Video editing as a skill set has been on the rise ever since YouTube first debuted back in 2005. Today, anyone can start editing videos from their phone for free. And there is seemingly no upper limit to how much you can learn to create better and better videos in the editing process. This video editing 101 guide will serve as a starting point for you to learn how to edit video at the most basic level. It will set a clear road map so you can continue to learn and grow as a video editor.
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Download editing software
Video editing software is available on a wide range of devices, at many different price points, with an even more comprehensive range of capabilities. Look through the list, and choose the best software for you based on ease of use and price. Also, make sure it has all of the capabilities you will need for the projects you want to take on. This is one of the more essential parts of video editing 101.
These are our favorite download editing software programs:
iMovie (Price: Free)
If you own a Mac, iMovie is a great place to start making simple videos for YouTube or your next family home movie. The interface is simple and easy to use; the built-in tutorial will get you started with everything you need to know. Even the export process is easy to understand without knowing all of the technical details that go into it.
DaVinci Resolve (Price: Free, or $295 for the full package)
DaVinci Resolve is the industry standard for color grading, and it includes a full suite of video editing tools that is free to use. Resolve is well optimized for performance on both Mac and Windows and is available on Linux for power users.
The whole “Studio” version includes a few more features, such as multi-user collaboration, stereoscopic 3D tools, ResolveFX and FairlightFX plugins, HDR grading, film grain, and more. If you’re just starting, you probably don’t need the Studio package, and later on, you’ll likely turn to a program like Adobe After Effects for those extra features.
Final Cut Pro (Price: $299)
Final Cut Pro is arguably the best video editing option for anyone who is working on a Mac. In fact, it’s incredibly stable and well optimized for the Mac. And unlike almost every other software on this list, it can actually edit 4K video on something as underpowered as a Macbook Air. This is easily one of the basics of video editing 101, as many film school students often start out learning how to edit on Final Cut Pro.
Plus, the interface is well designed and beautiful to use. The built-in color grading tools are unorthodox but intuitive and effective. If a more powerful computer for editing is out of your budget, yet you still want a pro-level tool to work with, Final Cut Pro might be for you.
Adobe Premiere Pro (Price: $20.99/month)
Adobe Premiere Pro is the industry leader for video editing software in various industries, including advertising, digital media, YouTube, etc. Premiere Pro is incredibly robust, expandable through plugins and presets, and works hand in hand with Adobe After Effects to layer on VFX and for motion graphics.
It is well optimized for Windows but less optimized for Mac. Adobe Premiere Pro is the top pick for many film editors, ad agencies, and freelance videographers since it has every feature you could want. In addition, you can keep everything simple or make it as complex as you need to by working with proxies, different video codecs, bitrate settings, and more.
