The Studio version of Da Vinci Resolve costs nearly $1,000 — but the basic version is completely free. Better still it includes the same high quality image processing abilities as the pricier version, a powerful video editor, some of the best color correction capabilities on the planet and even works with external hardware panels for faster editing.
There are limitations of course, the main one is that Resolve can only output in SD, HD and Ultra HD (only!) which is likely going to be more than enough for most users. There are limitations on some of the more advanced grading and tracking tools too of course, but these limitations are mainly in place to convince professional users that they need to upgrade.
Best MacBook Pro for Video Editing: Buyer’s Guide in 2018 Apple didn't get its reputation for performance and accuracy from nowhere. Everything from phones to paper-thin notebooks are engineering to work efficiently, and this makes their MacBooks ideal for all levels of video editing. Mac laptops are generally designed to meet the hardware needs of video editing tools and software. No wonder why video editors prefer to invest in a Mac. However, with a wide range of options to select from, choosing the best laptop for video editing can be quite a challenge.
There may be quite a learning curve, but Da Vinci Resolve is one of the most powerful video editing suites on the planet and you get a hell of a lot for free.
Verdict: Powerful, feature-rich, with limitations that are mostly aimed at professional commercial users. Definitely worth a shot for free.
2) OpenShot
Built with the aim of providing a stable, free, and accessible video editor, OpenShot is a cross-platform open source video editor that’s been around since 2008. The project last received an update in August of 2016, with version 2.1 being released to the public.
The list of features has grown over the years to include great support for a variety of formats, keyframes for animation, unlimited video and audio tracks, transition and compositing support, titles, and a heap of extra features you’d expect from a modern video editor. Past criticisms have cited OpenShot’s reliability, but it’s still worth a shot for free.
Verdict: A great cross-platform open source option, with an impressive list of features. The interface feels a bit old-hat, which may put some users off.
3) Shotcut
Another free, open source, cross-platform video editor; Shotcut is still very much under active development. The features are just as impressive as OpenShot, but Shotcut also features a great-looking interface that more closely resembles a pro-tier application than a free open source effort.
In addition to supporting a wide range of video files and formats (including 4K video), Shotcut also includes great support for working with audio, an impressive list of video effects including compositing and transitions, and a flexible UI from which to work.
Verdict: Shotcut is definitely worth a look if you want a free and feature-rich video editor but can’t afford to drop hundreds on a premium package.
4) Blender
Blender is a free 3D modelling and compositing application that’s been used in some pretty high profile productions. What many don’t realise is that it’s also a capable non-linear video editor, provided you’re willing to take the time to learn.
We’ve written about Blender before at MakeUseOf, though with a focus on the 3D modelling aspect with only a brief mention of Blender’s potential as a non-linear video editor. It might not be pretty, it’s not exactly easy, and it won’t match the top-tier packages — but it’s not bad at all for free.
Verdict: Not purpose built, but powerful if you have the time to learn.
5) Lightworks
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Lightworks is one of the most powerful apps on this list, and I’d happily recommend it above all other packages if it wasn’t so restrictive for the free user. The free version includes video effects, multicam editing, titling, as well as the usual multi layered timeline approach you’d expect from a comprehensive editor.
Unfortunately rendering (exporting your project) is limited to 1080p output on Vimeo, and 720p output to YouTube. You can also render to Lightworks Archives, but there’s no proper H.264, MP4, or even DVD export options.
So while the toolkit is vast, Lightworks isn’t a very appealing free editor unless you’d like to thoroughly try it out for free and upgrade at a later time.
Verdict: A powerful editor with plenty of features, but rendering is restricted to 1080p on Vimeo and 720p on YouTube until you rent for $24.99 per month or buy outright at over $400.
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27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display
It's a common sense that professionals take iMac with Retina 5K Display to edit videos on Mac. All of the video editing requirements (perhaps with the exception of storage) leads naturally to the iMac with Retina Display. The base model of iMac 5K comes with a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel i5 and an AMD Radeon R9 M380 with 2GB of video memory. It comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, upgradeable to 32GB. You get a 1TB hard drive on the base model; up to 2TB Fusion Drive on the high-end model. And if you have enough money, you can upgrade iMac with Retina 5K Display to a better configuration, up to 4.0GHz quad-core Intel I7; an 3TB Fusion Drive, and a bigger graphics card - an AMD Radeon R9 M395X.
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What's more, it goes beyond just professor, graphics and storage. 5K Retina Display is a thing of glorious beauty. A test has shown that it displays 99 per cent of DCI-P3 color space with the highest contrast ratio. The iMac 5K is the perfect Mac for video editing because it enables you to edit 4K video at full size. There's no doubt about it: when it comes to speed and cost, you're best off with an iMac.