December What Editing Software should I use?

https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/comments/1h4b9xj/december_what_editing_software_should_i_use/

created by AutoModerator on 01/12/2024 at 19:30 UTC

9 upvotes, 23 top-level comments (showing 23)

🎬 Looking for Video Editing Software? You've Hit the Jackpot! 🎬

This post solves **98%** of *"What software do I use"* questions. It's meant to be **self-serve* and answer the most common questions/needs.

• *See at the end of the post for what *you need to include* if you're going to ask for more details.**

• *TL;DR:** We recommend DaVinci Resolve[1] - full-featured, Capcut[2] - easiest but owned by china, Hitfilm Express[3] - sorta After Effects like - much behind paywall, Olive Editor[4] - open-source/Kdenlive[5] open source wider development, ClipChamp[6] - Microsoft - for all your video editing needs.

1: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

2: https://www.capcut.com/

3: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-express

4: https://www.olivevideoeditor.org/

5: https://kdenlive.org/en/

6: https://www.clipchamp.com/en/

Isn't there an AI that does this or that feature?

• *Nope, not really there yet**. REALLY. If there was, we'd mention it.

But stick around; you'll want to!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

📌 Need-to-Know: Before Asking Questions

Hold up! Before you ask, *"Which software should I use?"*, you've gotta know these:

1. **Footage Type**: Compression types like h264/5 could mess you up.

2. **Hardware Specs**: We need details. "Great for gaming" isn't enough.

🖥 How do I know my Footage & Hardware: The Dynamic Duo

Footage:

Different footage types will affect playback. E.g., Action cam, mobile, and screen recordings can slow down your system.

• Check your footage with MediaInfo[7].
• Want more info? See our wiki on Codecs/containers[8].

Common issues:

7: https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

8: https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/wiki/codecsandcontainers/

• Footage going out of sync? It's most likely a Variable Frame Rate[9] issue.
• Need better performance? It's usually your system, not the software. Consider using temporary *proxy* files. Read about Proxies here[10].

Hardware:

• Minimum Requirements: Recent i7 CPU, 16GB RAM, 4+ GB GPU RAM, SSD for cache.
• Check your system with Speccy[11].
• We ONLY need: CPU + Model, RAM, GPU + GPU RAM.

🛠 Actual Recommendations

^(That doesn't mean you should have skipped the above!)

9: https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/wiki/faq/vfr/

10: https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/wiki/faq/proxies/

11: https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

• *Want a Free Ride?**

• **DaVinci Resolve**[12] **-** All around 99% free tool - an excellent choice if your hardware can support it.
• **Hit Film**[13] **-** good tool - more *freemium* offerings - owned by Artlist.

• *Easy but Limited?**

12: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

13: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-express

• **CapCut**[14] **-** Flexible, easy tool, the companion to TikTok - but obviously owned by China.
• **ClipChamp**[15] **-** Microsoft free tool with minimal "extras" at a cost.

• *Professional Tools?**

14: https://www.capcut.net/

15: https://www.clipchamp.com/en/

• **Adobe Premiere Pro**[16] **-** right now the #1 professional tool
• **Avid Media Composer**[17] **-** the #1 tool used by Film & TV
• **DaVinci Resolve**[18] **-** The full Studio version ($299) has more features.
• **Apple Final Cut Pro**[19] - A subscription-less tool with *outstanding* performance on Mac Hardware. 90 trial (no watermark) from Apple's site[20].

• *Open Source.** Open source tools are free - but usually lack great UI.

16: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html

17: https://www.avid.com/media-composer

18: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

19: https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/

20: https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/trial/

• **Olive Editor**[21] - we like this interface the best.
• **OpenShot[22]
• **Kdenlive**[23]
• **ShotCut**[24]
• **Avidemux**[25] - hardest, but has widest plugins/adaptablity.

• *Special Effects:**

21: https://www.olivevideoeditor.org/

22: https://www.openshot.org

23: https://kdenlive.org/en/

24: https://www.shotcut.org/

25: https://avidemux.sourceforge.net/

• **Resolve**[26] **-** The Fusion Module.
• **Calvary**[27] **-** A very functional Apple Motion-like tool with fewer keyframes.
• **Hit Film**[28] **-** Sorta like Adobe After Effects.

• *Web Tools:**

26: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/

27: https://www.cavalry.scenegroup.co/

28: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-express

• VidMix[29] - **NEW** A free Web based editor. It *uses your local resources*. Nothing is uploaded/downloaded off your machine - but be warned, if you have a potato system, it'll still be…a potato system.
• PikaMov[30]. **NEW** A free WEB BASED Tool that does some keyframe-based animations. We're watching it. No masking (sadly) yet. It's a bit rudimentary, but can animate objects (like Adobe After Effects) and is processed on your local hardware - without you having to download anything.
• PhotoPea[31] Web based Photoshop Replacement
• **RunwayML**[32]j. Also, does background removal (green screen)/rotoscope? Not free, but loads of AI tools, including captions.

• *Compression Tools:**

29: https://vidmix.app/

30: https://pikimov.com/

31: https:www.photopea.com

32: https://runwayml.com/

• **Shutter Encoder**[33] **-** Swiss Army knife of compression. Can do anything from creating media in older/newer codecs (VP9, WMV, HEVC), handling HDR, AI upscaling, *downloading media*, and building DVDs/BluRay
• **Lossless Cut**[34] - Can cut H264/HEVC media at *I frames* and multiple clips from a large file.

• *Mobile Editors:**

33: http://www.shutterencoder.com/en/

34: https://mifi.github.io/lossless-cut/

• **iMovie**[35] - free
• **LumaFusion**[36] - best for IOS
• **Capcut**[37] - Free everywhere
• **Kinemaster**[38] - pay, but most track/features for android

• *Screen Recorders**

35: https://www.apple.com/imovie/

36: https://luma-touch.com/lumafusion-for-ios/

37: https://www.capcut.net/

38: https://www.kinemaster.com/

• OBS - Open Broadcaster Project[39] is *the most common free fully capable* recording tool. Tons of capabilities - but not "easy" - nor does it have a built-in editor. Secret tip: Record in an MKV, rewrap (in OBS!) to MP4 for edito.

Isn't there an AI that does this or that feature?

• *Nope, not really there yet**. REALLY. If there was, we'd mention it.

39: https://obsproject.com/

📅 Updates

• *Oct 2024**: Added VidMix and mentioned a little more details about other tools. Added OBS out of neglect (on our part).

New tools we're evaluating

• Smart Media Cutter[40] - does silence cutdowns for free - as long as it's not vertical video
• Free Upscaler[41] - Only advantage is that we think it's using cloud computing
• Whisper-GUI[42] - free subtitle tool for windows (using OpenAI's whisper)
• MacWhisper[43] a *mostly* free excellent Mac Subtitle tool (using OpenAI's whisper)
• Offdocs[44] - lets you have some free cloud storage (10gb) where you can remotely use Openshot. Neat if you're on a chromebook.

BEFORE YOU COMMENT

Begin your post with "I read the above" and then provide system & footage info. **Otherwise, answers will be slower.**

System & Footage type:

Check your system with Speccy[45] and your footage with MediaInfo[46].

40: https://smartmediacutter.com/

41: https://upscaler.video/

42: https://grisk.itch.io/whisper-gui

43: https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper

44: https://www.offidocs.com

45: https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

46: https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

• We ONLY need: CPU + Model, RAM, GPU + GPU RAM.
• We need to know your footage type (camera? Screen record), container (MOV/MKV/MP4), codec (H264, HEVC), and frame rate.

Comments

Comment by Tricky_Option614 at 01/12/2024 at 22:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Kden live 😁

Comment by unoriginal_symbol at 03/12/2024 at 00:12 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I read the above.

I'm running with Windows 11 (much to my dismay), and here's the copy/paste of my system info;

CPU

Intel Core i7 6700 @ 3.40GHz

Skylake 14nm Technology

RAM

16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR4 @ 1064MHz (15-15-15-36)

Motherboard

Dell Inc. 0HD5W2 (Socket 0)

Graphics

DELL E2417H (1920x1080@60Hz)

Intel HD Graphics 530 (Dell)

Storage

119GB SK hynix SC308 SATA 128GB (SATA (SSD))

119GB SAMSUNG SSD CM871a 2.5 7mm 128GB (SATA (SSD))

I'm a beginning Twitch streamer, and I'm looking to at least upload my first few VODs to Youtube, for future nostalgia. Unfortunately, I lost track of time and my first stream was 13 hours long, over Youtube's time limit. It is also 34 GB and I don't want to keep something *that* large on my drive.

I also have had issues with ping, so I don't want to leave ShotCut running to export while I stream. While I could probably do that overnight instead, I do want this beast of a file safely off of my drive ASAP.

Is there anything that can export ~6 hour MP4s in around or under an hour or am I wishing too close to the sun for a man with no spare money?

Misc Notes:

I have like 5 braincells at any given time, am stubborn to a fault, and rarely look at tutorials, especially when I think something *should* be simple. If it takes more than 10 seconds to cut a video track in half and delete one half, don't recommend it.

[Also: I have like. No clue what I'm talking about. Talk to me like I'm stupid but don't patronize me.]

Comment by Imboscata at 05/12/2024 at 22:30 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Hi, fellow video enthusiasts!

I record a lot of underwater footage with my GoPro at full resolution (8:7). This gives me the flexibility to reframe the videos into 16:9 or 9:16 formats, depending on the target platform.

So far, I’ve been using the GoPro Quik app for this. While it’s limited in many areas, it excels at reframing. Its simple interface lets me select the desired aspect ratio and drag the frame box to keep the subject in view—a feature I find super convenient (check the screenshot[1]).

1: https://i.ibb.co/T0ZNvPS/IMG-9606-1.png

I’ve tried other well-known tools like DaVinci Resolve, Kdenlive, and Shotcut, but none of them seem to offer such an intuitive reframing tool.

Do you know of any alternatives that provide a similar, user-friendly experience for reframing?

Screenshot of the Gopro app framing tool: https://i.ibb.co/T0ZNvPS/IMG-9606-1.png[2][3]

2: https://i.ibb.co/T0ZNvPS/IMG-9606-1.png

3: https://i.ibb.co/T0ZNvPS/IMG-9606-1.png

Comment by Kieotyee at 12/12/2024 at 14:45 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I'm just trying to make a simple video applying a tilt-shift effect. All I want is the center to be focused while everything around it is blurred. Since it's (what I thought would be) an easy task, and it's not something I plan on doing often really, I'm only in the market for free tools. I've been looking for a good while now and am just burnt out and at my wits end to be honest. Help is greatly appreciated.

Comment by jerbear06wastaken at 13/12/2024 at 07:54 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Hello! I’m trying to make a parody of the Delicious in Dungeon ED and wanted to replicate the scroll scene at 1:00, but instead of a static image I wanted to scroll a video. I’ve tried doing this on Clipchamp (there’s no scrolling feature that I know of), Capcut (same as Clipchamp), and DaVinci (the slide down feature has a fade that I can’t get rid of) and but I haven’t gotten it just right. Any advice on another free software to use, or how to do it with these ones?

Comment by SomethingOrSuch at 13/12/2024 at 21:38 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Best Video Editing Software Alternatives to Vegas Pro 22???

Hey all,

I’m looking for recommendations for an alternative to Vegas Pro 22. A big part of my work involves editing corporate-style videos for websites and sales clients, as well as content for social media platforms like Instagram.

After years of using Vegas Pro, I’ve found that it just doesn’t deliver what I need anymore. Playback in the preview screen is extremely choppy—even when using proxies. I shoot with a Sony A7 IV in XAVC S 4K 10-bit, and troubleshooting these issues often leads to advice like switching codecs, using HandBrake, etc., which feels unnecessarily complex for modern software.

I’m looking for something with a smooth workflow that’s similar to Vegas in terms of ease of use but actually works reliably. Here’s my setup:

• **Laptop**: Dell XPS 15 9520 * **CPU**: 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H @ 2.30 GHz * **RAM**: 32GB * **GPU**: RTX 3050 Ti
• I’ll also be adding an eGPU with an RTX 4070 Ti soon.

Key features I need:

• **Voice-to-Speech AI** for subtitling.
• Compatibility with Boris FX Sapphire pack.
• Subscription costs aren’t an issue.

If you’ve moved away from Vegas Pro and found a software you’re happy with, I’d love to hear about it. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Comment by -Houses-In-Motion- at 15/12/2024 at 19:06 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Hello, knowledgeable types!

I've recently decided to stop dreaming and finally start filmmaking. I've decided a good place to start would just be with some YouTube sketch comedy, nothing super fancy. Learning to edit, from what I hear, is also helpful for learning to direct (because knowing how to edit means having a better idea of what footage you'll need).

Anyway, I'm also running on not-very-high-end hardware. I'm a broke college student currently using a rented laptop from 2018. I am not going to be editing 4K or even HD footage (I'm planning on mostly shooting on MiniDV), so I think that decreases my system needs, though I could totally be wrong.

Essentially, what I'm asking is, does anyone have recommendations for an editor that's good for someone just looking to learn the basics and do some surface-level stuff, while preferably also being lightweight? Free is also nice, but I'm open to paid suggestions! Thanks in advance for your help!

Comment by punjabpolce at 16/12/2024 at 20:08 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Hello folks ive read the wiki and understood that resolve is recommended choice to go with, but i wanted to ask that i have a m1 air macbook and was looking to go with fcp as it is much faster with mac. I wanted to ask would i need to invest later as well in the plugins, logic pro x, motion etc if i want to just work as a moonlighting video editor for youtube?

Comment by AGslash at 17/12/2024 at 12:01 UTC*

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

• *What software and how does this person (stated below) make this type of high-quality videos?**

Hello! I'm a bit new but I want to make this certain genre of edits and go down the right path.

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6JJ9NSc

Help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Comment by motocarlos at 18/12/2024 at 19:22 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

hey there, anyone know a good free software for mac to put subtitles in a video?

Comment by AkaneTsuzura at 19/12/2024 at 22:34 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I read the above

I want to learn to video edit lets plays for youtube, like 20-30 minute videos rather than short form. I'm using free software at the moment and was keeping tabs on Humblebundle, because a friend had told me they run Vegas Pro bundles somewhat often, giving you a full license for very cheap. But after reading this, and giving Vegas a search through the subreddit, it seems like it's not looked upon favourably. Is it a total write off even for £20, or is it just an annoyance? Because I'm not gonna be able to afford things like premiere pro or davinci full any time soon.

Comment by [deleted] at 21/12/2024 at 19:20 UTC

1 upvotes, 1 direct replies

[deleted]

Comment by Ok_Ambassador_6721 at 31/12/2024 at 14:19 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I have 50+ videos I want to play simultaneously in a 5x5/10x10/etcXetc grid. I tried using Davinci Resolve, but you have to manually enter the numerical value for each individual clip's position, and I do not have the sanity for that.

Is there some software where I can setup the grid itself and then just manually add videos to each slot across time?

Comment by pikilipita at 09/01/2025 at 12:19 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I would like yo suggest a description update for one of the tools listed here, who to contact?

Comment by katsuki_the_purest at 12/01/2025 at 01:08 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I have a bunch of DAT files and the mp4 versions I converted using VLC. I‘d like to enhance their quality/resolution and possibly audio quality as well. My understanding is that I will probably have to spend money on softwares but before making the purchase I’d like to know which ones are the best.

The said videos are mostly MTVs so lots of singing and acting. Not sure if that‘s relevant.

Comment by realremedyy at 14/01/2025 at 03:05 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

do i need to buy the god damn download button for hitfilm?

Comment by Advance_Shot at 14/01/2025 at 11:08 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I'm looking for a video editing or video playback tool that lets me quickly save clips from a video using keyboard shortcuts. For example, I want to press something like **Alt+S** to mark the start of a clip and **Alt+F** to mark the end, and the tool would automatically save the portion of the video between those points without interrupting playback.

The key is to make it fast and efficient — no need to pause the video or go through multiple menus to trim clips manually. I want to be able to do this on the fly as I watch the video.

Does anyone know of a tool or software with this functionality? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Comment by kopus21 at 16/01/2025 at 00:51 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I want to edit videos like the one mentioned in the link from a Youtube channel called ''Modern Ideas'' that makes tought provocking videos.

I just feel like theres an easier way to edit this then I can think of, I would like some help, if you guys could spare a second I would appreciate it, thanks beforehand!

!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5C_pkWExJ%5C_bIU[1][2]

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5C_pkWExJ%5C_bIU

2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pkWExJ_bIU

Comment by 6KiyoraJin9 at 18/01/2025 at 11:30 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Does anyone have After effects latest version (25.1)? I want to learn that software...

Comment by SolidPound8326 at 19/01/2025 at 05:52 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

does anyone have any free editing softwares on ios after capcut takedown? I need something and i cant find anything good.

Comment by MangoTheKing at 19/01/2025 at 08:12 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Is the https://www.humblebundle.com/software/vegas-pro-2024-software[1][2] bundle worth it?

1: https://www.humblebundle.com/software/vegas-pro-2024-software

2: https://www.humblebundle.com/software/vegas-pro-2024-software

Comment by iamkav at 30/01/2025 at 04:17 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

AMD 7 3700x 8 CORE 300 MHZ + 32 GB RAM 3900 MHZ(i think) + EVGA RTX 2060 SUPER

Looking to really dive into some low budget documentary stuff and youtube. I have a few years experience on Premiere, but I want to know if I should be making the pivot to resolve before I get too deep into premiere. Thanks!

As a note, I do see insane lag working with MOGRTs and stuff like that..

Comment by RabbleMcDabble at 30/01/2025 at 07:03 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Can someone recommend either a free or considerably cheaper alternative Vegas? I tried using Davinci Resolve but I really don't like it's interface. I basically want something as close to Vegas.