When Jawad Karim, YouTube’s co-founder, posted the first video, which was of himself at the zoo, he definitely didn’t use any editing software.
15 years later, YouTube has become the profession of many people, earning them a lot of money and fame. As the content exponentially increased, editing software became the Youtuber’s best friend.
Questions YouTubers Ask When Choosing Their Editing Software
There are so many types of editing software out there. They vary greatly in prices and options, so before investing in software, a professional YouTuber considers the following.
What Type of Videos do They Create?
First, they know well what kind of videos they will be creating. Some types of editing software are very limited in their options and their scope of visual effects. This was an optimal choice for me when all I needed was quick and easy content.
What’s Their Budget?
Another important aspect a YouTuber considers when deciding on software is the budget. There are some that ask you to pay thousands of dollars, others ask for an affordable monthly subscription, and of course, there’s the free option.
The main difference between these options is the extent to which they let the creator gain control over the video.
The priciest options have controllers for the minutest details. They also differ in the number of effects and transitions available.
Which Operating System Do They Work On?
Not all types of editing software are compatible with every computer. Software such as Final Cut Pro only works on Apple products.
Moreover, the video editing library is known for consuming the computer’s storage. One of the hacks that YouTubers use is ensuring that their computer’s specs are at least double of what the software requires.
What Video Editing Software Do Youtubers Use?
With all these different types of editing programs, I brought you a list of those I personally used and those recommended by many professional YouTubers.
Adobe Premiere Pro
There’s a reason why this software makes it to the top of my list. In my opinion, this is one of the most comprehensive editing software you can work on.
The value of Adobe Premiere Pro is doubled-on when you know that it works in sync with all other Adobe products. Meaning that you can move your material in and out the software in the most facilitated way possible.
The application is not expensive, however, you can’t buy the software outright. To gain access to the platform you have to pay a monthly fee.
If you are involved in large production projects, it’s advisable that you pay for the whole Adobe suite which includes Photoshop, After Effects, Bridge, and Audition.
The Positive Side
Adobe Premiere Pro has a thing for everyone. It’s a software that works well for both beginners and professionals.
It offers you endless visual effects that you can experiment with, coupled with a simple layout.
Another advantage of this software is that it’s compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. So you can easily navigate these systems without feeling any difference.
The Negative Side
Despite being user-friendly, the platform is known for being slow in the rendering stage.
Being so rich in solutions and options means that you normally won’t be using everything all at once.
This is why many people have been wishing if there is a lite version of the app where they can perform quick and easy edits on their videos.
Another issue to consider is that you need a powerful computer. This software is heavy, and without an equally powerful processor, it won’t be able to function properly.
What I Like Best About It
- Affordability
- Variety of options
- Compatibility with other programs
iMovie & Final Cut Pro
To begin with, iMovie is software for Apple users. The first advantage of this application is that it comes free with the computer.
Yet, that doesn’t mean that it’s not suited for real editing work. On the contrary, the software is capable of handling video editing projects from start to end.
It allows you to have multiple video and audio tracks. There are a considerable amount of transitions and effects.
However, the more you edit and master this application the more you get to feel that you want more. This is when you need to upgrade to Final cut Pro.
Final Cut Pro and iMovie are almost identical when it comes to the layout.
While being a pricier option, Final Cut Pro is a powerful, easy, and professional software that allows for advanced editing and a full-color grading suite.
The Positive Side
Final Cut Pro and iMovie are winners when it comes to the rendering speed of your project. They have this option which lets the clips and effects render while you are working.
This means that when you are finished and ready to export, the rendering will take almost no time at all.
Another advantage is that they allow for direct export to YouTube. This proved to be helpful in the amount of time, and space saved.
The Negative Side
Some people have complained about how the library is structured. It seems complicated since it works on 3 levels: library, project, and event.
Another complaint involves the software’s stability. If your machine is not strong enough expect that the application might crash often.
What I Like Best About Them
- The simple layout
- Speed
- The magnetic timeline
DaVinci Resolve
This platform is originally famous for its color grading capabilities. What many people don’t know is that it’s a professional editor as well.
The latest version of this software has introduced countless features, that made many people switch to this platform as their main editing tool.
The Positive Side
For some professional video editors, working on DaVinci Resolve is easier since they already have the software for color grading. Therefore, it’s preferable to have everything under one roof.
Moreover, DaVinci Resolve is compatible with all different operating systems. Whether you work on a Mac or Windows, the software will be equally beneficial.
The software has been praised for its stability. You can hardly catch it crashing as some other applications do. The rendering speed is also considered reasonable when compared to other competitors.
The Negative Side
The DaVinci Resolve has jumped to competition recently. Therefore, some editors are used to other types of software. The problem is that when they make the shift, the way this software works will seem unorthodox.
Another issue is that the manufacturing company keeps releasing updates quite often. If you are buying new software, you’ll want the newest version, not one that expires quickly.
While the editing software is free, there’s a more comprehensive studio version that is priced considerably high. The studio version includes everything in the free version in addition to a multi-user collaboration tool, 3D tools, and some VFX plugins.
What I Like Best About It
- The ability to edit and color in one place
- Heavy-duty software
Shotcut
While Shotcut might be the least famous among our list, I can assume that it’s the most suitable for your YouTube content.
This software is easy to learn and it’s quite intuitive. Meaning that you’ll require minimal tutorial (included in the software) to find your way through the tools.
The software delivers on all the basic editing tools. You can trim clips, add multiple tracks, adjust sound, adjust speed, and many other features. It also allows you to add text, and include transitions.
Additional options include the chroma key, splitting clips, and color grading features.
The Positive Side
If I am to sum up my experience with Shotcut, I’d say that it was smooth. This software keeps proving functional up until the end, when you find that it allows for many different output formats.
There is also the powerful options of working on a chroma key and doing some color grading.
The Negative Side
Being so fast and simple definitely comes at a price. The application is far from suitable for professional video makers. For example, it lacks the necessary modern-day feature of 360 VR or 3D support.
However, if your content strategy prioritizes the flow of content and the number of videos produced, you can opt for Shotcut.
If you are more into quality-based, sophisticated content, I advise that you consider the other options posted above.
What I Like Best About It
- Powerful despite being free
- Flexibility in exporting
- Decent amount of filters
Conclusion
A good video is not only about the software you’re using, it’s more about your creativity and the value you’re adding to your audience.
Before you check out what video editing software do YouTubers use, take some time to consider what type of videos you’ll be creating, your budget, and your computer’s capabilities and operating system.
When you get that right, all that’s left is to unleash your creativity and show the world what you have!
