How to Edit YouTube Videos: 5 Best Programs

As the world’s largest video-sharing site, YouTube provides a rich source of video to watch. At the same time, YouTube allows you to upload your own videos. But before you share your videos with others, editing is a very important part because it can make your videos better. But how to edit YouTube videos?

Free YouTube Video Editing Software

There are definitely plenty of YouTube video editors to work with on the Internet. Each has its own distinctive characteristics. So, you need to understand their advantages and disadvantages. The following five options will serve as a good starting point.

Filmora Video Editor (Mac and Windows)

Filmora Video Editor has many effects that you can use to personalize your video while editing.

They include titles/credits that include a variety of samples, transitions to help you make flawless scene changes, sound effects, and filters. The program supports many formats and guarantees the high quality of the edited file.

One of the notable features of this program is color correction, which allows you to adjust brightness, saturation, and contrast. A green screen is another function that allows you to change the background. Scene detection helps you know when changes were made to a scene. The face offers funny faces to make your video funny. The PIP effect makes it possible to overlay more than one video together.

The program is fully supported on Mac OS X 10.11, including the El Capitan version and earlier, as well as on Windows 10 / Vista / 7/8 / XP.

iMovie (Mac)

When looking for the best software to use on your Mac, iMovie will be the best option to consider. It allows you to easily import video, as well as edit it with the addition of effects, titles, and audio tracks. A simple drag and drop will help you add files to the program.

Advantages:

• This program is very easy to use;
• It has a nice interface and allows you to share your edited videos online. These are its outstanding benefits that you will surely enjoy.

Disadvantages:

• One of the main disadvantages of iMovie is the inability to import files into mp4 format;
• The program is not readily available due to its price tag of about $ 14.99.

Windows Movie Maker (Windows)

It is a free video editing program developed by Microsoft. You can create, edit, and publish your videos using this program on sites such as YouTube and Facebook. It will help you improve your editing skills. The program supports many transitions, effects, and titles to customize your video.

Advantages:

• The key advantage of this program is that it is free;
• Easy to learn even for beginners;
• It offers a variety of editing tools and functions and is great for creating photo slideshows.

Disadvantages:

• When choosing this program, be prepared to limit the number of pleasant features since the program is free;
• Not very suitable for advanced users;
• The program is prone to crashes, so it is not entirely reliable.

YouTube Video Editor (Windows and Mac)

This program allows you to easily customize video files using special tools and effects. You only need to choose a good combination of what is suitable for editing your video. The program also allows you to cut the video size.

Advantages:

• You will easily understand how to use this program;
• The program works quickly and is available absolutely free, and it also allows you to add music to video.

Disadvantages:

• Freeness of the program means that some features of the program are limited;
• You will be able to use only basic functions.

LightWorks (Windows and Mac)

It is a professional editor that can be used to process your YouTube files. It is non-linear and has support for resolutions up to 4k. The editor works great with HD and SD video formats. If you have a video that you want to edit, then LightWorks is a great choice at any time.

Advantages:

• The ability to customize is the main advantage when using this program;
• Support for various platforms is another advantage of the program;
• Support for professional video editing and the availability of both paid and free versions.

Disadvantages:

• Lack of FireWire support for Linux;
• The Pro version has changed in price and does not offer any help as a hint for the base.

Best Practices for Editing YouTube Videos

There are also several effective YouTube video editing practices. Read about them below.

Adding Text, Images, Special Effects

After you have combined individual files and tracks into a coherent video, you can enhance it with additional effects. For example, you can explain what is happening on the screen using text – most programs allow you to add and edit it. You can also overlay images and other graphics (for example, display product images). Among the simplest special effects is the soft-focus, sepia, split-screen, interactive background.

You don’t need to be a pro to add these and other effects, as most programs allow you to implement them in a couple of clicks. The main thing is not to overdo it. The special effects are designed to enhance the video and emphasize the main message but not distract the viewer.

Choosing the Correct File Format

So, you have a finished video. Now you need to export the file. YouTube supports most of the video formats. We recommend exporting in .avi, .mp4, or .wma formats. They are the most common and are compatible with any device and program if you need to change something in the future. When editing videos, make sure the settings are set to 16: 9 – other formats are not well received by YouTube users.

Whichever file format you choose, export your video at 720p or 1080i. Even if viewers’ internet speed is limited, YouTube will adjust and offer a lower resolution view.

Adding Subtitles and Captions

Due to subtitles, your videos will be understandable to a wider audience, including hearing-impaired viewers and foreigners. It is possible to create, edit, and delete subtitles today, but it takes some time and effort. If you want to get professional help in creating and editing subtitles for your video, you can receive it here. Our site employs professional experts who perform tasks quickly and efficiently.

So, edit your YouTube videos and make them as useful as possible for a wide audience. And don’t forget about subtitles. They are very helpful. If you cannot create them, we will be happy to provide you quality assistance.