Introduction to Editing Software

There are a number of different editing software packages out there. Ranging from free to very expensive. Below I shall list some of the best for all price ranges. Many of these packages have trials so you can download and try for yourself which works best.

Lightworks - Free
If it's real editing power you need, then Lightworks is the best of the free package. Its feature-packed timeline, strong multicam support, realtime effects and smart trimming tools are so impressive, in fact, that the program has regularly been used to help produce top Hollywood movies such as Mission Impossible and Batman. However it is not a beginners piece of software, you will need to practise, practise and practise, and make sure you read the documentation that comes with the download. For Windows only.


Adobe Premiere Elements - £50/$90
Adobe Premiere Elements is an easy-to-use application but has enough features that even more advanced video editors will find this software useful. You can fix imperfections in the audio and video tracks, add effects and transitions, pan and zoom on still images, and more. You can also create high-definition movies with menus and upload them directly to YouTube, or burn them on a disk. This video editing software is compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems.


Pinnacle Studio - £40/$60
Pinnacle Studio has more effects and transitions than other applications we reviewed; however, it only has a few tracks where you can place video, audio and effects. This may not be a problem if you want to create simple projects only. If you want to add many clips that overlap one another, this software may not be up to the task.

Adobe Premiere Pro - £700/$800
Now we get into the professional editing software section. Premiere Pro is probably the least used pro editing suite. But it is still very powerful and capable of doing most things the others can do. It runs on both Mac and PC and has many plug-ins available. also easy integration to effects software like Adobe after Effects.

Apple Final Cut Pro - £200/$300
Final Cut used to be very popular and started being used for more and more feature films. However the latest releases aren't quite up to the competitors such as Avid. It's low price means it is used by lots of amateur and low low budget filmmakers. However it is only Mac based so no good if your on Windows.

Avid Media Composer - £850/$999
Media Composer is the top choice for professional film and video editing in the industry. Whether you edit movies, TV shows, commercials, or other video, this industry-standard nonlinear editor provides 64-bit performance, easy-to-use video editing tools, and streamlined HD, file-based, and stereo 3D workflows. Its open platform enables you to work with the gear you have or want and integrate into any workflow. Plus, it’s designed to eliminate bottlenecks, enabling you to work faster than ever. Windows and Mac compatible.