Whether you’re expanding your podcast or thinking of starting a YouTube channel, you need the right video editor for you.
It’s 2021 and you need a video editor. There’s no argument: The trend is moving towards video. Even podcasters find that their numbers surge when they just post up a video on YouTube to go along with their podcast. It doesn’t have to be your primary medium, but it does need to be one. The more options you make your content available on, the more you can expand your audience. You can perhaps even lure them into your primary medium.
I won’t lie. Video editing is not simple. But it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a number of high quality editors that come at a very low price. And some others that are expensive. I’ll list below my top five choices for 2021 to help you find which is right for you.
What to look for in a video editor
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a video editor.
- Does it have codecs to use the latest formats? At minimum it should be able to encode HD and 4K, even better if it can handle HEVC, HDR, and VR.
- Does it have multitrack and multicamera editing? For beginners this isn’t a kill all, and it may be better to not worry about these things starting out. But if you’re view is to expand your camera use, then an editor with multicamera functionality can be a huge timesaver in the editing process.
- Does it have motion tracking? Motion tracking can allow you to implement all sorts of special effects very easily, with the editor automatically following the subject.
- How does it handle color grading and LUTS? Creating your own brand and a cohesive set of videos has a lot to do with how you grade your colors. Think how each show you watch on TV seems to have a different color scheme in the lighting.
- How easy are the editing features and do they have them? Some features that are commonly found: slo-mo, freeze frame, reverse, image stabilization.
- Does it include titling? Titling is another thing that really defines your brand, and making both a cool title and/or logo and effect to go with it is imperative.
- How does your computer handle it? Does the app eat up the processing power or is it lighter on the resources?
- Can it do masking and keystrokes? Both features allow a much greater flexibility in how you create effects, and allows you a level of independence in creating your effects.
Top 5 video editors in 2021
Corel VideoStudio
For content creators, Corel is a solid entry into the world of video editing. It’s a well-balanced editor, it’s powerful enough to handle most content creation needs and it’s simple enough that you don’t need to spend eons learning it. Corel was the first editor to implement video tracking, and still leads the game in that department.
Corel offers two levels: Pro and Ultimate.
Both versions come with a long list of drag-and-drop transitions and easy to use effects. For content creators who like the goofy side of things, they include a suite of AR stickers to lighten the mood.
Ultimate sets itself apart by including image stabilization and premium level effects add-ons made by NewBlue and Mercalli. It also adds in 3D titling, advanced color grading, and masking.
Ultimate
Pros: Easy-to-use, top-tier video tracking, image stabilization, AR stickers
Cons: The stress is on ease of use, which takes away from deeper features
Price for Ultimate: $79.99
https://www.videostudiopro.com/
Pinnacle Studio
Pinnacle is also made by Corel and is the sister product to VideoStudio. It’s marketed as being the slightly better of the two products with more customization choices offered. Whereas VideoStudio is aimed more for the quick-and-easy content creators, Pinnacle is looking to capture the medium-skill-level users who want to start digging into the customization options.
Pinnacle offers three levels: Studio, Plus, and Ultimate.
All of the versions include keyframes, with some color grading that increases with each level. Whereas Plus offers motion tracking, only the Ultimate version includes masking and all of their more powerful transition options.
Pros: Multicam recording and editing, titling, masking in Ultimate, fast rendering
Cons: Users still report stability issues
Price for Ultimate: $129.95
Wondershare Filmora
Filmora was my own entry into the video editing club. It’s a super easy interface that’s geared towards fast content creation without putting any second thoughts into what you’re doing. Since I used it, they’ve come out with a Pro version, and they’re slowly implementing the pro features into the lower version, so that now both include keyframing and motion tracking.
It comes at two levels, Filmora and Filmora Pro.
The Pro level adds masking, titling, and warping, along with a few other fun editing features. Interestingly, while the lower version also offers tons of fun premade template packs perfect for content creators with a subscription, the Pro version doesn’t really implement those.
Pros: Easy-to-use, low on resources, lots of templates, great titling tool, cheap
Cons: Lacks a lot of advanced functionality, few templates in pro
https://filmora.wondershare.net/
Adobe
Now we’re entering the true pro territory. But with pro comes huge learning curves. Adobe has been known for it’s clunky, unfriendly user interface – and even Adobe has acknowledged this, recently releasing a much easier to use beta to their Premiere Pro.
Many Hollywood productions are made using Premiere Pro, and if you learn to master it, you can’t go wrong. But you should also keep in mind that the functionality of Adobe video making isn’t just in Premiere Pro. There’s also After Effects, Animate, Character Animator, and more which can really suck you into the world of video editing. Again, it’s not for people who only have a passing interest – there’s a hefty subscription fee that doesn’t allow you to just get one app. But for those who are really looking to build their video editing skills, it’s a must.
There is a cheaper, scaled down version available called Premiere Elements, which is perfect for those content creators looking to start out. It comes with a lifetime license at $99.00 and comes with a robust feature set of easy-to-apply edits and transitions.
Pros: Vast integrated functionality with various apps, lots of third party templates available
Cons: Expensive, steep learning curve
Price for only Premiere Pro per month: $20.99
Price for the suite per month: $52.99
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud.html
Black Magic Davinci
People like to say that you can’t have the best of both worlds. But the folks at Black Magic somehow have figured it out. Davinci is really known for their color coding and LUTS and excels even Adobe at that. Their Fusion tool is equivalent to Adobe’s After Effects and allows all sorts of creative editing tools within the workflow of the same editor.
Davinci also comes with great audio functionality, allowing VST apps to work within the video editor. This allows you to use you to use your own third party plugins, like a compressor or noise gate (though Davinci also comes loaded with its own).
They’ve captured the powerful functionality of the Adobe suite, and squeezed it all into one FREE product. Of course, they do have a professional version that comes with increased functionality that includes many more 3D tools, a Neural Engine, and many more FX and audio filters.
Pros: Powerful, advanced editing tools
Cons: Treacherously steep learning curve
Price: FREE
Price for pro version: $295.00
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
Don’t stop with a video editor, add some music!
Now that you’ve got the right video editor, you also need to think about getting the right music. Smartsound has thousands of customizable tracks, ready to be added to your projects! Just choose the right track, set it to the right time, and hear out it automatically adjusts to your needs. Try it here today!
