Mac vs. PC. A debate that live on for years to come, but there is really only one that is best for photographers. Read on to find out which.
But Apple's brand new iMac Pro is the new daddy of computers for designers: if you have the cash, this is the best video-editing computer currently on the market. (If you're after a more affordable model, try the excellent iMac at number two, above.). Overall, the Mac Mini is an excellent choice for music production. Click here to checkout the Mac Mini on Amazon; Click here to read user reviews; View used listings on eBay. Without a doubt, the Macbook Pro is the best laptop for music production. Out of all of the few laptops that Apple offers, the Pro model is the most powerful. If you're going to be editing 4K video, you will need a MacBook Pro with discrete graphics. The only MBP with discrete graphics on the refurb store is $2,039. You might be able to get away with the Iris on-board GPU for 4K though. If you want to do things like serious photo, video, or audio editing, this is the Mac for you. Use Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or Logic Pro X on a regular basis? You probably need a MacBook Pro.
Oct 2015 Update: Be sure to check out the Windows Photo Editing SUPER Guide article for updated recommendations on the best low price options for PCs that will run Photoshop and Lightroom well – including what hardware is worth spending more money on and what is not!
Short Answer
It depends! I hate it when photographers do that to me. OK, so bottom line is that either can work fine, but you have to spend the money to get the hardware you need. Really this article is mostly for the PC user who are into photography. If you are a Mac user, I doubt you are tempted to switch to a PC because you are a photographer. In fact, you may be a Mac user because you are a photographer, and that is great. You Mac users may be interested in the end of the article where I provide recommendations on which hardware upgrades are actually worth the money to make sure it can do a good job editing photos.
Now for you PC users. You are probably hearing constantly about doing photo editing on Mac. You may be seriously tempted to get a Mac just because you hear so much about it from the photography community. Maybe you are curious about if it really is better than the PC. You may want to give it a try and determine for yourself, especially if it is time to invest in a new computer, but if things are going fine for you with editing your photos on a PC then my recommendation is to stick with what you know. Why put a kink in your workflow and go away from what you know?
There, a photographer just gave you permission to use a PC for editing photos.
Instead of switching platforms from PC to Mac, your photography will improve much more by investing in lenses (check out my article recommending a “nifty fifty” lens as the second thing a beginner should buy), other equipment, and training (check out Jim and Darin’s awesome training courses at photoclasses.com).
Whether Mac or PC, I know how seriously frustrating it is to try and edit photos on a computer that doesn’t have enough power. Maybe you are still using the computer you had before you started into photography, and it isn't up to the challenge. If that's you, it is time to invest in a newer computer. Read the long answer to go through reasons to pick one over the other, but really neither has a huge advantage and I think it makes the most sense to stick with what you know.
Check out the last two sections of this article for help in the specifications of what you need in a computer (PC or Mac) for a good photo editing experience.
Long Answer
I think it would be easier to discuss religion or politics than to take a side on the Mac vs. PC debate. It is a debate that seems among photographers to be second only to the Canon vs. Nikon (or Sony, or Panasonic, or any of the other manufacturers). The discussion is a little easier when you put a photography related slant on it, but it can still be fairly heated.
Still, as the hobbyist editor here at improvephotography.com my job is to take a view on these kinds of things and recommend something based on my own experience as well as what I have learned from other great photographers. Remember this when you comment on the post, but please do comment.
At some point it is likely to become necessary to get a better computer than what you had when you started into photography. Photoshop, Lightroom, and many other photo processing tools run much better when you have a good computer. That machine you bought online for $200 last Christmas is simply not going to work well.
You can make due for some time, and you should for as long as you can. But when processing a shoot takes twice as long as it should because you are CONSTANTLY waiting for your computer, or the display connected to your computer is not good enough (1080p HD is NOT enough), you will want to do something about it.
At the point when you have decided it is time and the next photography investment you are going to make is a new computer, think of it in the same you think about investing in a new lens and be prepared to spend as much in a lot of cases. Check out the last part of the article here on recommendations of what the minimum hardware should be in both Mac and PC computers to make editing photos go well.
Why Should You Listen To Me?
Like the other articles I have authored for this website, I am writing this shortly after having gone through exactly this dilemma. I realized very quickly that even a as a beginning photographer I needed to “post process” my photos on the computer (see my article here about why a beginner needs Adobe Lightroom) in order to make my shots look anything close to those I was seeing online.
Although I consider myself to be a fairly solid hobbyist photographer at this point, I am still relatively new to photography. However, as an IT professional who has worked on and with computers for more than 20 years, I know computer hardware and software pretty well. I have built computers, written software for computers, and as of writing this article my full time job is to architect solutions for very large computer systems for a large financial institution. It is a subject area I have more qualifications to speak to than any other photography subject.
All that said, as I was trying to learn about photography any way I could (podcasts, YouTube, books, etc.) it felt like I was constantly being told that I needed a Mac in order to have photo editing go well. It seemed like every YouTube video was done on a Mac, ever podcast was about how the new Mac was so awesome, and every photographer I talked to was using a Mac. It was a full on Mac attack, and I am a PC user.
I was editing my photos in Lightroom and had become frustrated that the PC laptop I was running it so … s l o w l y. The laptop was dated and I knew that even if I wasn’t doing photo editing it was time to upgrade the hardware. Given all of the hype from the photography community about Mac, I was wondering if I should dump all of my limited hobbyist photography budget on a Mac, or save some $$$ and stick with PC?
Hopefully my story sounds familiar to some of you, especially the beginners out there who are just getting started into photography. If so, let me take you through a few questions you probably have.
Doesn’t Adobe Software Run Better on Mac?
Mac fanboys are probably going to disagree, but my experience has been that Adobe tools like Photoshop and Lightroom do not necessarily run better on a Mac vs. a PC. I believe they used to several years ago, although I don’t have personal experience with it from before 2011 to say for sure.
In fact, before Apple switched the architecture of the Mac from PowerPC to Intel in 2006, Adobe had to write their software products very differently for Mac than for PC due to the architecture differences. So I am pretty sure there really was something to this years ago, I just don’t think there is much to it today.
Like so many other things in life, you get what you pay for in a computer. There is a reason those cheap $200 PCs don’t really work that well for nearly anything. If a PC has equivalent hardware to a Mac, it will run Adobe software products just as well as a Mac. Really the biggest difference then is the cost (Mac is more expensive – initially) and personal preference of Windows vs. OSX – which can be extremely important.
If you are using a PC, I think you should stick with what you know best because I don’t think either has a big advantage over the other to run post processing software.
Don’t Macs Have Fewer Problems?
This is an area where I will give a very slight nod to the Mac, agreeing that in general they seem to have fewer issues than PCs. Again, you get what you pay for, and there is a reason a Mac has more of a “premium” initial price than a PC. Well, okay, it could be just because Apple can. No, Apple really does put a lot of work into making sure you have a good product in your hands when you fork over that much of your hard earned money. I am truly convinced this is a real difference between Mac and PC. Unfortunately, it seems Apple is also becoming a victim of their own success and the quality control has gone down as the demand has gone up.
I often hear the argument come up very quickly that PCs are virus magnets whereas Macs are impervious to malware problems. This is actually a topic very near and dear to my heart, but this isn’t an article on the topic of computer security, so let’s just say that there is more in it for the bad guys to write viruses for Windows. So yes, you are more likely to have a problem with malware on a PC than on a Mac.
Can a PC work without major problems? Can a PC be kept clean from viruses? Do Macs ever have problems? Yes, yes, and yes. Is this a reason to pick a Mac over a PC? Maybe. It may make sense if you are, or will be, doing photography professionally to save yourself from also having to be a PC technician by getting a Mac. Just remember that Macs are still computers, and all computers have technical problems (after all the hardware in the Mac is the same as in some good PCs).
If you aren’t used to a Mac, a PC will be just fine, so long as it isn’t a bargain basement model. I think it makes a lot of sense to stick with what you know.
Aren’t PCs MUCH Less Expensive?
As I have alluded to earlier in the article here, in general PCs are less expensive than Macs – at least initially. And that word “initially” is the key. The upfront cost of a PC that has almost exactly the same hardware can be as much as 50% less than a Mac. This is why many PC fanboys will often refer to the “Apple Tax” when you talk about Macs. But the truth is, unless you build a PC yourself, many of the PC models from the big box vendors like HP and Dell usually end up with some durability problems. They just don’t seem to last very long. Best external hard drive for mac book air. Sigh.
The PC business is pretty much as cutthroat as it gets. The margins have gone down to the point that the manufacturers have to sell a ton of them to make any money. As they are building them they cut every corner they possibly can. It is worse for laptops than desktops. So you may be able to buy a PC for considerably less money than a Mac, but the Mac may last longer.
Will a Mac last long enough to make the higher initial cost worth it? Maybe. Depends a lot on your use. I think it is very similar to a car. The same car will last much longer for the old lady driving to church on Sundays vs. a teenager.
To me the costs of a computer, the full costs from beginning to end, depends on how much you know about PCs and computer hardware. Apple has chosen to make their computers much less upgradeable by anyone but them. There are some good reasons to do so, but you can’t replace almost anything yourself very easily on many of the most recent models. PCs on the other hand are much more open. Desktops a lot more so than laptops, but without too much trouble you can replace RAM, a hard drive, video card, and even a processor if you wanted to. This can help you increase the hardware in your computer a bit more slowly like I did, where I added almost one thing at a time. Takes some knowledge. Takes some time. But if budget is one of your key concerns you can minimize the up front investment.
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If you are a beginner on a tight budget and are willing to be your own tech support then you can potentially save quite a bit of money on a PC and use the rest on photography gear! But be aware, even though the number may be smaller than the up front cost of a Mac, it still takes a good sized amount of money to build a PC good enough for editing photos. In the end I don't think the cost is all that different, at least not 50% less.
Desktop or Laptop?
Another trend I heard constantly from photographers was the use of laptops for photo editing. Maybe this has to do a lot with the Mac line of computers having a sweet spot with the laptop form factor with their MacBook models. Maybe there are just a lot more photographers who are constantly on the go and need a more mobile solution. Whatever the reason, I think this is one you really need to consider carefully.
Desktops are quite simply better for editing photos. Yes, that is a blanket across the board statement. Mac or PC, a desktop will run your editing software better than a laptop for less money. MacBooks are very capable of running editing software if you make sure they have some essential upgrades (see the Mac Recommendations section below). In fact, I think MacBooks are better suited than nearly anything from the PC world in the way of laptops. That is changing a bit, the “ultrabook” line of PC laptops are finally competing fairly well with MacBooks and some of the stuff shown by PC makers at CES 2015 looks really interesting. But going back to the cutthroat market of PCs I will bring up again how the vendors cut every corner they possibly can. I have owned numerous PC laptops over the years and haven't been truly happy with any of them – especially for photo editing.
As good as a MacBook can be, I still recommend a desktop. Laptop screens are mostly terrible. The MacBook retina screens are beautiful, but tiny. I have been shocked as I moved from a 24″ full HD (1920×1080) screen to a 30″ WQXGA (25650×1600) IPS screen at just how important this is for editing photos. There is a reason creative professionals are willing to spend $2,400 on a super high quality Eizo monitor (check out monoprice.com for great monitors for far less money), it really matters.
In general you can get more CPU, more RAM, and more disk with less money in a desktop than a laptop. Desktops also tend to last longer because heat is an enemy to computers and laptops are in such small packages their heat battle is going to be lost faster. Think through this one very carefully. If you REALLY need mobility then you have no choice and should use a laptop, but I suspect that for many who claim this to be a requirement their laptop actually rarely leaves their desk and they would have been better off with a desktop.
PC Recommendations (early 2015)
When I was faced this dilemma I knew both the Mac and the PC pretty well, so my own choice actually came down to cost. I knew how to build and maintain a PC very well, and could get a lot more hardware for the dollars by doing that. I decided that for me it was better to minimize my investment on computer hardware, end up with a PC better suited for photo editing, and save the rest of the budget for other photography gear.
Even though I had a lot of experience with computers, I didn’t have a lot of experience with photo editing software and understanding what hardware actually makes a difference. So I did quite a lot of research and was able to do some testing to see specifically what makes a difference.
Unfortunately there are too many PC manufacturers for me to recommend a specific model. I don't think in the PC world there is actually all that much difference between them. Some PC makers do better at customer support than others, although even that seems to change depending on who you ask. I will say that I doubt any of the PCs you find in a box at the store are going to meet your needs. Go online and customize your order based on the recommendations below.
Here is my advice on what things are worth “upgrading” in a PC to make sure it will run Photoshop and Lightroom well. Remember, this is very photography focused and is not a recommendation for a gaming or video editing PC (that would start off with maxing out the CPU and have some other differences). The recommendations are in order of priority to help you decide how to get it configured as you are ordering from a PC maker or if you are brave enough to try a custom build (Be sure to check out the Windows Photo Editing SUPER Guide article for updated recommendations):
If you are interested in building your own PC there are plenty of DIY build recommendations and instructions out there to make this very possible. It sounds really intimidating at first because hardware has such confusing names and not everything can fit together. But I can recommend Paul’s Hardware Channel and the PCDIY channel on YouTube along with the digital video editing DIY build recommendations from videoguys.com.
Mac Recommendations (early 2015)
You don’t have nearly as many different ways to configure a Mac as you do a PC, really just a few choices. I thought I would break out my recommendations for Mac differently that I did for PC based on the model choices from least expensive (not cheap) to outrageous
Mac mini
The Mac mini is the entry level machine from Apple really designed for people switching from a PC. It is a tiny little desktop computer that packs quite a lot of punch into a small space, and will run Photoshop and Lightroom very well. If after reading this article you think you might like trying a switch from a PC, this would be a really good way to try it out and see how you like the world of Mac. Here is how I would configure it minimally for photo editing (about $1,000):
MacBook Air
The entry level laptop from Apple is very nice as far as a laptop goes. It gives you probably the ultimate in portability, but you will honestly get more power out of the Mac mini for less money. Here is how I would configure it minimally for photo editing (about $1,300):
MacBook Pro
PC manufacturers are catching up (some of them shown at CES 2015 looked pretty nice) but the MacBook Pro is arguably the best laptop money can buy and is awesome for photo editing. The Mac mini offers roughly the same power here, with 4x more storage, for less money, but here is the minimal configuration I recommend (about $1,800):
You’ll notice that I recommend the Apple Magic Mouse with each one, that’s because the mouse is so good it is worth the money to get one. I would also recommend that with either of the MacBook models you should also get a monitor to use with them when you are in your office. Editing photos on those tiny screens, nice as they are (and they are incredible), is not great. The Apple Thunderbolt Display would be a really good choice, but at $1,000 that pretty much doubles your cost. Yikes.
iMac
Apple just revamped the iMac in late 2014, making it one of the most desirable desktop computers for photo editing due to the 5k display. As of the writing of this article there aren’t really 5k options available for the PC world, and I can confirm that even as a hobbyist a high resolution monitor is a VERY big deal.
Could you save some dollars and consider the previous model iMac? Absolutely. You will still get a very good display with it, just not 5k. And the iMac has been a good machine very capable of doing photo editing for quite some time. In fact, at this point I think it is a fair statement across all these Mac models to say that a previous generation model will work pretty well – just look for the RAM.
Here is my minimum recommendation for an iMac, which isn’t the 5k version (Jim reports that the difference seems TINY to him), but isn’t the smallest model either (about $2,200):
Mac Pro
Now we enter the world of insanity for many. The Mac Pro is an incredibly powerful machine, but I don’t recommend it for a beginning photographer. It is something more for a power video editor. Of course you could edit photos on it without the machine breaking a sweat, but it is overkill in my opinion and you are much better served to spend the cash on lenses.
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I don’t need to provide a minimum configuration here because anything you order of a Mac Pro is going to rock Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro. The most inexpensive Mac Pro starts at about $3,000, which may seem not too bad when you compare it with the iMac because that is only $800 more. Wait, did I just say ONLY $800? But there is no monitor that comes with that, so you have to add that on top ($1,000 thunderbolt display). So you could get an iMac and a MacBook Air for less than a Mac Pro and monitor, which would be better in my opinion.
Conclusion
A PC user doesn’t have to switch to a Mac in order to have a good experience editing photos. I think it makes a lot of sense for a photographer to stick with what they know. At some point it may make sense to go to Mac from PC, especially if you are a professional photographer, but it is really a matter of personal preference and neither has a big advantage over the other. Just make sure you have enough hardware for the job in whichever you choose.
OK, so now let me have it in the comments below ?
Video editing has become a very popular and coveted skill. Since the success of many YouTube entrepreneurs, everyone seems to be trying their hands on it. If you are one of those people or someone who is truly looking to make career out of it, you will need a good video editing software as your companion. Depending on your goals and budget, the software you choose will differ from person to person. If you are just starting out as a beginner, you might prefer a free video editing software over the paid ones. Also, the editing software for a Windows user might differ from someone using a Mac or Linux computer. Some of you might even be into motion graphics and 3D-rendering. What I want to say is that there’s no one video editor which will suit everyone in this world. Hence, we have created a list which we think will cover most of the needs of people. So, ready to find out the best video editing software for you?
15 Best Video Editing Software 2018
Because there are so many good options out there, to make it easier for you, in this article, we have divided the video editing software into several categories. Now, one thing to note here is that the categorization is not hard and fast, and hence, editing software mentioned in one category can be used for other categories also. However, if a video editor is mentioned in one category, it means that it is more suited for that work. With that out of the way, let’s begin.
1. Adobe Premiere Pro
When it comes to video editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro is the first one that you will hear and that too for good reasons. Think of a feature, any feature that you might need in a video software, and I will bet that Premiere Pro has it. The editor is not only powerful but also has a clean and familiar interface. But, the best part about using Adobe Premiere Pro is the ecosystem that it supports. Every other tool that Adobe offers you connects seamlessly with Premiere Pro. Whether you are using Photoshop for photos, After Effects for animations, or Adobe Audition for audio editing, everything plays nicely with the Premiere Pro. When you are buying the Premiere Pro, you are not just buying a video editor rather you are entering an ecosystem which gives you access to some of the best creative tools out there. For that reason alone, I recommend Premier Pro over any other video software in the world.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: MP4, MPEG, MPE, MPG (MPEG-1, MPEG-2), M2V (DVD-compliant MPEG-2), MTS (avchd), MOV, FLV, AVI Supported Output Formats: H.264: AAC, 3GP, MP4, M4V, HEVC (H.265), MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, among others Price: $19.99/month (Billed annually) 2. Final Cut Pro X
If you are a Mac user, I don’t think you should even consider buying any other editing software other than Final Cut Pro X. The only reason to choose any other software like Premiere Pro over the Final Cut is if you had already invested considerable time in learning some other video editor and just switched to Mac. However, if you are just starting out, Final Cut Pro is the best option for you as it is a beast on a Mac. Apple’s software are just so in sync with their hardware that you get the best possible performance. However, performance is not only the play here, as Final Cut is as powerful as any other video editor on this list. Not only that, if you are a beginner and ready to invest time and money in this software, you will find that it is one of the easier video editing software to get used to. As I said, if you are on a Mac and you can afford it, buy this one without hesitation.
Supported Platforms: macOS
Supported Input Formats: H.264, Apple Animation codec, Apple ProRes (all versions), AVHCD, DVCAM, DVCPRO, and more Supported Output Formats: Apple Pro-res, H.264, HDV, MPEG, and HDV among others Price: $299.99 3. Avid Media Composer
Generally I don’t suggest Avid Media Composer to anyone because it’s such a high-end product, however, recently the company has released a free version of their video editor called the “Avid Media Composer | First” and it’s a great news for all the budding video editors out there. If you have not heard about Avid before, it’s because it is a software used by professionals taking on big projects. Your favourite movies and tv-shows are edited on Avid. Movies like the Guardian of Galaxy (vol. 2), the Martian, and Baby Driver have been edited using Avid. So, know this, if you are trying to take on a big project, like a feature film or a tv-series Avid is the industry leader here. That being said, the pro version of Avid costs you $49.99/month and there’s that. However, since they have released a free version with restrictions which will only affect users who want the full power of the editor, it has become accessible to normal customers. So, if you want to experience a true professional grade video editor give Avid Media Composer | First a try.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: MPEG, DV, DVPRO, H.264, XDCAM, MPEG-4, AVCHD, and more (click here to learn more) Supported Output Formats: MPEG, DV, DVPRO, H.264, AVC, AVC-Intra, MP4, and more (click here to learn more) Price: (Free, $49.99/month) Best Editing Software For YouTube
Any of the above video editors will work great for budding YouTube editors, however, every one of them will also cost you a lot that is if you don’t go for the free version of Avid Media Composer. That being said, if you are just starting out, you should start with a software which is not only fairly cheap but is also easy to learn. The video editors mentioned in this section are cheap and easy to learn than those mentioned above. Again, if you want the best of the bunch, choose one from the above, however, I would suggest first you start with any of these and then upgrade yourself as get more comfortable with video editing.
1. Shotcut
If you are a budding YouTuber and you need a software which is not only free but also doesn’t cut down on features, look no further than Shotcut. Shotcut is an open source and free video editor which provides you with all the editing tool you will ever need. Since the editor is open source and completely free, if you are just starting out, it’s a great place to learn the basics of video editing without investing any money. Most of the video editors follow the same editing basics, hence once you are ready to move to a professional grade editing software like Premiere Pro or Final Cut, the switch won’t be that hard. The best part about using Shotcut is that despite being free it doesn’t cut down on too many features. The editor supports a wide variety of video and audio formats with a good selection of effects and color correction tools. Also, Shotcut is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux, so no matter which OS you are running, you can install and use Shotcut on your device.
Top 5 Smart Journal Apps. December 30, 2017. Mac, and iOS along with their support for Android and Chrome via an extension. Day One has expanded adding support for Android and has begun to add some limited cloud functionality which allows you to sync data and view it, albeit read only for now. Can you suggest the best app with these. Best video journal for mac. Discover the innovative world of Apple and shop everything iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV, plus explore accessories, entertainment, and expert device support. The Best Journaling Apps. Day One (Mac, iOS, Android) Best for writing quick journal entries in a simple, intuitive interface. Best for dictating journal entries and seamless integration with Windows. Diarium is the highest-rated journaling app in the Windows 10 App Store. Compared to other journaling apps on any platform, Diarium. May 21, 2018 Get a digital camera with video recording capabilities, a digital video camera, or even just a web cam. This will be your main instrument, since it will be how you record your video journal in. The 10 Best Journal Apps for Your Mac Jacob Penderworth on November. One of the most distinguishing features about this particular app is its support for recording video with your Mac’s built-in iSight camera without leaving the app. Capture 365 Journal is a sort of mix between Day One and a skeumorphic calendar with a large + button.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Supported Input Formats: Based on FFmpeg hence supports most of the video formats Supported Output Formats: H.264, WebM, ProRes, MPEG-2, and others Price: (Free) 2. Hit Film Express
If you are looking for a full professional grade video editor which is also free, Hit Film Express is your best bet. The only con of using this software is the one which is same for any professional grade software, that is, you will have to invest a considerable amount of time in learning it. On the scale of video editor learning process, this one falls on the harder side. However, if you are ready to invest your time, Hit Film Express can become the only editing software that you are ever going to need. It has everything that you will need to support your expanding editing skills. The editor supports almost every know video and audio format and has over 180 visual effects which you can use. The company also keeps a great selection of free tutorials which can get you started. However, as I said earlier, you will need to invest a considerable amount of time in learning this one. Also, the editor is a little heavy on the resources so you will need a good system to run it smoothly.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: MP4, H.264, AVCHD, QuickTime Import, AVI, M2T, M2TS, MTS, MXF (DVCPro HD), DV, HDV, and WMV among others. Supported Output Formats: MP4, H.264 among others Price: (Free – Can add extra functionality at $349) Best Video Editing Software For Beginners1. iMovie
iMovie is my favourite video editor to I recommend to beginners. It’s a shame that the software is exclusive to macOS and hence neither Windows nor Linux user can enjoy this editor. However, If you do own a Mac, you must know that iMovie comes pre-installed with your Mac which essentially makes it free. But that’s not what makes it best for beginners. The best part about iMovie is its simple and intuitive interface which is really easy to figure out, even without help. Also, Apple’s optimisation makes iMovie a really snappy editor which can be used even on older Macs without any problem. As a beginner, iMovie is the best video editor you can use on a Mac. I say this especially because iMovie acts as a really good primer for Final Cut Pro, which you are essentially going to use as you get more and more comfortable with video editing and iMovie no longer satisfies your requirements.
Supported Platforms: macOS
Supported Input Formats: DV, HDV, AVCHD, Apple Intermediate Codec, Apple Animation Codec, Motion JPEG/A, iFrame, h.264, some, but not all, varieties of MP4, MOV. Supported Output Formats: H.264, HDV, Apple Pixlet Video, Apple VC H.263, MPEG, and HDV among others Price: (Free) 2. Adobe Premiere Elements
If you are a Windows user and looking for a good video editing software which is capable yet beginner friendly, Adobe Premiere Elements is to the software to go for. I know at $99.99, it is not exactly cheap, however, I still think that it is good for beginners who are willing to spend a little money. Those looking for a free alternative should go for Shotcut, which I mentioned earlier (best video editors for YouTube). I prefer Premier Elements because of a few reasons. Firstly, just like iMovie acts as a great primer for Final Cut, Premiere Elements is the stepping stone to Premiere Pro. If you see yourself as a professional video editor few months down the line, you should start in such a way that you can reach there. You will have to switch to a professional grade video editing software in the future, so why not start with something which will help you do just that. For me, that alone is a reason you should consider this one. You will also love it sleek interface along with its natural and intuitive editing environment. It also comes with all the horsepower that you will need as a beginner. if you are serious about video editing, you should start with this one.
Supported Platforms: macOS, Windows
Supported Input Formats: H.264 (.mp4, .m4v), H.264-encoded QuickTime (.mov, .mp4, .m4v), MPEG-1 (.mpeg), MPEG-2 (.m2v, .mpg) and others. Supported Output Formats: H.264 (.mp4), H.264-encoded QuickTime (.mov, .mp4),MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and others Price: ($99.99) Best Software Available for All Platforms (Windows, macOS and Linux)
In a world which is dominated by Windows and macOS, Linux users are often neglected when it comes to creative software such as video editors. While, it is true that most of the mainstream professional grade video-editing software doesn’t offer a Linux counterpart, there are some really good options available for Linux users. We already covered one such option in our YouTube subsection which is Shotcut. Here are some more options that you can look at:
1. Lightworks
If you are looking for a professional-grade video editing software for Linux, it doesn’t get better than Lightworks. What best about Lightworks is that it offers a free version along with its paid version. So, if you are just starting out you can start with the free version and then upgrade to the paid version, once you are comfortable with your video editing skills. The company also offers a good selection of tutorial videos to get you started on your video editing journey. When it comes to features, Lightworks doesn’t disappoint. The editor natively supports almost all the video formats you can think of. When it comes to exporting the software comes with a dedicated web export (MPEG4/H.264), so your videos are share-ready as soon as you complete your editing process. It also supports multi-cam editing and can support 4K content really well. The bottom line is, this is one of the best professional-grade video editing software you can get on Linux, Period.
Supported Platforms: Linux, Windows, and macOS
Supported Input Formats: MPEG-2 I-Frame SD, Apple Pro Res, DVCAM / DVCPRO 25, AVCHD (M2T, M2TS, MPEG4, H.264) and others Supported Output Formats: Web-compatible file (MPEG4/H.264), WebM, Blu-ray and others Price: (Free, $24.99 to $437.99) 2. OpenShotBest Mac For Video Editing 2015 Video
The best part about using Linux is that most of the software available for Linux are open-source and free. So, if you are just getting started OpenShot can be a very good option for you. OpenShot is an incredibly good free video editing tool. Its interface is clean and easy to get around and is backed by a great set of professional video editing tools including 3D-rendering, video effects, animations, keyframes, and more. Despite being open source, the software is constantly updated to bring you new features and smooth performance. The software is built on powerful FFmpeg library hence it can read and write most video and image formats. For a Linux user, OpenShot is a great place to start.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Supported Input Formats: Based on FFmpeg hence supports most of the video formats Supported Output Formats: H.264, WebM, ProRes, MPEG-2, and others Price: (Free) Best Editing Software For Color CorrectionDaVinci Resolve
While all the other video editing software do offer built-in color correction tools, none of them offer as extensive control over color correction as DaVinci Resolve. This video editor started its journey as a color correction tool which slowly evolved into a full-fledged video editor. Needless to say, color correction still remains its biggest weapon that it can hold over other professional grade video editing software. In fact, its color correction tools are so good that it’s the default choice for film and tv-series makers for color grading purposes. Apart from its extensive color correction toolset, DaVinci resolve offers a familiar multi-track timeline with quick edit pop-up and customisable keyboard shortcuts. It also offers a plethora of video transitions and effects along with features like multi-cam editing, keyframes, speed effects and more. DaVinci Resolve is a very competent video editing software, with the best color correction tools to go with it.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: QuickTime, AVI, R3D, MXF, Prores, DNxHD, MXF, DPX, CIN, EXR and others Supported Output Formats: H.264, HDV, MPEG, and others Price: (Free, Pro-version is sold through offline stores – for more info click here) Best Software For Motion Graphics and Visual Effects![]() Adobe After Effects
Okay, I know that this is not strictly a video editor, however, I still wanted to include this on the list for people who are mainly looking to create graphics and visual effects for videos. In fact, learning Motion Graphics and Visual Effects has become a required skill set for any video editor. If you call yourself a video editor, you need to learn at least the basics of motion graphics, and there is no software better than Adobe After Effects which can help you do that. Whether you use Final Cut or Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects is the go-to tool for editors who want to add motion graphics and visual effects to their videos. Whether you are a beginner or a Pro video editor, if you want to get into things like motion graphics, visual effects, animations, and special effects, this is the place to start.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: MPEG, MP4, M4V, M4A, MOV, AVI, WAV and others. Supported Output Formats: MOV, OMF, AVI, 3GP, 3G2, AMC, and more. Price: ($19.99/month – billed annually) Best Editing Software For 3D ModellingBlender
Just like After Effects, Blender is also not your normal video editing software, rather it’s a tool for creators who want to get into 3D Modelling Field. Truth be told, Blender does come with a full-fledged built-in video editor and theoretically you can create and produce a full movie just using Blender, however, I would not recommend that. However, if you want to get into 3D modeling, Blender is the software to do it with. The primary reason I suggest Blender over any other 3D Modelling software is because it is an open source software and is totally free. If you have done your research you might know that a 3D modeling software along with their various plug-ins doesn’t come cheap, hence, not many of us can afford them. Secondly, Blender is a cross-platform app with support for Mac, Windows, and, Linux. However, Blender also has a weakness. It has a very steep learning curve and hence you might find the software a bit intimidating at first. However, if you are ready to invest time to learn this software, you won’t find any missing feature here.
Best internet security for mac. Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux
Supported Input Formats: OBJ, FBX, 3DS, PLY, STL, and more Supported Output Formats: OBJ, FBX, 3DS, PLY, STL, and more Price: (Free) Beginners and Professionals
We have already covered a lot of video editing software, however, if for some reason none of them satisfy your needs, these are some other popular and good video editing software that you might want to consider. I know people who don’t like to buy Adobe products as they employ a subscription-based price. Many people don’t own a Mac, hence Final Cut is out of the picture. Basically, if there is any reason which is stopping you from investing time and money on any of the above-mentioned software, here are some other great options for you.
1. Sony Vegas Pro 15
Sony Vegas Pro has always been one of the best video editing software in the market. I love Sony Vegas Pro because of its built-in audio editing features. While other editing software like Final Cut and Premiere Pro provide some control over audio editing, Vegas Pro brings a full-fledged audio editor. It allows you to edit high-res multi-track audio to match with your video quality. The Vegas Pro 15 is bringing numerous new features including support for high-end graphics cards, a totally flexible workflow environment, powerful new tools and other minor improvements to make your editing journey as smooth as possible. The software comes in 3 different versions with each of them asking for a one-time payment. There’s no subscription-based pricing here.
https://evermate628.weebly.com/blog/best-free-media-player-for-mac. Besides, the main UI gives the direct sign to access videos from hard drive on computer. With the support of NVIDIA, intel-QSV and DXVA2 hardware acceleration, 5KPlayer can achieve stability and smoothness in playing 4K HDR movie videos. How to Play Movie Videos with 5KPlayer 5KPlayer is known for UHD and HD movie video playback. It can play videos in format from mainstream MP4, WMV, MOV to less-known OGV, MTS and VOB. Playing movie videos only requires you to drag & drop them to 5KPlayer.
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Supported Input Formats: DV, HDV, AVCHD, NXCAM, MOV, MP4, WMV, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AVC, and more. Supported Output Formats: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, AVCHD Disc, (DV-)AVI, MJPEG, MXF, MOV, WMV, XAVC, XAVC S, MPEG-1/2/4, H.264/AV, and more Price: ($399 to $799) 2. Cyberlink Power Director 16
If you can’t afford to pay for the Sony Vegas Pro 15, you should look at the Cyberlink Power Director 16 which provides you with a great editing environment at almost 3rd of a price. Despite being cheap, Power Director 16 is no slouch when it comes to video editing. It is regularly updated and adds the newest feature as soon as possible. It was one of the first video editing software to add support for 360-degree video editing. Like DaVinci Resolve, this one also focuses heavily on color correction and provides you with a plethora of tools to get that perfect tint on your videos. Other features include support for a wide variety of audio, video, and image format along with support for multi-cam editing.
Supported Platforms: Windows
Supported Input Formats: H.265/HEVC, MVC (MTS), MP4 (XAVC S), FLV (H.264), MPEG-4 AVC, and more. Supported Output Formats: H.264 AVC, WMV, H.265 HEVC, XAVC S, and more. Price: (Starts at $99.99) 3. Pinnacle Studio
It is one of the cheapest full-fledged video editing software out there. The software focuses more on effects, transitions, and color correction. It provides with a precise multi-track editing environment with customisable workspaces. It also supports both 4K and multi-cam video editing along with power audio-editing tools with royalty-free music, voice-over effects and more. Just like others, it also supports most of the popular video and audio formats, so whatever format your footage is in, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. Basically, if you are looking for a cheap video editing software with lots of cool features, this one is the one to get.
Supported Platforms: Windows
Supported Input Formats: AVCHD; DivX; MKV; MPEG-1, 2, and 4, QuickTime, WMV, XAVC S and others. Supported Output Formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, and others. Price: (Starts at $59.95)
SEE ALSO: 15 Best Cameras for YouTube Videos You Can Buy
Best Video Editing Software To Get You Started
At last, you have reached the end of the article and hopefully, now you have a fairly good idea which video editing software you should go for. The choice really depends on your need, skills, and budget. Don’t just the most popular ones, pick the one which is good for you. If this article helped in the choosing your favourite video editing software, do let us know which one you’re picked in the comments section below. Also tell us, if you are already in love with some other video editing software which is not on our list.
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