HOME VIDEO EDITING Software

How to take those videos building up on your phone and turn them into something that your followers, family and friends will actually want to watch.

Once you record your video, you’ll need to edit it, either on your computer or your phone.

ON YOUR COMPUTER

imovie (free) All Macs come with imovie, which offers limited options for transitions and titles, but lets you upload raw video, cut and export with a relatively intuitive drag-and-drop interface. When you’re ready to share, you can upload directly to Youtube.

Youtube Video Editor

(free) Extremely basic. The few functions it does have – automatic stabilisation, brightness and contrast correction – work well, but simple edits such as extracting a middle section of a scene are difficult. Because it’s browseronly, a slow connection can make the process take forever.

Windows Movie Maker

(free) For PC users, this is about your only free desktop option. Movie Maker is limited in options, but it will let you practise the fundamentals.

Final Cut Pro X

(from R4 000) A professional program that lets you add sound effects, titles and transitions. Once you get the hang of it, the multi-window interface makes reordering footage and working with multiple sources feel easy.

Adobe Premiere Pro CC

(monthly subscription) Premiere has superseded Final Cut as the choice of professionals. You get more tools (after-effects like rotoscoping and greater latitude in changing frame rate), which can be a little overwhelming. But only at first. Plus, Premiere allows greater integration across computer and mobile platforms and has seamless compatibility with other Adobe programs like Photoshop. If you’re going to commit to learning video editing on one application, this is it.