgrade as your channel and editing needs grow.

While Movie Edit Pro offers many excellent color correction, titling, and effects tools, audio is its stand-out feature set. MAGIX is renowned for the Sequoia audio editing software, and some of its features have made their way into Movie Edit Pro. You can manipulate audio by adding reverb or adjusting multiple sound levels. Several noise-removal tools get rid of sibilants or camera noises while bringing your voice to the forefront.

Travel vloggers will love the Travel Maps add-on. It allows you to quickly visualize a route you’ve taken on a series of detailed maps from all over the world. Using the add-on takes some getting used to, but the result is an attractive visual aids that makes your videos look more professional.

What We Didn’t Like

Media organization and input is Movie Edit Pro’s weak point. Tagging and rating tools are absent. You can’t specify what file type you’re looking for either and are limited to your OS’s file browsing interface. Movie Edit Pro is only available on PC.

Pros
Excellent storyboard mode
Templates make putting simple videos together easy
Advanced audio editing options
The Travel Maps add-on

Pricing
$69.99 for the Pro version
$99.99 for the Plus version
$129.99 for the Premium version

4. Wondershare Filmora9

Filmora markets itself as the video editing solution for everyone, from beginners to professionals. Spending some time with it reveals that this isn’t just a gimmick; Filmora9 is easy to get into yet offers plenty of room to grow. It’s a strong contender for the only editing program you’ll ever need as a YouTube creator. Its stand-out features? An extensive library of effects and transitions along with fast rendering times and a broad range of supported media.

Overview of Features

Filmora9 doesn’t let you make many changes to its interface, but its well organized and accessible layout offsets that. The UI will be familiar to users who’ve edited videos before as there’s a timeline on the bottom third of the screen while the upper portion is divided in two. A preview window takes up the right side with a contextual workspace on the left. The latter changes based on the current editing step you can quickly select through a series of tabs.

Starting a project requires imported media, which you can access from your hard drive or camera. Recording directly from a webcam and desktop screen is supported, as is downloading videos from Instagram or Facebook. Selected footage is arranged on the timeline and ready for trimming. You can do this yourself or let an AI similar to Adobe’s Sensei shorten clips to their most exciting parts.

There are 100 video and audio tracks to work with, making Filmora9 one of the most in-depth solutions for compositing videos with lots of B-roll and multiple camera angles. It accepts different video formats and has tools designed to work with action cam footage. You can remove the characteristic fish-eye look and apply further stabilization if the video is shaky. Reversing playback and altering speed is at your disposal too.

Filmora9’s selection of effects is extensive. There are more than 170 transitions and 130 title effects for putting together a truly unique video. You can enhance its look by adding filters, changing color and light properties, or importing look-up tables to simulate camera or film looks. Audio isn’t neglected either, with more than 70 musical tracks and a robust equalizer. You can take advantage of keyframing as well once you’re more experienced.

Are There Drawbacks?

While the main interface isn’t cluttered, the same can’t be said for the effects library. Splitting them into categories helps, but finding a specific one can be a chore. Filmora9 lacks a storyboard mode. This isn’t a major drawback, but it does mean it will be harder to visualize your video’s layout.

Pros
Easy to use yet brimming with advanced features
Extensive effects library
Main editing interface is laid out clearly
Fast render times

Cons
Cluttered effects library can be hard to search
No storyboard mode

Pricing
$39.99 annually or a one-time payment of $69.99

5. Lightworks

Lightworks is a great choice for people looking to get into YouTube video editing on a minimal budget. Its free version is restrictive, but the tools at your disposal are good enough to create eye-catching videos. The interface can be customized or locked into place, there are tabs for each editing step, and render times are blazingly fast.

Overview of Features

One of Lightworks’ unique features is its dual UI. There’s Fixed mode, which separates the interface into four workspaces corresponding to media importing, editing, adding effects, and adjusting audio. Alternatively, you can enter Flexible mode and reposition or resize any window in the UI to create a workspace uniquely suited to your habits.

Lightworks has one of the most comprehensive media import systems on the market but isn’t overwhelming for beginners. The more footage you create, the more you’ll appreciate it as Lightworks lets you tag clips and organize them into bins. These contain all the project files you need for a specific video, or you can make separate bins and sort them by content type and subject matter.

Editing in Lightworks is done on a timeline that takes up the bottom half of the screen with two preview windows and a media library on top. Adding multiple clips from the library will give each a different color, so they’re easier to recognize. You can trim, adjust the speed, etc., either with industry-standard keyboard shortcuts or do everything with icons. Clicking on a tool you’ve never used before brings out a helpful mascot with tips on how to best use it.

The VFX tab is home to numerous transition, filter, and effect options. Lightworks has an excellent color correction tool and lets you make fine adjustments to brightness or contrast by using intuitive wheel s and sliders. LUTs are available, too, as are pre-made filters. Most editing software forces you to apply effects to clips individually. Lightworks is innovative in that it has a separate VFX track. You set up effects on it and can then determine their duration by dragging it to fit the desired number of clips on the timeline.

Lightworks supports a limited selection of the most popular video and audio formats for exporting. Luckily, it is optimized for YouTube, so uploading directly to your channel isn’t a hassle. Best of all, you don’t have to wait until the project is finished to render. Lightworks renders parts of the video you aren’t currently working on in the background, which means upload times are limited only by your internet connection.

What’s Bad About It?

You can use Lightworks for free but should consider paying for it because of the basic version’s shortcomings. Most notably for YouTubers, the maximum output resolution is 720p. There’s a chance that the audio on finished videos won’t be synced. You can’t check this before rendering is complete since the problem doesn’t show up in the editor.

Pros
Lets you choose between fixed and customizable workspaces
Excellent organization and import system
Color-coded clips and helpful tips
Uniquely handles effects application
Renders in the background for faster exporting

Cons
Video output in free version limited to 720p
Audio syncing issues

Pricing
Free
$19.99/month or $139.99/year for the Pro version

6. Camtasia

The editors we’ve talked about so far will create any video you can dream of, but none of them have special tools that make interacting with the audience more engaging. Enter Camtasia, a video editor and eLearning tool in one that’s perfect for YouTubers who specialize in tutorial creation. It has a versatile screen capturing tool, supports callouts, and doesn’t have a steep learning curve. Moreover, it’s a full-fledged editor you can use for other types of content.

Overview of Features

Camtasia’s interface may look complicated to new users. However, you aren’t given time to feel overwhelmed as a first-time startup also triggers an in-depth tutorial. It walks you through a sample project, introducing core editing functions and other features along the way. You’ll pick up everything there is to basic editing and are directed to TechSmith’s site for further learning.

The interface is a standard three-parter that looks similar to Filmora’s. You start by selecting pertinent media and add it to the timeline either directly or by dragging it onto the preview window. The same drag & drop approach is applied to transitions and effects. Managing transitions is intuitive since adding one creates an overlapping portion between two clips. You may then move it to determine the transition’s length.

Camtasia has excellent screen capturing tools. You can record either the entire screen or have it share space with a clip. It’s also easy to zoom into parts of the screen to highlight a detail without impacting the resolution. How-to videos will benefit from Camtasia’s extensive cursor and keyboard options. You can highlight the cursor or hide it depending on the situation. There’s also a tool for creating mouse click and keystroke captures, so your audience knows which actions and shortcuts you’re using at any time.

Camtasia’s audio options tie in with the work as you record mentality. You can use a track’s audio or separate and mute it. This lets you use voiceovers for narration as the video is playing once you have a structured script to read from. You may adjust various sound levels and get rid of noises for cleaner, more professional-sounding results.

Are There Drawbacks?

Camtasia isn’t cheap, and it’s hard to recommend it over free alternatives like iMovie if your content isn’t focused on tutorials. Buying the license doesn’t entitle you to updates either; for these, you have to pay a yearly fee. There aren’t many effects and filters to choose from, which is another downside considering the price.

Pros
Great tutorials for newcomers and advanced users alike
Excellent screen capture tools
Real-time voiceover
Efficient drag & drop workflow

Pricing
One-time payment of $249 plus optional annual fee of $49.75

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