Most YouTubers, especially at the beginning of their career, are faced with the question of which Video editing program is the best for your needs. The requirements often change over time. So it can happen after a few months or years that the chosen video editor is no longer sufficient and a change becomes necessary. High-quality editing programs, that cost a few hundred euros, however, are not always the best for the intended purpose. In addition, the experience, the technical skill and the available time also influence the choice. But what do you have to consider when editing videos, which editing programs do YouTubers use and how do you find the perfect editing program that suits your needs??
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What to consider when editing YouTube videos?
Cutting and editing videos is not as difficult as many people initially think. With a few tips and tricks, anyone can produce high-quality videos nowadays, even without expensive software. For videos in which the speaker(s) are in the foreground, it is important to find the right cut. Shots that are too close often look amateurish and shots that are too far away look distant. Concepts such as the Frog or bird’s eye view help to find the perfect angle. In addition, videos by established YouTubers can also provide a lot of inspiration and show new possibilities. Especially in the beginning it is recommended to rely on simple cuts with few transitions. The editing thus appears more timeless, which makes the videos still presentable after a few years. In addition, rigid videos can be loosened up by fade-ins or close-ups of a certain object. For this reason, it is advisable to make the basic cut of the video first, so that the video is in the right order. If enough material is available, monotonous parts can be easily replaced later on.
Which editing programs do YouTubers use?
The choice of editing programs on the market is now huge. The offer ranges from simple free editing programs and free software to professional software that can even be used to edit entire movies. Which Movie Maker is right for you depends not only on your personal preferences, but also on the operating system you use, your own experience, and your personal needs. We’ve taken a closer look at eight different tools and movie makers that are currently particularly popular with YouTubers, and we’ll give you a little insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the YouTube favorites below. The order of the tools is alphabetical and therefore does not correspond to a top 8 list, where the best program is at the beginning.
1. Adobe Premiere
Screenshot of the Adobe Premiere website
Adobe Premiere is probably one of the best-known editing programs currently available on the market. The powerful tool displaced the former top dog Final Cut Pro X from the top position in recent years. The high-quality software from Adobe can be installed on both PC and Mac and is particularly suitable for professional YouTubers. The program offers all the features and tools needed to edit videos at the highest level, and is now considered the industry standard. The software’s big drawback, however, is its price, though there are steep discounts for students and schoolchildren.
Price: from 23,79€ / month (incl. VAT.)
2. DaVinci Resolve
Screenshot of the DaVinci Resolve website
This smart editing program was originally used purely for photo editing. Nowadays, DaVinci Resolve can also be used to cut and edit videos, and the video editing program is free of charge. Especially the complex color corrections are considered a unique selling point of the software. In addition, the video editing program also supports 4k content. For smooth video editing, however, you need a good graphics card and at least 8 GB of RAM. The menu navigation can be challenging, so users will need a little time and patience at the beginning.
Price: Basic version free of charge
3. Final Cut Pro X
Screenshot of the Final Cut Pro X website
Final Cut Pro X is a proven classic that has been used for years on both Mac and PC, and is especially popular with experienced YouTubers. Movie Maker supports import from various devices and an export function for 4k content is also available. The paid program includes a comprehensible user interface and all the functions needed for professional editing, although it is designed for consumers. In contrast to Adobe Premiere, there are no monthly subscription fees. However, the purchase price of the software is several hundred euros.
4. iMovie
Screenshot of the iMovie website
iMovie is considered the classic among the free editing programs. The program is particularly characterized by its intuitive interface and its simple menu navigation. The software is perfect for all those who are new to the topic. It offers a number of video effects, style sheets and soundtracks that are free to use. In addition, the smart video editing program supports 4k content and can be used on a Mac, smartphone or tablet. Thus videos can be cut also on journeys without expensive hardware, whereby many features can be used via drag-and-drop. Professional features for advanced users are searched for in vain. It is rather a solid and reliable tool for the first appearance on YouTube.
Price: Free for Mac users
5. Lightworks
Screenshot of the Lightworks website
Lightworks is available in both a free and a paid version, with the biggest difference being the export function of special video formats. The editing program has a very wide range of functions in both versions. However, the menu navigation seems a bit complicated for beginners at first. The program, which has already been used to edit movies, is therefore perfect for advanced YouTubers who want to edit demanding videos.
6. Shotcut
Screenshot of the Shotcut website
Shotcut is a free program with an impressive range of functions. The sophisticated editing program is suitable for Mac, Windows and Linux and also supports complex color adjustments. Shotcut also includes a comprehensive library of codecs and allows editing of high-resolution 4k content.
7. Windows Movie Maker (WMM)
The WMM is one of the small editing programs, whereby the tool is especially characterized by its ease of use. The program includes numerous effects and transitions and is considered a solid all-rounder among the free editing programs. The tool has been on the market for many years and quite a few YouTuber have cut and edited their first videos with the WMM.
8. Wondershare
Screenshot of the Wondershare website
An extremely practical, but unfortunately also paid editing program is Wondershare. It offers classic editing functions as well as a wide range of filters, transitions and features that make professional video editing a breeze. For those who are undecided, the trial version is recommended, which allows users to put the software through its paces for 30 days free of charge.
Strengths and weaknesses of each video editing program
For beginners are suitable for both the Windows Movie Maker as well as iMovie. Both video editing programs offer novices a good entry point into the subject and whet their appetite for more. iMovie has the advantage that it is already pre-installed on Apple products and libraries can be quickly downloaded from the Apple download page. For advanced and professional YouTubers however, these two programs are kept too simple. For ambitious users it is therefore recommended Wondershare or Lightworks, both have a considerable range of functions, but do not overstretch the budget. All those who do not want to make any compromises in terms of quality and functionality should go for the Industry leaders Final Cut Pro X or Adobe Premiere are taking hold, whereby Final Cut Pro X has a simpler menu navigation, which noticeably shortens the familiarization period.
Conclusion
Video editing at a high level does not require a high investment nowadays. Many video editing programs are available free of charge and also on YouTube itself you can find many YouTubers who help beginners get started with tips and tricks.