Video editing is an intensive process, so you need a computer with a decent amount of power to avoid frustrating delays in GPU rendering and freezes while you're trying to work. For a long time that meant needing a discrete graphics card, but Apple's own integrated silicon performs so well that this is no longer the case. The M1 Pro, M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips in particular have been optimised to handle video more efficiently.
Finally, if you're working with high-resolution footage, like 4K or greater, you'll also need something with a screen that can actually display this footage in its full glory. The 2021 iMac has a 4.5K screen, but if you opt for a PC like the Mac Studio or Mac mini, or even if you work on a MacBook with an inbuilt screen, you might want to invest in one of the best 4K monitors (and one of the best docks for MacBook Pro for hooking up your peripherals).
Best Video Edit For Mac
The best Macs for video editing, including the best MacBooks for video editing, are popular with professional editors and videographers as well as with enthusiasts. Apple's introduction of its own silicon, starting with the M1 chip, has made them among the best computers that video editors can choose.
MacBooks combine fantastic performance with stunning, accurate displays and solid design with a premium feel. What is there for a video editor not to like? And for those that need even more power and aren't concerned about portability there are Mac PCs for video editing, such as the iMac and the Mac Studio.
Matt has been a technology journalist for well over a decade, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a senior editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.","contributorText":"With contributions from","contributors":["name":"Joseph Foley","link":"href":"https:\/\/www.creativebloq.com\/author\/joseph-foley"]}; var triggerHydrate = function() window.sliceComponents.authorBio.hydrate(data, componentContainer); var triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate = function() var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = ' -8-2/authorBio.js'; script.async = true; script.id = 'vanilla-slice-authorBio-component-script'; script.onload = () => window.sliceComponents.authorBio = authorBio; triggerHydrate(); ; document.head.append(script); if (window.lazyObserveElement) window.lazyObserveElement(componentContainer, triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate); else triggerHydrate(); } }).catch(err => console.log('Hydration Script has failed for authorBio Slice', err)); }).catch(err => console.log('Externals script failed to load', err));Matt HansonSocial Links NavigationMatt has been a technology journalist for well over a decade, writing for publications such as T3, MacFormat and Creative Bloq. He's a senior editor of TechRadar, Creative Bloq's sister site, where he can be found writing about and reviewing laptops, computers, monitors and more. He often writes for Creative Bloq, helping creatives find their perfect laptop or PC.
We've put all the top options through their paces to create together this list of the best video editing software on the Mac. Read on for our top recommendations, followed by advice on how to choose the software that best fits your needs.
Final Cut is one of the pioneers among nonlinear computer video editing programs. Before a revamp several years ago, it was a daunting beast of a program, only suitable for dedicated professional editors. Since then, it's become far more intuitive, yet still remains among the most powerful and feature-full video editing applications available. It leads in support for new standards like 8K RED RAW, ProRes 422, VR and wide-gamut color spaces. It also offers slick tools for multicam editing, color grading, and intelligent motion tracking. Its unconventional but brilliant "trackless timeline" is unique, and workflow features for media management and collaboration are aces up its sleeve.
Though it's a thoroughly professional-level application, Final Cut is nevertheless also suitable for amateurs who want to do impressive feats with their video projects. It won't break the bank and doesn't require an ongoing subscription fee like competitor Adobe Premiere Pro does.
Premiere Pro is a powerhouse among pro video editing applications, and Adobe keeps adding more pro-level features, such as with its acquisition of the leading online video collaboration platform, frame.io. You get top-notch color grading, multicam, effects, VR editing, motion graphic templates, and speech-to-text tools. Another big reason to go with Premiere Pro is its tight integration with other Adobe products like After Effects and Rush. If that's not enough, it supports a wide range of third-party plug-ins.
Yes, Premiere Pro is definitely for pros. It's also for enthusiastic amateurs, YouTubers, and those who want to get a foot in the door of professional video editing. It's certainly a deep, demanding applications in terms of learning curve, but Adobe has recently been adding features that make Premiere Pro more accessible to nonprofessionals. Those unwilling to pay a recurring subscription fee will want to look elsewhere, however.
Apple iMove not only comes free with every Mac, but it also offers some nifty video editing capabilities in a clear, usable interface. Despite its simplicity (it shares Apple's unique trackless timeline interface with Final Cut Pro), you still get advanced tools for chroma-keying, color-matching, and working with audio. The Storyboard and Trailers features are unmatched for giving amateurs guidance on how to create compelling productions.
Apple iMovie is clearly not intended for professional video editors. Home users and hobbyists who want to make appealing mini-movies of their vacations are the perfect audience for this app. It's also a great choice for iPhone users, since it ties in with the video capabilities of that device.
CyberLink PowerDirector has long been a PCMag Editors' Choice winner among Windows video editing software options, and the product made the jump to the Mac relatively recently, where it continues to excel. Standout features include its Mask, PiP, and Title Designers, as well as a beefy selection of templates and stock content. The included Audio Designer lets you play with sound, with pitch shifts and radio effects, wind removal, and denoise options. LUT support means you can apply a studio-like color language to your movie, and seamless transitions, speech-to-text transcription, and motion graphics make for captivating YouTube posts.
PowerDirector is for serious amateurs who wants to create impressive videos but don't want to take a postgraduate course in editing and production. Despite its depth of features, CyberLink PowerDirector is fairly simple to figure out and use. Single-purchase and subscription options are both available, with the latter getting frequent content, stock media, and feature updates.
DaVinci Resolve is at the forefront of professional digital video post production. It's more of a suite, rather than a single application, as it combines video editing with motion graphics, color coding, and audio production. This software has been used on recent movies and TV shows, including Dune, Jurassic World Dominion, and Top Gun: Maverick. Clearly, any effect or edit that can be done in the medium, you can do with Resolve.
DaVinci Resolve is a standard in professional video editing, but for the consumer audience it offers something extremely compelling: a very capable free version. That said, it's doesn't sport the lowest learning curve, so be prepared to study and figure out of its interface and processes, which differ from those of average consumer video editors. The best part for our consumer readers is that the free version lets them do quite a lot. The paid version adds Neural Engine, many more special effects, temporal and spatial noise reduction, stereoscopic 3D, optical blur, mist effects, and more.
Premiere Elements lets hobbyists more easily produce effects that would take significant learning time and effort in a professional-level application. It does offer the standard timeline and keyframe editing tools, but Guided Edits and other ease-of-use features make it so amateurs can avoid the intricacies of those tools and still produce something that looks good. Another benefit is the upgrade path to Adobe Premiere Pro, though the interfaces are quite different.
Adobe Rush started out as Adobe's mobile app for quick video shooting, editing, and posting to social channels. It's still that, but now it's also available as desktop apps for Mac and Windows. Rush isn't overburdened with features, but you get enough titles, effects, color correction, and audio tools to create something visually appealing. Another advantage is that your projects can be stored in the cloud and you can then edit them in Premiere Pro.
Rush is a great tool for vloggers and anyone who wants to shoot and edit video while out and about. It does require a subscription. The least expensive option that includes Rush is the $9.99-per-month Adobe Express subscription. 2ff7e9595c
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