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Video editing software for a beginner

J

Just_Kevin

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 31, 2024
106
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I'm in need of editing a video. For an experienced user, what needs to be done is probably rather simple. For me, it appears to be anything but. I've downloaded the free version of DaVanci Resolve, since it seems to be one of the go-to applications and I saw it was "easy to use".

What I need to do:
The video in need of editing is a 26 minute long mp4, 109MB in size. I must be able to crop out a section of the video for privacy issues, it's roughly a 5 min section, in the middle. I need the remainder of the video visible, just crop out one area. Adding a blur would be acceptable as well. That portion of the screen is stationary the entire time. It is a screen capture of a computer screen.

I would like to be able to rearrange part of the video order. Meaning, move the minutes 22-24 of the video ahead what is currently at the 15min mark. Not the exact times, just giving the idea. Lastly, if possible, there are two other things I'd like to be able to do. First, bring in an image (tiff, jpeg, whatever) to overlay one section, the video can continue to play or pause at this time. Lastly, cut out a section of the video, then have the video paused while I add in new audio.

I have a MacBook M3 Pro 18GB, so I do not see any issue as far as processing power goes.

What application, would be good for this project? Any good sources to learn how to do these edits I need?

Thanks,
Kevin
 
I'm looking at iMovie now. I think I see how to do the crop at least. That's the most important thing I need to do.
 
Well that first part wasn't too bad. I was stuck a few times. I had to create the one part as a separate clip to crop and then uncrop it again. I just might be able to do this. (I'm not a creative type person, or the best with software).
 
I've created a new clip by splitting it from the main video. I want to remove it, but not delete it entirely, in case I want to put it back. Is that possible? Moving it above or below does an overlay thing.
 
I figured out I had to move it to a different project.

I think I picked up CAD faster than this.
 
iMovie without any hesitation! I recall a 35-minute video in an official event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Feynman’s death, produced with iMovie on a Mac Mini. The producer was a 16-year-old girl. Both the producer and her video were the “stars” of the show.

iMovie is that easy!
 
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Thanks for the replies. I had to move on to a different project last night, so I didn’t get too far. I also need to retake the still photos I want to import, can’t do that until Monday at the earliest.

I believe I’ll be able to accomplish what I’m after though.
 
Use iMovie to export the first part as a clip and then the second. Then start a new project and just stitch them together.
 
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Exactly right. Think in "scenes" to make as separate pieces to then merge into a final film. Some of that still overlay desire might even be done in Keynote, rendered from Keynote as a movie to then stitch into this film as a scene. I actually use that little trick more often than I would have ever expected.
 
MacBH928 said:
everything. Its very awkward to use. Even the original imovie was better than this remake that stagnated since Steve Jobs days.
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I tried it out last night just to see if it could be useful for quick cuts with minor edits. I didn't really find it easier to use than DVR, having to look for basic features that were sometimes not there at all. Don't think it even gave me a codec option for export but at least it let me specify a bitrate.

Just little things like copy/pasting edits from one clip to another -- it lets you do it between clips on the timeline but it wouldn't let me do it in the media library. Very limited in what it lets you do and how you do it, but it does run well and I'm sure with the right skills it can get the basics done. I feel like it used to have more functionality but it's been a long time since I've last used it.
 
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I've been pleased with Filmora, the basic version without the subscription bells and whistles. It's a nice combination of intuitive and powerful, so you can quickly complete simple tasks. All video editing software has a bit of a learning curve, but I picked up Filmora's workflow just by guessing, which is always a good sign! I certainly couldn't have done that with DaVinci or FCP.
 
I got that project completed. Have more coming up. All for work. Biggest thing I’ve learned so far is I don’t like doing video editing. The fact that I’m in the video only makes it worse.
 
doobydoooby said:
I've been pleased with Filmora, the basic version without the subscription bells and whistles. It's a nice combination of intuitive and powerful, so you can quickly complete simple tasks. All video editing software has a bit of a learning curve, but I picked up Filmora's workflow just by guessing, which is always a good sign! I certainly couldn't have done that with DaVinci or FCP.
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bogdanw said:
I use iMovie and I consider it to be the best, but here are some free & open source alternatives
OpenShot https://www.openshot.org
Shotcut https://www.shotcut.org
Kdenlive https://kdenlive.org/
Olive https://www.olivevideoeditor.org
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thanks for the suggestions, Filmora has license option for $80.
 
This will likely seem odd, but I've switched to Adobe Premiere. I have access to it through work, and these are work projects anyway. I found a few things in iMovie frustrating.I think I've picked AP up fairly well with the help of online searches. Some concepts transferred over from iMovie as well.

Some coworkers use Camtasia, but I was not willing to pay for it, since these are work projects only. Another benefit of using AP, is I can run it on my work laptop if I need to work on a project in the office, no need to bring my MacBook into work. Although my Mac runs it much better, so that will hopefully be limited.

Big annoyance is I only make half a dozen or so videos a year, so I'm sure after this batch is done I'll forget much of what I've learned before I make more.
 
Just_Kevin said:
Big annoyance is I only make half a dozen or so videos a year, so I'm sure after this batch is done I'll forget much of what I've learned before I make more.
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I always write fairly detailed notes to my future self about a production process, when I know it won't be run for a while.

I usually start writing these when I have a handful of end-products left to go. That way I can step through the notes I wrote and see if they accurately document the actual process. Because writing production notes is itself a production process.
 
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chown33 said:
I always write fairly detailed notes to my future self about a production process, when I know it won't be run for a while.

I usually start writing these when I have a handful of end-products left to go. That way I can step through the notes I wrote and see if they accurately document the actual process. Because writing production notes is itself a production process.
Click to expand...

q&a ai made things much simpler now days
 
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