Trying to choose a video editor can be difficult, especially for beginners. It is understandable if you’re tempted by some of the more expensive editors out there, but you should be aware that a more expensive editor isn’t necessarily the best option.
Instead if you want to choose a video editor that is right for you, there are several factors that you need to consider:
Type of editor
While video editors come in all shapes and sizes, they can be divided into a few main types. The basic editors are very light on features, but are often either free or very cheap. Next there are the editors with more comprehensive features that can range from $50 to $150, and the ‘prosumer’ editors that are several hundred. Last but not least are the fully professional editors that can end up setting you back several thousand.
User experience
The user experience is undoubtedly one of the most important factors, and you should figure out how user-friendly you need it to be based on your level of experience. If you’re a complete beginner opting for a user-friendly editor with comprehensive features may be a far better option than a prosumer or fully professional editor, as you’ll find it easier to use to edit your videos.
Supported input and export formats
It is important that you look for an editor that supports both the input and output formats that you may require. The input formats that you’ll need will be based on the output formats of the devices that you use to record videos. On the other hand the export formats should at least cater to some of the more popular options such as MP4 with H.264 or H.265 (HEVC).
Editing features
As far as editing features go, it is up to you to decide what tools you feel you’ll need. Most editors have the basic features to split, trim, combine, color correct, crop, apply filters, and so on. More advanced editors could have a slew of other features for multi-track editing, advanced audio editing, animation, and more.
Support and updates
Choosing an editor with a well-established track record of customer support is always a good idea so that you can easily get help if and when you need it. On top of that you should also find one with regular updates that fix issues or add improvements to the editor.
Try to consider all of these factors when you look at any editing software, and use them to gauge whether or not it is what you’re looking for. For example if you want you could check out Movavi Video Editor and see how the factors listed above apply to it.
All said and done your focus should be on choosing a video editor that enables you to edit your videos in the ways you need to. From the options available nowadays you should definitely be able to find one that fits the bill – regardless of how experienced or inexperienced you may be.