Refine that video

A guide to the best free video editing programmes for everyone, from a budding director to a first time YouTuber

Shooting your videos has never been easier. With gimbals, inexpensive lights and green screens, the world is your oyster. However, to get the professional look, you still need to edit those videos and finding the right software can be a pain,  especially if you have to fork out a bunch of cash for the professional apps. Here are some free and freemium software alternatives that offer professional-grade video editing on a budget.

Blender

Along with being a world-class free 3D renderer, Blender also houses a brilliant video editor. The learning curve is steep with this one and everything isn’t as easy as it should be, but there are tutorials online to help you navigate every aspect. With Blender, you can adjust layers, make transitions, add filters and sync audio. It might not be the best to edit an entire movie on but it has enough features to make a capable editor. Blender is great if you are well versed in the software and your project involves a bit of 3D modelling and rendering. Being open-source, this is available on multiple platforms all for free.  
https://bit.ly/smdblender

HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express has a pay what you want policy, which means you can get it for free if you want to. The software isn’t as powerful as DaVinci or Lightworks, but it is ideal for a person who is just beginning. There are Youtube tutorials to walk through every step of editing, colour grading and audio production to help you learn and adapt to the software quickly. The software also includes tracks, transitions and lots of effects that you can use in your video. The developer FXhome also make a bunch of photo, effects and video editors that you can experiment with other than HitFilm Express. Once you are familiar with the Express version, the developer also makes a Pro version with more tools and preset goodies to work with.
https://bit.ly/smdhitfilm

OpenShot Video Editor

Openshot is probably one of the simplest editors to use on this list. You don’t need to go through any fancy tutorial or masterclass to learn it. Everything is straight forward and the software is very intuitive. It is also truly free, with no freemium features, pro version or time limitation. The application is available for Windows, Mac and Linux letting you edit even on a not so powerful machine. The latest version of the program has added AI effects like motion tracking, object detection and automatic stabilisation. There are some significant upgrades in the workflow as well, to make things simpler for the end-user. While this software may never be used to edit a major motion picture is it perfect for home videos and marketing materials. 
https://bit.ly/smdopenshot

DaVinci Resolve

This powerful and free video editor comes from the stable of Blackmagic, a company that designs and manufactures cutting edge digital video cameras. The program combines editing, colour correction, visual effects and audio post-production in one easy to use program. The program has various tutorials online that can take you from a novice to an expert in a matter of weeks. DaVinci has also been used on several movies, music videos and video ads, learning how to use it could easily score you a job in the future. There is a paid version of the application as well but that has just a few more professional bells and whistles added over the free version. 
https://bit.ly/smddavinci

Lightworks

If you are looking for a video editor with a little more professional backing to it Lightworks is right for you. It has been used to edit movies for years in Hollywood and the free version is just as good as the paid pro version. The program features a narrative-based timeline ideal for movies and it will accept any format video regardless of if you shot it on a phone, a Go Pro or a professional rig. The software is also built for collaborations, so if you are editing with others this one is perfect for the job. Like DaVinci, this lets you edit, do effects, colour correct and mix audio. The free version is free forever, however, you have to renew its license every seven days, which can be a little annoying. 
https://bit.ly/smdlwks

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