Tag: production

September 28, 2020

10 Free Video Editing Software for YouTube to Up Your Production Game


 

YouTube is a great place to watch videos as well as share videos with viewers worldwide. The platform couldn’t be easier to use but creating powerful YouTube content that generates likes, comments, shares, subscribes, and views isn’t as easy as just uploading your video and hoping for the best. If you want to make your mark on YouTube, you’ll need to create content that is engaging and entertaining… and aesthetically pleasing to watch. That means your videos need to be well put together. Fortunately, there’s a number of free video editing software for YouTube and we’re going to share our favorites with you!

How to Choose the Best Free Video Editing Software for YouTube

Before we jump into our list of free video editing software for YouTube, let’s talk about how to choose the best software for your brand. We’ve taken these same details into consideration when choosing the software included on our list. When selecting the video editing tool you’re going to use, here are some things to look for:

Platform

Whether or not you’re going to edit your YouTube videos on your phone will make a difference in which video editing software you can use. Computer-based software is likely to have more features and be more powerful than the software you can use on your iOS or Android device.

Compatibility

Not every software works on every platform. iMovie, for instance, will only work with Macs and iOS. While a lot of software and apps are cross-platform, be sure to look into it before committing to specific software.

Cost

Are you looking for completely free software or one that you can upgrade as needed? The software on this list is free but some of the options listed give you the option to upgrade for more features.


10 Free Video Editing Software for YouTube

To get the most from your YouTube videos, you’ll want to have software to edit your videos before you upload them to the platform. Here are our picks for the best free video editing software for YouTube. There are video editing options here for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, so you can get a great free video editing software no matter what platform you use.


Platforms: GNU/Linux, Mac, Windows

Shotcut isn’t pretty. It’s open-source software that looks exactly like what you would expect free, open-source software to look like. But, looks aren’t everything, right? This platform performs very well and offers the features you need. If you can make it past the ugly exterior and not-so-intuitive user interface, Shotcut can be used for trimming and exporting. It does have limited transitions available, but if you just need to edit your creations for uploading to YouTube, Shotcut has you covered.


Platforms: Mac, iOS

If you’re a Mac or iPhone user, you’re probably familiar with iMovie. We think it’s one of the best options out there for YouTube influencers who need an easy-to-use software for Macs. iMovie offers up the basic video editing features you’d expect like cropping, trimming, and clip arrangement. You can also use it to add visual effects or titles to your videos as well as editing audio files, so iMovie covers your bases. And, once you have your video looking just how you want it, you can share directly to YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo quickly and easily.


Platforms: Steam, Linux, Mac, Windows

Blender is not only a video editing software but can also be used for animation, rendering, modeling, VFX, or even game creation. The video editing tools are a bit limited; you can trim videos and add transitions or filters. Blender uses a timeline so you can add your video, audio, and image files to your projects and arrange them easily. In addition, Blender offers a live preview, histogram, and chroma vectorscope displays. To up the creative freedom game, Blender offers speed control and layer adjustment as well as audio mixing and waveform visualization.


Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows

Despite its dated website, Lightworks offers up a user-friendly interface and a great collection of features. It provides a selection of transitions, visual effects, and trim options that help YouTubers create stunning videos. Lightworks supports all popular video file formats and is optimized to help you save time on exporting files so you can get them up on your YouTube channel faster. There’s even a Multicam editing feature that makes it easy to edit footage that was captured by two or more cameras.


Platforms: Mac, Windows

Wondershare Filmora makes it easy for YouTube creators to produce and edit videos that look just as good as anything a video editing professional could do, even if they don’t already have video editing skills. This free video editing software for YouTube has an intuitive user interface that makes it a standout option for beginners while still providing all of the video editing tools you need to create gorgeous YouTube videos that your subscribers will love. Filmora lets you add video, image, and audio files to your project and includes all of the basic video editing tools like cutting and trimming videos, as well as advanced features like video stabilization, de-noise, and more.

Filmora also includes an effects library so you can add interest to your videos with color grading and text and image overlays. It also has a large royalty-free audio library with music and sounds effects you can use on your videos. Up the creativity with chroma-key (green screen) and split-screen video features.


Platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows

Openshot is a free video editing software for YouTube that has a relatively user-friendly interface. Similar to Shotcut, it offers limited animation effects. Having said that, though, Openshot is a great option for YouTube creators. While there are minor differences with editing features, Openshot’s editing environment is different. Instead of on-screen editing, Openshot uses floating windows. This essentially means that your editing happens through the use of layers represented by separate windows within the software.


Platforms: Mac, Windows

HitFilm Express is a free video editing software for YouTube that doesn’t feel like it should be free. It comes with tons of features that YouTube creators will love and, with a small investment, you can get access to even more features. To be honest, though, the software is great without any addons. HitFilm Express includes:

  • Dozens of keyboard shortcuts
  • Auto-save as frequently as every minute
  • Labels for 3D effects, text, models, composite shots, images, and more
  • Set a custom maximum undo level
  • Crop a clip and animate it to control which part is visible
  • Default template options including 1080p Full HD
  • Helpful select tool to grab everything before or after the playhead
  • Mix and balance audio
  • Add unlimited video and audio tracks

Platforms: Windows

Windows Movie Maker is, as the name implies, for the Windows operating system. Movie Maker 10 can help you make movies from your photos, video clips, and music and provides basic video editing functions like video joining, adding background music, and text caption to more advanced features like image filter, transition effects, and pan-tilt-zoom effects. Movie Maker supports most popular media formats: mp4, WMV, Mkv, MOV, Avi, MPEG, mpg, mts, jpg, png, gif, mp3, m4a, and wav files.

In addition to the features we’ve already mentioned, Movie Maker can be used to overlay text captions and emoticons, add still picture-in-picture, adding title slides, and access to 30+ transition effects (including fade, ripple, cross-zoom, wave, pixelate, square wipe, and more) for photos and videos and 30+ fonts for text overlay. You can also use the music editor for clip trimming, fade-in, and fade-out effects.


Platforms: Online

Do you need a quick editor for your YouTube videos? Clipchamp is definitely worth a look! It’s an online video editor so you don’t need to download any software. Plus, it’s so easy to use. While Clipchamp doesn’t produce HD videos, it does export to MP4 and allows video, images, and audio. With Clipchamp, you can change the speed of any video clip, resize or crop, rotate and flip videos, fade-in or fade-out your audio or video files, and pick from a dozen filters to add more visual interest to your video.

To use Clipchamp, you simply upload your files to the Clipchamp website and drag them onto the timeline. From there, you can rearrange the files and clip what you don’t want. Since Clipchamp is online, it works for all operating systems.


Platforms: Windows

YouTube vloggers, listen up! VSDC lets you import existing video clips or record directly from your webcam. The interface is user-friendly and VSDC offers several great options that seem like they were built with YouTubers in mind: Instagram-like filters, titles, shapes and effects (both visual and audio), and voiceovers. Plus, you can export directly to YouTube or your other social media platforms easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best video editing software for YouTube beginners?

For most YouTube beginners, whatever video editing software you already have on your computer is fine. For Mac users, this would be iMovie, which is on our list of free video editing software for YouTube. For Windows users, you can use your Photos app to build a basic YouTube video. If you find yourself wanting more editing capabilities, however, we recommend Wondershare Filmora because it includes several overlays, effects, templates, and transitions that will make your YouTube videos better.

What do most YouTubers use to edit their videos?

From our experience, there are a few video editing software for YouTube that YouTube creators use: Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro. It’s important to note that Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro are not free; iMovie is definitely the most popular video editing software for YouTube influencers who use Mac OS.

How can I improve my video quality?

There are so many things that can be done to improve the quality of your YouTube videos! For starters, simply clean your recording space. If you, like many YouTube influencers, film your YouTube videos in your room, take the time to ensure that your background is neat and tidy so your viewers aren’t distracted. If possible, use a clean wall or a backdrop of some sort (a sheet with a solid color is just fine). In addition to clearing out your space, there are a few other things you can do to improve YouTube video quality:
Lighting
The right lighting can make an enormous difference in the quality of your videos. You can always buy lighting tools or just use natural light (like sunlight)!
Image Stabilization
Use a tripod or other solid surface to keep your video from being shaky. Image stabilization is one of the easiest ways to improve the quality of your videos and keep viewers watching longer.
Audio
If your sound is bad, people aren’t likely to continue watching your video. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to create great sound. You can buy a quality microphone or if you just don’t have the cash right now, you can take a page out of business influencer and fitness influencer Chalene Johnson’s book and just use your smartphone with a blanket over your head and the phone to create a barrier between you and the noises of the world. Seriously, that’s how she’s recorded some of her podcasts in the past.
Video Editing Tools
A quality video editing tool is another great way to make sure that your videos are more appealing to viewers. You can’t go wrong with any of the free video editing software for YouTube we’ve included on our list here. Take the time to edit your YouTube video to show your viewers that you believe in the content you’re producing.

What skills do video editors need?

Don’t tell the professionals, but you don’t actually need much in the way of skills if you’re using one of the free video editing software for YouTube on our list. You need only to record your video and let your editing software guide you.

What are the primary functions of editing?

Most video editing software should include the tools you need for basic video editing. This includes trimming, rotating, cropping, joining or re-sequencing clips, adding sound, transitions, and special effects, and adjusting brightness and contrast.

What are the steps in video editing?

Video editing involves five key steps:
1. Logging: the process in which video footage is watched and labeled according to its content
2. First assembly: the first cut of the entire video
3. Rough cut: the first stage in which the film begins to resemble its final product
4. Excellent cut: second stage
5. Final cut: the third stage; this is the final video with all edits complete

How can I improve my video editing skills?

To improve your video editing skills you need to practice. Choose the video editing software you’re going to use and just start editing and playing around with the features. You don’t have to publish the videos, just use your video editing tool a lot to find what works for you.

Free Speech Social Media Platform


September 23, 2020

15 Best Video Production Companies to Share Your Message


These days, it’s easy to produce a video on your own. But when it really matters, when the video really has to shine, you really only have two options: hire an in-house team or hire one of the best video production companies to share your message and make it pop. Video production companies handle the entire production process so you can simply fill them in on what you want, how you want it to feel, and what you want it to move viewers to do—they handle the rest.

And there’s no shortage of video production companies out there, ready to take your message and create that stellar video ad, video short, or feature film. But with all of the video production agencies you have to choose from, how do you find the right one for your brand?

That’s where we come in. In this article, we’re sharing with you the 15 best video production companies we’ve found to put moving images to your message and build it into something your target audience can’t ignore.

Video is one of the best ways to promote your brand and stand out in a digital landscape that is full of other shiny things trying to draw attention away from you. And, while it’s easy to create high-quality videos on your own, hiring a video production company means you can spend your valuable time focused on guiding the direction of your brand instead of trying to figure out video editing software and sound engineering.

The video production companies on this list are some of the best in the field and are ready to put their expertise to work to help your brand meet your business goals.

15 Best Video Production Companies Worldwide


SociallyIn is a stand-out social media agency that offers a wide range of service to clients across industries. They help brands create lasting connections through engagement on a personal level. They are masters of creative and production with particularly nuanced expertise in social media content production. SociallyIn handles all of your social media content production needs in-house using their team of creatives who are masters in their respective skills.

Their approach is four-pronged:

Build Strategy and Brand Voice

Your SociallyIn experience starts with a discovery meeting where they work to understand your brand’s voice and target audience so they can create content that will resonate with your fans and get you the best results.

Brief

SociallyIn will then build a creative brief for your project to ensure that things are moving in the best direction for you and your target audience.

Ideation and Creation

Next, SociallyIn will brainstorm to come up with unique ideas for your various social media platforms. When they land on ideas that match up with your objectives, they’ll present those ideas to you.

Test, Measure, and Optimize

Finally, it’s time to launch your project but SociallyIn doesn’t just let you go on your way. To ensure that you get the best results possible, SociallyIn monitors your results, tests different options, and continues to optimize your campaign.

SociallyIn is one of the best video production companies, using innovation and the top creative talent to keep your brand ahead of the competition through social media strategies, custom content, influencer marketing, ROI modeling and data analysis, community management, and social media advertising management.


Film District is a video production company based in India with a strong presence in Navi Mumbai as well as Dubai, UAE. The company was founded in 2008 and provides video services including advertising and branding, corporate videos, social media videos, and more. Film District has a team of motion graphics specialists, too, so if you’re interested in having your ideas brought to life using 2D or 3D animation, they’ve got you covered. They also provide scriptwriting, storyboarding, voice-overs, infographics, and editing services. Film District has created content for Canon, Babyshop, Serco, and UNOO.


ECG Productions is a full-service video production company that has more than 10 years of experience providing “script-to-screen” video production and editing services. They’re based in Atlanta, Georgia, and offer scriptwriting, 2D and 3D animation, compositing, sound design, and original music composition. Some of their most notable clients are Comcast, UPS, Coca-Cola, and Verizon.


SONA Studios is a Sydney-based media agency that focuses on video production, live broadcasting, social media marketing, web, and design. With their skills and experience, you’ll be able to grow your brand through wider audiences, engaging content, better communications, and effective marketing.


Bastion Elevate is a video production company that offers a full range of marketing services including social media, influencer marketing, public relations, and content production. They have a highly-skilled team of professionals to help your business boost brand awareness, capture market share, and expand digital sales.


Black Production Films is one of the best video production companies with a focus on corporate films. They can help brands identify and build what they need to grow. Black Production Films use their experience and creativity combined with bleeding-edge technology to provide clients a diverse array of production services. Some of their clients include Facebook, USP, Red Bull, CNN, Shell, L’Oréal, USAID, Vice News, and Chevron.


Picturelab is a video production company specializing in explainer videos and commercials. They are experts in both live-action and animation and handle your project from start to finish to create effective campaigns that make a lasting impression.


Blue Carrot studio is a great source for video marketing and creative storytelling with heart, humor, passion, and purpose. They provide animated explainer videos, commercials, promo videos, eLearning, cartoons, and corporate videos using a number of visual and animation styles.


Ydraw creates engaging, creative, and interactive videos that brands can use to deliver their stories in a fun and attention-grabbing way. In addition to video production services, they also offer distribution and marketing.


DHD Films is a Dallas-based video production company that offers full-service video production and motion graphics. They have experience with businesses of all sizes including Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Some of their notable clients are AT&T, H&M, Jaguar, and Microsoft.


MultiVisionDigital is a video production and video marketing company based in New York. They provide a full range of services like video strategy, remote video production, production, and marketing. Their clients range from solopreneurs to global Fortune 500 companies across industries and MultiVisionDigitla has helped those clients increase sales, get more leads, improve their SEO, boost brand awareness, and built client loyalty.


Bold Content Video offers services for branded content, conference videos, and event videos in addition to the other services they provide. With this London-based video production company, you get access to their in-house team of film specialists who bring creativity, energy, and passion into every project they complete. Some of their more notable clients are Microsoft, Tommy Hilfiger, Coca-Cola, and Google.


Demo Duck is a video production company focused on product promotion, education, and brand affinity. They’re able to blend creative strategy with video production to deliver high-quality solutions.


Big 3 Media is a Singapore-based video production company that uses film, animation, content strategy, virtual reality, and graphic design to create brilliant storytelling to bring your project to life. With more than a decade of experience and a history in more than 32 cities, they’re well-positioned to tackle your project. Some of their better-known customers are Edelman, Asics, P&G, and Dentsu.


Atlanta Video has been providing video production services to all types and sizes of businesses since 1976. They’re a boutique shop that works with top products, videographers, and graphic artists in the Atlanta area. Atlanta Video covered the 1997 Olympics for IBM and has also worked with NBC, A&E, TBS, and The National Geographic Channel.


Trust Your Message to a Top Video Production Company

More and more businesses are turning to video to help them sell more, get more leads, and make deeper connections. But many businesses don’t have the resources to bring video production in-house. In these cases, video production companies like those on this list can fill a very important need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Video Production?

Video production is the process of creating a video. No matter whether it’s a full-length film, a commercial, a short film, or a marketing video, the basic process includes three stages:
– Pre-Production is the planning stage where the idea is formed, the video is scripted, and the cast and staff are chosen.
– Production is the filming stage. This is the actual recording of the video.
– Post-Production is the editing stage.

Why Hire a Video Production Company?

Sure, it’s easier than ever to create your own videos, but if you want to increase your capacity and create something better than your smartphone can provide, hiring a video production company just makes sense. Here are some reasons to consider a video production company:
Added Resources
If you’re creating a number of videos regularly, there are going to be times when you can’t keep up. Hiring a video production company to handle the overflow is a great solution.
Higher-Quality Video
There’s nothing wrong with creating a video using no more than an iPhone and iMovie. But if you want better quality, hiring a video production company is the best option. Video production companies have the experience and tools you need to create high-quality video for any of your marketing or internal needs—without any stress on your part.
Proven Expertise
Video production companies are experts at video. When you hire a video production company, you get access to the equipment, experience, and connections that most companies can’t afford to bring in-house. With that experience comes tons of knowledge that you can draw upon to create and share the message you want.
Outside Perspective
There’s a lot to be said for getting an outside perspective. If you’re a creator, you know how easy it is to be so close to your own work that you can’t look at it objectively to see how it can be improved. Hiring a video production company helps with that.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Video Production Company?

It depends. Every video production is different. For example, a 30-second commercial can range from $2,500–$100,000 or more, depending on the complexity and demands of your project.

Will a Video Production Company Help Develop Content for a Video Project?

Yes! Many video production companies offer scriptwriting, storyboarding, and content strategy as part of their pre-production services.

Is Video Marketing Worth It?

It really is. Psychologists have found that video can be used to influence the moods of viewers. Striking the right chord with your video could lead to success rates of 31%!

Can Video Increase Traffic to My Website?

You better believe it can. Google loves video content. Having videos embedded on your site can increase your position on search engine results pages. Plus, videos can help with SEO (search engine optimization).

Can Video Increase Conversions and Sales?

Yes. Products with video can increase conversions by 80%. And, studies show that 74% of potential customers who watched an explainer video about a product ended up buying the product.

Does Video Have a Good ROI?

It does, according to 83% of businesses. Even though video production can get expensive or time-consuming, it pays off!

How Do I Know I’m Hiring the Right Video Production Company?

Well, you can’t go wrong with one of the video production companies on this list. If you want more, here are two quick tips for finding the best video production company for your brand:
1. Look at more than just the demo reel. Demo reels are designed to sell but they don’t really show you the detail of what a finished product from the company will look like. You can ask for examples of finished products, ask for a list of clients you can contact, or poke around the portfolio on the company’s website to find final videos in their entirety. Be sure to ask for examples of recent projects, too!
2. Get multiple quotes. Pricing for different video production companies can vary widely; getting multiple quotes will provide insight into the process. While the price might not be the deciding factor, it still important information to have.

Free Speech Social Media Platform


September 8, 2020

How Viacom and Burt’s Bees are Embracing Remote Production




Marketing