If you’re just starting to edit videos or you’re looking to learn then you’ve come to the right place. Video editing software can be very overwhelming at first but after reading through this guide, you are going to feel a lot more confident when tackling this beast.
What Computer Are You Using?
What computer are you using? The big competitors are Mac and PC, and a lot of people get stuck trying to determine which is better for video editing. The truth is that both of these operating systems are great for video editing, but whether it’s a PC or a MAC, you are going to want it to run fast and smooth. Find a computer with a fast SSD and at least 16GB of ram. You will also want a computer with a solid graphics card.
This will probably be quite an investment for you, but trust me, in the end you’ll be thanking yourself. Especially when your computer isn’t freezing on you every time you upload a new video clip into your editing software.
What Software Are You Using?
There are a ton of different video editing softwares to use out there. Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, and DaVinci Resolve are some of the top softwares right now. Here is a quick comparison of the three:
Premiere Pro is Adobe’s offering to the video editing software lineup. Premiere Pro is paid for via a monthly subscription. What’s great about Premier Pro is that it links with other Creative Cloud apps like After Effects and Adobe Audition so that you can exchange projects back and forth without having to export them. This will save you so much time in the future when you’re ready to start messing around with those programs. Premiere Pro is also the most used platform for video editing.
Final Cut Pro X is Apple’s exclusive video editing software. There is a one-time payment for the app. Final Cut Pro X is meant to work flawlessly with Apple’s Mac interface. It also offers amazing organization so that you can sift through your footage efficiently. If you’re using Mac, and you’re not going to be using other programs like After Effects, Final Cut Pro X is a great software to consider and look into.
Finally, DaVinci Resolve. DaVinci Resolve is the free offering on this list, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t hold its ground against the other two offerings. DaVinci Resolve takes pro’s such as speed and familiarity from both Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X. It also has outstanding color grading tools that really help it stand out. DaVinci Resolve is a great option if you’re looking for something free to start learning video editing on.
Get Good At Watching Others
YouTube is full of amazing and skillful video editors with so much insight. Take advantage of all the information out there. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been trying to edit something a certain way and been stuck.
By simply looking up a tutorial, not only was I able to finish my edit, I learned something new. Continually be learning from others and adding to your skillset.
Learn Keyboard Shortcuts
A keyboard shortcut is a quick way to pull up an editing tool that you may need. You would use a shortcut instead of searching through the software to find a specific function. When you’re editing video, knowing keyboard shortcuts is helpful beyond belief. Take some time to go through the most popular shortcuts and learn them. Click here to see the top 20 keyboard shortcuts used in Premiere Pro.
Conclusion
Video editing is not something that you learn overnight. It takes a lot of time, energy, and practice to learn and get the hang of it. No matter what software or computer you are using, take advantage of what they offer, and be willing to continually learn and progress yourself.
