Video editing software
Video editing softwareor avideo editoris software used for performing the post-production video editing of digital video sequences on anon-linear editing system(NLE). It has replaced traditional flatbedcelluloidfilm editing tools and analog video tape editing machines.
Video editing software serves a lot of purposes, such asfilmmaking,audio commentary, and general editing of video content.
In NLE software, the user manipulates sections of video, images, and audio on a sequence. These clips can be trimmed, cut, and manipulated in many different ways. When editing is finished, the user exports the sequence as a video file.
Components
Timeline
NLE software is typically based on atimelineinterface where sections moving image video recordings, known as clips, are laid out in sequence and played back. The NLE offers a range of tools for trimming, splicing, cutting, and arranging clips across the timeline.
Another kind of clip is a text clip, used to add text to a video, such astitle screensormovie credits.[1]Audio clips can additionally be mixed together, such as mixing asoundtrackwith multiplesound effects.
Typically, the timeline is divided into multiple rows on the y-axis for different clips playing simultaneously, whereas the x-axis represents the run time of the video.[2]
Effects such astransitionscan be performed on each clip, such as acrossfadeeffect going from one scene to another.
Exporting
Since video editors represent a project with afile formatspecific to the program, one needs to export the video file in order to publish it.
Once a project is complete, the editor can thenexportto movies in a variety of formats in a context that may range from broadcast tape formats tocompressed video filesfor web publishing (such as on anonline video platformorpersonal website),optical media,or saved to mobile devices.
To facilitate editing, source video typically has a higher resolution than the desired output. Therefore, higher resolution video needs to bedownscaledduring exporting, or after exporting in a process known astranssizing.
Visual effects
As digital video editing advanced, visual effects became possible, and is part of the standard toolkit, usually found in prosumer and professional grade software.
A common ability is to docompositingtechniques such aschroma keyingorluma keying,among others, which allow different objects to look as if they are in the same scene.[3]
A different kind of visual effects ismotion capture.Software such asBlendercan perform motion capture to make animated objects follow an actor's movements.
Additional features
Most professional video editors are able to docolor grading,which is to manipulate visual attributes of a video such as contrast to enhance output, and improve emotional impact.[4]
Some video editors such asiMovieincludestock footageavailable for use.
Hardware requirements
As video editing puts great demands on storage and graphics performance, especially at high resolutions such as4K,and for videos with manyvisual effects,powerful hardware is often required.
It is not uncommon for a computer built for video editing to have a lot ofdrive capacity,and a powerfulgraphics processing unit,[5]which optimally hashardware accelerated video encoding.
Having sufficient disk space is important since videos can take up large amounts of storage, depending on the resolution and compression format used. Each minute of aFull HD(1080p) video at 30 fps takes up 60MB of space.[6]
When visual effects are used, aserver farmcan be employed to speed up the rendering process.
Examples
Video editing software can be divided into consumer grade, which focuses on ease-of-use, along with professional grade software, which focuses on feature availability, and advanced editing techniques. The typical use case for the former is to edit personal videos on the go, when more advanced editing is not required.
Consumer grade
Prosumer grade
Proprietary software
Professional grade
Proprietary software
Free and open source software
While most video editing software has been separate from the operating systems, some operating systems have had a video editor installed by default, such asWindows Movie MakerinWindows XP,or as a component of the default photo viewer, such as thePhotosapp oniOS.
Somesocial media platforms,such asTikTokandInstagrammay include a rudimentary video editor to trim clips.
See also
- Comparison of video editing software
- Comparison of video converters
- List of video editing software
- Photo slideshow software
- Video editing
References
- ^"Titles, Kdenlive Manual".
- ^"How to Edit Videos in the Timeline, The TechSmith Blog".
- ^"Green screen software - Chroma key video editing tools, Adobe Software".
- ^"What is color grading and why is it important? - Videomaker".
- ^"Hardware Configuration for 4K Video Editing - VideoProc".
- ^"How Much Space an HD, FullHD, 4K and 8K Video Occupies".
