🎬 5 BEST FREE Video Editing Software

Kevin Stratvert
19 May 202116:37

TLDRIn this video, Kevin showcases the top 5 free video editing software options available for users. He highlights the capabilities and limitations of each, including the built-in Windows 10 video editor, OpenShot, Shotcut, kdenlive, and Davinci Resolve 17. Despite some drawbacks, such as limited transitions and track layers, these editors offer powerful tools for creating professional-grade videos without the need for expensive paid software.

Takeaways

  • 🎥 The top five free video editing software options are discussed, all without watermarks or time limitations.
  • 💻 Windows 10 includes a built-in video editor that is easy to use but lacks advanced features like transitions and track layers.
  • 🌐 OpenShot is a versatile, open-source editor available across platforms with a range of editing tools, but requires Blender for animated titles.
  • 🖥️ Shotcut offers a user-friendly interface with extensive transition and filter options, and has multiple views for different editing tasks.
  • 🎨 Kdenlive provides a multi-track timeline with various editing tools and views tailored for specific editing tasks, but has a steeper learning curve.
  • 🚀 Davinci Resolve 17 is a powerful freemium editor used by professionals, offering advanced features and integration with other applications.
  • 📈 The video also mentions other freemium video editors like VSDC and Hitfilm Express, and Videopad which is free for home use with some limitations.
  • 🎞️ Free video editors can be just as good as, if not better than, paid software for many users, depending on their needs and skill level.
  • 🔗 Links to in-depth overviews of each video editor are provided in the description for those interested in learning more.
  • 📌 The choice of video editor depends on the user's requirements, ranging from simple projects to advanced editing needs.
  • 💡 The video encourages viewers to explore these options and choose the editor that best fits their video editing goals.

Q & A

  • What are the key features of the Windows 10 built-in video editor?

    -The Windows 10 built-in video editor is extremely easy to use and comes with your PC, so no additional downloads are required. It allows for drag and drop of video files, a storyboard for video assembly, trimming, splitting, adding text, and background music insertion. However, it lacks transitions between clips, track-based editing, and the ability to export videos in quality higher than 1080P.

  • What is the main drawback of the Windows 10 video editor in terms of background music?

    -While the Windows 10 video editor provides a catalog of background music, using these tracks on YouTube means you won't be able to monetize your videos due to copyright restrictions.

  • How does OpenShot video editor differ from the Windows 10 built-in editor?

    -OpenShot video editor offers more advanced features than the Windows 10 built-in editor, including multiple tracks for layering items, a variety of transitions and effects, and advanced capabilities like keyframing. However, it requires an additional application called Blender for animated titles.

  • What platforms is Shotcut video editor compatible with?

    -Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor that works on all major platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

  • What are some of the advanced features available in Shotcut?

    -Shotcut offers advanced features like multiple tracks for video and audio layering, a wide range of transitions and filters, and different views optimized for various editing tasks such as editing, FX, color grading, audio, and player views.

  • How does kdenlive support different editing tasks?

    -kdenlive provides different views catered to specific editing tasks, including an editing view, audio view, effects view, and color grading view. It also offers multiple tools for video editing, such as normal and overwrite modes, and a variety of transitions and effects.

  • What makes Davinci Resolve 17 stand out among the other free video editors discussed?

    -Davinci Resolve 17 is a freemium product with most of its core capabilities available for free. It is used by many TV and film studios and offers advanced features like a dedicated cutting view, Fusion page for VFX, industry-leading color grading, and Fairlight Audio for powerful audio adjustments. It integrates multiple applications into one interface, allowing for seamless transitions between editing tasks.

  • What are some other free video editors mentioned in the script?

    -Other free video editors mentioned include VSDC Video Editor, Hitfilm Express, and VideoPad by NCH Hardware. These also follow a freemium model, offering most functionality for free with some advanced features behind a paywall.

  • What is the main downside of using Davinci Resolve 17 for video editing?

    -The main downside of using Davinci Resolve 17 is its steep learning curve. It is a very powerful tool with a vast array of features, which means users may need to invest significant time in learning how to utilize the software to its full potential.

  • How does the video editor situation compare between free and paid software?

    -The script suggests that in many cases, the free video editing software can be just as good, if not better, than their paid counterparts. Some free editors like Davinci Resolve even offer advanced features comparable to industry standards like Adobe Premiere.

  • What advice does Kevin give on choosing a video editor?

    -Kevin advises users to consider their specific needs and the level of video editing they plan to do. If they aim to create advanced videos, they might consider more powerful but complex editors like Shotcut or Davinci Resolve. For simpler projects, they might prefer easier editors like the Windows 10 built-in video editor or OpenShot.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to Top 5 Free Video Editing Software

The speaker, Kevin, introduces the topic by expressing his intent to showcase his top five favorite free video editing software. He emphasizes that these programs are genuinely free, with no watermarks or time limitations. He mentions that these free tools can sometimes outperform paid alternatives and shares that he uses one of them for his YouTube channel. He provides links in the video description for viewers to learn more about the editors. The first editor discussed is the built-in Windows 10 video editor, which is easy to use and comes preloaded on PCs running Windows 10. Despite its simplicity and useful features, it has limitations such as the inability to add transitions between clips and a maximum export quality of 1080p.

05:04

🎞️ OpenShot Video Editor: A Robust Free Option

The second editor introduced is OpenShot, a free, open-source software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. OpenShot is praised for its simplicity and power, offering features like multiple tracks for layering, a variety of transitions and effects, and the ability to insert custom titles. However, one notable drawback is the requirement to install an additional application, Blender, for creating animated titles, which adds a layer of complexity for users seeking this functionality.

10:04

🎬 Shotcut: A Feature-Rich Video Editor for All Platforms

Shotcut is the third editor presented, another free, open-source software compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It offers a user-friendly interface with advanced capabilities, such as an extensive range of transitions and filters, and multiple track options. Shotcut also provides different views tailored to specific editing tasks, enhancing the workflow. The downside is a steeper learning curve compared to simpler editors, making it better suited for those committed to more advanced video editing.

15:08

📽️ kdenlive: Cross-Platform Video Editing with Extensive Tools

kdenlive is the fourth editor discussed, a cross-platform, open-source video editor that offers a familiar interface with advanced editing tools. It provides multiple viewing options for clips and projects, a range of editing modes, and a variety of transitions and effects. kdenlive also includes specialized views for tasks like audio editing and color grading. While it offers powerful features, the abundance of options and controls may be overwhelming for beginners, though online resources are available to assist with learning.

🎠 Davinci Resolve 17: A Professional-Level Freemium Editor

The final editor featured is Davinci Resolve 17, a freemium product used by the speaker for all his YouTube videos. It is a professional-grade application used by TV and film studios, offering foundational capabilities for free with additional features available for a fee. Davinci Resolve 17 includes a comprehensive set of tools for editing, color grading, VFX, and audio adjustment. It integrates multiple applications into one interface, allowing for efficient project management. Despite its advanced features, it has a steep learning curve, but the potential for growth and the possibilities it offers make it an exciting choice for video editing enthusiasts.

🎥 Other Noteworthy Free Video Editors

In addition to the top five editors, the speaker mentions other free or freemium video editors worth considering. These include VSDC, which offers most features for free with some behind a paywall, Hitfilm Express, similar to Davinci Resolve in functionality, and Videopad by NCH Hardware, which is free for home use but comes with occasional notifications and some limitations. The speaker invites viewers to share their choices in the comments and encourages subscriptions for more content like this.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Video Editing Software

Video editing software refers to computer programs designed for editing video footage into final presentations. In the context of the video, it is the primary focus, with the host discussing various free options available for users to create and edit videos without any financial constraints.

💡Freemium

Freemium is a business model where basic services or features of a product are provided for free, while premium features or services require payment. In the video, Davinci Resolve 17 is described as a freemium product, offering a full suite of editing tools for free and additional advanced features for a price.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to software where the source code is released under a license where the copyright holder grants users the rights to study, change, and distribute the software to anyone and for any purpose. In the video, OpenShot and Shotcut are mentioned as open-source video editors, meaning they are free to use and modify.

💡Transitions

In video editing, transitions are the techniques used to go from one scene or shot to another. They can enhance the storytelling by creating smooth and creative movement between different parts of the video. The video discusses the ability of various editors to add transitions between video clips, which is an important feature for creating polished videos.

💡Timeline

A timeline in video editing is a visual representation of the sequence in which video clips, images, and sound recordings will be played during the final video. It is a crucial tool that helps editors organize and arrange media in a logical and coherent order. The video emphasizes the use of timelines in different editing software as a key aspect of the editing process.

💡Effects

Effects in video editing refer to any modifications made to the visual or audio elements of a video to enhance or alter their appearance and quality. Effects can range from simple color adjustments to complex visual animations. The video highlights the various effects that can be applied in different editing software to improve the final product.

💡Resolution

Resolution in video refers to the number of pixels that make up the width and height of the video image. Higher resolution means more pixels and generally better image quality. The video discusses the limitation of the Windows 10 video editor, which only allows exporting at a maximum resolution of 1080p, not utilizing the full potential of high-resolution footage like 4K.

💡Storyboard

A storyboard is a sequence of illustrations or images displayed in a line, showing the scenes in a planned film, animation, or video production. In video editing, it helps to visualize and organize the narrative flow before the actual editing process begins. The video describes the Windows 10 video editor as having a storyboard feature that allows users to arrange their clips and build their video.

💡Keyframes

Keyframes are points in an animation or video sequence that specify changes in a certain property or attribute of an object. They are used to define the start and end points of animations or effects, with the software calculating the frames in between to create smooth transitions. In the video, OpenShot's advanced capabilities include the use of keyframes to adjust properties of media files.

💡Color Grading

Color grading is the process of adjusting and altering the color of a motion picture, video image, or still image. It is used to enhance the visual storytelling, create mood, and correct any color imbalances. The video highlights that some editors, like Davinci Resolve, offer a dedicated color view for advanced color grading.

💡Audio Adjustments

Audio adjustments refer to the process of editing and fine-tuning the audio tracks in a video to improve sound quality, add effects, or synchronize it with the visuals. The video discusses the audio adjustment capabilities of various editors, emphasizing the importance of good audio quality in video production.

Highlights

Top 5 free video editing software are discussed, all without watermarks or time limitations.

The Windows 10 built-in video editor is highlighted as an easily accessible and user-friendly option.

Despite its simplicity, the Windows 10 video editor lacks transitions and track-based editing features.

OpenShot is introduced as the best free video editor, available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

OpenShot offers advanced capabilities like keyframing and the need to install Blender for animated titles.

Shotcut is praised for its multi-platform support and extensive transition options.

Shotcut provides different optimized views for various editing tasks, catering to both beginners and advanced users.

kdenlive is described as a cross-platform, open-source video editor with a variety of editing tools.

kdenlive offers specialized views for audio, effects, and color grading, enhancing the editing experience.

DaVinci Resolve 17 is recommended as a powerful freemium product used by professionals in the industry.

DaVinci Resolve 17 combines multiple applications into one interface, offering advanced editing features.

The video editor selection also includes noteworthy options like VSDC, Hitfilm Express, and Videopad.

VSDC and Hitfilm Express follow a freemium model, providing most functionalities for free with room for upgrades.

Videopad is free for home use with some limitations and frequent reminders of the free version.

The speaker uses DaVinci Resolve as their primary editor due to its advanced features and capabilities.

A steep learning curve is noted for advanced editors like Shotcut, kdenlive, and DaVinci Resolve.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their preferred video editor in the comments.