Best Video Editing Software in Comparison

Video Editing Software Definition: What is Video Editing Software and why is it needed?

Making high-quality video recordings has never been easier than it is today. As soon as an interesting, impressive, or in any other way advantageous videography opportunity arises, we quickly reach for our smartphones and activate the camera with video function. Additionally, more specialized video recording devices are now affordable for a broader mass of people. Even conventional digital cameras can come with central features that enable professional capturing of moving images. However, the recordings usually do not achieve the desired effect without further processing. Therefore, a single raw video clip – particularly in a business context - is often insufficient. Only combined with additional film material, graphics, animations and/or other content as well as with perfect scene transitions, light adjustments, color corrections, sound optimizations etc., a maximally advantageous effect can be achieved.

A video editing program, also known as video processing program or video editing software, offers various tools depending on its equipment. These tools create a coherent, visually appealing, and ultimately convincing film product from one or more video files. Such video software is therefore often alternatively referred to as video editing software or video editing program, as a function for cutting and joining video clips is central to almost all solutions. Additional tools can also be provided, such as image correction aids, features for integrating ready-made sounds or even templates that just need to be filled with suitable video material and then produce a finished film.

It is now no longer unusual to carry out video editing immediately after a recording with the smartphone directly on the mobile device. There is a wide selection of video editing applications available in the app stores, some of which offer numerous functions. However, these apps are almost always intended for private use. On the other hand, some professional video editing software can be very useful on mobile devices as a Software-As-a-Service (SaaS) for experts. For example, it allows quick initial tests with finished recordings on-site.

Editing films yourself using software: How does video editing software fundamentally work?

The way a video editing program functions can certainly vary from solution to solution. For example, a simple film cutting program or a freeware video program can do significantly less than a comprehensive video editing software suite. However, the basic process is often quite similar. The video editing program lays the foundation for the following steps:

1. Determine video material: Initially, the needed individual videos are loaded directly into the tool's editing mask. Alternatively, they can be temporarily stored in a connected database and then selected for editing.

2. Edit video material: Once the individual clips are in the editing mask, they can be arranged in the desired order, cut or split and assembled accordingly. The latter usually happens finally with the saving.

3. Optimize video material: The goal now is to make a coherent, preferably harmonious whole out of the individual films. Special features can create fluid transitions between the sequences or adjust colors and light. Audio tracks can also be optimized and/or music or external content can be integrated (depending on the functional scope of the tool).

4. Render and save the finished video: Finally, the finished video is saved. Normally, there are various formats and resolution options for rendering to choose from. These can be chosen depending on the main use. For online videos, it is usually sensible to use a special compression so that they can be presented in good resolution even with lower internet bandwidths. Action recordings should not only have as many frames per second as possible but also a high bitrate. Some video software also supports its users with such central setting issues that often arise during storage.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of video editing programs?

In some contexts, it can make sense to give clips to a professional video editor who then assembles an appealing, effective end product. However, this is not necessarily necessary under the use of a modern, user-friendly video editing program. The do-it-yourself aspect and the associated cost savings are undoubtedly two of the major advantages of using today's video software. The individual benefits that can be derived are described below.

• Cost savings: Hiring a professional to edit a video can be quite costly. However, it is not necessarily necessary to use professional services to get a high-quality film. Some quite feature-rich video editor programs on the market are even available for free. Very good solutions offer not only special functional scope but also tutorials that help inexperienced users to get an advantageous video.

• Convenience and flexibility: Digital video editing software is not only cost-efficient but also allows users to edit their videos as they like - even after saving. Users can create and edit their videos comfortably from home or on the go. Special hardware is normally not needed for this - everything runs on a conventional PC. Video editing solutions can be cloud-based, which means that users can work with them anytime and anywhere. The clips stored online are always available when needed.

• Fast publication: Internal editing of videos gives companies more control. The team can directly decide what should be cut, edited or added and how many adjustment loops the video must go through. Users or those responsible therefore have more direct influence on how quickly the final video is completed and published. As a result, companies do not have to adjust to the timing requirements of an external company.

• Collaboration: Cloud-based video editing apps offer a high degree of collaboration in the editing process. With these products, users can quickly exchange files with all team members and optimize them together. This ensures that everyone who needs to see, evaluate or adjust the project can do so before the end product goes live.

• Organization: Video editing is sometimes complex and can be very confusing. The persons responsible or the performing forces usually work with a multitude of video clips. With a suitable video cut program, all the raw material can be organized directly on one platform.

Video editing software is indispensable for any company that wants to create videos independently. There is practically the right solution for all requirements. This and the many advantages listed above do not mean that video editing software is without problems. The most common challenges are the following:

• Time expenditure: Video editing is always time-consuming. If laypersons deal with it, they not only have to learn how to use the corresponding software, but also grasp and implement typical video editing strategies correctly. This can lead to self-directed video production taking disproportionately long. In the worst case, it consumes more resources than if given to a professional.

• Support: This point is closely related to the previous one. When users choose a video editing software, it is not always guaranteed that they will have access to some form of support. However, this is often not unimportant in order to master such software properly. Sure, many solutions offer forums where users can exchange tips and advice. But this is no comparison to direct support from the software manufacturer or even a professional video editor. Good paid solutions do offer a certain customer service, but then they can also quickly become quite expensive.

• Cost and benefit: This already deals with the cost and benefit of video editor software. Companies that do not regularly produce videos but still want very good results have to buy software with a certain range of functions and support. This can involve relatively high and recurring costs, which do not pay off in the case of rare or even one-time use.

Comparison of editing programs: How to choose a suitable program for video editing or what to pay particular attention to with video editing software?

The market offers many good editing programs, no question. Choosing a solution that generally performs well in a video editor test by chance can work, but is usually at least quite inefficient. You often pay for features you don't need or might not even get all the required features. If you want to choose from the best video editing programs for your own purposes, you should make a differentiated comparison of video editing programs. In doing so, especially since the program is usually not used by a professional, you should pay particular attention to a low learning curve or good end user friendliness.

Interested parties should first ask themselves what experience the users bring with them and to what extent they should be supported by the chosen program to cut videos. If there are marketing professionals or designers in the team, there is usually already some expertise. This means that the software has to compensate less here. Furthermore, it should be checked whether there might be special solutions for your own area of application. If only a program for compiling company-internal training videos or other films not intended for the public is needed, a simpler software can certainly be used than if it is a matter of video marketing matters.

This already brings the functional scope into play. The central question here is: Which tools and possibilities are needed at all? Simply choosing an application that "can do everything" is not only much too expensive in general, but even hinders the users in their work, as they are distracted by a lot of unnecessary things or even encounter barriers on the way to the video. The following described functions should always be considered in a comparison of video editing programs or are typical for such software.

• Arrange and cut video clips: This is an absolute basic tool. Video editing programs almost always enable their users to cut video material and arrange the clips (via drag and drop) as required. The users can not only cut and organize their clips, but also add transitions, so that the video seamlessly flows from one clip to the next. The software also allows copies of the clips to be created in order not to have to change the originals. All versions of the clips can often be saved directly on the platform.

• Audio editing tools: Numerous influences can play over or otherwise restrict the sound during video production. Video editors sometimes have audio editing tools that, among other things, raise and/or clarify the sound level, making it clearer for the audience to hear. These solutions should provide the option to edit video and audio files either together or as two separate tracks. A video editing software may also contain a library of sound effects that users can freely add to their videos.

• Video Templates: Templates or presets are often simply to be filled with video material via drag-and-drop and independently make the necessary adjustments for an advantageous result. These are practically example videos that serve as a framework. The creators can use them as a basis. The templates are normally customizable, allowing users to design them according to their requirements or ideas. They are excellent for users who are not professionals in video editing.

• Presets and automations: Presets are similar to templates. They also allow users to skip some of the typical manual steps in video editing. Presets present themselves as a series of predefined visual adjustments that users can apply to their videos with just a few clicks. For example, they sometimes include filters that give films a higher-quality finish.

• Color and light correction: The light and colors do not always cooperate in video productions. With video editors, users can relatively easily adjust the lighting and colors within a frame until they precisely meet the respective requirements. With these tools, it should be possible to maintain the color over a series of clips. With color grading features, users can also adjust elements like shading and highlights.

• Subtitles: Some solutions provide the option to add subtitles to the video. Users can then often edit the subtitles in a variety of formats and styles directly on the platform and save them as part of the video or an external file.

• Overlays: Many good video editing programs allow video or image overlays. This means that creators can overlay a video, an image, or text onto the main video and play them simultaneously. Overlays allow the creation of more complex videos with great show and added value.

What does video editing software cost or is there a free film cutting program?

For good video editing software, you should expect costs between 50 and 200 euros per month. Comprehensive suites can even cost up to 1,000 euros monthly. Subscription models, in which users or companies pay every four weeks or alternatively annually, are the rule today. However, some on-premise solution can also be purchased once. With numerous providers, prices are staggered. This means that different functions and features are offered at different costs.

The more granular or modular a system is structured, the better it can be purchased adapted to your own needs. Some products are indeed available for free or are offered in a free trial version. However, with such freeware video editing programs, there are almost always clear sacrifices in terms of functionality and quality. Videos created with free versions may, for example, be marked with a watermark from the software manufacturer and/or only implement relatively low resolutions.