Want to edit video but don’t have the budget to shell out for video editing software?
This is the video for you.
In this video, I’ll be covering 5 free video editing programs that are worth looking into
to get cutting and editing.
Most of these will be multi-platform programs, but not all.
Before jumping into the list, I’d definitely recommend looking into the software that might
be freely available to you with your computer or specific device.
Some cameras, capture cards, and other video devices come with free video editing software
that might be a good choice for you.
While Windows Movie Maker is no longer officially available for download, apparently the Windows
10 Photos app can do some basic video editing - and Apple’s iMovie for Mac is definitely
serviceable for many users’ needs.
Let’s get into the list in no particular order.
#1 KdenLive KdenLive probably looks the most similar to
Vegas Pro or Premiere Pro for some of the more basic free video editors.
It’s a feature-packed NLE (or nonlinear video editor) with a lot of features built-in
- but not everything is modernized.
Some users have reported that transitions are mostly still only 4:3 aspect ratio, and
it doesn’t take full advantage of GPU acceleration.
It is, however, available on Windows and Linux - and if you want to compile the code yourself
it should run on Mac OS.
Kdenlive supports virtually any source format, multi-track editing, a customizable user interface,
keyframe effects, transitions, a 2D titler, audio and video scopes to help with color
and audio work, and even proxy-based editing!
#2 OpenShot Next up, we have OpenShot.
OpenShot is more of a user-friendly video editor, designed to work on more simple project
but not overwhelm you with too much UI.
I personally found it pretty limiting for my complex editing needs, but I know many
users swear by it for basic video edits.
OpenShot supports unlimited tracks and edits, a variety of different audio, video, and image
formats, a variety of effects, keyframe animation, 3D animated titles, transitions, and speed
changes.
OpenShot is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
#3 - Olive I’ve received numerous comments asking me
to check out Olive video editor.
Open Source and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, Olive is still in very early alpha
- but it’s aiming at the big bois in the video editing space, at least UI-wise, looking
quite similar to Premiere’s panel system, which isn’t a bad thing.
Olive supports multi-track editing, a growing list of effects, lots of exporting options,
and is constantly updating.
For my kind of work I can’t really use such an early-in-development project regularly,
but I’ll definitely keep an eye on it and recommend that those with less serious needs
give it a go!
They seem to be actively integrating feedback and requests via GitHub, so now’s the time
to really shape the program.
#4 Avid Media Composer | First Now we’re getting into the big leagues.
Avid Media Composer is kind of the king of standard Hollywood-level digital NLEs for
a very long time.
While Final Cut Pro X, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve are rising up for a few films and
TV work, Avid is something you want to know in the professional field.
Used to, it would cost tens of thousands of dollars to have Avid set up in a studio, but
now they’ve started branching into affordable individual licensing and even a free version
with Avid Media Composer First.
This comes with the full kit of professional tools for color grading, stabilizing footage,
adjust exposure, and so on.
It has multi-cam workflows, audio ducking tools, reframing capabilities, and a lot of
audio tools.
This software, however, only runs on newer Windows and Mac machines.
No Linux support, sadly.
#5 BlackMagic DaVinci Resolve BlackMagic Design decided to make the first
professional foray into Linux video editing, however, with their DaVinci Resolve editing
software.
Honestly, as with Avid, Resolve’s feature set is far too vast for me to list here.
It literally has EVERYTHING.
Professional color grading tools that many use even if they don’t actually edit in
resolve, built-in Fusion effects suite for motion graphics and visual effects, a multi-track
editor, transitions, speed effects, audio tools, multitrack timelines, insane CUDA acceleration
from graphics cards, Fairlight Audio suite, 2D and 3D title tools - there’s little this
editor can’t do.
In previous versions, in order to get audio playback on Linux, you needed a BlackMagic
hardware device in your system - but this seems to have been resolved (haha pun) in
version 15.
DaVinci Resolve is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and has both free and paid versions
- though most YouTubers, won’t really need any of the paid features.
That’s more geared towards big studios.
I’ve covered my progress learning Resolve as well as a couple tutorials on setting render
servers up for it in videos in the past, I’ll have them linked in the description.
Wham bam, video editing… slam?
While you still need a decent computer to have a fast experience editing high res video
- you can’t get around the physics of that - there are plenty of options out there for
good software that doesn’t cost a lot of money.
If you’re genuinely wanting to *learn video editing* for a potential professional path,
I’d definitely recommend starting with Avid Media Composer | First or BlackMagic DaVinci
Resolve - it will require a lot of tutorial watching to get going, but the end results
will definitely be worth it.
What’s your favorite video editing program?
What operating system do you use it on?
Let’s discuss in the comments below.
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I’m EposVox here to make tech easier and more fun and I’ll see you in the next video.
Peaceeeee