LandyVlad
Super Poster
Video Editing & Creative Software
‘Back in the day’ when people were looking for a professional, feature-rich video editing solution there was really only one answer on everyone’s lips “Adobe Premiere”
Fortunately since then things have changed for the better. There are a lot of players in the market offering high quality software at reasonable prices or in some cases for free. And Free doesn’t even needs to mean worse or with fewer features, as we’ll see
Don’t get me wrong. Adobe still has some excellent offerings, undoubtedly, but their move to a subscription-only model (where previously they offered one-time purchase options) left a lot of us out in the cold. Particularly people like myself who only edit occasionally, and don’t earn money from it. The Adobe model is just way too expensive for me to justify.
I’ve produced a list of many of the Video editing software options – showing the Adobe product and then various alternatives). I’ve also included other relevant creative software from Adobe and some replacements –audio editing, vector graphics and so on.
VIDEO EDITING
Adobe Premiere Pro
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
DaVinci Resolve 16
Site: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewforum.php?f=21
Filmora
Site: https://filmora.wondershare.net/
Price: Subscription plans available (from USD$10/month) OR lifetime plan for $70
Platforms: Windows, Mac
They have some youtube resource here https://www.filmora.io/
Pinnacle Studio 23
Site: https://www.pinnaclesys.com/en/
Price: 3 feature tiers. From AUD$56, One-time purchase
Platform: Windows only
Forum: http://forums.pinnaclesys.com/forums/default.aspx
Vegas Pro 17
Site: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-pro/
Price: $299 current price (RRP $599) (subscription offer also available) Free trial available
Platform: (Windows only)
Forum: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/vegas-pro-forum/
PowerDirector
Site: https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-video-editing-software
Price: Various feature tiers. Lifetime licence from AUD$130, subscription offers from AUD$90.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/forums/list/ENU.page
Hitfilm Express
Site: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-express
Price: Free. (A pro version is available for $349+)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Forum: https://fxhome.com/forum/
OpenShot Video Editor
Site: https://www.openshot.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
VSDC
VSDC offers a basic video and audio editor.
Site: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
Price: Free, (though there is a pro version available for about $50 with more features)
Ashampoo® Movie Studio Pro 2
Site: https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pin/0482/multimedia-software/movie-studio-pro-2
Price: USD$31
Platform: Windows only
Video Pro X
Site: https://www.magix.com/us/video-editor/video-pro-x
Price: USD$399
Platform: Windows only
Forum: https://www.magix.info/us/
Video Studio Pro 2020
Site: https://www.magix.info/us/
Price: AUD$99 (with 20% off RRP $125)
Platform: Windows only.
PHOTO EDITING
Adobe Photoshop
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $10/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
Affinity Photo
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/
Price: Windows and Mac versions AU$80, IPAD version AUD $31
Platforms: Windows, Mac and iPad
SCREEN CAPTURE
OBS Studio
Site: https://obsproject.com/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://obsproject.com/forum/
AUDIO EDITING
Adobe Audition
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Audacity
Site: https://www.audacityteam.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.audacityteam.org/
VECTOR GRAPHICS
Adobe Illustrator
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Affinity Designer
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/designer/
Price: Windows and Mac versions AU$80, IPAD version AUD $31
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iPad
Inkscape
Site: https://inkscape.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://inkscape.org/forums/
MOTION GRAPHICS and Cinematic effects
Adobe After Effects
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
Fusion 16
Site: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion/
Price: USD$299
Platforms: Windows, Mac, possibly Linux?
Hitfilm Pro 14
Site: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-pro
Price: USD$349 (various bundles are available)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Filmora Pro
Site: https://filmora.wondershare.com/shop/buy/buy-filmorapro-video-editor.html
Price: USD$150 (one time fee). Free trial available (watermarked)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Forum: https://www.filmora.io/forum/
Blender
(3D modelling, animation, compositing, motion tracking etc)
Site: https://www.blender.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://blenderartists.org/
And not directly related to video, but still in the creative space -
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Adobe InDesign
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Affinity Publisher
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/publisher/
Price: AUD $80
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Scribus
Site: https://www.scribus.net/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Choosing your software.
Firstly, that’s by no means an exhaustive list but I think I’ve covered most of the big players – please let me know if I’ve missed any.
Undoubtedly there are plenty of Linux options I haven’t mentioned, but most Linux users will already be across them.
So how do you choose one? Everyone’s use case is different. Well you need to figure out what features you want now, and what you might want in the medium term. Then look at the programs to see if they match your needs.
I suggest that if you are new to all this you start with one of the free options of some sort, and build from there.
And remember – you’re not locked in to one program for life. You can always change, so don’t over-stress it. Just grab one and try it!
The best place to learn? Find some good tutorials on YouTube. There are plenty J
My Recommendations ?
I generally avoid making specific recommendations but I’ll do so when it comes to FREE ones.
For video-editing: DaVinci Resolve 16, Why? It’s available across all platforms, it’s very feature rich (easily as goods as Premiere Pro) and it is astoundingly Free. “So that’s all well and good,” you say, “but are there any downsides?” Well yeah it is quite demanding as far as your computer graphics is concerned, and it doesn’t play nicely with all hardware. And some other programs may be easier to use and more intuitive. Otherwise give Hitfilm Express a go.
For Audio editing: A no brainer this one. Grab Audacity. Free, feature rich, widely used., and highly regarded. Job done.
For Screen capture: OBS Studio - for much the same reasons as Audacity.
Well that's my $0.02 Hope it helps.
‘Back in the day’ when people were looking for a professional, feature-rich video editing solution there was really only one answer on everyone’s lips “Adobe Premiere”
Fortunately since then things have changed for the better. There are a lot of players in the market offering high quality software at reasonable prices or in some cases for free. And Free doesn’t even needs to mean worse or with fewer features, as we’ll see
Don’t get me wrong. Adobe still has some excellent offerings, undoubtedly, but their move to a subscription-only model (where previously they offered one-time purchase options) left a lot of us out in the cold. Particularly people like myself who only edit occasionally, and don’t earn money from it. The Adobe model is just way too expensive for me to justify.
I’ve produced a list of many of the Video editing software options – showing the Adobe product and then various alternatives). I’ve also included other relevant creative software from Adobe and some replacements –audio editing, vector graphics and so on.
VIDEO EDITING
Adobe Premiere Pro
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
DaVinci Resolve 16
Site: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewforum.php?f=21
Filmora
Site: https://filmora.wondershare.net/
Price: Subscription plans available (from USD$10/month) OR lifetime plan for $70
Platforms: Windows, Mac
They have some youtube resource here https://www.filmora.io/
Pinnacle Studio 23
Site: https://www.pinnaclesys.com/en/
Price: 3 feature tiers. From AUD$56, One-time purchase
Platform: Windows only
Forum: http://forums.pinnaclesys.com/forums/default.aspx
Vegas Pro 17
Site: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/vegas-pro/
Price: $299 current price (RRP $599) (subscription offer also available) Free trial available
Platform: (Windows only)
Forum: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/vegas-pro-forum/
PowerDirector
Site: https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-video-editing-software
Price: Various feature tiers. Lifetime licence from AUD$130, subscription offers from AUD$90.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/forums/list/ENU.page
Hitfilm Express
Site: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-express
Price: Free. (A pro version is available for $349+)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Forum: https://fxhome.com/forum/
OpenShot Video Editor
Site: https://www.openshot.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
VSDC
VSDC offers a basic video and audio editor.
Site: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
Price: Free, (though there is a pro version available for about $50 with more features)
Ashampoo® Movie Studio Pro 2
Site: https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/pin/0482/multimedia-software/movie-studio-pro-2
Price: USD$31
Platform: Windows only
Video Pro X
Site: https://www.magix.com/us/video-editor/video-pro-x
Price: USD$399
Platform: Windows only
Forum: https://www.magix.info/us/
Video Studio Pro 2020
Site: https://www.magix.info/us/
Price: AUD$99 (with 20% off RRP $125)
Platform: Windows only.
PHOTO EDITING
Adobe Photoshop
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $10/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
Affinity Photo
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/photo/
Price: Windows and Mac versions AU$80, IPAD version AUD $31
Platforms: Windows, Mac and iPad
SCREEN CAPTURE
OBS Studio
Site: https://obsproject.com/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://obsproject.com/forum/
AUDIO EDITING
Adobe Audition
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Audacity
Site: https://www.audacityteam.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://forum.audacityteam.org/
VECTOR GRAPHICS
Adobe Illustrator
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Affinity Designer
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/designer/
Price: Windows and Mac versions AU$80, IPAD version AUD $31
Platforms: Windows, Mac, iPad
Inkscape
Site: https://inkscape.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://inkscape.org/forums/
MOTION GRAPHICS and Cinematic effects
Adobe After Effects
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platform: Windows, Mac
Fusion 16
Site: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion/
Price: USD$299
Platforms: Windows, Mac, possibly Linux?
Hitfilm Pro 14
Site: https://fxhome.com/hitfilm-pro
Price: USD$349 (various bundles are available)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Filmora Pro
Site: https://filmora.wondershare.com/shop/buy/buy-filmorapro-video-editor.html
Price: USD$150 (one time fee). Free trial available (watermarked)
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Forum: https://www.filmora.io/forum/
Blender
(3D modelling, animation, compositing, motion tracking etc)
Site: https://www.blender.org/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Forum: https://blenderartists.org/
And not directly related to video, but still in the creative space -
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Adobe InDesign
Site: https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html
Price: Part of creative cloud, subscription model, price varies. From USD $21/month
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Affinity Publisher
Site: https://affinity.serif.com/en-gb/publisher/
Price: AUD $80
Platforms: Windows, Mac
Scribus
Site: https://www.scribus.net/
Price: Free
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Choosing your software.
Firstly, that’s by no means an exhaustive list but I think I’ve covered most of the big players – please let me know if I’ve missed any.
Undoubtedly there are plenty of Linux options I haven’t mentioned, but most Linux users will already be across them.
So how do you choose one? Everyone’s use case is different. Well you need to figure out what features you want now, and what you might want in the medium term. Then look at the programs to see if they match your needs.
I suggest that if you are new to all this you start with one of the free options of some sort, and build from there.
And remember – you’re not locked in to one program for life. You can always change, so don’t over-stress it. Just grab one and try it!
The best place to learn? Find some good tutorials on YouTube. There are plenty J
My Recommendations ?
I generally avoid making specific recommendations but I’ll do so when it comes to FREE ones.
For video-editing: DaVinci Resolve 16, Why? It’s available across all platforms, it’s very feature rich (easily as goods as Premiere Pro) and it is astoundingly Free. “So that’s all well and good,” you say, “but are there any downsides?” Well yeah it is quite demanding as far as your computer graphics is concerned, and it doesn’t play nicely with all hardware. And some other programs may be easier to use and more intuitive. Otherwise give Hitfilm Express a go.
For Audio editing: A no brainer this one. Grab Audacity. Free, feature rich, widely used., and highly regarded. Job done.
For Screen capture: OBS Studio - for much the same reasons as Audacity.
Well that's my $0.02 Hope it helps.
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