A free video editor for everyone
Shotcut is a free open source video editor that supports hundreds of audio and video formats. The software allows you to work on multiple panels that can be unlocked, moved around, and docked once again to maximize your proficiency. Videos and other files are easily transferred with the drag-and-drop feature.
Shotcut is a decent video editing software that is a great choice for beginners and anyone looking to start a Youtube channel. The program is easy to navigate thanks to its intelligent design, allowing newcomers to find their way around quickly.
Free and open-source
The developers have planned out an entire roadmap for the future of the software, with features such as markers, undo/redo for filters, and audio noise reduction currently on the list. They recently added shortcuts for commands and pitch compensation for automatic pitch correction.
The application is light on resources and can be run on even 32-bit operating systems. You will, however, need at least two gigabytes of ram, even though the recommended amount is eight or more.
Is Shotcut safe?
Shotcut is an open-sourced software program, making it free and well-developed. It is also for this very reason that the program is safe to use and will not harm your computer, as coding can be scanned for any potential threats.
Supports many formats
Shotcut is capable of supporting the latest video formats thanks to FFmpeg. The software also supports popular image formats such as JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TGA, SVG, WebP, TIFF, and image sequences.
The application can both read and write videos with an alpha channel. There is also a network stream playback option available that supports HLS, HTTP, RTSP, RTMP, UDP, and MMS.
Sleek interface
The interface for this video editing software is comfortable to use as it features many dockable panels. The skins available for the UI have a native OS look that will not distract you from your work.
Among the various panels are useful features such as recent files and detailed media properties. All panels can be aligned to a grid, creating a professional-looking video editing studio.
Cross-platform
Shotcut is available for any computer operating software from Linux to Windows and Mac OS. This is great if you often work in the cloud and have different devices with their own operating system. The software can be run as a portable application from an external hard drive for maximum portability.
Input media from anywhere
Due to the video editor’s support for multiple file formats, you can import video or audio files from almost anywhere. This includes directly capturing content from your webcam or microphone and using it in your current project. There is support for resolutions of up to 4K resolution, allowing you to develop highly detailed products.
Drag and drop
While in the file manager, you can drag and drop videos, images, audio tracks, and more directly into the program, keeping a high productivity workflow. Along with this are various other quality of life features that keep you focused on your project.
The copy, paste, and cut options are straightforward to use. You’ll also find that you can sort your playlist by the name or creation/recording date to help you find necessary clips quickly. Your playlist also features an unlimited amount of times you can undo or redo any action.
Audio mixing
Audio files can be edited in a variety of ways to best suit the video playing. You can apply a large selection of filters, including compressor, balance, and pitch, as well as many more. You can mix audio across all tracks as you work, changing volume and adding fades where needed.
Video effects
Shotcut provides many effects while you composite videos, with features such as an eyedropper tool for white balancing. You’re also able to auto-rotate footage and apply a selection of common transitions like barn doors and a custom gradient image.
The film can be sped up or slowed down as well as have one of the many available filters applied to create a whole new sequence. Along with these clips can be played in reverse.
Road map
Shotcut has many future updates planned, and most of these can be seen on their road map. Some future features include an option to reset all settings, reorder tracks, display subtitles, and add a generic filter. Shotcut has over 40 planned additions on their road map.
Alternatives
If Shotcut isn’t your ideal video editing software, you may find one of these alternatives to be a better fit.
OpenShot is a simple but powerful video editing software that is easy to learn and use. The program is open-sourced and free, making it a great alternative to Shotcut. The application covers a wide selection of features that can help you make professional-grade edits.
Filmora is a beginner-friendly video editing suite with plenty of features for newcomers and professionals. Key features that the software offers include animation, audio control, and a straightforward interface.
Lightworks strives to offer you the complete blockbuster-like video-creating experience on Windows.
Is Shotcut good for YouTube?
Thanks to all the features available, the software is perfect for anyone, from filmmakers to YouTubers. The free version only restricts your format of the final product, not the editor's abilities.
HitFilm Pro is an all-in-one video editor, VFX powerhouse, and compositor. The software performs extremely well and can process footage in the background while you work on other projects. There are over 820 built-in VFX and presets with animation tools to enhance any project.
Safe and easy to use
Shotcut is a decent option to pick when choosing your video editor. The program is open source and has a roadmap of future updates to implement including features such as multiple playlists.
Recent updates have fixed many bugs and crashes that occurred while using the application. The ability to use the replace command with a shortcut was added to speed up the workflow. There are tutorials available to help any beginner learn the program.
