For basic cutting and audio work, you can get by with a decently fast computer with integrated graphics. All the products on this list can use your PC's GPU to speed things up. Short of gaming or 3D content creation, nothing taxes your computer, tablet or smartphone more than video editing. Luckily, all the video-editing apps on this list can handle those chores, and many can do more-granular stuff like noise reduction. For instance, you probably need to adjust levels, do cross-fades and possibly equalize sound on just about every edit. Video editors often hate doing audio, but most projects need at least some tweaking.
And DaVinci's free Resolve 15 might be the most advanced of them all, as its standalone Fusion app - one of the most advanced professional FX apps out there - is built right in.Īudio. Again, Adobe and Apple have their own apps for that ( After Effects CC and Motion 5, respectively) but also let you do a lot within the editing app. Visual effects (FX) can be as simple as speeding up or "time-warping" footage or adding filters, or they can be as complicated as creating complex composites that use multiple clips and elements.
Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve 15 has a full version of its advanced, professional-grade color-correction app built in.Įffects.
Adobe has a standalone color-correction app, SpeedGrade CC, but Final Cut Pro X's and Premiere's built-in color tools are also deep.
Once you've edited your clips, you'll want to color correct them to fix any problems or create a special look. Not now Turn on Turned on Turn onĬolor correction. You can disable notifications at any time in your settings menu. The speed and maximum resolution also depend a lot on your computer or mobile hardware. They also let you load and mix video at multiple 1080p, 4K and even 8K, all on the same timeline. Because this process can be time consuming, the best apps let you do that quickly using keyboard shortcuts. Nowadays, all these apps allow you to do what's called nonlinear editing, where you can load material from bins, play through and select the parts you want in the viewer, place them anywhere in the timeline, and play the edit back instantly. Let's look at those tools separately.Ĭutting. How advanced they are depends a lot (but not completely) on the price of the software. Video-editing basicsĮditing apps can be simple or complex, but all usually have four elements: cutting, color correction, effects and audio tools.
To wit, this guide can help you find the best app for your needs. Choosing the right one, however, is a crucial decision, not least because modern editing apps can take time to master. On top of incredible free products like Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve, pros can get more power than ever with Adobe Premiere Pro CC or Final Cut Pro X. Whether you're a YouTuber, filmmaker or hobbyist, there's an embarrassment of video apps available nowadays.