Recommend me a video editor (win 7 64bit laptop)

[koolkeys]

I've used Premiere Pro for so many years (when you use Photoshop and After Effects and Illustrator, the way it all meshes together is unreplaceable by anything else out there), as it has always done everything I needed and far more. It has gotten SOOOOO much better in recent years. So as a result, I haven't personally tried many of the latest versions of certain apps.

However, when I've recommended free editors, it has always been either Shotcut or Hitfilm 3 because they are fairly straightforward, not overpowered for newbies, and they have always been well supported.

If you want to spend a bit, the lower end Magix video editing tools are solid, particularly if you need your hand held a bit.

I never quite meshed with Vegas, but I do have Vegas Pro 11 sitting around, and the lower end versions are definitely worth considering. I blame myself for not liking it as much, as I just didn't prefer it. But it is still solid.

In all my years of editing, for whatever reason, I didn't realize there was a free version of DaVinci. I'm blown away by the features included in the free version. I probably won't switch from Premiere any time soon, but definitely will be checking it out. Thanks for mentioning it!

Brent

[LawrenceF]

I don't doubt it wouldn't work both ways, Vegas is one of the top choices of the industry right behind the big three, just saying that VST plugins, aux sends and multitrack recording mentioned by Lawrence aren't especially useful features if you just comp a video to an already mastered stereo track.

I agree. I actually wasn't suggesting that. I was more only saying that it's more of a real audio daw than any of them. But I do agree as relates to music videos, the audio is already done. Some other stuff, maybe not so much.

I agree with what Brent said also, that if you need that whole magilla you probably won't find anything quite as integrated as the Adobe suite. Sony (or now Magix) doesn't make the other stuff like Illustrator, if you need something like that

[ozmuso67]

If there is a way for you to upgrade your GPU, then I'd recommend hitfilm. I think you can even get Hitfilm Express for free (version 4 I think, as Hitfilm 2017 has just come out). Davinci Resolve is more of a colour grading tool, yes you can do editing with it moreso now, but it relies heavily on GPU for its work; I have a Nvidia GTX 970 and resolve struggles with this card.

Apart from that, there are a bunch of free or low cost editors that will do a basic job for you, including Lightworks (they have a free version).

[DJBuddhaBear]

I settled on Cyberlink VideoDirector 15. It seems to sit somewhere between Hitfilm & Vegas and the low end offerings of Sony (now Magic), Adobe, and Corel both on price and on features. I got the Ultimate edition which included some expansion packs, AudioDirector (for syncing specifically music to video), and ColorDirector (allows some creative color based effects). I have been quite pleased with how stable and straight forward it has been to use.

[ozmuso67]

I settled on Cyberlink VideoDirector 15.

Good choice, I forgot about Cyberlink's products. They would be a good choice for the OP as well - affordable, solid, and probably will run on a low-spec machine. I had an earlier version of their Director product before I moved to using Hitfilm Pro.

[DJBuddhaBear]

I settled on Cyberlink VideoDirector 15.

Good choice, I forgot about Cyberlink's products. They would be a good choice for the OP as well - affordable, solid, and probably will run on a low-spec machine. I had an earlier version of their Director product before I moved to using Hitfilm Pro.

I like Hitfilm Express but it is very limited. And for the money put out to buy all the expansion packs, you might as well either get VideoDirector or save up for the Hitfilm Pro version.

When I feel my skills are up to it and I am ready for a higher quality program, Hitfilm Pro is tops on my list thus far.

[ozmuso67]

I like Hitfilm Express but it is very limited. And for the money put out to buy all the expansion packs, you might as well either get VideoDirector or save up for the Hitfilm Pro version.

When I feel my skills are up to it and I am ready for a higher quality program, Hitfilm Pro is tops on my list thus far.

Agreed that Hitfilm Express is limited, but I think it is free (at least I think it still is). I love Hitfilm Pro, I bought it when it was at version 2, and since then it has had V3, V4 and now Hitfilm Pro 2017. I started with Cyberlink Video Director, and it was fine, but I upgraded to Hitfilm Pro as it has so many cool effects, particles, 3d modelling etc built in. I looked at Vegas and also Adobe After Effects (Adobe AE is nearest to Hitfilm Pro of the two programs), and decided on Hitfilm Pro as it has built in to it what would cost you a fortune in add-ons with After Effects. It was a bit weak for editing early on (compared to say Vegas or Premier), but now I feel the editing part is plenty good enough for most people.

They usually release a new Hitfilm Pro version around November / December every year, along with a sale price. Good time to buy into it at that time. And the staff and forums are a friendly place with a lot of support and help for anything you might need.

Edit - It isn't too hard to learn, plenty of video tutorials from the people who made it. Plus, you only need to dive in as deep or as shallow as you want initially; I only learned a handful of things that I needed to learn at the start, and then later when I think of a specific technique I want to learn, I look for a video tutorial and just teach myself as I go.

[DJBuddhaBear]

I like Hitfilm Express but it is very limited. And for the money put out to buy all the expansion packs, you might as well either get VideoDirector or save up for the Hitfilm Pro version.

When I feel my skills are up to it and I am ready for a higher quality program, Hitfilm Pro is tops on my list thus far.

Agreed that Hitfilm Express is limited, but I think it is free (at least I think it still is). I love Hitfilm Pro, I bought it when it was at version 2, and since then it has had V3, V4 and now Hitfilm Pro 2017. I started with Cyberlink Video Director, and it was fine, but I upgraded to Hitfilm Pro as it has so many cool effects, particles, 3d modelling etc built in. I looked at Vegas and also Adobe After Effects (Adobe AE is nearest to Hitfilm Pro of the two programs), and decided on Hitfilm Pro as it has built in to it what would cost you a fortune in add-ons with After Effects. It was a bit weak for editing early on (compared to say Vegas or Premier), but now I feel the editing part is plenty good enough for most people.

They usually release a new Hitfilm Pro version around November / December every year, along with a sale price. Good time to buy into it at that time. And the staff and forums are a friendly place with a lot of support and help for anything you might need.

Edit - It isn't too hard to learn, plenty of video tutorials from the people who made it. Plus, you only need to dive in as deep or as shallow as you want initially; I only learned a handful of things that I needed to learn at the start, and then later when I think of a specific technique I want to learn, I look for a video tutorial and just teach myself as I go.

Thanks for this additional info. Yes, I have enjoyed Hitfilm Express but it is very limited. I can do more for now with PowerDirector. This new version added 3D video editing, increased format supports including 4K and Flac, plus a lot of effects. I know they don't' rival Hitfilm Pro but for now they work for me.

I saw that they were running a sales special here recently. Next year, I will likely take the dive. I spent way too much this holiday on Toontrack products on sale!

[ozmuso67]

Next year, I will likely take the dive. I spent way too much this holiday on Toontrack products on sale!

I know - this time of year I find the number of things on sale far exceeds my budget

[DJBuddhaBear]

Next year, I will likely take the dive. I spent way too much this holiday on Toontrack products on sale!

I know - this time of year I find the number of things on sale far exceeds my budget

No shit! That is why I focused only on Toontrack this year. Next year it will be a different one.

[Jax Pok]

Cyberlink Power Director and Colour Director you get pro results with easier interface than the pro software. They can encode using your GPU CUDA cores which is far faster than using my i7 3.4Ghz.