Category: Video Editing
Video is becoming an ever-increasing important factor in the world of online marketing. Those who understand how to harness the power of video will undoubtedly reap the benefits from it. You only need to look to the popularity of YouTube to see how video has taken the internet by storm. Did you know that YouTube is the second most visited site on the internet? You are missing out on a tremendous opportunity if you’re not tapping into YouTube as a free traffic source.
Video is becoming an ever-increasing important factor in the world of online marketing. Those who understand how to harness the power of video will undoubtedly reap the benefits from it. You only need to look to the popularity of YouTube to see how video has taken the internet by storm. Did you know that YouTube is the second most visited site on the internet? You are missing out on a tremendous opportunity if you’re not tapping into YouTube as a free traffic source.
Here we’re going to talk about video editing software that’s free to use. You should know that video editing does take quite a bit of computer resources. Don’t be surprised if editing and rendering videos on your computer takes a long time. Those who edit videos daily tend to have computers that are built for the task.
If you’re short on funds, you may consider buying a second-hand video editing computer or a computer used by gamers. While you don’t have to go this route, it might be best to have a second computer. You won’t be able to use your computer for much of anything while it’s processing videos. The entire process to render video will sap all of the resources from your computer until the task is complete.
VirtualDub:
We debated on whether or not VirtualDub should be included in the list. It’s an old timepiece of software that does feel like it’s in the stone age. It’s free and open source. VirtualDub is a great no-frills video editor if all you want to do is take out segments of video. For example, you may want to edit out a blooper or cut out small pockets of mumbling. If that’s all you need to do, then this is an excellent piece of software to do it.
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The actual amount of video editing that you can do is minimal. If you’re new to video editing, then this isn’t exactly a bad thing. You’re not going to be able to do anything fancy with VirtualDub, and it’s extremely limited. With that said, it does have its uses. It’s well worth checking out for those projects where you need a simple editor to remove small amounts of videos. The software is also great for making GIFs.
Blender:
Blender is a free open source video editor that works across many platforms. It’s the gold standard of free video editing software. The average person reading this will naturally gravitate towards Blender do to its massive user base. That in itself means you’ll always have a community to fall back on if you ever have any questions.
All of that is good, but Blender is not easy software to learn how to use. You will have problems along the way and quite a bit of frustration. In all honesty, this is going to happen no matter what. You could use Adobe Premier and still have a ton of questions. Video editing is difficult, and there’s no way around it.
Blender should be the first full feature free video editor that you try. Downloading and installing the software is easy. You shouldn’t jump right in and begin to edit important videos right away.
It’s not going to happen like that at all. Instead, you should play around with editing and try out all of the buttons. It’s also a good idea to read a few tutorials and or watch some YouTube videos on how to use Blender. No one knows how to use sophisticated software like Blender without first learning the ropes. It’s just not possible.
Avidemux:
Avidemux is similar to VirtualDub in the sense that it’s very lackluster in options. It’s free and straightforward to use. If Blender feels too complicated and VirtualDub is too simple, then Avidemux could be a good choice. It can be used as a stepping stone to prepare yourself for more advanced video editing software.
You’re not going to be able to do anything overly fancy with Avidemux. If you’re new to editing videos, then anything advanced is already off the table anyway. You should think of this software as a good chance to get your toe in the water of video editing. Some may find it to be all they need, but most people will grow out of it and need something more complicated.
Shotcut:
Shotcut is another free open source video editor. Some say it’s much better than Blender. There are those who prefer one over the other, and we’re not going to pick sides. It’s one of those things that’s all about personal preference. Since both pieces of software are free, there’s nothing wrong with giving each of them a try. You won’t be out any money by seeing which one is best for you. It is complicated and does have a learning curve. It has that in common with Blender.
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Don’t be
surprised if you become frustrated when using Shotcut at first. It’s very
complicated, and you’ll make plenty of mistakes. There are online communities
where you can ask questions. Don’t hesitate asking questions as it’s the only
way you can learn. You should read all of the material online on how to use
Shotcut. It’s not possible to be a pro at it right out of the box. Anyone who thinks
it’s possible as a rude awakening ahead of them.
iMovie:
If you’re a Mac user, then you probably already know about iMovie. It comes free with the OS and well worth checking out. Though, the software has its limitations and isn’t as feature packed as some of this list. We don’t suggest that you run out and buy a Mac to have access to iMovie. You’d be better off sticking to a Windows machine and trying to something like
Avidemux instead if you want to go the simple route. If you do have a Mac, then it makes sense to use this software as a springboard to get you ready for the other video editing programs out there.
You will down the line require more power and versatility. When the need arises, that’s when you’ll know it’s time to move on.
Smartphone video editing apps
We’re going
to spend a little time talking about apps that can be used on your smartphone
to edit videos. It’s not recommended that you try to use a smartphone to edit
videos to be used to sell things online. These editors are probably best used
to make quick edits to videos that are for friends and family. It should also
probably be said that a smartphone doesn’t have a good enough camera to make
product videos. However, there may be situations where you want to make videos
using your smartphone and edit them. Sharing them on social media promoting
your product may be an okay use of them. For your main videos, use a good
camera and a computer to do video editing.
Magisto:
Magisto claims to use artificial intelligence to help you edit videos. It can be used to edit and produce great looking videos. There isn’t much of a learning curve, but that also means there aren’t many features. It’s an excellent app for those who want to do video editing for free. Those who wish to post edited videos to social media can make great use of this app.
FilmoraGo:
Don’t mistake this for the FilmoraGo that costs money to use on your desktop. The smartphone app is free and is pretty impressive. If you’re familiar with the desktop software, then you’ll want to check this out. It’s the same quality that you know and love. Using this app will enable you to do quick edits to improve your videos. You could always give this a try and maybe buy the desktop version later on. You’d already be somewhat familiar with the look and feel of the software. Upgrading to the desktop version for more options may be a good idea if you don’t mind spending $44.99 a year.
Don’t be intimidated by video editing
It doesn’t
take much effort to make great videos. It does take a bit of time to know the
ropes. There is a learning curve, and nothing can be done about that. The great
videos you watch on YouTube took time for someone to learn how to make. You’ll
be surprised by how much better your videos can be with just a little editing.
Down the line, it’s a good idea to buy a computer dedicated to video editing. Those who edit video professionally have computer systems that cost thousands of dollars. You don’t need to go that route. A second-hand desktop will do the job just fine and it doesn’t have to be a supercomputer. Search eBay for something in the few hundred dollar range.
It’ll be a great computer for simple video editing until you can afford something better. You will want a dedicated machine for video editing unless you don’t mind not being able to use your computer. If you don’t mind, then don’t buy a different computer. Just render the video when you’re not using the computer and everything will be fine.
The need
for video is going to increase over the years. Video gives the customer a
unique view of products that bring them to life. It also gives you the
opportunity to connect with customers on a different level. By making the most
out of video, you’ll pull in more customers. You’ll be able to channel social
media and YouTube and funnel customers to your sites. Beyond that, you may also
have products that need videos made for them. Nothing gives the end user a view
of the product like a video. It gives you the chance to show the item in use,
and this can increase your conversions.