Discover the Power of Wax: A Free Video Editor for Creators

Wax - How to Use Free Video Editor Wax to Edit Videos

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Wax is a light weight but high performance and flexible video editing, composition and special effects software. And above all, it’s a free video editor for both commercial and personal use. Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application and as a “plug-in” to video editors/NLEs like VirtualDub, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, etc.

This is the getting-started tutorial for Wax. In this Wax tutorial, we are going to show you how to zoom, crop and pan video and image, how to make project settings and how to render AVI videos.

---

Note: If you think Wax is something complicated, you can turn to Wondershare Filmora , which enables you to edit videos with separate tracks and add transitions to your videos, finally, convert your video to any video format you like.Download the free trial version of Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows/Mac) below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

1. Zoom, crop and pan image for video

Download Wax and install it first. Run the software and Load Media Files by right-clicking on MediaPool panel. But this doesn’t finish. To edit video, you need to drag-n-drop desired media files to the timeline. Then switch to Video Plugins to drag-n-drop Quick 3d plugin to the just added track.

As shown above, click the triangle next to Quick 3d, you would see many options such as Posx, Posz, Cropleft, Cropbottom, etc. Please see detailed instructions to make editing in Wax:

Zoom Video: Click the Posz clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Crop Video: Click the Cropleft/Croptop/Cropright/Cropbottom clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Pan Video: Click the Posx clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Note that you could preview the video while making settings in the top preview windows.

2. Make project settings

Press F3 or click the Project Settings button in the tool bar to bring up the dialog. There, specify the file name, save path and video options, including video dimensions, frame rate, and click OK.

3. Render AVI video

Click the green arrow button on the tool bar to start saving video to specified path in the project settings. A few minutes later, you will get the edited video.

To be concluded, this is just the beginning Wax tutorial. You will find more features while using it. Just download Wax and have a try.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Wax is a light weight but high performance and flexible video editing, composition and special effects software. And above all, it’s a free video editor for both commercial and personal use. Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application and as a “plug-in” to video editors/NLEs like VirtualDub, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, etc.

This is the getting-started tutorial for Wax. In this Wax tutorial, we are going to show you how to zoom, crop and pan video and image, how to make project settings and how to render AVI videos.

---

Note: If you think Wax is something complicated, you can turn to Wondershare Filmora , which enables you to edit videos with separate tracks and add transitions to your videos, finally, convert your video to any video format you like.Download the free trial version of Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows/Mac) below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

1. Zoom, crop and pan image for video

Download Wax and install it first. Run the software and Load Media Files by right-clicking on MediaPool panel. But this doesn’t finish. To edit video, you need to drag-n-drop desired media files to the timeline. Then switch to Video Plugins to drag-n-drop Quick 3d plugin to the just added track.

As shown above, click the triangle next to Quick 3d, you would see many options such as Posx, Posz, Cropleft, Cropbottom, etc. Please see detailed instructions to make editing in Wax:

Zoom Video: Click the Posz clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Crop Video: Click the Cropleft/Croptop/Cropright/Cropbottom clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Pan Video: Click the Posx clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Note that you could preview the video while making settings in the top preview windows.

2. Make project settings

Press F3 or click the Project Settings button in the tool bar to bring up the dialog. There, specify the file name, save path and video options, including video dimensions, frame rate, and click OK.

3. Render AVI video

Click the green arrow button on the tool bar to start saving video to specified path in the project settings. A few minutes later, you will get the edited video.

To be concluded, this is just the beginning Wax tutorial. You will find more features while using it. Just download Wax and have a try.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Wax is a light weight but high performance and flexible video editing, composition and special effects software. And above all, it’s a free video editor for both commercial and personal use. Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application and as a “plug-in” to video editors/NLEs like VirtualDub, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, etc.

This is the getting-started tutorial for Wax. In this Wax tutorial, we are going to show you how to zoom, crop and pan video and image, how to make project settings and how to render AVI videos.

---

Note: If you think Wax is something complicated, you can turn to Wondershare Filmora , which enables you to edit videos with separate tracks and add transitions to your videos, finally, convert your video to any video format you like.Download the free trial version of Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows/Mac) below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

1. Zoom, crop and pan image for video

Download Wax and install it first. Run the software and Load Media Files by right-clicking on MediaPool panel. But this doesn’t finish. To edit video, you need to drag-n-drop desired media files to the timeline. Then switch to Video Plugins to drag-n-drop Quick 3d plugin to the just added track.

As shown above, click the triangle next to Quick 3d, you would see many options such as Posx, Posz, Cropleft, Cropbottom, etc. Please see detailed instructions to make editing in Wax:

Zoom Video: Click the Posz clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Crop Video: Click the Cropleft/Croptop/Cropright/Cropbottom clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Pan Video: Click the Posx clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Note that you could preview the video while making settings in the top preview windows.

2. Make project settings

Press F3 or click the Project Settings button in the tool bar to bring up the dialog. There, specify the file name, save path and video options, including video dimensions, frame rate, and click OK.

3. Render AVI video

Click the green arrow button on the tool bar to start saving video to specified path in the project settings. A few minutes later, you will get the edited video.

To be concluded, this is just the beginning Wax tutorial. You will find more features while using it. Just download Wax and have a try.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Wax is a light weight but high performance and flexible video editing, composition and special effects software. And above all, it’s a free video editor for both commercial and personal use. Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application and as a “plug-in” to video editors/NLEs like VirtualDub, Sony Vegas, Adobe Premiere, etc.

This is the getting-started tutorial for Wax. In this Wax tutorial, we are going to show you how to zoom, crop and pan video and image, how to make project settings and how to render AVI videos.

---

Note: If you think Wax is something complicated, you can turn to Wondershare Filmora , which enables you to edit videos with separate tracks and add transitions to your videos, finally, convert your video to any video format you like.Download the free trial version of Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows/Mac) below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

1. Zoom, crop and pan image for video

Download Wax and install it first. Run the software and Load Media Files by right-clicking on MediaPool panel. But this doesn’t finish. To edit video, you need to drag-n-drop desired media files to the timeline. Then switch to Video Plugins to drag-n-drop Quick 3d plugin to the just added track.

As shown above, click the triangle next to Quick 3d, you would see many options such as Posx, Posz, Cropleft, Cropbottom, etc. Please see detailed instructions to make editing in Wax:

Zoom Video: Click the Posz clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Crop Video: Click the Cropleft/Croptop/Cropright/Cropbottom clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Pan Video: Click the Posx clock icon to set Keyframming mode to Linear, and then change the value by hanging over mouse to ZEROs and drag to left/right.

Note that you could preview the video while making settings in the top preview windows.

2. Make project settings

Press F3 or click the Project Settings button in the tool bar to bring up the dialog. There, specify the file name, save path and video options, including video dimensions, frame rate, and click OK.

3. Render AVI video

Click the green arrow button on the tool bar to start saving video to specified path in the project settings. A few minutes later, you will get the edited video.

To be concluded, this is just the beginning Wax tutorial. You will find more features while using it. Just download Wax and have a try.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Windows 11 Video Editing: A Comprehensive List of Free and Paid Solutions

A video editor is something that you still need to make basic adjustments to the media clips before they can be shared with your family, friends, and colleagues. When discussing a video editor for Windows 11, you have several options to choose the best one.

However, your decision to prefer one application over all others mainly relies on a couple of factors, such as budget, the type of PC hardware, the number of formats the program supports, etc. Therefore, the following sections enlist some desktop and web apps that can be considered while selecting a Windows 11 video editor to make things easier.

In this article

01 Part 1: Best Video Editing Software for Windows 11

02 Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

03 Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

Part 1: Best Video Editing Soft ware for Windows 11

Some of the best free video editors, along with a few in-app purchase options, that can be used on your Windows 11 computers are listed below

1. Microsoft Photos (in-built)

Microsoft Photos is a built-in app in Windows 11. Although the program is a default application to view the slideshow, image info, compare images, photos, album, import photos, edited image date, save images, change the app’s look Image enhancement filter, rotate, crop, add more folders to Photos, quickly find photos, create a video and share, delete, and copy images using Photos. It is easy to use for non-professionals. Microsoft Photos is a basic app. It doesn’t have advanced tools that can be used as a professional video editor for Windows 11.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Add 3D and slow-motion effects, add animated text, etc.
• Points to Remember: Offers basic editing options, and no advanced tools are available.

2. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an easy-to-use yet powerful video editor that gives tough competition to some industry-standard applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc. The app follows a layered timeline approach to add elements and objects. In addition, the outputs that Filmora produces can be directly published to your preferred social media platform.

If you find Filmora is not opening in Windows 11, try the methods below to fix it.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.14 or later

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Unlimited free trial. $79.99/year after 20% $59.99 for a perpetual plan
• Editing Options: Add titles, elements, effects, split-screen, and much more
• Points to Remember: Requires some initial basic understanding of video editing tools.

3. CyberLink PowerDirector

PowerDirector is yet another professional video editor for Windows 11. Although the tool is available in multiple variants, the one that is named ‘PowerDirector Essential’ is free to use without any limits. On the other hand, the paid illustrations can be bought on a monthly or annual subscription basis, or a lifetime license can be purchased for unlimited accessibility. The software can be used to edit videos professionally or prepare slideshows out of the images as needed.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free trial. PowerDirector 20 Ultra - $99.99. PowerDirector 20 Ultimate - $139.99. PowerDirector 365 - $69.99 offers a discount of 25% after the discount price of $51.99 per year.
• Editing Options: AI-based audio enhancements, object detection, and much more
• Points to Remember: PowerDirector Essential lacks some advanced editing features.

4. VSDC Fre e Video Editor

VSDC is a free tool to edit and produce fine videos for vlogs, occasions, and professional uses. The application is populated with many powerful features that most competitors don’t offer, not at least for free. Furthermore, the application is lightweight and doesn’t put any overhead on the processor when used.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free and Pro version is also available for just $19.99.
• Editing Options: Chroma key, 360o video creation, color correction, zoom, etc.
• Points to Remember: Lacks some advanced tools like motion tracking, stabilizer, etc

5. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a Windows 11 video editor offering professional-level editing options, advanced VFX tools, and much more. The best thing is that the application is free to download and use and can be used well to produce industry-standard films that can be distributed for personal viewing or commercial gains.

Watch the video tutorial below if you find any issues installing HitFilm Express.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Adding new videos, audios, transition effects, cropping, and adding text.
• Points to Remember: Also available as a Pro variant with advanced editing features.

6 . Adobe Premiere Pro

One of the most used video editing tools is trusted and recommended by many professionals . Adobe Premiere Pro can edit and produce commercial-level videos and movies that can be broadcasted on TVs, cinema theaters, and other OTT platforms. Furthermore, the application is versatile and is compatible with almost all Adobe products.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price:$20.99 per month for an annual term. USD $239.88 per year, USD $31.49 per month
• Editing Options: VFX, motion tracking, chroma key, and more.
• Points to Remember: Driver version 472.12 is required for the NVIDIA graphics card

7 . Lightworks

Lightworks is the most common video editor for Windows 11 that was used to edit and add effects to various Hollywood movies like Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc. The built-in Media QC system automatically checks and adjusts the clips to meet international standards so they can be distributed for commercial gains.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free, Lightwork create $9.99 per month and for Pro version costs $23.99 per month.
• Editing Options: Automatic media quality check and adjustments, fine editing, etc.
• Points to Remember A basic understanding of how editing tools work is required.

Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

In addition to the desktop applications to edit the videos, some web-based video editing apps are also available that don’t need any installation, and all the processes are done using a web browser. The rendering is done on the apps’ corresponding vendors’ server, thus keeping your PC and its processor free from any overhead they may have to deal with.

Some of the best online video editors for Windows 11 include:

1. Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an extremely intuitive web-based video editor for Windows 11 recently acquired by Microsoft. The self-explanatory options and menus that the online app offers help you edit and produce professional-level industry-standard media clips even if you have no initial experience in the domain.

In addition, Clipchamp is also compatible with common Cloud storage services, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and several web tools like Zoom, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.

Go to Clipchamp video editor: https://clipchamp.com/en/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free / USD $72 per year / USD $156 per year / USD $324 per year
• Editing Options: Add audio, trim, split, merge, flip, color correction, etc.
• Points to Remember: It doesn’t work on Firefox. It would be best if you had MS Edge or Google Chrome.

3. Kapwing

Kapwing is another online Windows 11 video editor that is equipped with plenty of assets offered by some of the popular providers like Pexels, Unsplash, Giphy, etc. Using Kapwing to edit videos is as simple as uploading them, using self-explanatory tools and icons to make the modifications, choosing an output format, and beginning rendering. Furthermore, the web app allows collaborative edits where a team of video editors can use the platform to edit the same video from the comforts of their home.

Visit Kapwing: https://www.kapwing.com/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free. $16 per month paid year and $16 per month per user paid yearly {for teams}.
• Editing Options: Timeline-based approach, split, merge, trim, add music, etc.
• Points to Remember: Only the file of 250MB size can be uploaded with the free account

4. Lu men5

Lumen5 is one among those that many marketing companies across the globe trust. Because the web app also enables you to create videos and edit existing ones, many vloggers and renowned organizations use the platform for quick and easy processing and fast rendering to their preferred output format.

Visit Lumen5 website: https://lumen5.com/video-editor/

Some noteworthy attributes:

Price: Free

**Starter Plan $**29 per month.

Premium plan $79 per month.

A business plan is $199 per month.

Annual Billing for the starter plan is $228 per year. The premium plan is $588 per year, and the business plan is $1788 per year.

Editing Options: Add text, trim, merge, compress, resize, etc.

Points to Remember: Free account adds Lumen5 watermark on the exported videos

Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

1. Does Windows 11 have Movie Maker?

The short answer is, no, it doesn’t. Microsoft removed Movie Maker from its operating systems long ago. Now, in Windows 11, it’s the Photos app that does all the work that Movie Maker used to do earlier.

2. Should you upgrade to Windows 11 for video editing?

Although Windows 11 is new and offers several advanced features, at the time of this writing, not all third-party apps have been upgraded by their corresponding vendors to become compatible with the OS. Therefore, you are suggested to wait until Windows 11 is rolled out for all the regions of the globe, and most of the apps, if not all, start working flawlessly on this new operating system.

02 Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

03 Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

Part 1: Best Video Editing Soft ware for Windows 11

Some of the best free video editors, along with a few in-app purchase options, that can be used on your Windows 11 computers are listed below

1. Microsoft Photos (in-built)

Microsoft Photos is a built-in app in Windows 11. Although the program is a default application to view the slideshow, image info, compare images, photos, album, import photos, edited image date, save images, change the app’s look Image enhancement filter, rotate, crop, add more folders to Photos, quickly find photos, create a video and share, delete, and copy images using Photos. It is easy to use for non-professionals. Microsoft Photos is a basic app. It doesn’t have advanced tools that can be used as a professional video editor for Windows 11.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Add 3D and slow-motion effects, add animated text, etc.
• Points to Remember: Offers basic editing options, and no advanced tools are available.

2. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an easy-to-use yet powerful video editor that gives tough competition to some industry-standard applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc. The app follows a layered timeline approach to add elements and objects. In addition, the outputs that Filmora produces can be directly published to your preferred social media platform.

If you find Filmora is not opening in Windows 11, try the methods below to fix it.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.14 or later

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Unlimited free trial. $79.99/year after 20% $59.99 for a perpetual plan
• Editing Options: Add titles, elements, effects, split-screen, and much more
• Points to Remember: Requires some initial basic understanding of video editing tools.

3. CyberLink PowerDirector

PowerDirector is yet another professional video editor for Windows 11. Although the tool is available in multiple variants, the one that is named ‘PowerDirector Essential’ is free to use without any limits. On the other hand, the paid illustrations can be bought on a monthly or annual subscription basis, or a lifetime license can be purchased for unlimited accessibility. The software can be used to edit videos professionally or prepare slideshows out of the images as needed.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free trial. PowerDirector 20 Ultra - $99.99. PowerDirector 20 Ultimate - $139.99. PowerDirector 365 - $69.99 offers a discount of 25% after the discount price of $51.99 per year.
• Editing Options: AI-based audio enhancements, object detection, and much more
• Points to Remember: PowerDirector Essential lacks some advanced editing features.

4. VSDC Fre e Video Editor

VSDC is a free tool to edit and produce fine videos for vlogs, occasions, and professional uses. The application is populated with many powerful features that most competitors don’t offer, not at least for free. Furthermore, the application is lightweight and doesn’t put any overhead on the processor when used.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free and Pro version is also available for just $19.99.
• Editing Options: Chroma key, 360o video creation, color correction, zoom, etc.
• Points to Remember: Lacks some advanced tools like motion tracking, stabilizer, etc

5. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a Windows 11 video editor offering professional-level editing options, advanced VFX tools, and much more. The best thing is that the application is free to download and use and can be used well to produce industry-standard films that can be distributed for personal viewing or commercial gains.

Watch the video tutorial below if you find any issues installing HitFilm Express.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Adding new videos, audios, transition effects, cropping, and adding text.
• Points to Remember: Also available as a Pro variant with advanced editing features.

6 . Adobe Premiere Pro

One of the most used video editing tools is trusted and recommended by many professionals . Adobe Premiere Pro can edit and produce commercial-level videos and movies that can be broadcasted on TVs, cinema theaters, and other OTT platforms. Furthermore, the application is versatile and is compatible with almost all Adobe products.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price:$20.99 per month for an annual term. USD $239.88 per year, USD $31.49 per month
• Editing Options: VFX, motion tracking, chroma key, and more.
• Points to Remember: Driver version 472.12 is required for the NVIDIA graphics card

7 . Lightworks

Lightworks is the most common video editor for Windows 11 that was used to edit and add effects to various Hollywood movies like Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc. The built-in Media QC system automatically checks and adjusts the clips to meet international standards so they can be distributed for commercial gains.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free, Lightwork create $9.99 per month and for Pro version costs $23.99 per month.
• Editing Options: Automatic media quality check and adjustments, fine editing, etc.
• Points to Remember A basic understanding of how editing tools work is required.

Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

In addition to the desktop applications to edit the videos, some web-based video editing apps are also available that don’t need any installation, and all the processes are done using a web browser. The rendering is done on the apps’ corresponding vendors’ server, thus keeping your PC and its processor free from any overhead they may have to deal with.

Some of the best online video editors for Windows 11 include:

1. Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an extremely intuitive web-based video editor for Windows 11 recently acquired by Microsoft. The self-explanatory options and menus that the online app offers help you edit and produce professional-level industry-standard media clips even if you have no initial experience in the domain.

In addition, Clipchamp is also compatible with common Cloud storage services, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and several web tools like Zoom, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.

Go to Clipchamp video editor: https://clipchamp.com/en/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free / USD $72 per year / USD $156 per year / USD $324 per year
• Editing Options: Add audio, trim, split, merge, flip, color correction, etc.
• Points to Remember: It doesn’t work on Firefox. It would be best if you had MS Edge or Google Chrome.

3. Kapwing

Kapwing is another online Windows 11 video editor that is equipped with plenty of assets offered by some of the popular providers like Pexels, Unsplash, Giphy, etc. Using Kapwing to edit videos is as simple as uploading them, using self-explanatory tools and icons to make the modifications, choosing an output format, and beginning rendering. Furthermore, the web app allows collaborative edits where a team of video editors can use the platform to edit the same video from the comforts of their home.

Visit Kapwing: https://www.kapwing.com/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free. $16 per month paid year and $16 per month per user paid yearly {for teams}.
• Editing Options: Timeline-based approach, split, merge, trim, add music, etc.
• Points to Remember: Only the file of 250MB size can be uploaded with the free account

4. Lu men5

Lumen5 is one among those that many marketing companies across the globe trust. Because the web app also enables you to create videos and edit existing ones, many vloggers and renowned organizations use the platform for quick and easy processing and fast rendering to their preferred output format.

Visit Lumen5 website: https://lumen5.com/video-editor/

Some noteworthy attributes:

Price: Free

**Starter Plan $**29 per month.

Premium plan $79 per month.

A business plan is $199 per month.

Annual Billing for the starter plan is $228 per year. The premium plan is $588 per year, and the business plan is $1788 per year.

Editing Options: Add text, trim, merge, compress, resize, etc.

Points to Remember: Free account adds Lumen5 watermark on the exported videos

Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

1. Does Windows 11 have Movie Maker?

The short answer is, no, it doesn’t. Microsoft removed Movie Maker from its operating systems long ago. Now, in Windows 11, it’s the Photos app that does all the work that Movie Maker used to do earlier.

2. Should you upgrade to Windows 11 for video editing?

Although Windows 11 is new and offers several advanced features, at the time of this writing, not all third-party apps have been upgraded by their corresponding vendors to become compatible with the OS. Therefore, you are suggested to wait until Windows 11 is rolled out for all the regions of the globe, and most of the apps, if not all, start working flawlessly on this new operating system.

02 Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

03 Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

Part 1: Best Video Editing Soft ware for Windows 11

Some of the best free video editors, along with a few in-app purchase options, that can be used on your Windows 11 computers are listed below

1. Microsoft Photos (in-built)

Microsoft Photos is a built-in app in Windows 11. Although the program is a default application to view the slideshow, image info, compare images, photos, album, import photos, edited image date, save images, change the app’s look Image enhancement filter, rotate, crop, add more folders to Photos, quickly find photos, create a video and share, delete, and copy images using Photos. It is easy to use for non-professionals. Microsoft Photos is a basic app. It doesn’t have advanced tools that can be used as a professional video editor for Windows 11.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Add 3D and slow-motion effects, add animated text, etc.
• Points to Remember: Offers basic editing options, and no advanced tools are available.

2. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an easy-to-use yet powerful video editor that gives tough competition to some industry-standard applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc. The app follows a layered timeline approach to add elements and objects. In addition, the outputs that Filmora produces can be directly published to your preferred social media platform.

If you find Filmora is not opening in Windows 11, try the methods below to fix it.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.14 or later

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Unlimited free trial. $79.99/year after 20% $59.99 for a perpetual plan
• Editing Options: Add titles, elements, effects, split-screen, and much more
• Points to Remember: Requires some initial basic understanding of video editing tools.

3. CyberLink PowerDirector

PowerDirector is yet another professional video editor for Windows 11. Although the tool is available in multiple variants, the one that is named ‘PowerDirector Essential’ is free to use without any limits. On the other hand, the paid illustrations can be bought on a monthly or annual subscription basis, or a lifetime license can be purchased for unlimited accessibility. The software can be used to edit videos professionally or prepare slideshows out of the images as needed.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free trial. PowerDirector 20 Ultra - $99.99. PowerDirector 20 Ultimate - $139.99. PowerDirector 365 - $69.99 offers a discount of 25% after the discount price of $51.99 per year.
• Editing Options: AI-based audio enhancements, object detection, and much more
• Points to Remember: PowerDirector Essential lacks some advanced editing features.

4. VSDC Fre e Video Editor

VSDC is a free tool to edit and produce fine videos for vlogs, occasions, and professional uses. The application is populated with many powerful features that most competitors don’t offer, not at least for free. Furthermore, the application is lightweight and doesn’t put any overhead on the processor when used.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free and Pro version is also available for just $19.99.
• Editing Options: Chroma key, 360o video creation, color correction, zoom, etc.
• Points to Remember: Lacks some advanced tools like motion tracking, stabilizer, etc

5. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a Windows 11 video editor offering professional-level editing options, advanced VFX tools, and much more. The best thing is that the application is free to download and use and can be used well to produce industry-standard films that can be distributed for personal viewing or commercial gains.

Watch the video tutorial below if you find any issues installing HitFilm Express.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Adding new videos, audios, transition effects, cropping, and adding text.
• Points to Remember: Also available as a Pro variant with advanced editing features.

6 . Adobe Premiere Pro

One of the most used video editing tools is trusted and recommended by many professionals . Adobe Premiere Pro can edit and produce commercial-level videos and movies that can be broadcasted on TVs, cinema theaters, and other OTT platforms. Furthermore, the application is versatile and is compatible with almost all Adobe products.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price:$20.99 per month for an annual term. USD $239.88 per year, USD $31.49 per month
• Editing Options: VFX, motion tracking, chroma key, and more.
• Points to Remember: Driver version 472.12 is required for the NVIDIA graphics card

7 . Lightworks

Lightworks is the most common video editor for Windows 11 that was used to edit and add effects to various Hollywood movies like Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc. The built-in Media QC system automatically checks and adjusts the clips to meet international standards so they can be distributed for commercial gains.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free, Lightwork create $9.99 per month and for Pro version costs $23.99 per month.
• Editing Options: Automatic media quality check and adjustments, fine editing, etc.
• Points to Remember A basic understanding of how editing tools work is required.

Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

In addition to the desktop applications to edit the videos, some web-based video editing apps are also available that don’t need any installation, and all the processes are done using a web browser. The rendering is done on the apps’ corresponding vendors’ server, thus keeping your PC and its processor free from any overhead they may have to deal with.

Some of the best online video editors for Windows 11 include:

1. Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an extremely intuitive web-based video editor for Windows 11 recently acquired by Microsoft. The self-explanatory options and menus that the online app offers help you edit and produce professional-level industry-standard media clips even if you have no initial experience in the domain.

In addition, Clipchamp is also compatible with common Cloud storage services, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and several web tools like Zoom, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.

Go to Clipchamp video editor: https://clipchamp.com/en/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free / USD $72 per year / USD $156 per year / USD $324 per year
• Editing Options: Add audio, trim, split, merge, flip, color correction, etc.
• Points to Remember: It doesn’t work on Firefox. It would be best if you had MS Edge or Google Chrome.

3. Kapwing

Kapwing is another online Windows 11 video editor that is equipped with plenty of assets offered by some of the popular providers like Pexels, Unsplash, Giphy, etc. Using Kapwing to edit videos is as simple as uploading them, using self-explanatory tools and icons to make the modifications, choosing an output format, and beginning rendering. Furthermore, the web app allows collaborative edits where a team of video editors can use the platform to edit the same video from the comforts of their home.

Visit Kapwing: https://www.kapwing.com/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free. $16 per month paid year and $16 per month per user paid yearly {for teams}.
• Editing Options: Timeline-based approach, split, merge, trim, add music, etc.
• Points to Remember: Only the file of 250MB size can be uploaded with the free account

4. Lu men5

Lumen5 is one among those that many marketing companies across the globe trust. Because the web app also enables you to create videos and edit existing ones, many vloggers and renowned organizations use the platform for quick and easy processing and fast rendering to their preferred output format.

Visit Lumen5 website: https://lumen5.com/video-editor/

Some noteworthy attributes:

Price: Free

**Starter Plan $**29 per month.

Premium plan $79 per month.

A business plan is $199 per month.

Annual Billing for the starter plan is $228 per year. The premium plan is $588 per year, and the business plan is $1788 per year.

Editing Options: Add text, trim, merge, compress, resize, etc.

Points to Remember: Free account adds Lumen5 watermark on the exported videos

Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

1. Does Windows 11 have Movie Maker?

The short answer is, no, it doesn’t. Microsoft removed Movie Maker from its operating systems long ago. Now, in Windows 11, it’s the Photos app that does all the work that Movie Maker used to do earlier.

2. Should you upgrade to Windows 11 for video editing?

Although Windows 11 is new and offers several advanced features, at the time of this writing, not all third-party apps have been upgraded by their corresponding vendors to become compatible with the OS. Therefore, you are suggested to wait until Windows 11 is rolled out for all the regions of the globe, and most of the apps, if not all, start working flawlessly on this new operating system.

02 Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

03 Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

Part 1: Best Video Editing Soft ware for Windows 11

Some of the best free video editors, along with a few in-app purchase options, that can be used on your Windows 11 computers are listed below

1. Microsoft Photos (in-built)

Microsoft Photos is a built-in app in Windows 11. Although the program is a default application to view the slideshow, image info, compare images, photos, album, import photos, edited image date, save images, change the app’s look Image enhancement filter, rotate, crop, add more folders to Photos, quickly find photos, create a video and share, delete, and copy images using Photos. It is easy to use for non-professionals. Microsoft Photos is a basic app. It doesn’t have advanced tools that can be used as a professional video editor for Windows 11.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Add 3D and slow-motion effects, add animated text, etc.
• Points to Remember: Offers basic editing options, and no advanced tools are available.

2. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an easy-to-use yet powerful video editor that gives tough competition to some industry-standard applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc. The app follows a layered timeline approach to add elements and objects. In addition, the outputs that Filmora produces can be directly published to your preferred social media platform.

If you find Filmora is not opening in Windows 11, try the methods below to fix it.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.14 or later

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Unlimited free trial. $79.99/year after 20% $59.99 for a perpetual plan
• Editing Options: Add titles, elements, effects, split-screen, and much more
• Points to Remember: Requires some initial basic understanding of video editing tools.

3. CyberLink PowerDirector

PowerDirector is yet another professional video editor for Windows 11. Although the tool is available in multiple variants, the one that is named ‘PowerDirector Essential’ is free to use without any limits. On the other hand, the paid illustrations can be bought on a monthly or annual subscription basis, or a lifetime license can be purchased for unlimited accessibility. The software can be used to edit videos professionally or prepare slideshows out of the images as needed.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free trial. PowerDirector 20 Ultra - $99.99. PowerDirector 20 Ultimate - $139.99. PowerDirector 365 - $69.99 offers a discount of 25% after the discount price of $51.99 per year.
• Editing Options: AI-based audio enhancements, object detection, and much more
• Points to Remember: PowerDirector Essential lacks some advanced editing features.

4. VSDC Fre e Video Editor

VSDC is a free tool to edit and produce fine videos for vlogs, occasions, and professional uses. The application is populated with many powerful features that most competitors don’t offer, not at least for free. Furthermore, the application is lightweight and doesn’t put any overhead on the processor when used.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free and Pro version is also available for just $19.99.
• Editing Options: Chroma key, 360o video creation, color correction, zoom, etc.
• Points to Remember: Lacks some advanced tools like motion tracking, stabilizer, etc

5. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a Windows 11 video editor offering professional-level editing options, advanced VFX tools, and much more. The best thing is that the application is free to download and use and can be used well to produce industry-standard films that can be distributed for personal viewing or commercial gains.

Watch the video tutorial below if you find any issues installing HitFilm Express.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free
• Editing Options: Adding new videos, audios, transition effects, cropping, and adding text.
• Points to Remember: Also available as a Pro variant with advanced editing features.

6 . Adobe Premiere Pro

One of the most used video editing tools is trusted and recommended by many professionals . Adobe Premiere Pro can edit and produce commercial-level videos and movies that can be broadcasted on TVs, cinema theaters, and other OTT platforms. Furthermore, the application is versatile and is compatible with almost all Adobe products.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price:$20.99 per month for an annual term. USD $239.88 per year, USD $31.49 per month
• Editing Options: VFX, motion tracking, chroma key, and more.
• Points to Remember: Driver version 472.12 is required for the NVIDIA graphics card

7 . Lightworks

Lightworks is the most common video editor for Windows 11 that was used to edit and add effects to various Hollywood movies like Pulp Fiction, Braveheart, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc. The built-in Media QC system automatically checks and adjusts the clips to meet international standards so they can be distributed for commercial gains.

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free, Lightwork create $9.99 per month and for Pro version costs $23.99 per month.
• Editing Options: Automatic media quality check and adjustments, fine editing, etc.
• Points to Remember A basic understanding of how editing tools work is required.

Part 2: Best Online Video Editors for Windows 11

In addition to the desktop applications to edit the videos, some web-based video editing apps are also available that don’t need any installation, and all the processes are done using a web browser. The rendering is done on the apps’ corresponding vendors’ server, thus keeping your PC and its processor free from any overhead they may have to deal with.

Some of the best online video editors for Windows 11 include:

1. Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an extremely intuitive web-based video editor for Windows 11 recently acquired by Microsoft. The self-explanatory options and menus that the online app offers help you edit and produce professional-level industry-standard media clips even if you have no initial experience in the domain.

In addition, Clipchamp is also compatible with common Cloud storage services, including OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, and several web tools like Zoom, Pinterest, LinkedIn, etc.

Go to Clipchamp video editor: https://clipchamp.com/en/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free / USD $72 per year / USD $156 per year / USD $324 per year
• Editing Options: Add audio, trim, split, merge, flip, color correction, etc.
• Points to Remember: It doesn’t work on Firefox. It would be best if you had MS Edge or Google Chrome.

3. Kapwing

Kapwing is another online Windows 11 video editor that is equipped with plenty of assets offered by some of the popular providers like Pexels, Unsplash, Giphy, etc. Using Kapwing to edit videos is as simple as uploading them, using self-explanatory tools and icons to make the modifications, choosing an output format, and beginning rendering. Furthermore, the web app allows collaborative edits where a team of video editors can use the platform to edit the same video from the comforts of their home.

Visit Kapwing: https://www.kapwing.com/

Some noteworthy attributes:

• Price: Free. $16 per month paid year and $16 per month per user paid yearly {for teams}.
• Editing Options: Timeline-based approach, split, merge, trim, add music, etc.
• Points to Remember: Only the file of 250MB size can be uploaded with the free account

4. Lu men5

Lumen5 is one among those that many marketing companies across the globe trust. Because the web app also enables you to create videos and edit existing ones, many vloggers and renowned organizations use the platform for quick and easy processing and fast rendering to their preferred output format.

Visit Lumen5 website: https://lumen5.com/video-editor/

Some noteworthy attributes:

Price: Free

**Starter Plan $**29 per month.

Premium plan $79 per month.

A business plan is $199 per month.

Annual Billing for the starter plan is $228 per year. The premium plan is $588 per year, and the business plan is $1788 per year.

Editing Options: Add text, trim, merge, compress, resize, etc.

Points to Remember: Free account adds Lumen5 watermark on the exported videos

Part 3: FAQs About Windows 11 Video Editors

1. Does Windows 11 have Movie Maker?

The short answer is, no, it doesn’t. Microsoft removed Movie Maker from its operating systems long ago. Now, in Windows 11, it’s the Photos app that does all the work that Movie Maker used to do earlier.

2. Should you upgrade to Windows 11 for video editing?

Although Windows 11 is new and offers several advanced features, at the time of this writing, not all third-party apps have been upgraded by their corresponding vendors to become compatible with the OS. Therefore, you are suggested to wait until Windows 11 is rolled out for all the regions of the globe, and most of the apps, if not all, start working flawlessly on this new operating system.

Final Cut Pro X: Creating Stunning Titles for Your Videos

How to Add Titles in Final Cut Pro X

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

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/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

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/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

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/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

We add text titles to our projects to tell the audience something they can’t figure out on their own, such as the title of our program, the name of the person speaking, or technical details about a subject.

---

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/ )

---

Final Cut Pro X has almost 200 different text effects that we can add, but the process of adding titles is essentially the same. Adding titles is what this article is about.

DEFINITIONS

Just to keep us all on the same page, here are my definitions of key terms related to text:

• Text or titles. Words placed on the screen. I use these terms interchangeably.
• Superimpose. Text displayed on the the screen with other video below it. These are also called “supers” or “keys.”
• Full-screen. Text which occupies the entire screen.
• Lower-third. Text which fits below a person talking; in the “lower-third” of the screen.
• Info-graphics. Full-screen text which is superimposed on a graphic, generally used to convey technical information. Typical uses are sports statistics or other information which is easier to convey using text than having someone read the words.

JUST THE BASICS

I’d like to introduce “Yertle,” he’s a sea turtle and the star of this article. (Footage courtesy of Jim Walker and Lobsters Gone Wild Productions.)

At its simplest, we use titles to display his (its?) name.

In the Timeline, put the playhead where you want a title to appear and type Shift+Control+T. This inserts the default lower-third title at the position of the playhead. The title, like almost all titles, has a default duration of 10:00 seconds.

Look at the Browser and see the results of your work. A lower-third title is superimposed over the video in the lower left corner. (I’ll talk about formatting the text in a few paragraphs.)

NOTE: The big limitation of this lower-third title is that it can only be positioned in the left corner. Moving it to the center or right corner requires manual adjustment.

You position or trim a title the same as any video clip: drag the clip to a different location, or drag an edge to change its duration.

Select that title and delete it by pressing the Delete key.

This time, type Control+T and the default full-screen title appears in the center of the screen. Again, this has a default duration of 10 seconds.

If you look right in the center of the screen, you’ll see the word “Title.” Yes, its darn near invisible. And, yes, it looks, um, ugly. However, we have a TON of formatting control to make this look however we want.

Select and delete that full-screen title.

There’s one more way to apply a title: dragging from the Titles Browser.

Click the Title icon in the Toolbar. This displays the contents of the Title Browser. The column on the left displays title categories, the icons on the right indicate individual titles, the search box at the bottom allows you to search for specific titles by name, while the number in the lower right indicates the number of titles currently displayed. (Your number may not match mine because I’ve added a few custom titles to my system.)

Let’s add a totally ridiculous title to our turtle - drag Clouds from the Title Browser and place it above the clip at the point where you want a title to appear.

NOTE: I’m using a marker in the Timeline to help me find the same place in a clip so my screen shots are consistent. Markers are not needed in any way for titles.

Um, yeah. So, some titles look more professional than others… You can delete this title now.

So, we:

• Add titles using keyboard shortcuts
• Drag titles from the Title Browser
• Change position by dragging the title
• Change duration by dragging the edge of the clip
• Delete a title by selecting it and pressing the Delete key

CHANGING TEXT

Add a new full-screen title (type Control+T) to the Timeline. To change the text in a title, double-click it in the Viewer. Here, I’ve changed my title to “An Undersea Adventure.”

NOTE: We can also change the text using the Inspector. I’ll show you how in a few paragraphs. Pick whichever method is easiest for you.

All text, in any title, can be changed by double-clicking it in the Viewer to select it, then typing the new text you want to use.

FORMATTING TEXT

You can format any text that you can select. This means that you can format entire phrases, words, or individual letters differently. For this article, I will format everything the same, because once you know how this works, you can experiment on your own.

Here, I selected my entire title and opened the Inspector (shortcut Cmd+4). Click the Text tab at the top. This section of the Inspector allows you to format the text.

NOTE: The text box near the top of the panel is the second place you can select text for formatting.

If you want a fast way to format text, click the word “Normal” at the top. This displays a menu filled with different text formats. Some of these formats look pretty dreadful; the rest look worse.

NOTE: You can create your own text styles. Refer to the Help for information on how.

The Basic section of the Inspector allows you to change fonts, size, alignment… all the standard font settings we see in other programs. Here, I’ve changed the font to Hobo Std, at 167 points.

While many of these settings you already know there are a few you may not:

• Line spacing. Adjusts the vertical distance between lines within the same paragraph.
• Tracking. Adjusts the horizontal spacing between letters.
• Baseline. Adjusts the vertical spacing of text compared to the horizontal line running thru the center of the white circle in the Viewer.

The Face section allows us to change font color, opacity and blue. Outline and Glow allows us to add, not surprisingly, outlines and glows. You can adjust these as you see fit - I tend not to add outlines or glows.

However, I STRONGLY recommend adding drop shadows to all text that you want viewers to read. Video, even HD video, is low resolution compared to print. Drop shadows make your text much easier to read. These are the settings I recommend for drop shadows.

After making a few changes in the Inspector, here’s the final result. Very cool - and very different from where we started!

ACTION SAFE/TITLE SAFE ZONES

Since television was first invented, we needed to compensate for the differences in TV sets by designing graphics to stay within Action Safe and Title Safe boundaries.

While much of today’s video is designed for the web, your titles will look the best if you follow the same guidelines.

Titles015

Go to the Switch in the Viewer and select “Show Action Safe/Title Safe Zones.”

This displays two pale rectangles in the frame. The outer rectangle is called “Action Safe,” the inner one is called “Title Safe.” Action Safe is 5% in from all edges; Title Safe is 10% in from all edges.

When designing text and graphics for the web, keep all essential elements inside the outer rectangle. When designing graphics and text for broadcast or cable, keep all essential elements inside the inner rectangle.

Here, for example, notice that my title is fully contained within Action Safe.

SUMMARY

Titles give our programs character and personality, plus they explain what’s going on to the audience. Final Cut Pro X provides a wealth of formatting options to make our text look great.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Comcast vs TiVo: Which DVR Reigns Supreme ?

TiVo vs Comcast, Who Wins the DVR Battle?

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

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