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natively, while sticking to its roots as
a video editing and compositing tool.
For a taste of Media Composer, check
out Media Composer First, Avid’s free
starter version. The full application is
$19.99 per month with a 12-month
commitment, or $24.99 if you go
month-to-month.Final Cut Pro X
If you work on a Mac, Final Cut Pro
X is a great option. For many years,
Final Cut Pro was considered the
industry gold standard of editing
software, but in recent years, other
software suites have become more
popular. However, Final Cut is still a
powerful and versatile software for
Mac users. It has regained its footing
with pros since X’s initial launch by
keeping up with the functionality pro
editors expect, while refi ning the in-
terface and timeline. With integrated
support for 2D and 3D animated titles
and graphics, a robust audio editing
toolset and the ability to apply color
corrections and grading in-program,
Final Cut Pro X is an all-around great
piece of software for Mac users and
is still the standard in many studios.
Final Cut Pro X is priced at $300.Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Premiere Pro is a complete video edit-
ing platform with extensive format
support and built-in tools for audio
editing, titles, graphics, color correc-
tion and compositing. This industry-Built directly into DaVinci Resolve,
Fusion is a 3D workspace with tools
for keying, compositing, stabilization,
tracking, vector paint, rotoscoping,
text animation and even particles. Fu-
sion is compatible with Apple Metal,
OpenCL and CUDA for accelerated
graphics processing.
Though not new to Resolve 15,
Fairlight audio has been dramatically
updated in this latest version. It has
new ADR tools, audio normalization,
3D panners, audio and video scrollers
and a searchable sound library da-
tabase. There are also new plug-in
effects like reverb, hum removal, vocal
channel and de-esser. The ADR work-
fl ow now has far more depth, allowing
you to import a cue list or make one
in-program.
Davinci Resolve comes in two
fl avors: the free version and the Studio
version available for $300. This is
great for both beginners and experts
because it allows you to use and work
with the software before committing
to a purchase. And unlike most free
versions, DaVinci Resolve 15 only
lacks a few of the features found in
DaVinci Resolve 15 Studio.
It’s also worth noting that hardware
interfaces for color and editing are
available directly from Blackmagic.
These are great tools to help elevate
your editing experience and your
craft. Overall, Resolve is a robust free
option, but will come with a learning
curve in order to get the most out of it.The Big Three
A guide to video editing software would
be incomplete without a nod to these
three professional editing applications.
While we wholeheartedly support
DaVinci Resolve 15 as our pick for best
professional editing software based on
value and functionality, we also can’t
ignore the enduring ubiquity of the
editing platforms from Avid, Apple and
Adobe. To be considered a professional
editor, it’s all but mandatory that you
know your way around at least one of
the following programs.
If you’re already editing on one of
the following three applications, stick
with it; we do not recommend switch-
ing. Additionally, if any of the three
below appeal to you over our offi cial
recommendation of DaVinci Resolve
15, you should go for it. They are all
very capable applications that will
take you far.Avid Media Composer
Avid Media Composer was the original
nonlinear editing suite and is still a
powerful and widely-used editor for
many professional editors in Holly-
wood and small production houses
alike. It’s a robust all-around tool, and
though it has a history of being less
fl exible than other editors, keyboard-
based editing and other pro features
make this a strong choice for those
who need fast and consistent turn-
arounds. It has adapted over the years
to support 4K and many other formatsThe Best Video Editing Software
Best Beginner Editing Software
Apple iMovieBest Enthusiast Editing Software
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ners will start with a drag and drop style
editor — some version of which comes
standard on many computers. These
free options are fi ne for simple cuts,
but beware of downloading free editing
software from disreputable sources. This
can come with drawbacks like malware,
viruses and other problems. These
programs are also often limited when it
comes to input and output formats, and
the interface can be pretty clunky. It is
advised that you seek out and learn to
use more professional software if you
are serious about editing video.Making the Investment
Years ago, your status as a beginner edi-
tor or a pro made a huge difference in
your purchasing decisions for software.
Today most pro software comes with
enough resources for the beginner
or professional to get started without
much trouble. If you’re serious about
editing, there’s no reason not to start
with pro software like Adobe Premiere
Pro or Apple Final Cut Pro X. These and
similar options are much more capable
than most consumer editing software,
plus they offer a plethora of resources
if you need help getting started. While
these upper-level programs often
require larger investments of both time
and money, with a pro editing suite,
you can experiment while learning the
skills you’ll need to edit in a profes-
sional capacity.
While price is one important area
to consider, functionality is another
important area to think about. If you
plan on working with 4K, multicam,
360 video or other complex forms ofleading software is a favorite among
enthusiasts and professionals alike.
In addition to providing a deep video
editing toolset, Premiere Pro also
uses automated functions powered by
Adobe Sensei, Adobe’s AI technology,
to cut down on repetitive tasks and
speed up your workfl ow.
Compatible with both Windows
or MacOS, Premiere Pro CC benefi ts
from close integration with the rest of
Adobe’s Creative Cloud applications.
You can subscribe to Premiere Pro CC
a la carte, but when you combine the
power of Premiere with other Creative
Cloud apps like Audition and After
Effects, you end up with an incredibly
powerful storytelling toolkit with sup-
port for everything from color grading
to media encoding and delivery, along
with photo editing and graphic design
tools. You can subscribe to Premiere
Pro CC for $20.99 per month, or get
full access to the complete Adobe Cre-
ative Cloud for $52.99 per month.Know What You Need
First and foremost, when choosing
an editing program, think of purchas-
ing software as buying into a suite
that will help you tell stories through
editing. You will likely be using the
same software for years to come, so
it is important to choose a system
that best fi ts your needs. Each system
has its own workfl ow and its own nu-
ances. What you prefer will depend
on how you work.
With the relatively recent rise of
360 video and 4K content, editors and
editing systems need to stay up to date
with the changing landscape of video
and content creation. While these
new forms of production help fi lm-
makers and videographers tell stories
from new angles, editors now need
to take an entirely new look at edit-
ing and how these technologies will
also shape their work. Some software
comes with native support for these
emerging technologies, while others
require the user to install a plug-in.
Keep this in mind as you shop.
Also consider your own skill level and
how you plan to grow your video edit-
ing skill-set in the future. Most begin-video, you’ll need to fi nd software that
can support that workfl ow. Profes-
sional video editing software will all
support 360, 4K and multicam editing
— check the features list for all other
software you are considering.
In terms of computing power, you’ll
need to make sure your system will be
able to handle not only the software,
but the video you are working with. Al-
ways check the minimum system spec-
ifi cations before making any software
purchase. You’ll also want to make sure
the software you buy is compatible
with any plug-ins you might want to
use now or in the future.The Choice is Yours
Video editing is an essential step in
the production process. It is the place
where the story is truly told. While the
camera helps a director paint a picture
of a scene or shot, editing reveals the
entire story. Editing is how we set the
tone, pace, and feeling for a piece of
content. While there are many differ-
ent programs available, it is important
to consider your needs as an editor and
purchase the software and system that
best fi ts your production workfl ow.
For help choosing a computer for
video editing, head over to our article
on the best desktop computers for
video editing on page 20.Contributors to this article include Chris Settin-
eri and the Videomaker Editorial Staff.You can comment on this article by going online:
http://www.videomaker.com/?p=Best Professional Editing Software
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