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New In 2024, Unleash Your Creativity Easy GoPro Video Editing for Beginners
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Unleash Your Creativity: Easy GoPro Video Editing for Beginners
The Free and Easy Way to Edit GoPro HD Videos
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
One of the best benefits of GoPro HD videos is that they are encoded in an MPEG4 formats. There are a lot of different options for editing these files but they cost money. Depending on your situation though, you may be able to edit your files with a program that is free and easy to use.
- Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
- Choosing the Right Software Package for Your Go Pro project
Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
If you are thinking about using one of the free GoPro HD video editors, you should take the following points into consideration.
1. All videos shot with GoPro HD will be in an MP4 format
This means you will need to find software that is will be able to import these kinds of files. Make sure you look up the specifications for all of the programs you consider to make sure the one you pick can handle the GoPro format.
2. Consider what kind of editing you are going to do with the file
Most free programs make it really easy to do basic editing, but you are going to need to pay for a program if you want to do any heavy duty editing. Make sure you carefully read the features before you download it to make sure you have what you are need to complete your editing. Also, some programs are only free for personal use, so if you need a program for business purposes you are probably going to have to pay a fee.
3. Consider the output formats
You will need to check out the different output formats that are available with the free software. If you plan to share the video over social media, make sure that the editing software includes that as an option. If you would like to burn the video to a DVD, make sure that the program is capable of writing to a disc.
Choosing the Right Software Package for Your GoPro Project
Once you are through considering these different points, you can start looking at the different free and easy editing software available. Here are a few suggestions based on how much editing you want to do.
1 Just the Basics
There are more options available if you only need to do basic editing, like cutting the length of the video, joining different parts together, or adding music. The following are three of the best programs to handle basic video editing of MP4 files.
- Windows Movie Maker is a basic Windows program that makes it really easy to manage basic editing, like adding music to one of your favorite videos.
- VLC Media Player is a neat little open-source program that works across different platforms for very basic use.
- Animoto is great for joining together several different videos, although only the Lite account is free and has a number of restrictions.
2 A Robust Program
If you want something robust and effective, the best option is Wondershare Filmora. It lets you do more than just basic editing, allowing you to work with a number of different video formats. Once you download it, you will find that it is very user-friendly from the onset. Best of all, you can share videos from the program, something that the basic editors won’t let you do without paying for that ability.
Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 Plus excels in areas of advanced features, formats supported and attractive interface. However, it loses points for slow rendering performance and some complexity in the interface. The low price makes the exchange worth it for many users.
Conclusion
GoPro HD videos are an incredibly popular format, but it is a bit more of a challenge to find a free editing program that will work with these files. Many free or lite versions of packages let you do very basic editing, but they come with a lot of restrictions and want you to spend money to upgrade it. If you want something that’s easy to use and performs well, Wondershare Filmora is an ideal choice.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
One of the best benefits of GoPro HD videos is that they are encoded in an MPEG4 formats. There are a lot of different options for editing these files but they cost money. Depending on your situation though, you may be able to edit your files with a program that is free and easy to use.
- Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
- Choosing the Right Software Package for Your Go Pro project
Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
If you are thinking about using one of the free GoPro HD video editors, you should take the following points into consideration.
1. All videos shot with GoPro HD will be in an MP4 format
This means you will need to find software that is will be able to import these kinds of files. Make sure you look up the specifications for all of the programs you consider to make sure the one you pick can handle the GoPro format.
2. Consider what kind of editing you are going to do with the file
Most free programs make it really easy to do basic editing, but you are going to need to pay for a program if you want to do any heavy duty editing. Make sure you carefully read the features before you download it to make sure you have what you are need to complete your editing. Also, some programs are only free for personal use, so if you need a program for business purposes you are probably going to have to pay a fee.
3. Consider the output formats
You will need to check out the different output formats that are available with the free software. If you plan to share the video over social media, make sure that the editing software includes that as an option. If you would like to burn the video to a DVD, make sure that the program is capable of writing to a disc.
Choosing the Right Software Package for Your GoPro Project
Once you are through considering these different points, you can start looking at the different free and easy editing software available. Here are a few suggestions based on how much editing you want to do.
1 Just the Basics
There are more options available if you only need to do basic editing, like cutting the length of the video, joining different parts together, or adding music. The following are three of the best programs to handle basic video editing of MP4 files.
- Windows Movie Maker is a basic Windows program that makes it really easy to manage basic editing, like adding music to one of your favorite videos.
- VLC Media Player is a neat little open-source program that works across different platforms for very basic use.
- Animoto is great for joining together several different videos, although only the Lite account is free and has a number of restrictions.
2 A Robust Program
If you want something robust and effective, the best option is Wondershare Filmora. It lets you do more than just basic editing, allowing you to work with a number of different video formats. Once you download it, you will find that it is very user-friendly from the onset. Best of all, you can share videos from the program, something that the basic editors won’t let you do without paying for that ability.
Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 Plus excels in areas of advanced features, formats supported and attractive interface. However, it loses points for slow rendering performance and some complexity in the interface. The low price makes the exchange worth it for many users.
Conclusion
GoPro HD videos are an incredibly popular format, but it is a bit more of a challenge to find a free editing program that will work with these files. Many free or lite versions of packages let you do very basic editing, but they come with a lot of restrictions and want you to spend money to upgrade it. If you want something that’s easy to use and performs well, Wondershare Filmora is an ideal choice.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
One of the best benefits of GoPro HD videos is that they are encoded in an MPEG4 formats. There are a lot of different options for editing these files but they cost money. Depending on your situation though, you may be able to edit your files with a program that is free and easy to use.
- Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
- Choosing the Right Software Package for Your Go Pro project
Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
If you are thinking about using one of the free GoPro HD video editors, you should take the following points into consideration.
1. All videos shot with GoPro HD will be in an MP4 format
This means you will need to find software that is will be able to import these kinds of files. Make sure you look up the specifications for all of the programs you consider to make sure the one you pick can handle the GoPro format.
2. Consider what kind of editing you are going to do with the file
Most free programs make it really easy to do basic editing, but you are going to need to pay for a program if you want to do any heavy duty editing. Make sure you carefully read the features before you download it to make sure you have what you are need to complete your editing. Also, some programs are only free for personal use, so if you need a program for business purposes you are probably going to have to pay a fee.
3. Consider the output formats
You will need to check out the different output formats that are available with the free software. If you plan to share the video over social media, make sure that the editing software includes that as an option. If you would like to burn the video to a DVD, make sure that the program is capable of writing to a disc.
Choosing the Right Software Package for Your GoPro Project
Once you are through considering these different points, you can start looking at the different free and easy editing software available. Here are a few suggestions based on how much editing you want to do.
1 Just the Basics
There are more options available if you only need to do basic editing, like cutting the length of the video, joining different parts together, or adding music. The following are three of the best programs to handle basic video editing of MP4 files.
- Windows Movie Maker is a basic Windows program that makes it really easy to manage basic editing, like adding music to one of your favorite videos.
- VLC Media Player is a neat little open-source program that works across different platforms for very basic use.
- Animoto is great for joining together several different videos, although only the Lite account is free and has a number of restrictions.
2 A Robust Program
If you want something robust and effective, the best option is Wondershare Filmora. It lets you do more than just basic editing, allowing you to work with a number of different video formats. Once you download it, you will find that it is very user-friendly from the onset. Best of all, you can share videos from the program, something that the basic editors won’t let you do without paying for that ability.
Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 Plus excels in areas of advanced features, formats supported and attractive interface. However, it loses points for slow rendering performance and some complexity in the interface. The low price makes the exchange worth it for many users.
Conclusion
GoPro HD videos are an incredibly popular format, but it is a bit more of a challenge to find a free editing program that will work with these files. Many free or lite versions of packages let you do very basic editing, but they come with a lot of restrictions and want you to spend money to upgrade it. If you want something that’s easy to use and performs well, Wondershare Filmora is an ideal choice.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
One of the best benefits of GoPro HD videos is that they are encoded in an MPEG4 formats. There are a lot of different options for editing these files but they cost money. Depending on your situation though, you may be able to edit your files with a program that is free and easy to use.
- Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
- Choosing the Right Software Package for Your Go Pro project
Things to Consider When Editing Your GoPro HD Videos
If you are thinking about using one of the free GoPro HD video editors, you should take the following points into consideration.
1. All videos shot with GoPro HD will be in an MP4 format
This means you will need to find software that is will be able to import these kinds of files. Make sure you look up the specifications for all of the programs you consider to make sure the one you pick can handle the GoPro format.
2. Consider what kind of editing you are going to do with the file
Most free programs make it really easy to do basic editing, but you are going to need to pay for a program if you want to do any heavy duty editing. Make sure you carefully read the features before you download it to make sure you have what you are need to complete your editing. Also, some programs are only free for personal use, so if you need a program for business purposes you are probably going to have to pay a fee.
3. Consider the output formats
You will need to check out the different output formats that are available with the free software. If you plan to share the video over social media, make sure that the editing software includes that as an option. If you would like to burn the video to a DVD, make sure that the program is capable of writing to a disc.
Choosing the Right Software Package for Your GoPro Project
Once you are through considering these different points, you can start looking at the different free and easy editing software available. Here are a few suggestions based on how much editing you want to do.
1 Just the Basics
There are more options available if you only need to do basic editing, like cutting the length of the video, joining different parts together, or adding music. The following are three of the best programs to handle basic video editing of MP4 files.
- Windows Movie Maker is a basic Windows program that makes it really easy to manage basic editing, like adding music to one of your favorite videos.
- VLC Media Player is a neat little open-source program that works across different platforms for very basic use.
- Animoto is great for joining together several different videos, although only the Lite account is free and has a number of restrictions.
2 A Robust Program
If you want something robust and effective, the best option is Wondershare Filmora. It lets you do more than just basic editing, allowing you to work with a number of different video formats. Once you download it, you will find that it is very user-friendly from the onset. Best of all, you can share videos from the program, something that the basic editors won’t let you do without paying for that ability.
Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 Plus excels in areas of advanced features, formats supported and attractive interface. However, it loses points for slow rendering performance and some complexity in the interface. The low price makes the exchange worth it for many users.
Conclusion
GoPro HD videos are an incredibly popular format, but it is a bit more of a challenge to find a free editing program that will work with these files. Many free or lite versions of packages let you do very basic editing, but they come with a lot of restrictions and want you to spend money to upgrade it. If you want something that’s easy to use and performs well, Wondershare Filmora is an ideal choice.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Premiere or After Effects: Choosing the Right Tool for Your Video Project
After Effects VS Adobe Premiere, 9 Differences Tell You Which One is Better?
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This is perhaps the most asked question regarding video processing on the internet. And looking at the product descriptions on the Adobe site gives us a clue why. There seems to be a large overlap between the two programs, and technically there is, although as we shall see capability doesn’t always mean suitability, so the similarities are not quite as pronounced as they would appear.
With that in mind, it is worth looking at the key differences between After Effects and Premiere to get a clearer understanding of what is best for which situation and why you would pick one program over the other. So below are the 9 points that I will make a comparison.
Comparison Table
After Effects | Adobe Premiere | |
---|---|---|
Price | $31.49/month | $31.49/month |
Offcial Features | Create motion graphics and visual effects | Professional video and film editing |
Includes 100GB of cloud storage | Includes 100GB of cloud storage | |
Support | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training |
Users | Advanced/Average | Advanced/Average/Naive |
Device | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone |
This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
After Effects VS Adobe Premiere
1Timeline
There are numerous editing differences between the two programs, but we will start with the timeline as it perhaps best illustrates the different focus of each package. Premiere has a very detailed timeline panel with a huge amount of functionality built in to move through and manipulate the contents of a project. After Effects, on the other hand, has less options for dealing with multiple clips and is designed to deal with the composite components in a more user friendly way.
The upshot of this would be the basic premise of the differences, for editing clips into a movie, whilst both can perform the task to an extent, Premiere’s timeline interface makes it a much easier process with many more options to make technical editing easier for the user.
2Editing
In addition to the timeline, Premiere has an interface and toolset built for precise editing and clip manipulation, both audio and video. This is not surprising of course, Premiere is after all first and foremost an editing package. By contrast, whilst there is editing functionality within After Effects, it is neither as user friendly, nor remotely as comprehensive a tool set, and as such would not be a suitable environment for extensive editing workflow.
This is perhaps the crux of the differences between the two packages, for editing work Premiere offers a complete toolset far beyond the requirements for many projects, but as comprehensive as one wishes, whilst After Effects is focus more on composites and motion video work and has an editing tool set that is not conducive to efficiency and ease of use.
3Audio Mixer
In today’s market the audio component on a video product can be as important as the visual aspects, the audio clip mixer within Premiere is a professional grade tool designed to offer precise control over a projects audio output and includes the ability to use VST3 industry standard plugins. Because After Effects is primarily a composite application it lacks the finesse of Premiere where audio is concerned. Again this shouldn’t be read as being an inferior program, it simply has a different focus.
4Mercury Playback Engine
In terms of perceived functionality probably not the top of the list, but Premiere uses this to employ either software (useful) or hardware (brilliant), assuming you have a compatible graphics card, accelerated real time renderless viewing of clips and sequences. This creates a much faster workflow for editing than is possible with After Effects beyond the previously mentioned tools and interface restrictions.
5 Multicam
In terms of editing this is where After Effects just isn’t comparable at all, the multi camera interface within Premiere is exceptionally featured and allows on the fly angle changes and edits and the ability to sync a single shot through numerous camera simultaneously. As said, the editing functionality on offer here is what Premiere exists for, and whilst both Premiere and After Effects are video manipulation packages, editing and composting are very different focuses, and the products reflect those differences.
6Media Management
Often overlooked but very important for project fidelity, the media management facilities within Premiere are designed around the needs of editing production and enable a much easier organizational approach for large projects than that of After Effects.
7Masking
This is where After Effects comes to the fore. The ability to create masks that track through scenes is a fundamental component of After Effects workflow and why it is so good for effects creation and compositing. None of these effects are readily achievable within Premiere as it ships, and even add ons will never achieve the fluidity and ease of use the purpose designed interface provides.
8 Camera Tracker
The 3D camera tracker within After Effects is an incredibly useful tool designed to replicate the camera movements within a given scene to allow new layers to be added that precisely match the original scene, essential for composite work and simply not possible within Premiere.
9 Effects
The collection of specific tools within After Effects for applying motion control effects, for color control, blurring shadows transitions and titles is vast, and whilst Premiere includes some of its own, it is clear that here After Effects has the edge and it once again highlights the different approach taken by each program. Premiere is primarily an editing application, it is designed to enable the fastest, most efficient and highest quality non-linear editing of a project possible. Within that framework it includes the ability, both natively and with plugins, to incorporate a limited range transitions and effects to aid the editing process.
After Effects, however, is an application built around effects, it is designed to allow an almost unlimited variety of effects, transitions and animations to be incorporated into a project via compositing and as such has a wealth of tools to enable the efficient workflow of those tasks, including some editing tools that would likely be needed for that job.
Conclusion
I’ve seen it explained before in terms of Word and Excel. You can compose a letter in Excel and create a spreadsheet in Word with the tables functionality, but the end result will take much longer and never be quite as good doing it that way. This perhaps is the best way to explain the relationship between Premiere and After Effects.
Yes, a spec sheet makes the two programs seem somewhat comparable, but it is the focus of each application that shows why they differ so much. Ultimately, the best use of these programs is together, they complement each other perfectly.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This is perhaps the most asked question regarding video processing on the internet. And looking at the product descriptions on the Adobe site gives us a clue why. There seems to be a large overlap between the two programs, and technically there is, although as we shall see capability doesn’t always mean suitability, so the similarities are not quite as pronounced as they would appear.
With that in mind, it is worth looking at the key differences between After Effects and Premiere to get a clearer understanding of what is best for which situation and why you would pick one program over the other. So below are the 9 points that I will make a comparison.
Comparison Table
After Effects | Adobe Premiere | |
---|---|---|
Price | $31.49/month | $31.49/month |
Offcial Features | Create motion graphics and visual effects | Professional video and film editing |
Includes 100GB of cloud storage | Includes 100GB of cloud storage | |
Support | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training |
Users | Advanced/Average | Advanced/Average/Naive |
Device | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone |
This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
After Effects VS Adobe Premiere
1Timeline
There are numerous editing differences between the two programs, but we will start with the timeline as it perhaps best illustrates the different focus of each package. Premiere has a very detailed timeline panel with a huge amount of functionality built in to move through and manipulate the contents of a project. After Effects, on the other hand, has less options for dealing with multiple clips and is designed to deal with the composite components in a more user friendly way.
The upshot of this would be the basic premise of the differences, for editing clips into a movie, whilst both can perform the task to an extent, Premiere’s timeline interface makes it a much easier process with many more options to make technical editing easier for the user.
2Editing
In addition to the timeline, Premiere has an interface and toolset built for precise editing and clip manipulation, both audio and video. This is not surprising of course, Premiere is after all first and foremost an editing package. By contrast, whilst there is editing functionality within After Effects, it is neither as user friendly, nor remotely as comprehensive a tool set, and as such would not be a suitable environment for extensive editing workflow.
This is perhaps the crux of the differences between the two packages, for editing work Premiere offers a complete toolset far beyond the requirements for many projects, but as comprehensive as one wishes, whilst After Effects is focus more on composites and motion video work and has an editing tool set that is not conducive to efficiency and ease of use.
3Audio Mixer
In today’s market the audio component on a video product can be as important as the visual aspects, the audio clip mixer within Premiere is a professional grade tool designed to offer precise control over a projects audio output and includes the ability to use VST3 industry standard plugins. Because After Effects is primarily a composite application it lacks the finesse of Premiere where audio is concerned. Again this shouldn’t be read as being an inferior program, it simply has a different focus.
4Mercury Playback Engine
In terms of perceived functionality probably not the top of the list, but Premiere uses this to employ either software (useful) or hardware (brilliant), assuming you have a compatible graphics card, accelerated real time renderless viewing of clips and sequences. This creates a much faster workflow for editing than is possible with After Effects beyond the previously mentioned tools and interface restrictions.
5 Multicam
In terms of editing this is where After Effects just isn’t comparable at all, the multi camera interface within Premiere is exceptionally featured and allows on the fly angle changes and edits and the ability to sync a single shot through numerous camera simultaneously. As said, the editing functionality on offer here is what Premiere exists for, and whilst both Premiere and After Effects are video manipulation packages, editing and composting are very different focuses, and the products reflect those differences.
6Media Management
Often overlooked but very important for project fidelity, the media management facilities within Premiere are designed around the needs of editing production and enable a much easier organizational approach for large projects than that of After Effects.
7Masking
This is where After Effects comes to the fore. The ability to create masks that track through scenes is a fundamental component of After Effects workflow and why it is so good for effects creation and compositing. None of these effects are readily achievable within Premiere as it ships, and even add ons will never achieve the fluidity and ease of use the purpose designed interface provides.
8 Camera Tracker
The 3D camera tracker within After Effects is an incredibly useful tool designed to replicate the camera movements within a given scene to allow new layers to be added that precisely match the original scene, essential for composite work and simply not possible within Premiere.
9 Effects
The collection of specific tools within After Effects for applying motion control effects, for color control, blurring shadows transitions and titles is vast, and whilst Premiere includes some of its own, it is clear that here After Effects has the edge and it once again highlights the different approach taken by each program. Premiere is primarily an editing application, it is designed to enable the fastest, most efficient and highest quality non-linear editing of a project possible. Within that framework it includes the ability, both natively and with plugins, to incorporate a limited range transitions and effects to aid the editing process.
After Effects, however, is an application built around effects, it is designed to allow an almost unlimited variety of effects, transitions and animations to be incorporated into a project via compositing and as such has a wealth of tools to enable the efficient workflow of those tasks, including some editing tools that would likely be needed for that job.
Conclusion
I’ve seen it explained before in terms of Word and Excel. You can compose a letter in Excel and create a spreadsheet in Word with the tables functionality, but the end result will take much longer and never be quite as good doing it that way. This perhaps is the best way to explain the relationship between Premiere and After Effects.
Yes, a spec sheet makes the two programs seem somewhat comparable, but it is the focus of each application that shows why they differ so much. Ultimately, the best use of these programs is together, they complement each other perfectly.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This is perhaps the most asked question regarding video processing on the internet. And looking at the product descriptions on the Adobe site gives us a clue why. There seems to be a large overlap between the two programs, and technically there is, although as we shall see capability doesn’t always mean suitability, so the similarities are not quite as pronounced as they would appear.
With that in mind, it is worth looking at the key differences between After Effects and Premiere to get a clearer understanding of what is best for which situation and why you would pick one program over the other. So below are the 9 points that I will make a comparison.
Comparison Table
After Effects | Adobe Premiere | |
---|---|---|
Price | $31.49/month | $31.49/month |
Offcial Features | Create motion graphics and visual effects | Professional video and film editing |
Includes 100GB of cloud storage | Includes 100GB of cloud storage | |
Support | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training |
Users | Advanced/Average | Advanced/Average/Naive |
Device | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone |
This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
After Effects VS Adobe Premiere
1Timeline
There are numerous editing differences between the two programs, but we will start with the timeline as it perhaps best illustrates the different focus of each package. Premiere has a very detailed timeline panel with a huge amount of functionality built in to move through and manipulate the contents of a project. After Effects, on the other hand, has less options for dealing with multiple clips and is designed to deal with the composite components in a more user friendly way.
The upshot of this would be the basic premise of the differences, for editing clips into a movie, whilst both can perform the task to an extent, Premiere’s timeline interface makes it a much easier process with many more options to make technical editing easier for the user.
2Editing
In addition to the timeline, Premiere has an interface and toolset built for precise editing and clip manipulation, both audio and video. This is not surprising of course, Premiere is after all first and foremost an editing package. By contrast, whilst there is editing functionality within After Effects, it is neither as user friendly, nor remotely as comprehensive a tool set, and as such would not be a suitable environment for extensive editing workflow.
This is perhaps the crux of the differences between the two packages, for editing work Premiere offers a complete toolset far beyond the requirements for many projects, but as comprehensive as one wishes, whilst After Effects is focus more on composites and motion video work and has an editing tool set that is not conducive to efficiency and ease of use.
3Audio Mixer
In today’s market the audio component on a video product can be as important as the visual aspects, the audio clip mixer within Premiere is a professional grade tool designed to offer precise control over a projects audio output and includes the ability to use VST3 industry standard plugins. Because After Effects is primarily a composite application it lacks the finesse of Premiere where audio is concerned. Again this shouldn’t be read as being an inferior program, it simply has a different focus.
4Mercury Playback Engine
In terms of perceived functionality probably not the top of the list, but Premiere uses this to employ either software (useful) or hardware (brilliant), assuming you have a compatible graphics card, accelerated real time renderless viewing of clips and sequences. This creates a much faster workflow for editing than is possible with After Effects beyond the previously mentioned tools and interface restrictions.
5 Multicam
In terms of editing this is where After Effects just isn’t comparable at all, the multi camera interface within Premiere is exceptionally featured and allows on the fly angle changes and edits and the ability to sync a single shot through numerous camera simultaneously. As said, the editing functionality on offer here is what Premiere exists for, and whilst both Premiere and After Effects are video manipulation packages, editing and composting are very different focuses, and the products reflect those differences.
6Media Management
Often overlooked but very important for project fidelity, the media management facilities within Premiere are designed around the needs of editing production and enable a much easier organizational approach for large projects than that of After Effects.
7Masking
This is where After Effects comes to the fore. The ability to create masks that track through scenes is a fundamental component of After Effects workflow and why it is so good for effects creation and compositing. None of these effects are readily achievable within Premiere as it ships, and even add ons will never achieve the fluidity and ease of use the purpose designed interface provides.
8 Camera Tracker
The 3D camera tracker within After Effects is an incredibly useful tool designed to replicate the camera movements within a given scene to allow new layers to be added that precisely match the original scene, essential for composite work and simply not possible within Premiere.
9 Effects
The collection of specific tools within After Effects for applying motion control effects, for color control, blurring shadows transitions and titles is vast, and whilst Premiere includes some of its own, it is clear that here After Effects has the edge and it once again highlights the different approach taken by each program. Premiere is primarily an editing application, it is designed to enable the fastest, most efficient and highest quality non-linear editing of a project possible. Within that framework it includes the ability, both natively and with plugins, to incorporate a limited range transitions and effects to aid the editing process.
After Effects, however, is an application built around effects, it is designed to allow an almost unlimited variety of effects, transitions and animations to be incorporated into a project via compositing and as such has a wealth of tools to enable the efficient workflow of those tasks, including some editing tools that would likely be needed for that job.
Conclusion
I’ve seen it explained before in terms of Word and Excel. You can compose a letter in Excel and create a spreadsheet in Word with the tables functionality, but the end result will take much longer and never be quite as good doing it that way. This perhaps is the best way to explain the relationship between Premiere and After Effects.
Yes, a spec sheet makes the two programs seem somewhat comparable, but it is the focus of each application that shows why they differ so much. Ultimately, the best use of these programs is together, they complement each other perfectly.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This is perhaps the most asked question regarding video processing on the internet. And looking at the product descriptions on the Adobe site gives us a clue why. There seems to be a large overlap between the two programs, and technically there is, although as we shall see capability doesn’t always mean suitability, so the similarities are not quite as pronounced as they would appear.
With that in mind, it is worth looking at the key differences between After Effects and Premiere to get a clearer understanding of what is best for which situation and why you would pick one program over the other. So below are the 9 points that I will make a comparison.
Comparison Table
After Effects | Adobe Premiere | |
---|---|---|
Price | $31.49/month | $31.49/month |
Offcial Features | Create motion graphics and visual effects | Professional video and film editing |
Includes 100GB of cloud storage | Includes 100GB of cloud storage | |
Support | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training | Phone/Live/Ticket/Training |
Users | Advanced/Average | Advanced/Average/Naive |
Device | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone | Win/Mac/Android/iPhone |
This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
After Effects VS Adobe Premiere
1Timeline
There are numerous editing differences between the two programs, but we will start with the timeline as it perhaps best illustrates the different focus of each package. Premiere has a very detailed timeline panel with a huge amount of functionality built in to move through and manipulate the contents of a project. After Effects, on the other hand, has less options for dealing with multiple clips and is designed to deal with the composite components in a more user friendly way.
The upshot of this would be the basic premise of the differences, for editing clips into a movie, whilst both can perform the task to an extent, Premiere’s timeline interface makes it a much easier process with many more options to make technical editing easier for the user.
2Editing
In addition to the timeline, Premiere has an interface and toolset built for precise editing and clip manipulation, both audio and video. This is not surprising of course, Premiere is after all first and foremost an editing package. By contrast, whilst there is editing functionality within After Effects, it is neither as user friendly, nor remotely as comprehensive a tool set, and as such would not be a suitable environment for extensive editing workflow.
This is perhaps the crux of the differences between the two packages, for editing work Premiere offers a complete toolset far beyond the requirements for many projects, but as comprehensive as one wishes, whilst After Effects is focus more on composites and motion video work and has an editing tool set that is not conducive to efficiency and ease of use.
3Audio Mixer
In today’s market the audio component on a video product can be as important as the visual aspects, the audio clip mixer within Premiere is a professional grade tool designed to offer precise control over a projects audio output and includes the ability to use VST3 industry standard plugins. Because After Effects is primarily a composite application it lacks the finesse of Premiere where audio is concerned. Again this shouldn’t be read as being an inferior program, it simply has a different focus.
4Mercury Playback Engine
In terms of perceived functionality probably not the top of the list, but Premiere uses this to employ either software (useful) or hardware (brilliant), assuming you have a compatible graphics card, accelerated real time renderless viewing of clips and sequences. This creates a much faster workflow for editing than is possible with After Effects beyond the previously mentioned tools and interface restrictions.
5 Multicam
In terms of editing this is where After Effects just isn’t comparable at all, the multi camera interface within Premiere is exceptionally featured and allows on the fly angle changes and edits and the ability to sync a single shot through numerous camera simultaneously. As said, the editing functionality on offer here is what Premiere exists for, and whilst both Premiere and After Effects are video manipulation packages, editing and composting are very different focuses, and the products reflect those differences.
6Media Management
Often overlooked but very important for project fidelity, the media management facilities within Premiere are designed around the needs of editing production and enable a much easier organizational approach for large projects than that of After Effects.
7Masking
This is where After Effects comes to the fore. The ability to create masks that track through scenes is a fundamental component of After Effects workflow and why it is so good for effects creation and compositing. None of these effects are readily achievable within Premiere as it ships, and even add ons will never achieve the fluidity and ease of use the purpose designed interface provides.
8 Camera Tracker
The 3D camera tracker within After Effects is an incredibly useful tool designed to replicate the camera movements within a given scene to allow new layers to be added that precisely match the original scene, essential for composite work and simply not possible within Premiere.
9 Effects
The collection of specific tools within After Effects for applying motion control effects, for color control, blurring shadows transitions and titles is vast, and whilst Premiere includes some of its own, it is clear that here After Effects has the edge and it once again highlights the different approach taken by each program. Premiere is primarily an editing application, it is designed to enable the fastest, most efficient and highest quality non-linear editing of a project possible. Within that framework it includes the ability, both natively and with plugins, to incorporate a limited range transitions and effects to aid the editing process.
After Effects, however, is an application built around effects, it is designed to allow an almost unlimited variety of effects, transitions and animations to be incorporated into a project via compositing and as such has a wealth of tools to enable the efficient workflow of those tasks, including some editing tools that would likely be needed for that job.
Conclusion
I’ve seen it explained before in terms of Word and Excel. You can compose a letter in Excel and create a spreadsheet in Word with the tables functionality, but the end result will take much longer and never be quite as good doing it that way. This perhaps is the best way to explain the relationship between Premiere and After Effects.
Yes, a spec sheet makes the two programs seem somewhat comparable, but it is the focus of each application that shows why they differ so much. Ultimately, the best use of these programs is together, they complement each other perfectly.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Chroma Keying Mastery: Advanced FCP X Tutorials for Professionals
FCP X: Create a Chroma-Key (Green-screen) Effect
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Move Over Movie Maker: 10+ Fresh Video Editing Options
Windows Movie Maker has been a cornerstone tool for video editors for quite a while. There are a lot of amateurs who’ve made use of the free program and have done wonders with it. As it is discontinued, many Windows Movie Maker alternatives claim to offer ‘just the right video editing tool for you,’ few can live up to their promises—and most are very expensive.
We have ten other programs that can be used to create videos that include everything from Apple iMovie to other basic alternatives.
So whether you’re a beginner who wants to learn how to make a movie, a pro looking for an excellent alternative to Windows Movie Maker, or someone who wants to make a simple slide presentation or online video, you’re bound to find a video creation program here.
- Wondershare Filmora
- Avidemux Video Editor
- VirtualDub
- Sony Vegas Movie Studio
- WeVideo
- Lightworks
- ShotCut
- OpenShot
- Movavi Video Editor Plus
- VSDC Free Video Editor
- VideoPad Video Editor
- HitFilm
- Magix Movie Studio
- How To Edit a Video With a Windows Movie Maker Alternative
- Hot FAQs on Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
Part 1: Top 3 Picks for Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
The world’s best video editing software is about to change. We look at three of the most popular and valuable alternatives to Windows Movie Maker.
You will need to consider these alternatives to ensure they meet your expectations and needs.
1. Wondershare Filmora - Best Overall
Filmora is the best Windows Movie Maker Alternative designed according to your convenience.
Ratings: 4.4 Stars out 5
Starting from $49.99
2. Magix Movie Studio - Best for Collages
This alternative offers a variety of tools and plugins for anyone who wants to create professional-level videos in under a minute.
Download on Windows
Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
30-day free trials, then starts from $69.99 all the way to $129
3. Avidemux Video Editor - Best Open-Source Editor
An open-source editor that supports a wide range of formats is free! Avidemux has an interface similar to Windows Movie Maker, which makes it a perfect alternative.
Download on Windows
Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Free Trial
Part 2: Ultimate Overview on 13 Best Alternatives to Windows Movie Maker
We live in visual culture, and we constantly see, capture, upload, and share videos on our smartphones, tablets, and laptops. So, it is only natural that more people seek ways to edit their videos. Windows Movie Maker was one of the most popular video editing apps. So it’s time to dig into the best Windows Movie Maker alternatives, which are arguably better and feature-rich.
Software | OS | Media Resources | AI editing | Easy to Use | Free Trial |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wondershare Filmora | WindowsMacMobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Avidemux | WindowsOS XLinuxBSD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Dub | Windows | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Vegas Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | Yes | No | No |
WeVideo | Online | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Lightworks | LinuxOS X Windows | Yes | Yes | No | No |
ShotCut | WindowsMacLinuxBSD | Yes | No | No | Yes |
OpenShot | WindowsMacLinuxChrome OS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Movavi Plus | WindowsMac | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
VSDC | Windows | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
VideoPad | WindowsMaciPad/iPhone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
HitFilm | WindowsMac | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Magix Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Part 3: 13 Best Windows Movie Maker Alternatives for Windows
As we all know, Windows Movie Maker is the most used and trusted tool for creating videos in Windows. With its unique features and user-friendly interface, people often use this software to develop short and entertaining videos.
However, the fact is that Windows Movie Maker is not the current best video editing software for creating complex video projects. For this reason, we compiled a list of the 12 best alternatives to offer you a better option for Windows Movie Maker.
1. Wondershare Filmora
Filmora 11 is a powerful, easy-to-use video editor specially designed to streamline your workflow and save you hours weekly. It supports everything from Windows, Mac, and IOS to Android. The latest update to the flagship app includes several key enhancements that result in a much more efficient video creation workflow and one that’s easier to use than its rivals.
Key features
- Preset Templates
- Instant Mode
- Motion Tracking
- AI Editing Effects
- Auto Synchronization
- Plug-ins
Price
- Annual Plan: $49.99
- Perpetual Plan: $79.99
Pros
- Seamless interface for beginners
- Great customer support
- Plenty of effects and preset templates
- 4K video output options
Cons
- Rendering requires too much time
- The mobile app requires separate subscription
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , iOS , Android , iPad
G2 Ratings: 4.4 stars out of 5
Summary
Filmora’s intuitive interface allows experienced and brand-new users to create incredible videos with flawless special effects. Its high ratings and multiple supported formats make it quite popular among users.
2. Avidemux Video Editor
If you are a beginner and want to use a free, open-source software program for basic video editing, then Avidemux is a good choice. The interface is not as fancy as it could be, but there are some presets that’ll save you a lot of time. Avidemux is a cross-platform video editor that allows you to create custom videos, but it doesn’t feature the ability to share the edited footage to social media directly,
Key features
- Video and Audio Filters
- Support Popular Formats
- Convert Video For Archiving or Publishing
Price: Free
Pros
- It can convert Video To A Smaller Size
- Easy cut, trim, split video
Cons
- Out-dated UI
- Lacks sharing option
Supported OS: Windows , OS X , Linux , BSD
Uptodown Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
An open-source video editor that supports most formats. Due to its obsolete UI and lack of sharing features, Avidemux has average ratings.
3. VirtualDub
This open-source software is user-friendly and allows users with little experience to navigate the software without much trouble. It supports 3rd party apps and also offers batch-processing, which means working on multiple videos simultaneously makes it possible.
Key features
- Integrated volume and histogram meter
- Optimized disk
- Noise reduction
- Fractional frame rates
Price: Free
Pros
- Clean interface, easy to use
- Keyboard and mouse shortcuts for faster operation
- Free to use
Cons
- Not suitable for 4K editing
- Lack learning material
- Obsolete Interface
Supported OS: Windows
Compare Camp Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
Virtual Dub supports multitasking, and its features are pretty helpful. However, it lacks 4k editing and a friendly interface. Overall Virtual Dub is a good choice.
4. Sony Vegas Movie Studio
This video editing software makes it easy to create professional-looking videos in minimum time and effort. Vegas Movie Studio software is best for video editing professionals who have been doing it for some time and are looking for something a little more sophisticated than free alternatives. Not only does it has a high retail price, but its internal elements can be too complex for those just beginning.
Key features
- Color correction
- HDV and AVCHD-editing
- DV batch capture
- Wide variety of file formats and codecs
Price: Starting from $7.99 USD per month
Pros
- Customizable interface
- Multicam editing
- Lots of effects and transitions, with plug-in capability
- Good slow motion and warp flow transition tools
Cons
- Less intuitive interface than competitors
- Import from camcorder not ideal
- Some tools are complex
Supported OS: Windows
G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5
Summary
Vegas Movie Studio is the choice of professionals. It does all the work without taking up a lot of resources, and like most programs, there is a learning curve. It’s not always intuitive for beginners, but its professional and powerful features score decent in most reviews.
5. WeVideo
This cloud-based application is a simple-to-use video editing and sharing suite. WeVideo is a full-featured video editing application that uses JumpStart technology to create amazing videos. It’s an innovative app that offers a seamless editing experience as it supports multiple formats of video, images, audio, and graphics.
Key features
- WeVideo JumpStart
- Cloud storage
- Built-in graphics
- Customizable environment
- Advanced text editing
- Multi-track editing and storyboard
Price
- Free trial
- Power Plan: $9.99/month
- Unlimited Plan: $15.99/month
- Professional Plan: $39.99/month
- Business Plan: $73.99/month
Pros
- Constantly improving features
- Ease of use
- Storage is cloud-based
Cons
- Old fashion transition
- Leaves a watermark on free trial
Supported OS: Online
Trustpilot Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
Summary
WeVideo is a straightforward yet robust video editor. It offers a variety of features and supports multiple formats, plus its comprehensive pricing plan makes it useful for everyone.
6. Lightworks
Lightworks is the most powerful video editor in its class and an excellent tool for professionals who want to make amazing videos quickly. Lightworks is very fast and straightforward to use, and it has some great features you won’t find in any other video editor. It is available on all popular OS.
Key features
- Audio and Video Effect Plugin Support
- Cloud Connected
- Motion Graphics
- Advanced Metadata
- Proxy Workflows
- Apple ProRes decoding
Price
- Monthly Plan: $9.99/user
- Yearly Plan: $9.99/user
- Perpetual: $154.99
Pros
- High-resolution timeline rendering
- It has social media export templates
- Interfaces for multiple OS are consistent
- Instant autosave
Cons
- Commands are not always intuitive
- A bit pricey as compared to its competitors
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , Linux
Techradar Pro Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
Summary
Lightworks is not any other video editing tool available on the market of video editing tools. This video editing tool provides amateurs with the most sophisticated features in an optimized platform. Its scores are the highest on almost every review site.
7. ShotCut
Shotcut is a multiplatform video editor that lets you work with various formats for audio, video, image files, etc. This video editor makes it easy to mix and match the resolution and frame rates in a video file. All the changes you make in the editor can be undone and redone often. Shotcut is the best choice for video editing, without question.
Key features
- Webcam capture
- Audio scopes and filters
- Deinterlacing
- Eyedropper tool
- Video wipe transitions
- Keyframes for filter parameters
Price: Free
Pros
- Support for 4K resolutions
- Free
Cons
- Less intuitive than commercial apps
- Lacks built-in sharing to popular sites
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , Linux
GetApp Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Summary
Shotcut is an open-source video editor for creative professionals and is available on mac, Windows, and Linux. The free version of Shotcut has many excellent features, but it doesn’t have the slick interface or advanced techniques of the top paid editors.
8. OpenShot
An award-winning open-source video editor that creates stunning videos. OpenShot is a fast, easy-to-use, and surprisingly powerful video editor. OpenShot Video Editor allows you to work with many different types of tracks so that your edits will seem natural. OpenShot Video Editor allows you to add your custom animations or titles. The options are endless, so it all depends on your time and interest. It is available in more than 70 languages, making it ideal for all types of users.
Key features
- 3D animations
- Animation and keyframes
- Multiple languages and formats
- Cross-platform
- Video-effects
Price: Free
Pros
- It is a non-linear editor with infinite tracks
- 100% free without watermark
- Frequent updates
Cons
- Obsolete interface
- Unstable performance
- Lacks some editing features
Supported OS: Window , Mac , Linux , Chrome OS
Getapp Ratings: 4.2 stars out of 5
Summary
Another open-source video-editor in the list is named OpenShot. It’s a multi-lingual and multi-supported app with unique features. Despite its unstable performance, OpenShot is still an ideal choice for many users.
9. Movavi Video Editor Plus
Movavi Video Editor Plus is the perfect tool to bring your creative ideas to life. It has special effects, ready-made intros, and keyframe animation. Using chroma keying, you can change the background of your video clips to any color or pattern that suits your need. Movavi has now redesigned its user interface to make it easy to use.
Key features
- Effects and transitions
- Built-in media pack
- Fast processing of 4K videos
- Keyframe animation
- Automatic video creation
- Cutting, trimming, joining
Price
- Free version: 7 days
- Video Editor Plus 1 year /1 PC: $49.95
- Video Editor Plus Lifetime /1 PC: $69.95
- Video Suite Lifetime /1 PC: $89.95
Pros
- Easy-to-understand user interface
- Transitions with sound
- Motion tracking and picture-in-picture tools
- Chroma-key capability
- Quick movie-creation tool
Cons
- Lacks advanced trim modes
- Slow rendering
PCMag Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
If you want to edit your videos with a minimal learning curve, try Movavi. You get PiP, chroma-keying, titling, basic keying, and motion tracking. The program is simple to use but doesn’t have all the features and stands four stars.
10. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor is an online tool that lets you edit audio and video files to make your creations like movies, YouTube tutorial videos, and more. The audio and video files supported are extensive, and the software includes a codec manager. The Pro version isn’t necessary if you’re using the free edition of the software; it’s more than enough to get the job done.
Key features
- Dark theme
- Subpixel Accuracy
- Powerful Chroma Key tool
- Trendy video effects, filters, and transitions
- Color Blending And Filters
- Built-In DVD Burning Tool
Price: Free
Pros
- Non-linear
- Video effects library
- Video stabilization
- Masking
Cons
- Outdated interface
- Lack keyboard shortcuts
- Only available on Windows
Supported OS: Windows
Capterra Ratings: 4.5 stars out 5
Summary
VSDC is a non-linear editor with extensive format support. It includes all the essential features an editor requires but with an obsolete UI. It is also ideal for many who need a powerful yet free video editor.
11. VideoPad Video Editor
VideoPad is a free video editor that can create stunning videos and perform basic editing tasks. A good video editor can help you to create videos for different social media platforms. You can make your videos look professional and polished with a few clicks and some simple editing skills. There’s nothing particularly exciting or advanced about this app; it’s simple enough for anyone new to video editing or even for seasoned editors. But the simple and easy-to-use interface makes the entire process very exciting.
Key features
- Text snippets
- Range of transitional effects
- Plug-ins Library
- Burn finished videos to Blu-Ray, DVD, etc.
- Color correction and light balance.
Price: Free
Pros
- Simple and clean interface
- Supports multiple file formats
- Includes video effects
- Lightweight on system resources
Cons
- Lack of advanced features
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , iPad/iPhone
Tom’s guide Ratings: 3.5 stars out of 5
Summary
Video pad is a free video editor designed for beginners that is lightweight and simple. VideoPad is also great for creating quick videos for social media purposes like Youtube and Facebook. The software has a high rating, as shown above, and it’s available on Windows.
12. HitFilm
HitFilm is a helpful video editing software that makes editing easier for users. In addition to basic features, the program also provides advanced-level functions that make edited videos pop. Hitfilm Express Download has more than 400 features to help casual video editors save time. Features like: visual effects, cinematic elements, and compositing tools preset help unleash your creativity.
Key features
- Color Grading and correction
- Smart search
- Commentator recorder
- Lightning and lens flares
- 3D camera tracker
Price
- Free trial
- Creator: $7.50
- Pro: $12.50
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- It offers free tutorials and masterclasses
- Works on both Windows and Mac
Cons
- It requires heavy system requirements
TechRadar Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5
Summary
HitFilm Express 15 is a powerful free video editing program that enables you to create high-quality videos in minutes with an intuitive interface. It offers advanced editing features such as advanced video trimming, 3D editing, and more.
13. Magix Movie Studio
Magix is the world’s leading professional audiovisual media software, with Sequoia being its industry-standard audio editing software. This movie editor is an enthusiast-level video editing software that competes with software from Adobe and CyberLink, and it even boasts support for 4K content and 360 degrees. There are many reasons to upgrade. This year’s update includes stabilization, 8K editing, motion tracking, and an in-app plug-in store.
Key features
- NewBlue effects
- Fly-in animation
- New filter view
- Stabilization
- Motion tracking
- 8k support
Price
- Movie Studio 2024: $69.99 (30-day free trial)
- Movie Studio 2024 Platinum: $99.99 (30-day free trial)
- Movie Studio 2024 Suite: $129.00 (30-day free trial)
Pros
- Lots of video effects
- Responsive editing interface
- Multicam
- Trailer-like movie templates
- Solid audio editing
Cons
- Slower project rendering than others
- Lacks import and organization tools
Supported OS: Windows
PCMag Ratings: 3 stars out of 5
Summary
Magix movie studio is a powerful all-around video editing tool with many features that professional users have come to expect. It’s also relatively simple to use. But usability and performance are poor compared to other software programs like Filmora .
Part 4: How To Edit a Video With a Windows Movie Maker Alternative
Windows Movie Maker was great for editing a video, but it’s no match for some of the best video editing software. We’re talking about software capable of creating a cinematic experience in seconds, all on your computer.
When you need to edit a video with simple, quick edits, like adding a special effect or changing the background, try Filmora . Filmora is an easy-to-use application that allows you to create a movie using simple tools that don’t require additional training. You can’t beat this option if you want to create a professional-quality video for your blog or website.
Let’s dive into a quick tutorial on editing videos in Filmora:
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Step1 Open Wondershare Filmora on your PC or Mac
You can start a new project by clicking on ‘New Project’. And you can also change the ‘Aspect Ratio’ according to your project demand.
Step2 Import Videos
You can import your file by clicking the import tab on the upper-left side or clicking the import icon on the main window.
Step3 Drag and drop your footage to the timeline
After importing all the files, click and hold each individual video and drag and drop it to the timeline area according to your ideal sequence.
Step4 Add Audio
Go to the ‘Audio’ tab and select the audio file from the audio library. Once selected, drag and drop the audio file into the music timeline.
Step5 Add Titles
In your video intro, you can insert some title text. Go to the ‘Titles’ tab and select the one you like, and drag and drop it on top of the timeline. Double-click and edit the text and state your ideal statements. You can customize your text fonts and color too.
Step6 Add Transitions
You can add transition effects to ensure a smooth transition from one scene to another. The overall will get more professional look.
Step7 Add Effects
Next; you can get special effects to your video to make them more attractive and engaging to watch. Simple drag down the effect to your video and watch the effect take place in your selective scene.
Step8 Export your work
Once all the changes have been made, hit ‘export’ from the top tab. A window will appear where you can change the settings, resolution, frame rate, bit rate, etc. Next, click the ‘export’ button down on that window, and then you can save the file in your drive.
Part 5: Hot FAQs on Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
1. Why is Windows Movie Maker discontinued?
Microsoft’s video editing program, Windows Movie Maker, did not become a big hit with the public because it failed to do well on the market. Microsoft couldn’t get the support they were looking for from the program’s users. As a result, Microsoft had to cease its support of the program.
2. Is there a free version of Windows Movie Maker?
Microsoft Windows Movie maker was always accessible and pre-installed every windows product. Microsoft has discontinued support for Movie Maker and warns about free downloads of Movie Maker provided by third parties that might contain malware, viruses, or other issues.
3. What are the best free Windows Movie Maker Alternatives for Mac?
After switching to a Mac, you’ll find that the Windows Movie Maker alternatives offer much more than just a simple video editor. They provide advanced features, easy transitions, and less technical know-how to create pro-quality results. You should try using these platforms on your Mac if you have a video to edit.
- Wondershare Filmora
- Movavi
- OpenShot
Final Words
Windows Movie Maker is an excellent Windows video editor application for Windows users. But in recent years, it has become outdated due to the continuous development of new technologies. There are many alternatives for Windows Movie Maker, and here we listed some of the best ones. Most of them are free and featured packs. Each program has its unique set of features and capabilities, and each one excels in different areas. Check them out and see what you think.
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Part 1: Top 3 Picks for Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
The world’s best video editing software is about to change. We look at three of the most popular and valuable alternatives to Windows Movie Maker.
You will need to consider these alternatives to ensure they meet your expectations and needs.
1. Wondershare Filmora - Best Overall
Filmora is the best Windows Movie Maker Alternative designed according to your convenience.
Ratings: 4.4 Stars out 5
Starting from $49.99
2. Magix Movie Studio - Best for Collages
This alternative offers a variety of tools and plugins for anyone who wants to create professional-level videos in under a minute.
Download on Windows
Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
30-day free trials, then starts from $69.99 all the way to $129
3. Avidemux Video Editor - Best Open-Source Editor
An open-source editor that supports a wide range of formats is free! Avidemux has an interface similar to Windows Movie Maker, which makes it a perfect alternative.
Download on Windows
Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Free Trial
Part 2: Ultimate Overview on 13 Best Alternatives to Windows Movie Maker
We live in visual culture, and we constantly see, capture, upload, and share videos on our smartphones, tablets, and laptops. So, it is only natural that more people seek ways to edit their videos. Windows Movie Maker was one of the most popular video editing apps. So it’s time to dig into the best Windows Movie Maker alternatives, which are arguably better and feature-rich.
Software | OS | Media Resources | AI editing | Easy to Use | Free Trial |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wondershare Filmora | WindowsMacMobile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Avidemux | WindowsOS XLinuxBSD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Virtual Dub | Windows | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Vegas Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | Yes | No | No |
WeVideo | Online | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Lightworks | LinuxOS X Windows | Yes | Yes | No | No |
ShotCut | WindowsMacLinuxBSD | Yes | No | No | Yes |
OpenShot | WindowsMacLinuxChrome OS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Movavi Plus | WindowsMac | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
VSDC | Windows | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
VideoPad | WindowsMaciPad/iPhone | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
HitFilm | WindowsMac | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Magix Movie Studio | Windows | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Part 3: 13 Best Windows Movie Maker Alternatives for Windows
As we all know, Windows Movie Maker is the most used and trusted tool for creating videos in Windows. With its unique features and user-friendly interface, people often use this software to develop short and entertaining videos.
However, the fact is that Windows Movie Maker is not the current best video editing software for creating complex video projects. For this reason, we compiled a list of the 12 best alternatives to offer you a better option for Windows Movie Maker.
1. Wondershare Filmora
Filmora 11 is a powerful, easy-to-use video editor specially designed to streamline your workflow and save you hours weekly. It supports everything from Windows, Mac, and IOS to Android. The latest update to the flagship app includes several key enhancements that result in a much more efficient video creation workflow and one that’s easier to use than its rivals.
Key features
- Preset Templates
- Instant Mode
- Motion Tracking
- AI Editing Effects
- Auto Synchronization
- Plug-ins
Price
- Annual Plan: $49.99
- Perpetual Plan: $79.99
Pros
- Seamless interface for beginners
- Great customer support
- Plenty of effects and preset templates
- 4K video output options
Cons
- Rendering requires too much time
- The mobile app requires separate subscription
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , iOS , Android , iPad
G2 Ratings: 4.4 stars out of 5
Summary
Filmora’s intuitive interface allows experienced and brand-new users to create incredible videos with flawless special effects. Its high ratings and multiple supported formats make it quite popular among users.
2. Avidemux Video Editor
If you are a beginner and want to use a free, open-source software program for basic video editing, then Avidemux is a good choice. The interface is not as fancy as it could be, but there are some presets that’ll save you a lot of time. Avidemux is a cross-platform video editor that allows you to create custom videos, but it doesn’t feature the ability to share the edited footage to social media directly,
Key features
- Video and Audio Filters
- Support Popular Formats
- Convert Video For Archiving or Publishing
Price: Free
Pros
- It can convert Video To A Smaller Size
- Easy cut, trim, split video
Cons
- Out-dated UI
- Lacks sharing option
Supported OS: Windows , OS X , Linux , BSD
Uptodown Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
An open-source video editor that supports most formats. Due to its obsolete UI and lack of sharing features, Avidemux has average ratings.
3. VirtualDub
This open-source software is user-friendly and allows users with little experience to navigate the software without much trouble. It supports 3rd party apps and also offers batch-processing, which means working on multiple videos simultaneously makes it possible.
Key features
- Integrated volume and histogram meter
- Optimized disk
- Noise reduction
- Fractional frame rates
Price: Free
Pros
- Clean interface, easy to use
- Keyboard and mouse shortcuts for faster operation
- Free to use
Cons
- Not suitable for 4K editing
- Lack learning material
- Obsolete Interface
Supported OS: Windows
Compare Camp Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
Virtual Dub supports multitasking, and its features are pretty helpful. However, it lacks 4k editing and a friendly interface. Overall Virtual Dub is a good choice.
4. Sony Vegas Movie Studio
This video editing software makes it easy to create professional-looking videos in minimum time and effort. Vegas Movie Studio software is best for video editing professionals who have been doing it for some time and are looking for something a little more sophisticated than free alternatives. Not only does it has a high retail price, but its internal elements can be too complex for those just beginning.
Key features
- Color correction
- HDV and AVCHD-editing
- DV batch capture
- Wide variety of file formats and codecs
Price: Starting from $7.99 USD per month
Pros
- Customizable interface
- Multicam editing
- Lots of effects and transitions, with plug-in capability
- Good slow motion and warp flow transition tools
Cons
- Less intuitive interface than competitors
- Import from camcorder not ideal
- Some tools are complex
Supported OS: Windows
G2 Ratings: 4.4 out of 5
Summary
Vegas Movie Studio is the choice of professionals. It does all the work without taking up a lot of resources, and like most programs, there is a learning curve. It’s not always intuitive for beginners, but its professional and powerful features score decent in most reviews.
5. WeVideo
This cloud-based application is a simple-to-use video editing and sharing suite. WeVideo is a full-featured video editing application that uses JumpStart technology to create amazing videos. It’s an innovative app that offers a seamless editing experience as it supports multiple formats of video, images, audio, and graphics.
Key features
- WeVideo JumpStart
- Cloud storage
- Built-in graphics
- Customizable environment
- Advanced text editing
- Multi-track editing and storyboard
Price
- Free trial
- Power Plan: $9.99/month
- Unlimited Plan: $15.99/month
- Professional Plan: $39.99/month
- Business Plan: $73.99/month
Pros
- Constantly improving features
- Ease of use
- Storage is cloud-based
Cons
- Old fashion transition
- Leaves a watermark on free trial
Supported OS: Online
Trustpilot Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
Summary
WeVideo is a straightforward yet robust video editor. It offers a variety of features and supports multiple formats, plus its comprehensive pricing plan makes it useful for everyone.
6. Lightworks
Lightworks is the most powerful video editor in its class and an excellent tool for professionals who want to make amazing videos quickly. Lightworks is very fast and straightforward to use, and it has some great features you won’t find in any other video editor. It is available on all popular OS.
Key features
- Audio and Video Effect Plugin Support
- Cloud Connected
- Motion Graphics
- Advanced Metadata
- Proxy Workflows
- Apple ProRes decoding
Price
- Monthly Plan: $9.99/user
- Yearly Plan: $9.99/user
- Perpetual: $154.99
Pros
- High-resolution timeline rendering
- It has social media export templates
- Interfaces for multiple OS are consistent
- Instant autosave
Cons
- Commands are not always intuitive
- A bit pricey as compared to its competitors
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , Linux
Techradar Pro Ratings: 4 stars out of 5
Summary
Lightworks is not any other video editing tool available on the market of video editing tools. This video editing tool provides amateurs with the most sophisticated features in an optimized platform. Its scores are the highest on almost every review site.
7. ShotCut
Shotcut is a multiplatform video editor that lets you work with various formats for audio, video, image files, etc. This video editor makes it easy to mix and match the resolution and frame rates in a video file. All the changes you make in the editor can be undone and redone often. Shotcut is the best choice for video editing, without question.
Key features
- Webcam capture
- Audio scopes and filters
- Deinterlacing
- Eyedropper tool
- Video wipe transitions
- Keyframes for filter parameters
Price: Free
Pros
- Support for 4K resolutions
- Free
Cons
- Less intuitive than commercial apps
- Lacks built-in sharing to popular sites
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , Linux
GetApp Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Summary
Shotcut is an open-source video editor for creative professionals and is available on mac, Windows, and Linux. The free version of Shotcut has many excellent features, but it doesn’t have the slick interface or advanced techniques of the top paid editors.
8. OpenShot
An award-winning open-source video editor that creates stunning videos. OpenShot is a fast, easy-to-use, and surprisingly powerful video editor. OpenShot Video Editor allows you to work with many different types of tracks so that your edits will seem natural. OpenShot Video Editor allows you to add your custom animations or titles. The options are endless, so it all depends on your time and interest. It is available in more than 70 languages, making it ideal for all types of users.
Key features
- 3D animations
- Animation and keyframes
- Multiple languages and formats
- Cross-platform
- Video-effects
Price: Free
Pros
- It is a non-linear editor with infinite tracks
- 100% free without watermark
- Frequent updates
Cons
- Obsolete interface
- Unstable performance
- Lacks some editing features
Supported OS: Window , Mac , Linux , Chrome OS
Getapp Ratings: 4.2 stars out of 5
Summary
Another open-source video-editor in the list is named OpenShot. It’s a multi-lingual and multi-supported app with unique features. Despite its unstable performance, OpenShot is still an ideal choice for many users.
9. Movavi Video Editor Plus
Movavi Video Editor Plus is the perfect tool to bring your creative ideas to life. It has special effects, ready-made intros, and keyframe animation. Using chroma keying, you can change the background of your video clips to any color or pattern that suits your need. Movavi has now redesigned its user interface to make it easy to use.
Key features
- Effects and transitions
- Built-in media pack
- Fast processing of 4K videos
- Keyframe animation
- Automatic video creation
- Cutting, trimming, joining
Price
- Free version: 7 days
- Video Editor Plus 1 year /1 PC: $49.95
- Video Editor Plus Lifetime /1 PC: $69.95
- Video Suite Lifetime /1 PC: $89.95
Pros
- Easy-to-understand user interface
- Transitions with sound
- Motion tracking and picture-in-picture tools
- Chroma-key capability
- Quick movie-creation tool
Cons
- Lacks advanced trim modes
- Slow rendering
PCMag Ratings: 4.0 stars out of 5
Summary
If you want to edit your videos with a minimal learning curve, try Movavi. You get PiP, chroma-keying, titling, basic keying, and motion tracking. The program is simple to use but doesn’t have all the features and stands four stars.
10. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC Free Video Editor is an online tool that lets you edit audio and video files to make your creations like movies, YouTube tutorial videos, and more. The audio and video files supported are extensive, and the software includes a codec manager. The Pro version isn’t necessary if you’re using the free edition of the software; it’s more than enough to get the job done.
Key features
- Dark theme
- Subpixel Accuracy
- Powerful Chroma Key tool
- Trendy video effects, filters, and transitions
- Color Blending And Filters
- Built-In DVD Burning Tool
Price: Free
Pros
- Non-linear
- Video effects library
- Video stabilization
- Masking
Cons
- Outdated interface
- Lack keyboard shortcuts
- Only available on Windows
Supported OS: Windows
Capterra Ratings: 4.5 stars out 5
Summary
VSDC is a non-linear editor with extensive format support. It includes all the essential features an editor requires but with an obsolete UI. It is also ideal for many who need a powerful yet free video editor.
11. VideoPad Video Editor
VideoPad is a free video editor that can create stunning videos and perform basic editing tasks. A good video editor can help you to create videos for different social media platforms. You can make your videos look professional and polished with a few clicks and some simple editing skills. There’s nothing particularly exciting or advanced about this app; it’s simple enough for anyone new to video editing or even for seasoned editors. But the simple and easy-to-use interface makes the entire process very exciting.
Key features
- Text snippets
- Range of transitional effects
- Plug-ins Library
- Burn finished videos to Blu-Ray, DVD, etc.
- Color correction and light balance.
Price: Free
Pros
- Simple and clean interface
- Supports multiple file formats
- Includes video effects
- Lightweight on system resources
Cons
- Lack of advanced features
Supported OS: Windows , Mac , iPad/iPhone
Tom’s guide Ratings: 3.5 stars out of 5
Summary
Video pad is a free video editor designed for beginners that is lightweight and simple. VideoPad is also great for creating quick videos for social media purposes like Youtube and Facebook. The software has a high rating, as shown above, and it’s available on Windows.
12. HitFilm
HitFilm is a helpful video editing software that makes editing easier for users. In addition to basic features, the program also provides advanced-level functions that make edited videos pop. Hitfilm Express Download has more than 400 features to help casual video editors save time. Features like: visual effects, cinematic elements, and compositing tools preset help unleash your creativity.
Key features
- Color Grading and correction
- Smart search
- Commentator recorder
- Lightning and lens flares
- 3D camera tracker
Price
- Free trial
- Creator: $7.50
- Pro: $12.50
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
- Intuitive interface
- It offers free tutorials and masterclasses
- Works on both Windows and Mac
Cons
- It requires heavy system requirements
TechRadar Ratings: 4.5 stars out of 5
Summary
HitFilm Express 15 is a powerful free video editing program that enables you to create high-quality videos in minutes with an intuitive interface. It offers advanced editing features such as advanced video trimming, 3D editing, and more.
13. Magix Movie Studio
Magix is the world’s leading professional audiovisual media software, with Sequoia being its industry-standard audio editing software. This movie editor is an enthusiast-level video editing software that competes with software from Adobe and CyberLink, and it even boasts support for 4K content and 360 degrees. There are many reasons to upgrade. This year’s update includes stabilization, 8K editing, motion tracking, and an in-app plug-in store.
Key features
- NewBlue effects
- Fly-in animation
- New filter view
- Stabilization
- Motion tracking
- 8k support
Price
- Movie Studio 2024: $69.99 (30-day free trial)
- Movie Studio 2024 Platinum: $99.99 (30-day free trial)
- Movie Studio 2024 Suite: $129.00 (30-day free trial)
Pros
- Lots of video effects
- Responsive editing interface
- Multicam
- Trailer-like movie templates
- Solid audio editing
Cons
- Slower project rendering than others
- Lacks import and organization tools
Supported OS: Windows
PCMag Ratings: 3 stars out of 5
Summary
Magix movie studio is a powerful all-around video editing tool with many features that professional users have come to expect. It’s also relatively simple to use. But usability and performance are poor compared to other software programs like Filmora .
Part 4: How To Edit a Video With a Windows Movie Maker Alternative
Windows Movie Maker was great for editing a video, but it’s no match for some of the best video editing software. We’re talking about software capable of creating a cinematic experience in seconds, all on your computer.
When you need to edit a video with simple, quick edits, like adding a special effect or changing the background, try Filmora . Filmora is an easy-to-use application that allows you to create a movie using simple tools that don’t require additional training. You can’t beat this option if you want to create a professional-quality video for your blog or website.
Let’s dive into a quick tutorial on editing videos in Filmora:
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Step1 Open Wondershare Filmora on your PC or Mac
You can start a new project by clicking on ‘New Project’. And you can also change the ‘Aspect Ratio’ according to your project demand.
Step2 Import Videos
You can import your file by clicking the import tab on the upper-left side or clicking the import icon on the main window.
Step3 Drag and drop your footage to the timeline
After importing all the files, click and hold each individual video and drag and drop it to the timeline area according to your ideal sequence.
Step4 Add Audio
Go to the ‘Audio’ tab and select the audio file from the audio library. Once selected, drag and drop the audio file into the music timeline.
Step5 Add Titles
In your video intro, you can insert some title text. Go to the ‘Titles’ tab and select the one you like, and drag and drop it on top of the timeline. Double-click and edit the text and state your ideal statements. You can customize your text fonts and color too.
Step6 Add Transitions
You can add transition effects to ensure a smooth transition from one scene to another. The overall will get more professional look.
Step7 Add Effects
Next; you can get special effects to your video to make them more attractive and engaging to watch. Simple drag down the effect to your video and watch the effect take place in your selective scene.
Step8 Export your work
Once all the changes have been made, hit ‘export’ from the top tab. A window will appear where you can change the settings, resolution, frame rate, bit rate, etc. Next, click the ‘export’ button down on that window, and then you can save the file in your drive.
Part 5: Hot FAQs on Windows Movie Maker Alternatives
1. Why is Windows Movie Maker discontinued?
Microsoft’s video editing program, Windows Movie Maker, did not become a big hit with the public because it failed to do well on the market. Microsoft couldn’t get the support they were looking for from the program’s users. As a result, Microsoft had to cease its support of the program.
2. Is there a free version of Windows Movie Maker?
Microsoft Windows Movie maker was always accessible and pre-installed every windows product. Microsoft has discontinued support for Movie Maker and warns about free downloads of Movie Maker provided by third parties that might contain malware, viruses, or other issues.
3. What are the best free Windows Movie Maker Alternatives for Mac?
After switching to a Mac, you’ll find that the Windows Movie Maker alternatives offer much more than just a simple video editor. They provide advanced features, easy transitions, and less technical know-how to create pro-quality results. You should try using these platforms on your Mac if you have a video to edit.
- Wondershare Filmora
- Movavi
- OpenShot
Final Words
Windows Movie Maker is an excellent Windows video editor application for Windows users. But in recent years, it has become outdated due to the continuous development of new technologies. There are many alternatives for Windows Movie Maker, and here we listed some of the best ones. Most of them are free and featured packs. Each program has its unique set of features and capabilities, and each one excels in different areas. Check them out and see what you think.
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
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- Title: New In 2024, Unleash Your Creativity Easy GoPro Video Editing for Beginners
- Author: Amelia
- Created at : 2024-04-29 19:57:28
- Updated at : 2024-04-30 19:57:28
- Link: https://ai-driven-video-production.techidaily.com/new-in-2024-unleash-your-creativity-easy-gopro-video-editing-for-beginners/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.