Guide: Cropping and Combining Content in Wondershare Filmora [Latest]

Video editing is one of the most essential tasks in a video project. It plays a role in creating videos that leave a lasting impression on your audience. From the initial raw footage to the final product, a video goes through several processes. One vital aspect of video editing is trimming and merging, which holds great importance for any video project.

The editing process changes the whole narrative of a video by adding more depth and feel to it. Through editing, you can remove unwanted segments, rearrange clips, and much more. Capturing and recording video is one thing, but bringing the best out of the raw files is another. To make your raw footage somewhat stunning, you have to sit in the editing room.

Part 1: How Does Trimming or Merging Videos Help Users?

Merging and trimming videos is an editing technique that offers many benefits. Here’s how these actions can help you in so many ways. Find out how it helps the users when they merge or trim a video:

Trimming Videos

• Trimming allows users to remove unwanted portions of a video. You can eliminate mistakes, irrelevant footage, or unnecessary pauses in the video. It also helps streamline the content and improve its overall quality.
• It can help adjust the pacing of a video by removing or shortening sections that may be too slow or lengthy. This ensures a more engaging and dynamic viewing experience.
• By trimming, you can select the best moments from a longer video. You can also create highlight reels that showcase the most important or exciting parts.
• Many social media platforms have specific time limitations for videos. It allows you to meet these requirements and share their content without compromising its essence.

Merging Videos

• The merging of videos enables you to combine multiple clips or segments into a single video. This technique is useful when users want to compile footage from different sources. It also creates a uniform narrative from separate scenes.
• Merging allows you to create montages or collages that showcase various moments or perspectives. This is often used in music videos, compilations, or video presentations.
• Doing this can make seamless transitions between different shots or scenes. This further creates a visually fluid experience for the viewer.
• It also helps you create a coherent storyline by combining different clips. You can use this technique to communicate ideas, emotions, or messages effectively.

Part 2: Wondershare Filmora: An Introduction to A Great Video Editor

Wondershare Filmora is a video editing tool that is created for almost everyone. This tool has it all, from simple edit options to more complicated ones. You can apply various kinds of filters and effects to your video. Additionally, you can change the color tone of your video project by making a few adjustments. However, this is not it, as you can even do trimming and merging in your project.

Trimming or Merging Videos Editor A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators, providing trimming and merging videos functions.

Free Download Free Download Learn More

Besides all this, the tool offers more than you’re expectations. It exists for professionals, enthusiasts, and even those who have started learning how to edit. Moreover, you can import and export videos up to 4K resolution using Wondershare Filmora. Choose a suitable template, import your media files, and start editing your videos with this tool.

Key Features

• Almost all tools provide effects and filters, but Wondershare Filmora offers more. The tool provides free media assets, overlays, transitions, stickers, and more.
• Filmora enables you to add keyframes to your video. This feature will allow you to make changes and add effects to the particular frame.
• Moreover, you can add a virtual green screen in Wondershare Filmora. By using this feature, you can add VFX and other motion effects to your video.

Part 3: Guide to Cropping and Trimming Videos on Wondershare Filmora

You’re in luck if you want to learn about trimming and cropping videos using Wondershare Filmora. This portion will let you know how to crop a video and trim parts of it using this tool.

Filmora Tutorial - Basic Editing in Filmora

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Step 1Guide to Cropping Videos

To start cropping your video, open Wondershare Filmora and select “New Project” to create a new editing project. Import your video file by dragging and dropping it into the tool. Further, locate your video file in the tool and drag it into the timeline.

Step 2Proceed To Crop and Zoom Window

In the timeline window, look for the “Crop” button and select it, which is located right next to the “Split” option. However, you can press “Alt + C” as a shortcut to access the next screen. This will help you lead into the “Crop and Zoom” window.

Step 3Adjust the Crop

Crop the video by moving the edges accordingly using your mouse. Click and drag the edges inward or outward to define the new frame of your video. If desired, you can also change the “Ratio” by entering the dimensions in the given boxes. This allows you to set specific dimensions for your cropped video.

Step 4Apply the Crop and Save

When done with the cropping adjustments, click “Apply.” This will save the changes, and your video will be cropped based on your preferences. Lastly, make sure to save your file by selecting the “Export” option.

Trimming Methods and Guide

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

01of 05Method 1: Trim Using Video Layer Edges

Step 1: First, import your video into Wondershare Filmora. Then, drag and drop the video onto the timeline and locate the edge of your video layer.

Step 2: Slide the left or right edge to trim the video according to your requirement. Release the edge when you are satisfied with the trimmed portion. Moreover, save your file by pressing the “Export” button.

02of 05Method 2: Trim Using Playhead Slider

Step 1: After importing your media file into the timeline, place the Playhead slider on your video layer at the desired trimming point. Click the “Scissor” icon displayed on the Playhead. The video will be trimmed at the Playhead position.

Step 2: Delete the unwanted portion of the video by selecting it and pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard. Don’t forget to save your file by exporting it to your system.

03of 05Method 3: Trim Using Option Menu

Step 1: Once your video is in the timeline, move the Playhead slider to the point where you want to trim the video. Right-click on the video layer in the timeline to open a menu.

Step 2: Select “Trim Start to Playhead” to trim the video from the start to the Playback slider.

Step 3: Alternatively, you can select “Trim End to Playhead” to trim the video from the Playhead slider to the end.

04of 05Method 4: Trim Using Shortcut Keys

Step 1: Move the Playhead slider to the desired trimming point after bringing your video into the timeline.

Step 2: Press “Alt + [“ to trim the video from the beginning to the Playhead position.

Step 3: Contrary, you can press the shortcut keys “Alt + ]“ to trim the video from the Playhead position to the end.

05of 05Method 5: Trim Using Instant Cutter Tool

Step 1: Open Wondershare Filmora and select the “Media” button. Go to the “Import” drop-down menu and choose “Import with Instant Cutter Tool.” A new window will appear.

Step 2: Select “Open File” to import your media file into the new window. Once imported, use the sliders at the edges of the video to trim it. Adjust the sliders as needed to define the trimmed portion. Lastly, press “Export” to add a trimmed video to your project.

Part 4: Manual and Automated Techniques of Merging Content on Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an editing platform that makes editing simple for everyone. If you’re an enthusiast looking to learn basics like merging videos and cropping YouTube videos, you’re at the right place. In the part below, you will learn two methods to merge video in Filmora.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Methods to merge video in Filmora

Manual Method To Merge Video Clips in Wondershare Filmora

Step 1Launch Wondershare Filmora

To merge two or more video clips using Wondershare Filmora, start by launching the software on your computer. In the editing window of Filmora, locate the “Click here to import” option and import the video clips you want to merge. This will bring the video to the preview window.

Step 2Arrange Clips in Timeline

Proceed to drag and drop each video clip, one by one, onto the timeline. Ensure that you place each clip layer right next to each other in the desired merging order.

Step 3Adjust and Export

Adjust the timeframe of your videos, if needed, by trimming or extending them on the timeline. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, proceed to export the project. By exporting, your multiple video clips will be merged into a single video file.

Automated Method for Merging Videos in Wondershare Filmora

Step 1Importing Videos

Start by going to the import section and clicking the “Import” drop-down menu. As this opens a menu, select the option of “Import with Instant Cutter Tool.”

Step 2Merging Videos

Within the new window, locate the “Merge” option and click on it. Select the video clips you want to merge by accessing “Open.” Filmora will now import your video clips and merge them.

Step 3Exporting the Merged File

After your video clips have been successfully merged, it’s time to export the final result. In the same window, find the “Export” option and click on it. This will export the merged file directly to the editing window of Wondershare Filmora.

Conclusion

To conclude, video editing and post-production are tasks that polish your project. Editing fine-tunes your project, and the result is always better than the raw footage. Wondershare Filmora is a tool that makes it easy to edit your raw footage into an exceptional video. This tool has everything from trimming and merging to more advanced, like an AI-powered edit option.

For those who are in search to crop YouTube videos, they can surely stop by Filmora. They will get their required results in no time in a highly professional environment.

Free Download Free Download Learn More

Besides all this, the tool offers more than you’re expectations. It exists for professionals, enthusiasts, and even those who have started learning how to edit. Moreover, you can import and export videos up to 4K resolution using Wondershare Filmora. Choose a suitable template, import your media files, and start editing your videos with this tool.

Key Features

• Almost all tools provide effects and filters, but Wondershare Filmora offers more. The tool provides free media assets, overlays, transitions, stickers, and more.
• Filmora enables you to add keyframes to your video. This feature will allow you to make changes and add effects to the particular frame.
• Moreover, you can add a virtual green screen in Wondershare Filmora. By using this feature, you can add VFX and other motion effects to your video.

Part 3: Guide to Cropping and Trimming Videos on Wondershare Filmora

You’re in luck if you want to learn about trimming and cropping videos using Wondershare Filmora. This portion will let you know how to crop a video and trim parts of it using this tool.

Filmora Tutorial - Basic Editing in Filmora

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Step 1Guide to Cropping Videos

To start cropping your video, open Wondershare Filmora and select “New Project” to create a new editing project. Import your video file by dragging and dropping it into the tool. Further, locate your video file in the tool and drag it into the timeline.

Step 2Proceed To Crop and Zoom Window

In the timeline window, look for the “Crop” button and select it, which is located right next to the “Split” option. However, you can press “Alt + C” as a shortcut to access the next screen. This will help you lead into the “Crop and Zoom” window.

Step 3Adjust the Crop

Crop the video by moving the edges accordingly using your mouse. Click and drag the edges inward or outward to define the new frame of your video. If desired, you can also change the “Ratio” by entering the dimensions in the given boxes. This allows you to set specific dimensions for your cropped video.

Step 4Apply the Crop and Save

When done with the cropping adjustments, click “Apply.” This will save the changes, and your video will be cropped based on your preferences. Lastly, make sure to save your file by selecting the “Export” option.

Trimming Methods and Guide

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

01of 05Method 1: Trim Using Video Layer Edges

Step 1: First, import your video into Wondershare Filmora. Then, drag and drop the video onto the timeline and locate the edge of your video layer.

Step 2: Slide the left or right edge to trim the video according to your requirement. Release the edge when you are satisfied with the trimmed portion. Moreover, save your file by pressing the “Export” button.

02of 05Method 2: Trim Using Playhead Slider

Step 1: After importing your media file into the timeline, place the Playhead slider on your video layer at the desired trimming point. Click the “Scissor” icon displayed on the Playhead. The video will be trimmed at the Playhead position.

Step 2: Delete the unwanted portion of the video by selecting it and pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard. Don’t forget to save your file by exporting it to your system.

03of 05Method 3: Trim Using Option Menu

Step 1: Once your video is in the timeline, move the Playhead slider to the point where you want to trim the video. Right-click on the video layer in the timeline to open a menu.

Step 2: Select “Trim Start to Playhead” to trim the video from the start to the Playback slider.

Step 3: Alternatively, you can select “Trim End to Playhead” to trim the video from the Playhead slider to the end.

04of 05Method 4: Trim Using Shortcut Keys

Step 1: Move the Playhead slider to the desired trimming point after bringing your video into the timeline.

Step 2: Press “Alt + [“ to trim the video from the beginning to the Playhead position.

Step 3: Contrary, you can press the shortcut keys “Alt + ]“ to trim the video from the Playhead position to the end.

05of 05Method 5: Trim Using Instant Cutter Tool

Step 1: Open Wondershare Filmora and select the “Media” button. Go to the “Import” drop-down menu and choose “Import with Instant Cutter Tool.” A new window will appear.

Step 2: Select “Open File” to import your media file into the new window. Once imported, use the sliders at the edges of the video to trim it. Adjust the sliders as needed to define the trimmed portion. Lastly, press “Export” to add a trimmed video to your project.

Part 4: Manual and Automated Techniques of Merging Content on Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is an editing platform that makes editing simple for everyone. If you’re an enthusiast looking to learn basics like merging videos and cropping YouTube videos, you’re at the right place. In the part below, you will learn two methods to merge video in Filmora.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Methods to merge video in Filmora

Manual Method To Merge Video Clips in Wondershare Filmora

Step 1Launch Wondershare Filmora

To merge two or more video clips using Wondershare Filmora, start by launching the software on your computer. In the editing window of Filmora, locate the “Click here to import” option and import the video clips you want to merge. This will bring the video to the preview window.

Step 2Arrange Clips in Timeline

Proceed to drag and drop each video clip, one by one, onto the timeline. Ensure that you place each clip layer right next to each other in the desired merging order.

Step 3Adjust and Export

Adjust the timeframe of your videos, if needed, by trimming or extending them on the timeline. Once you are satisfied with the arrangement, proceed to export the project. By exporting, your multiple video clips will be merged into a single video file.

Automated Method for Merging Videos in Wondershare Filmora

Step 1Importing Videos

Start by going to the import section and clicking the “Import” drop-down menu. As this opens a menu, select the option of “Import with Instant Cutter Tool.”

Step 2Merging Videos

Within the new window, locate the “Merge” option and click on it. Select the video clips you want to merge by accessing “Open.” Filmora will now import your video clips and merge them.

Step 3Exporting the Merged File

After your video clips have been successfully merged, it’s time to export the final result. In the same window, find the “Export” option and click on it. This will export the merged file directly to the editing window of Wondershare Filmora.

Conclusion

To conclude, video editing and post-production are tasks that polish your project. Editing fine-tunes your project, and the result is always better than the raw footage. Wondershare Filmora is a tool that makes it easy to edit your raw footage into an exceptional video. This tool has everything from trimming and merging to more advanced, like an AI-powered edit option.

For those who are in search to crop YouTube videos, they can surely stop by Filmora. They will get their required results in no time in a highly professional environment.

7 Best GoPro Video Editors for Mac

Have you ever used or seen small box-type cameras for recording videos? Well, those are called action cameras. Action cameras are compact go. They were basically made to shoot sports or any other activities videos. They are mountable on many surfaces so you can record freely during any activity. Many of them provide 4K videos at 60 fps or higher to provide crisp video quality or low resolution at 120 or 240 fps to record smooth slow-mo videos. Most of them are waterproof and have good video stabilization so you can record any sports hassle-free.

There are many action camera companies out there in the market but the one ruling the market at the moment is GoPro. It has some best action camera models with dozens of amazing features. It can also record in RAW format and GoPro max can also shoot 360 videos.

GoPro gives amazing results but sometimes videos aren’t up to your expectations and need a little bit of refinement. From sharpening to speed ramping there are many ways to enhance your GoPro videos. And for this purpose, you need a good video editing software which has all these features plus it also supports RAW and 360 video files. Here we have mentioned some noteworthy video editing softwares for you.

Wondershare - Filmora :

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

If you are looking for professional and easy-to-use software to edit your GoPro videos then Filmora Video Editor can be the right choice for you. It has many cool features to enhance your action cam footage. From stabilization to color grading to fish eye effect all can be done in this software. It has a simple and attractive UI.

It has hundreds of effects and cool transitions. It is a paid video editor which also provides a free version to check and practice your skills on. But the main disadvantage of the free version is that it leaves a watermark on export. If you don’t want to invest money in the beginning, till then you can practice on the free version and once you are satisfied with your skills then you can upgrade to a pro version.

Pricing: Wondershare Filmora offers three different plans. Monthly one at $9.99/a month, Yearly one at $69.99, and perpetual license for $79.99 where you can own the software’s specific version for perpetual. It also provides an educational plan for students and teachers.

Free Download

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

~ Features:

• It supports 4K files and a wide range of file formats.
• It has a simple UI that is suitable for beginners.
• It Supports 360 video files (in equirectangular format).
• Supports industry-standard plugins like Boris fx.
• Have features like standard motion tracking, masking, chroma key, e.t.c.
• The paid version has more features like Speed ramping, Auto-sync, keyframing, and animation.
• Have vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• The free version leaves a watermark on export.
• Have playback issues with 4k videos.
• Lacks some standard editing features.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Filmora” then select the desired aspect ratio and click “New Project’ to start editing. Click on the “Import panel” to import media files.

Edit: Drag and drop the clips to add them to the timeline. Drop the clips above or below to add them in layers. Click the top-left icon of the timeline to add layers. Select a clip and you will see a bunch of tools appear on the top bar of the timeline, use them to perform basic editing tasks like split, crop, speed ramping, keyframing, e.t.c.

Double-click on a clip to open its properties. . Click the blue “Ok” button to move back to the previous window.

Select the “Video” icon to transform the clip or to do motion tracking, stabilization, chroma-key, Masking, e.t.c.

Select the “Audio” icon to apply effects and enhance your audio.

Select the “Color” icon to do color correction and grading.

Select the “3D LUT” option to import a new customized lut.

Select the “Animation” icon to add preset animations or make custom animations by using keyframes.

Select the “Speed” icon to adjust the speed of the clip or to do speed ramping.

Click the blue “OK” button below to go back to the previous window.

Effects: On the horizontal bar at the top-left corner of the screen, all the effects, transitions, title present, and stock library are located. Drag and drop to apply them.

Export: Click the blue “Export” button to open export window, choose the desired settings than click “Export”. and don’t forget to save the project if you want to edit it again.

Free GoPro Video Editors for Mac:

If you are tight on budget but still want a professional video editor to edit your GoPro videos then here I have mentioned some free but powerful video editors. Whether you are a beginner or a professional content creator, these free softwares can get your job done.

Blackmagic - Davinchi Resolve:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a freelance video editor or an industry-level filmmaker, if you want to step up your game and stand out from your competition then you need a powerful video editor to help you out and Davinchi Resolve can be the right choice for you. From sports vlogging using action cams to Hollywood filmmaking using Red cinema cameras, Davinchi Resolve can handle and edit all this footage easily and smoothly. It is even used in the making of several Hollywood projects including Marvels’s feature films.

It is one of the best color grading software available in the market. It has advanced color grading tools that can help color grade your GoPro raw videos easily as raw videos look dull but provide greater flexibility. It is a timeline-based editor but its Fusion and Color grading panel provides a Node-based editing system which is hard to use but provides great flexibility once mastered.

Resolve has 6 different pages to deal with different editing parts:

“Edit” and “Cut” pages to deal with simple editing tasks. Its “Fusion” page allows users to do VFX and 3D compositing. The “Color Grading” page has all the professional grading tools. While the “Fairlight” page is designed to edit and enhance audio. And the “Deliver” page to export your files.

All these features are available for free without even giving a watermark. Although it has a studio version that provides some additional features to get more out of this amazing software.

• Davinchi Resolve Studio:

The free version has almost everything a professional video editor needs. but you can purchase the Studio version to get some really juicy features to enhance your video editing experience. It includes the Davinci neural engine, stereoscopic 3D tools, Dolby atmos audio mastering,e.t.c.

Pricing: Studio version is available at $ 295 for a lifetime license and with free updates.

~ Features:

• It supports a 4K resolution at 60fps. (while the Studio version supports up to 32K resolution at 120 fps.)
• It is a multi-feature software that provides editing, color grading, VFX, 3D compositing, and audio editing all in one place.
• It has the most advanced and powerful Node-based color grading system, which is also used by Hollywood film studios.
• Supports Raw and 360 videos from GoPro or other action cameras.
• Supports multi-cam editing up to 16 camera angles.
• Can make Compound clips and add adjustment layers.
• Fairlight panel has professional audio production tools like waveform editing, audio ducking, and Channel mapping. (Dolby Vision mastering and 3D spatial Panning [audio editing in 3D space] are available in the Studio version.)
• Supports third-party plugins.
• Has a 3D workspace and provides a virtual set extension for 3D modeling and compositing.

~ Cons:

• Its node-based editing style is quite difficult for beginners.
• Requires a high-end workstation to run smoothly otherwise will often crash during editing.
• Its node-based editing system is hard to learn.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Davinci Resolve’. Select a previously saved project or press “New project” to start a new one. Click “File” >> “Import” >> “Media” to import files or press “CTRL + I”.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to the timeline Use the tools present above the timeline to trim, cut or move your clips. Click the “Inspector” icon on the top-right corner of the window to open the Inspector tab. Here you will find the properties of all the clips, audio, transitions, effects, e.t.c. There are different editing tabs at the bottom of the window.

In the “Fusion” window, click “Nodes” to open the Node screen. Import a clip or use it from the editor timeline. Usually, a clip will have two nodes connected through a line. Above the nodes panel, different types of nodes are available. Drag any node in the panel and connect it through lines. or add a “merge” node to connect nodes.

Its color grading panel also has Node based editing system.

Effects: Click “Effects Library” then select any effect and drop it in the timeline to apply it. You can change its properties in the “Inspector” panel.

Click the diamond icon on the right side of the property to start keyframing then change the value of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Open the “Deliver” window, choose the desired settings then click “Add to Render Queue” to start exporting.

FXhome - Hitfilm Express:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux also.

If you are looking for a free but powerful video editor to edit your GoPro clips then Hitfilm Express can be the right choice for you. It is a free timeline-based editing software with professional-grade VFX tools. It is a timeline-based editor where you can add dozens of audio, videos, and text layers.

It has a composite shot sequence where you can do complex editing like editing 3D videos and elements, lights e.t.c. It has physic-base behaviors and effects also to enhance 3D compositing. For professional-level editing almost most of the effects and properties have keyframing options. It has different workspace modes to suit your editing needs.

It can also edit 360 videos recorded from your GoPro max. It has a “GoPro Lens Reframe” effect to adjust your 360 clips, but some 360 toolkits can only be available when you purchase Hitfilm pro or buy a 360 toolkit add-on. Similarly, you can purchase more add-ons according to your editing needs or you can purchase Hitfilm Pro to gain access to all add-ons and features. But can use these pro features for free but without exporting as exporting with a paid effect can give a watermark.

Hitfilm Pro:

Although Hitfilm express doesn’t give a watermark on export, but to use more features like 3D composition, LUTs, e.t.c you need to purchase add-ons, there are over 30+ add-ons available to purchase which you can purchase depending on your needs, but if you want to get all the features than its better to get your hands on Hitfilm Pro.

Pricing: Available for purchase at £ 309 or $ 388 for a lifetime license. With 12 months of free updates. It has 3 seat license which means It can run on 3 PCs simultaneously.

~ Features:

• It is a free editing software with no watermark.
• It can edit 3D videos and it can also import and edit 3D models and tracking data.
• It can edit 360 videos also.
• You can add effects and color grades as layers in the timeline also.
• Can add adjustment layers and create nested clips within nested clips to make complex editing easier.
• It has a motion track and locked-on stabilization features.
• Can do smooth keyframing and animation with the help of value graphs.
• It supports multi-cam editing also.
• Keyboard shortcuts make workflow quite easy and quick.

~ Cons:

• It has some playback issues while using 4K videos.
• It crashes sometimes, so it’s better to save the project frequently during editing.
• Hitfilm express doesn’t have a dark mode.
• Some common features are only available on the Pro version or add-ons.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Hitfilm”, Select “New Project” to open a blank project then click “open” to open an existing file or click “new” to create a new project. Then set project settings on pop-up then and click “ok”.

Then click the “Media” tab on the top-left corner of the screen. Then select the “Import” button to import videos, images, audio, or 3d models. You can also import previously made composite shots.

Edit: Drag and drop media files from the media tab to the timeline. or click the “New” tab to create a “Composite shot” or a solid plane layer. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to insert or delete layers. On the left side of the timeline, you will find some basic tools located on the vertical bar to do simple tasks.

In the “Viewer” tab, on the left side of the playback screen, you can find tools for masking and adding text.

In the “Controls” tab, you can adjust the properties of clips and other features related to the clip like masking, track, blend, transform, e.t.c.

Create a “Composite shot” to do complex editing like 3D compositing. Or select multiple layers then right-click and select “make Composite shot” to combine them for easy editing. Double-click the composite shot to open its contents.

Effects: From the “Effects” tab drag and drop effects on the clip to add them. Some effects can be added as layers which can affect all the layers beneath it. Properties of these effects can be adjusted in the “Control” tab.

To do keyframing, Click the circle icon on the left side of the property to start keyframing then change the values of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Click the “Export” icon then “Export now” located at the top right side of the timeline to open the export window. The export will start automatically.

Shotcut:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are making videos from your GoPro or mobile phone just for fun that doesn’t require much editing then you can look for a free and simple video editor and “Shotcut” can be the right choice for this purpose.

It is a free and open-source video editor with many cool features to get your hands on. It doesn’t have any pro version. It is simple and easy to use but takes some time to understand. It supports multi-track timeline editing. It has a basic timeline design but you can customize your timeline to meet your editing needs. It has some good color grading options, you can also import your color luts. It has many cool features and effects. It supports 360 video editing and also has a few 360 video filters. It has audio effects also.

~ Features:

• All its features are for free and it doesn’t leave any watermark.
• It supports 4K resolution and a wide range of file formats.
• It also supports 360 video files.
• Has keyframing and chroma kry features.
• It has advanced color grading features.
• It provides standard animation and keyframing features.

~ Cons:

• It is a basic video editor and lacks some professional editing features.
• Have playback issues with 4K videos.
• It does have proper text editing tools.
• It is difficult to understand as its UI is different from other familiar video editors.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Shot Cut” then click the “Open Files” button on the top-left corner of the window to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop clips on an empty timeline panel to add tracks and drag the clip from corners to trim them. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to add a video or an audio track. You will find a bunch of tools above the timeline to do some basic tasks.

You can choose from 6 different workspace designs (available in the top-right corner of the window) to suit your editing styles.

On top of the window, you will see a bunch of icons like Timeline, filter, project, and properties. e.t.c. In the properties tab, you can change the aspect ratio and speed of the clip.

Effects: Click the “Filters” icon on top of the window to open the filters menu, Click “+” above it to add filters. Double click a filter to add it to the selected clip, then click the filter to open its properties menu. You can also add text from here.

Click the “Keyframes” icon on top of the window to open the Keyframes window. Select the “clock” icon on the filters to start keyframing then change the values at a specific time to add keyframes. Click the “Timeline” icon to go back to the previous window.

Export: Click the “Export” button on the top of the screen. Select a preset or click the “Advanced” button to change export settings then click “Export File”.

Paid GoPro Video Editor for Mac:

If you are a professional athlete or a vlogger using GoPro for all of your contents and want to invest some money on paid video editors to improve your content. Then here we have mentioned some paid video editors worthy of your investment.

Apple - Final Cut Pro:

It is available for Mac only.

If you are an Apple enthusiastic person and want everything Apple, then why look for any other video editor when you can have a powerful video editor “Final cut pro” made by Apple. It is a paid but professional software that can raise your GoPro videos to the next level. Whether it’s a 360 video or a RAW file recorded from your GoPro or from the RED cinema camera, all can be edited smoothly inside Final Cut Pro. It has dozens of useful features that a professional video editor looks for like 3D tracking, Motion Graphics, Color Grading, Audio Mixing, Multi-cam editing e.t.c.

Pricing: It is a one-time purchase software available at $ 299.9 for a lifetime license and all its future updates can be downloaded free of cost.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Support 360 and RAW video files.
• Edit videos in complete 360 and 3D spaces.
• Supports third-party video and audio plugins.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have professional color grading tools with HDR support.
• Its UI is easy to use.

~ Cons:

• It is designed for Apple devices only.
• Requires a powerful PC.
• Its UI is a bit different from other common video editors in the market.
• ~ Steps:

Import: Open “Final Cut Pro” then click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the screen, then select “Project” to create a new project. In the “Files” menu, click “import” then “media” to import your media files. Here most of the work is done with Keyboard commands.

Edit: Drag and Drop clips on the timeline. In the viewer panel, press “I” and “O” to add input and output points then drag the clip to add only a specific part of the clip. Press “Cmd + B” to split the clip at the desired location. Or add the clips above to add the layer.

Click the “Text” icon on the top-left corner of the screen to open the text page. Choose from presets or import your own Text presets and drag them to the timeline. Click the text to open “Text Editor” on the left side of the screen.

Select multiple clips then Right-click and select “New Compound Clip” to combine them. Double-click the compound clip to edit its components.

Effects: Click 2 icons on the top-right side of the timeline to open the effects and transition panel. Drag and drop on the clip to use them. You can change their properties in the “Effects editor” tab located in the same place as “Text Editor”.

In the editor tab, click the diamond icon beside any property to start keyframing, then change its property to add keyframes at the desired time.

Press “Cmd + 6” to open the Color Grading tab, here you can color grade your clips.

Export: To export the edited video. Click “File” >> “Share” >> “Master file” to open export window. Choose the desired settings then click “Next” then “Save” to export the video.

Adobe - Premiere Pro:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a content creator or not, if you use a DSLR or an action camera for the first time, then maybe the output wouldn’t meet your expectations. In order to make it good, you need a video editor. And if you will ask your gathering about a good video editor, most of them will recommend you Adobe Premiere Pro, because it is such a versatile and well-known software available in the market. It is a subscription-based video editor.

It is an industry-level software with many professional and advanced features. From beginner video editing to film compositing, all can be done in this software. Whether you have a 360 video or a 4K video in Raw format recorded from your GoPro, just import it into premiere pro and start editing. It has a downloadable “GoPro FX Reframe” plugin to edit your 360 videos. It has different panels designed to deal with specific parts of post-production such as the Effects panel, Graphics panel, Sound panel, Colour Grading panel, e.t.c.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Have different panels to enhance different segments of post-production.
• Have an essential Effects panel to create motion effects and animations using keyframes.
• Supports hundreds of third-party extensions.
• Have useful features like warp stabilizer and denoiser.
• You can import or create your color LUTs.
• Have a creative cloud with 100 Gb of storage.
• The bundle also includes a mobile video editor and a stock library.

~ Cons:

• Real-time rendering. It will take some time to render before exporting if you work on a mid-range PC.
• Freezes or crashes sometimes.
• Cache data fill-up quickly and eats a lot of storage. (It’s better to clear it after every project)

Pricing: It is cloud-based software, therefore it can’t be purchased one time. It has a monthly subscription starting at $ 20.99/month. It includes “premiere rush” mobile video editor and 100 GB of cloud storage within the plan. It also has a “Creative cloud All apps” plan that includes all 30+ Softwares + 100Gb cloud storage along with premiere pro for $ 54.99 only. All plans also include Behance (adobe creative community), Adobe Fonts, and Adobe stock assets for free. Adobe also provides educational access at a much discounted price.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Premiere Pro”. Click “New Project” to start with then Click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the window then select the “Import files” button to import files. Or press “CTRL + I” to import files or drag your files from their location to premiere pro.

Edit: Drag and Drop the files to add them to the timeline. Drop a file above a clip to add as a layer. or drop over a clip to overwrite it. On the right side of the timeline, you can find a bunch of tools to do basic edits like trimming, splitting, speed ramping, masking, or adding text.

In the “Effects Control” tab you can transform the selected clip or change its properties.

Select multiple clips then right-click and select “make Nested clip” to combine them into a single clip for easy editing.

Slide between 8 different workspace styles designed for specific post-production tasks by clicking the buttons available on the top of the window.

Effects: Go to the “Effects” panel on the bottom-left window to apply an effect or transitions. Here you can find all audio, video, 2D, and 3D effects. Drag and Drop on a clip to apply it. Change the properties of these effects in the “Effects Control” panel.

To color grade, your clips move to the “Color” workspace. Here you will find all the color grading features: correction, curves, color wheels, creative tab, e.t.c. To import a LUT click the “creative tab” then click “Browse” to import a LUT.

Export: To Export go to the “Files” tab on top of the screen then select the “Export” button to open the export tab. Select the desired settings then click “Export”.

Power Director 365 :

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly video editor that is powerful enough to edit your GoPro videos like a content creator then Power director can be the right choice for you. It has many unique and useful features. It has different plugins and design centers to do specific post-production tasks like Ad designer, Multicam editor, AI style plugins, e.t.c.

It also has a separate action cam center to fix or enhance action cam videos. IT also has chapter and subtitle rooms to add subtitles and chapters for your Youtube videos or films. It also has a vast stock and preset library to speed up your project.

Pricing: It has a subscription plan which is available at $69/year. It is now available at 30% off till 22nd May,2022.

~ Features:

• It supports 4K videos and a wide range of import formats.
• Have many built-in plugins and design centers.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have an action cam center to deal with action cam footage.
• Have separate aspect ratio mode for 360 videos.
• Also, have a chapter and subtitle room. many recording aspects of the video.
• Have a content-aware editing feature that detects the recording aspects.
• Can import presets and color LUTs.
• Have a vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• Have some playback issues with 4K videos. (create shadow files to overcome this issue to an extent).
• Its UI is a little bit complicated for beginners.
• Not ideal for fast pace editing.

~ Steps:

Import: Open Power director and a pop-up will appear, select desired aspect ratio then click “Full mode” to open the software. Or select 360 aspect ratio if you want to edit 360 videos.

Click the “Import Media” icon below the Files tab in the top-left corner of the window to import files or press “CTRL + Q” to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to any desired layer in the timeline. Click the icon on the top left corner of the timeline to add layers. When you select a clip in the timeline, some tools appear on the top timeline. Select any specific tool to edit your selected clip. Or click the “Plugins” button on the top-left of the window to open a specific designer tab.

Double-click on the clip to open ‘PIP designer”. Here you will find all the editing tools to edit or animate your clip.

After selecting a clip, in the “Plugins” menu click the “Action Camera Center” button to open an edit tab, Here you can fix your GoPro videos.

Effects: On the top-left corner of the window in a vertical bar you will find all the effects material lile Project library, titles, effects, transitions, overlays, e.t.c. Simply just drag and drop them on the timeline to use them. Here you can also do audio mixing and add subtitles and chapters.

Double click a clip or an overlay element to open the designer window. Here you can customize the clips and overlays to enhance your project.

Export: Click the blue “Produce” button on top of the screen to export your edited file. Select the desired mode and file format and add an export destination, then click “Start” to start exporting.

Which One Should I Choose Free or Paid GoPro Video Editor?

You can choose free or paid softwares depending on your requirements and budget. If a free software meets your requirements then stay on it otherwise move towards a paid alternative. If you have a GoPro and you make videos just for fun then use a free and simple video editor. Even if you are an experienced video editor, I would recommend you to go for free video editors which I have mentioned above as they are quite powerful and professional software but if you are harvesting a good amount of money from this field then you can upgrade to pro versions of these free softwares or get a paid software from start. As almost all of these softwares are professional and can get your job done, so it’s better to choose one, which is comfortable for you to work on.

FAQs about GoPro Video Editing:

1. Q) Does GoPro has its own video editor?

Yes, GoPro has its own video editor “Quik”. It is available on mobile phones and desktops both. It is simple and easy to use. It provides basic features to edit your video. But the main disadvantage of this desktop software is that it supports only GoPro videos, you can’t import files from other devices. Although this isn’t the issue with Quik mobile app, here you can import videos from other devices also.

1. Q) Can I make videos for social media with a GoPro?

It was basically made for recording sports and action videos. But as the market is revolutionized and new models are released it has covered a wide range of the video industry like vlogging, travel and cooking videos e.t.c. As new models of GoPros are waterproof, you can get some amazing underwater shots for your Instagram.

1. Q) What is GoPro media format?

GoPro export files in popular file format MP4. MP4 is the most common file format and is supported by almost all the video editors. While it is efficient and takes less storage but isn’t supported in many devices.

1. Q) How do I transfer files from my GoPro to Mac?

You can transfer your GoPro files through 3 methods:

• Eject the SD card from your GoPro and connect it to your Mac using a SD card adapter to transfer files.
• Connect your GoPro to Mac through USB connector and use “iphoto” or any other photo importer to import files.

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

~ Features:

• It supports 4K files and a wide range of file formats.
• It has a simple UI that is suitable for beginners.
• It Supports 360 video files (in equirectangular format).
• Supports industry-standard plugins like Boris fx.
• Have features like standard motion tracking, masking, chroma key, e.t.c.
• The paid version has more features like Speed ramping, Auto-sync, keyframing, and animation.
• Have vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• The free version leaves a watermark on export.
• Have playback issues with 4k videos.
• Lacks some standard editing features.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Filmora” then select the desired aspect ratio and click “New Project’ to start editing. Click on the “Import panel” to import media files.

Edit: Drag and drop the clips to add them to the timeline. Drop the clips above or below to add them in layers. Click the top-left icon of the timeline to add layers. Select a clip and you will see a bunch of tools appear on the top bar of the timeline, use them to perform basic editing tasks like split, crop, speed ramping, keyframing, e.t.c.

Double-click on a clip to open its properties. . Click the blue “Ok” button to move back to the previous window.

Select the “Video” icon to transform the clip or to do motion tracking, stabilization, chroma-key, Masking, e.t.c.

Select the “Audio” icon to apply effects and enhance your audio.

Select the “Color” icon to do color correction and grading.

Select the “3D LUT” option to import a new customized lut.

Select the “Animation” icon to add preset animations or make custom animations by using keyframes.

Select the “Speed” icon to adjust the speed of the clip or to do speed ramping.

Click the blue “OK” button below to go back to the previous window.

Effects: On the horizontal bar at the top-left corner of the screen, all the effects, transitions, title present, and stock library are located. Drag and drop to apply them.

Export: Click the blue “Export” button to open export window, choose the desired settings than click “Export”. and don’t forget to save the project if you want to edit it again.

Free GoPro Video Editors for Mac:

If you are tight on budget but still want a professional video editor to edit your GoPro videos then here I have mentioned some free but powerful video editors. Whether you are a beginner or a professional content creator, these free softwares can get your job done.

Blackmagic - Davinchi Resolve:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a freelance video editor or an industry-level filmmaker, if you want to step up your game and stand out from your competition then you need a powerful video editor to help you out and Davinchi Resolve can be the right choice for you. From sports vlogging using action cams to Hollywood filmmaking using Red cinema cameras, Davinchi Resolve can handle and edit all this footage easily and smoothly. It is even used in the making of several Hollywood projects including Marvels’s feature films.

It is one of the best color grading software available in the market. It has advanced color grading tools that can help color grade your GoPro raw videos easily as raw videos look dull but provide greater flexibility. It is a timeline-based editor but its Fusion and Color grading panel provides a Node-based editing system which is hard to use but provides great flexibility once mastered.

Resolve has 6 different pages to deal with different editing parts:

“Edit” and “Cut” pages to deal with simple editing tasks. Its “Fusion” page allows users to do VFX and 3D compositing. The “Color Grading” page has all the professional grading tools. While the “Fairlight” page is designed to edit and enhance audio. And the “Deliver” page to export your files.

All these features are available for free without even giving a watermark. Although it has a studio version that provides some additional features to get more out of this amazing software.

• Davinchi Resolve Studio:

The free version has almost everything a professional video editor needs. but you can purchase the Studio version to get some really juicy features to enhance your video editing experience. It includes the Davinci neural engine, stereoscopic 3D tools, Dolby atmos audio mastering,e.t.c.

Pricing: Studio version is available at $ 295 for a lifetime license and with free updates.

~ Features:

• It supports a 4K resolution at 60fps. (while the Studio version supports up to 32K resolution at 120 fps.)
• It is a multi-feature software that provides editing, color grading, VFX, 3D compositing, and audio editing all in one place.
• It has the most advanced and powerful Node-based color grading system, which is also used by Hollywood film studios.
• Supports Raw and 360 videos from GoPro or other action cameras.
• Supports multi-cam editing up to 16 camera angles.
• Can make Compound clips and add adjustment layers.
• Fairlight panel has professional audio production tools like waveform editing, audio ducking, and Channel mapping. (Dolby Vision mastering and 3D spatial Panning [audio editing in 3D space] are available in the Studio version.)
• Supports third-party plugins.
• Has a 3D workspace and provides a virtual set extension for 3D modeling and compositing.

~ Cons:

• Its node-based editing style is quite difficult for beginners.
• Requires a high-end workstation to run smoothly otherwise will often crash during editing.
• Its node-based editing system is hard to learn.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Davinci Resolve’. Select a previously saved project or press “New project” to start a new one. Click “File” >> “Import” >> “Media” to import files or press “CTRL + I”.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to the timeline Use the tools present above the timeline to trim, cut or move your clips. Click the “Inspector” icon on the top-right corner of the window to open the Inspector tab. Here you will find the properties of all the clips, audio, transitions, effects, e.t.c. There are different editing tabs at the bottom of the window.

In the “Fusion” window, click “Nodes” to open the Node screen. Import a clip or use it from the editor timeline. Usually, a clip will have two nodes connected through a line. Above the nodes panel, different types of nodes are available. Drag any node in the panel and connect it through lines. or add a “merge” node to connect nodes.

Its color grading panel also has Node based editing system.

Effects: Click “Effects Library” then select any effect and drop it in the timeline to apply it. You can change its properties in the “Inspector” panel.

Click the diamond icon on the right side of the property to start keyframing then change the value of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Open the “Deliver” window, choose the desired settings then click “Add to Render Queue” to start exporting.

FXhome - Hitfilm Express:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux also.

If you are looking for a free but powerful video editor to edit your GoPro clips then Hitfilm Express can be the right choice for you. It is a free timeline-based editing software with professional-grade VFX tools. It is a timeline-based editor where you can add dozens of audio, videos, and text layers.

It has a composite shot sequence where you can do complex editing like editing 3D videos and elements, lights e.t.c. It has physic-base behaviors and effects also to enhance 3D compositing. For professional-level editing almost most of the effects and properties have keyframing options. It has different workspace modes to suit your editing needs.

It can also edit 360 videos recorded from your GoPro max. It has a “GoPro Lens Reframe” effect to adjust your 360 clips, but some 360 toolkits can only be available when you purchase Hitfilm pro or buy a 360 toolkit add-on. Similarly, you can purchase more add-ons according to your editing needs or you can purchase Hitfilm Pro to gain access to all add-ons and features. But can use these pro features for free but without exporting as exporting with a paid effect can give a watermark.

Hitfilm Pro:

Although Hitfilm express doesn’t give a watermark on export, but to use more features like 3D composition, LUTs, e.t.c you need to purchase add-ons, there are over 30+ add-ons available to purchase which you can purchase depending on your needs, but if you want to get all the features than its better to get your hands on Hitfilm Pro.

Pricing: Available for purchase at £ 309 or $ 388 for a lifetime license. With 12 months of free updates. It has 3 seat license which means It can run on 3 PCs simultaneously.

~ Features:

• It is a free editing software with no watermark.
• It can edit 3D videos and it can also import and edit 3D models and tracking data.
• It can edit 360 videos also.
• You can add effects and color grades as layers in the timeline also.
• Can add adjustment layers and create nested clips within nested clips to make complex editing easier.
• It has a motion track and locked-on stabilization features.
• Can do smooth keyframing and animation with the help of value graphs.
• It supports multi-cam editing also.
• Keyboard shortcuts make workflow quite easy and quick.

~ Cons:

• It has some playback issues while using 4K videos.
• It crashes sometimes, so it’s better to save the project frequently during editing.
• Hitfilm express doesn’t have a dark mode.
• Some common features are only available on the Pro version or add-ons.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Hitfilm”, Select “New Project” to open a blank project then click “open” to open an existing file or click “new” to create a new project. Then set project settings on pop-up then and click “ok”.

Then click the “Media” tab on the top-left corner of the screen. Then select the “Import” button to import videos, images, audio, or 3d models. You can also import previously made composite shots.

Edit: Drag and drop media files from the media tab to the timeline. or click the “New” tab to create a “Composite shot” or a solid plane layer. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to insert or delete layers. On the left side of the timeline, you will find some basic tools located on the vertical bar to do simple tasks.

In the “Viewer” tab, on the left side of the playback screen, you can find tools for masking and adding text.

In the “Controls” tab, you can adjust the properties of clips and other features related to the clip like masking, track, blend, transform, e.t.c.

Create a “Composite shot” to do complex editing like 3D compositing. Or select multiple layers then right-click and select “make Composite shot” to combine them for easy editing. Double-click the composite shot to open its contents.

Effects: From the “Effects” tab drag and drop effects on the clip to add them. Some effects can be added as layers which can affect all the layers beneath it. Properties of these effects can be adjusted in the “Control” tab.

To do keyframing, Click the circle icon on the left side of the property to start keyframing then change the values of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Click the “Export” icon then “Export now” located at the top right side of the timeline to open the export window. The export will start automatically.

Shotcut:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are making videos from your GoPro or mobile phone just for fun that doesn’t require much editing then you can look for a free and simple video editor and “Shotcut” can be the right choice for this purpose.

It is a free and open-source video editor with many cool features to get your hands on. It doesn’t have any pro version. It is simple and easy to use but takes some time to understand. It supports multi-track timeline editing. It has a basic timeline design but you can customize your timeline to meet your editing needs. It has some good color grading options, you can also import your color luts. It has many cool features and effects. It supports 360 video editing and also has a few 360 video filters. It has audio effects also.

~ Features:

• All its features are for free and it doesn’t leave any watermark.
• It supports 4K resolution and a wide range of file formats.
• It also supports 360 video files.
• Has keyframing and chroma kry features.
• It has advanced color grading features.
• It provides standard animation and keyframing features.

~ Cons:

• It is a basic video editor and lacks some professional editing features.
• Have playback issues with 4K videos.
• It does have proper text editing tools.
• It is difficult to understand as its UI is different from other familiar video editors.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Shot Cut” then click the “Open Files” button on the top-left corner of the window to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop clips on an empty timeline panel to add tracks and drag the clip from corners to trim them. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to add a video or an audio track. You will find a bunch of tools above the timeline to do some basic tasks.

You can choose from 6 different workspace designs (available in the top-right corner of the window) to suit your editing styles.

On top of the window, you will see a bunch of icons like Timeline, filter, project, and properties. e.t.c. In the properties tab, you can change the aspect ratio and speed of the clip.

Effects: Click the “Filters” icon on top of the window to open the filters menu, Click “+” above it to add filters. Double click a filter to add it to the selected clip, then click the filter to open its properties menu. You can also add text from here.

Click the “Keyframes” icon on top of the window to open the Keyframes window. Select the “clock” icon on the filters to start keyframing then change the values at a specific time to add keyframes. Click the “Timeline” icon to go back to the previous window.

Export: Click the “Export” button on the top of the screen. Select a preset or click the “Advanced” button to change export settings then click “Export File”.

Paid GoPro Video Editor for Mac:

If you are a professional athlete or a vlogger using GoPro for all of your contents and want to invest some money on paid video editors to improve your content. Then here we have mentioned some paid video editors worthy of your investment.

Apple - Final Cut Pro:

It is available for Mac only.

If you are an Apple enthusiastic person and want everything Apple, then why look for any other video editor when you can have a powerful video editor “Final cut pro” made by Apple. It is a paid but professional software that can raise your GoPro videos to the next level. Whether it’s a 360 video or a RAW file recorded from your GoPro or from the RED cinema camera, all can be edited smoothly inside Final Cut Pro. It has dozens of useful features that a professional video editor looks for like 3D tracking, Motion Graphics, Color Grading, Audio Mixing, Multi-cam editing e.t.c.

Pricing: It is a one-time purchase software available at $ 299.9 for a lifetime license and all its future updates can be downloaded free of cost.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Support 360 and RAW video files.
• Edit videos in complete 360 and 3D spaces.
• Supports third-party video and audio plugins.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have professional color grading tools with HDR support.
• Its UI is easy to use.

~ Cons:

• It is designed for Apple devices only.
• Requires a powerful PC.
• Its UI is a bit different from other common video editors in the market.
• ~ Steps:

Import: Open “Final Cut Pro” then click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the screen, then select “Project” to create a new project. In the “Files” menu, click “import” then “media” to import your media files. Here most of the work is done with Keyboard commands.

Edit: Drag and Drop clips on the timeline. In the viewer panel, press “I” and “O” to add input and output points then drag the clip to add only a specific part of the clip. Press “Cmd + B” to split the clip at the desired location. Or add the clips above to add the layer.

Click the “Text” icon on the top-left corner of the screen to open the text page. Choose from presets or import your own Text presets and drag them to the timeline. Click the text to open “Text Editor” on the left side of the screen.

Select multiple clips then Right-click and select “New Compound Clip” to combine them. Double-click the compound clip to edit its components.

Effects: Click 2 icons on the top-right side of the timeline to open the effects and transition panel. Drag and drop on the clip to use them. You can change their properties in the “Effects editor” tab located in the same place as “Text Editor”.

In the editor tab, click the diamond icon beside any property to start keyframing, then change its property to add keyframes at the desired time.

Press “Cmd + 6” to open the Color Grading tab, here you can color grade your clips.

Export: To export the edited video. Click “File” >> “Share” >> “Master file” to open export window. Choose the desired settings then click “Next” then “Save” to export the video.

Adobe - Premiere Pro:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a content creator or not, if you use a DSLR or an action camera for the first time, then maybe the output wouldn’t meet your expectations. In order to make it good, you need a video editor. And if you will ask your gathering about a good video editor, most of them will recommend you Adobe Premiere Pro, because it is such a versatile and well-known software available in the market. It is a subscription-based video editor.

It is an industry-level software with many professional and advanced features. From beginner video editing to film compositing, all can be done in this software. Whether you have a 360 video or a 4K video in Raw format recorded from your GoPro, just import it into premiere pro and start editing. It has a downloadable “GoPro FX Reframe” plugin to edit your 360 videos. It has different panels designed to deal with specific parts of post-production such as the Effects panel, Graphics panel, Sound panel, Colour Grading panel, e.t.c.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Have different panels to enhance different segments of post-production.
• Have an essential Effects panel to create motion effects and animations using keyframes.
• Supports hundreds of third-party extensions.
• Have useful features like warp stabilizer and denoiser.
• You can import or create your color LUTs.
• Have a creative cloud with 100 Gb of storage.
• The bundle also includes a mobile video editor and a stock library.

~ Cons:

• Real-time rendering. It will take some time to render before exporting if you work on a mid-range PC.
• Freezes or crashes sometimes.
• Cache data fill-up quickly and eats a lot of storage. (It’s better to clear it after every project)

Pricing: It is cloud-based software, therefore it can’t be purchased one time. It has a monthly subscription starting at $ 20.99/month. It includes “premiere rush” mobile video editor and 100 GB of cloud storage within the plan. It also has a “Creative cloud All apps” plan that includes all 30+ Softwares + 100Gb cloud storage along with premiere pro for $ 54.99 only. All plans also include Behance (adobe creative community), Adobe Fonts, and Adobe stock assets for free. Adobe also provides educational access at a much discounted price.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Premiere Pro”. Click “New Project” to start with then Click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the window then select the “Import files” button to import files. Or press “CTRL + I” to import files or drag your files from their location to premiere pro.

Edit: Drag and Drop the files to add them to the timeline. Drop a file above a clip to add as a layer. or drop over a clip to overwrite it. On the right side of the timeline, you can find a bunch of tools to do basic edits like trimming, splitting, speed ramping, masking, or adding text.

In the “Effects Control” tab you can transform the selected clip or change its properties.

Select multiple clips then right-click and select “make Nested clip” to combine them into a single clip for easy editing.

Slide between 8 different workspace styles designed for specific post-production tasks by clicking the buttons available on the top of the window.

Effects: Go to the “Effects” panel on the bottom-left window to apply an effect or transitions. Here you can find all audio, video, 2D, and 3D effects. Drag and Drop on a clip to apply it. Change the properties of these effects in the “Effects Control” panel.

To color grade, your clips move to the “Color” workspace. Here you will find all the color grading features: correction, curves, color wheels, creative tab, e.t.c. To import a LUT click the “creative tab” then click “Browse” to import a LUT.

Export: To Export go to the “Files” tab on top of the screen then select the “Export” button to open the export tab. Select the desired settings then click “Export”.

Power Director 365 :

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly video editor that is powerful enough to edit your GoPro videos like a content creator then Power director can be the right choice for you. It has many unique and useful features. It has different plugins and design centers to do specific post-production tasks like Ad designer, Multicam editor, AI style plugins, e.t.c.

It also has a separate action cam center to fix or enhance action cam videos. IT also has chapter and subtitle rooms to add subtitles and chapters for your Youtube videos or films. It also has a vast stock and preset library to speed up your project.

Pricing: It has a subscription plan which is available at $69/year. It is now available at 30% off till 22nd May,2022.

~ Features:

• It supports 4K videos and a wide range of import formats.
• Have many built-in plugins and design centers.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have an action cam center to deal with action cam footage.
• Have separate aspect ratio mode for 360 videos.
• Also, have a chapter and subtitle room. many recording aspects of the video.
• Have a content-aware editing feature that detects the recording aspects.
• Can import presets and color LUTs.
• Have a vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• Have some playback issues with 4K videos. (create shadow files to overcome this issue to an extent).
• Its UI is a little bit complicated for beginners.
• Not ideal for fast pace editing.

~ Steps:

Import: Open Power director and a pop-up will appear, select desired aspect ratio then click “Full mode” to open the software. Or select 360 aspect ratio if you want to edit 360 videos.

Click the “Import Media” icon below the Files tab in the top-left corner of the window to import files or press “CTRL + Q” to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to any desired layer in the timeline. Click the icon on the top left corner of the timeline to add layers. When you select a clip in the timeline, some tools appear on the top timeline. Select any specific tool to edit your selected clip. Or click the “Plugins” button on the top-left of the window to open a specific designer tab.

Double-click on the clip to open ‘PIP designer”. Here you will find all the editing tools to edit or animate your clip.

After selecting a clip, in the “Plugins” menu click the “Action Camera Center” button to open an edit tab, Here you can fix your GoPro videos.

Effects: On the top-left corner of the window in a vertical bar you will find all the effects material lile Project library, titles, effects, transitions, overlays, e.t.c. Simply just drag and drop them on the timeline to use them. Here you can also do audio mixing and add subtitles and chapters.

Double click a clip or an overlay element to open the designer window. Here you can customize the clips and overlays to enhance your project.

Export: Click the blue “Produce” button on top of the screen to export your edited file. Select the desired mode and file format and add an export destination, then click “Start” to start exporting.

Which One Should I Choose Free or Paid GoPro Video Editor?

You can choose free or paid softwares depending on your requirements and budget. If a free software meets your requirements then stay on it otherwise move towards a paid alternative. If you have a GoPro and you make videos just for fun then use a free and simple video editor. Even if you are an experienced video editor, I would recommend you to go for free video editors which I have mentioned above as they are quite powerful and professional software but if you are harvesting a good amount of money from this field then you can upgrade to pro versions of these free softwares or get a paid software from start. As almost all of these softwares are professional and can get your job done, so it’s better to choose one, which is comfortable for you to work on.

FAQs about GoPro Video Editing:

1. Q) Does GoPro has its own video editor?

Yes, GoPro has its own video editor “Quik”. It is available on mobile phones and desktops both. It is simple and easy to use. It provides basic features to edit your video. But the main disadvantage of this desktop software is that it supports only GoPro videos, you can’t import files from other devices. Although this isn’t the issue with Quik mobile app, here you can import videos from other devices also.

1. Q) Can I make videos for social media with a GoPro?

It was basically made for recording sports and action videos. But as the market is revolutionized and new models are released it has covered a wide range of the video industry like vlogging, travel and cooking videos e.t.c. As new models of GoPros are waterproof, you can get some amazing underwater shots for your Instagram.

1. Q) What is GoPro media format?

GoPro export files in popular file format MP4. MP4 is the most common file format and is supported by almost all the video editors. While it is efficient and takes less storage but isn’t supported in many devices.

1. Q) How do I transfer files from my GoPro to Mac?

You can transfer your GoPro files through 3 methods:

• Eject the SD card from your GoPro and connect it to your Mac using a SD card adapter to transfer files.
• Connect your GoPro to Mac through USB connector and use “iphoto” or any other photo importer to import files.

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

~ Features:

• It supports 4K files and a wide range of file formats.
• It has a simple UI that is suitable for beginners.
• It Supports 360 video files (in equirectangular format).
• Supports industry-standard plugins like Boris fx.
• Have features like standard motion tracking, masking, chroma key, e.t.c.
• The paid version has more features like Speed ramping, Auto-sync, keyframing, and animation.
• Have vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• The free version leaves a watermark on export.
• Have playback issues with 4k videos.
• Lacks some standard editing features.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Filmora” then select the desired aspect ratio and click “New Project’ to start editing. Click on the “Import panel” to import media files.

Edit: Drag and drop the clips to add them to the timeline. Drop the clips above or below to add them in layers. Click the top-left icon of the timeline to add layers. Select a clip and you will see a bunch of tools appear on the top bar of the timeline, use them to perform basic editing tasks like split, crop, speed ramping, keyframing, e.t.c.

Double-click on a clip to open its properties. . Click the blue “Ok” button to move back to the previous window.

Select the “Video” icon to transform the clip or to do motion tracking, stabilization, chroma-key, Masking, e.t.c.

Select the “Audio” icon to apply effects and enhance your audio.

Select the “Color” icon to do color correction and grading.

Select the “3D LUT” option to import a new customized lut.

Select the “Animation” icon to add preset animations or make custom animations by using keyframes.

Select the “Speed” icon to adjust the speed of the clip or to do speed ramping.

Click the blue “OK” button below to go back to the previous window.

Effects: On the horizontal bar at the top-left corner of the screen, all the effects, transitions, title present, and stock library are located. Drag and drop to apply them.

Export: Click the blue “Export” button to open export window, choose the desired settings than click “Export”. and don’t forget to save the project if you want to edit it again.

Free GoPro Video Editors for Mac:

If you are tight on budget but still want a professional video editor to edit your GoPro videos then here I have mentioned some free but powerful video editors. Whether you are a beginner or a professional content creator, these free softwares can get your job done.

Blackmagic - Davinchi Resolve:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a freelance video editor or an industry-level filmmaker, if you want to step up your game and stand out from your competition then you need a powerful video editor to help you out and Davinchi Resolve can be the right choice for you. From sports vlogging using action cams to Hollywood filmmaking using Red cinema cameras, Davinchi Resolve can handle and edit all this footage easily and smoothly. It is even used in the making of several Hollywood projects including Marvels’s feature films.

It is one of the best color grading software available in the market. It has advanced color grading tools that can help color grade your GoPro raw videos easily as raw videos look dull but provide greater flexibility. It is a timeline-based editor but its Fusion and Color grading panel provides a Node-based editing system which is hard to use but provides great flexibility once mastered.

Resolve has 6 different pages to deal with different editing parts:

“Edit” and “Cut” pages to deal with simple editing tasks. Its “Fusion” page allows users to do VFX and 3D compositing. The “Color Grading” page has all the professional grading tools. While the “Fairlight” page is designed to edit and enhance audio. And the “Deliver” page to export your files.

All these features are available for free without even giving a watermark. Although it has a studio version that provides some additional features to get more out of this amazing software.

• Davinchi Resolve Studio:

The free version has almost everything a professional video editor needs. but you can purchase the Studio version to get some really juicy features to enhance your video editing experience. It includes the Davinci neural engine, stereoscopic 3D tools, Dolby atmos audio mastering,e.t.c.

Pricing: Studio version is available at $ 295 for a lifetime license and with free updates.

~ Features:

• It supports a 4K resolution at 60fps. (while the Studio version supports up to 32K resolution at 120 fps.)
• It is a multi-feature software that provides editing, color grading, VFX, 3D compositing, and audio editing all in one place.
• It has the most advanced and powerful Node-based color grading system, which is also used by Hollywood film studios.
• Supports Raw and 360 videos from GoPro or other action cameras.
• Supports multi-cam editing up to 16 camera angles.
• Can make Compound clips and add adjustment layers.
• Fairlight panel has professional audio production tools like waveform editing, audio ducking, and Channel mapping. (Dolby Vision mastering and 3D spatial Panning [audio editing in 3D space] are available in the Studio version.)
• Supports third-party plugins.
• Has a 3D workspace and provides a virtual set extension for 3D modeling and compositing.

~ Cons:

• Its node-based editing style is quite difficult for beginners.
• Requires a high-end workstation to run smoothly otherwise will often crash during editing.
• Its node-based editing system is hard to learn.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Davinci Resolve’. Select a previously saved project or press “New project” to start a new one. Click “File” >> “Import” >> “Media” to import files or press “CTRL + I”.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to the timeline Use the tools present above the timeline to trim, cut or move your clips. Click the “Inspector” icon on the top-right corner of the window to open the Inspector tab. Here you will find the properties of all the clips, audio, transitions, effects, e.t.c. There are different editing tabs at the bottom of the window.

In the “Fusion” window, click “Nodes” to open the Node screen. Import a clip or use it from the editor timeline. Usually, a clip will have two nodes connected through a line. Above the nodes panel, different types of nodes are available. Drag any node in the panel and connect it through lines. or add a “merge” node to connect nodes.

Its color grading panel also has Node based editing system.

Effects: Click “Effects Library” then select any effect and drop it in the timeline to apply it. You can change its properties in the “Inspector” panel.

Click the diamond icon on the right side of the property to start keyframing then change the value of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Open the “Deliver” window, choose the desired settings then click “Add to Render Queue” to start exporting.

FXhome - Hitfilm Express:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux also.

If you are looking for a free but powerful video editor to edit your GoPro clips then Hitfilm Express can be the right choice for you. It is a free timeline-based editing software with professional-grade VFX tools. It is a timeline-based editor where you can add dozens of audio, videos, and text layers.

It has a composite shot sequence where you can do complex editing like editing 3D videos and elements, lights e.t.c. It has physic-base behaviors and effects also to enhance 3D compositing. For professional-level editing almost most of the effects and properties have keyframing options. It has different workspace modes to suit your editing needs.

It can also edit 360 videos recorded from your GoPro max. It has a “GoPro Lens Reframe” effect to adjust your 360 clips, but some 360 toolkits can only be available when you purchase Hitfilm pro or buy a 360 toolkit add-on. Similarly, you can purchase more add-ons according to your editing needs or you can purchase Hitfilm Pro to gain access to all add-ons and features. But can use these pro features for free but without exporting as exporting with a paid effect can give a watermark.

Hitfilm Pro:

Although Hitfilm express doesn’t give a watermark on export, but to use more features like 3D composition, LUTs, e.t.c you need to purchase add-ons, there are over 30+ add-ons available to purchase which you can purchase depending on your needs, but if you want to get all the features than its better to get your hands on Hitfilm Pro.

Pricing: Available for purchase at £ 309 or $ 388 for a lifetime license. With 12 months of free updates. It has 3 seat license which means It can run on 3 PCs simultaneously.

~ Features:

• It is a free editing software with no watermark.
• It can edit 3D videos and it can also import and edit 3D models and tracking data.
• It can edit 360 videos also.
• You can add effects and color grades as layers in the timeline also.
• Can add adjustment layers and create nested clips within nested clips to make complex editing easier.
• It has a motion track and locked-on stabilization features.
• Can do smooth keyframing and animation with the help of value graphs.
• It supports multi-cam editing also.
• Keyboard shortcuts make workflow quite easy and quick.

~ Cons:

• It has some playback issues while using 4K videos.
• It crashes sometimes, so it’s better to save the project frequently during editing.
• Hitfilm express doesn’t have a dark mode.
• Some common features are only available on the Pro version or add-ons.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Hitfilm”, Select “New Project” to open a blank project then click “open” to open an existing file or click “new” to create a new project. Then set project settings on pop-up then and click “ok”.

Then click the “Media” tab on the top-left corner of the screen. Then select the “Import” button to import videos, images, audio, or 3d models. You can also import previously made composite shots.

Edit: Drag and drop media files from the media tab to the timeline. or click the “New” tab to create a “Composite shot” or a solid plane layer. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to insert or delete layers. On the left side of the timeline, you will find some basic tools located on the vertical bar to do simple tasks.

In the “Viewer” tab, on the left side of the playback screen, you can find tools for masking and adding text.

In the “Controls” tab, you can adjust the properties of clips and other features related to the clip like masking, track, blend, transform, e.t.c.

Create a “Composite shot” to do complex editing like 3D compositing. Or select multiple layers then right-click and select “make Composite shot” to combine them for easy editing. Double-click the composite shot to open its contents.

Effects: From the “Effects” tab drag and drop effects on the clip to add them. Some effects can be added as layers which can affect all the layers beneath it. Properties of these effects can be adjusted in the “Control” tab.

To do keyframing, Click the circle icon on the left side of the property to start keyframing then change the values of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Click the “Export” icon then “Export now” located at the top right side of the timeline to open the export window. The export will start automatically.

Shotcut:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are making videos from your GoPro or mobile phone just for fun that doesn’t require much editing then you can look for a free and simple video editor and “Shotcut” can be the right choice for this purpose.

It is a free and open-source video editor with many cool features to get your hands on. It doesn’t have any pro version. It is simple and easy to use but takes some time to understand. It supports multi-track timeline editing. It has a basic timeline design but you can customize your timeline to meet your editing needs. It has some good color grading options, you can also import your color luts. It has many cool features and effects. It supports 360 video editing and also has a few 360 video filters. It has audio effects also.

~ Features:

• All its features are for free and it doesn’t leave any watermark.
• It supports 4K resolution and a wide range of file formats.
• It also supports 360 video files.
• Has keyframing and chroma kry features.
• It has advanced color grading features.
• It provides standard animation and keyframing features.

~ Cons:

• It is a basic video editor and lacks some professional editing features.
• Have playback issues with 4K videos.
• It does have proper text editing tools.
• It is difficult to understand as its UI is different from other familiar video editors.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Shot Cut” then click the “Open Files” button on the top-left corner of the window to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop clips on an empty timeline panel to add tracks and drag the clip from corners to trim them. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to add a video or an audio track. You will find a bunch of tools above the timeline to do some basic tasks.

You can choose from 6 different workspace designs (available in the top-right corner of the window) to suit your editing styles.

On top of the window, you will see a bunch of icons like Timeline, filter, project, and properties. e.t.c. In the properties tab, you can change the aspect ratio and speed of the clip.

Effects: Click the “Filters” icon on top of the window to open the filters menu, Click “+” above it to add filters. Double click a filter to add it to the selected clip, then click the filter to open its properties menu. You can also add text from here.

Click the “Keyframes” icon on top of the window to open the Keyframes window. Select the “clock” icon on the filters to start keyframing then change the values at a specific time to add keyframes. Click the “Timeline” icon to go back to the previous window.

Export: Click the “Export” button on the top of the screen. Select a preset or click the “Advanced” button to change export settings then click “Export File”.

Paid GoPro Video Editor for Mac:

If you are a professional athlete or a vlogger using GoPro for all of your contents and want to invest some money on paid video editors to improve your content. Then here we have mentioned some paid video editors worthy of your investment.

Apple - Final Cut Pro:

It is available for Mac only.

If you are an Apple enthusiastic person and want everything Apple, then why look for any other video editor when you can have a powerful video editor “Final cut pro” made by Apple. It is a paid but professional software that can raise your GoPro videos to the next level. Whether it’s a 360 video or a RAW file recorded from your GoPro or from the RED cinema camera, all can be edited smoothly inside Final Cut Pro. It has dozens of useful features that a professional video editor looks for like 3D tracking, Motion Graphics, Color Grading, Audio Mixing, Multi-cam editing e.t.c.

Pricing: It is a one-time purchase software available at $ 299.9 for a lifetime license and all its future updates can be downloaded free of cost.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Support 360 and RAW video files.
• Edit videos in complete 360 and 3D spaces.
• Supports third-party video and audio plugins.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have professional color grading tools with HDR support.
• Its UI is easy to use.

~ Cons:

• It is designed for Apple devices only.
• Requires a powerful PC.
• Its UI is a bit different from other common video editors in the market.
• ~ Steps:

Import: Open “Final Cut Pro” then click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the screen, then select “Project” to create a new project. In the “Files” menu, click “import” then “media” to import your media files. Here most of the work is done with Keyboard commands.

Edit: Drag and Drop clips on the timeline. In the viewer panel, press “I” and “O” to add input and output points then drag the clip to add only a specific part of the clip. Press “Cmd + B” to split the clip at the desired location. Or add the clips above to add the layer.

Click the “Text” icon on the top-left corner of the screen to open the text page. Choose from presets or import your own Text presets and drag them to the timeline. Click the text to open “Text Editor” on the left side of the screen.

Select multiple clips then Right-click and select “New Compound Clip” to combine them. Double-click the compound clip to edit its components.

Effects: Click 2 icons on the top-right side of the timeline to open the effects and transition panel. Drag and drop on the clip to use them. You can change their properties in the “Effects editor” tab located in the same place as “Text Editor”.

In the editor tab, click the diamond icon beside any property to start keyframing, then change its property to add keyframes at the desired time.

Press “Cmd + 6” to open the Color Grading tab, here you can color grade your clips.

Export: To export the edited video. Click “File” >> “Share” >> “Master file” to open export window. Choose the desired settings then click “Next” then “Save” to export the video.

Adobe - Premiere Pro:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a content creator or not, if you use a DSLR or an action camera for the first time, then maybe the output wouldn’t meet your expectations. In order to make it good, you need a video editor. And if you will ask your gathering about a good video editor, most of them will recommend you Adobe Premiere Pro, because it is such a versatile and well-known software available in the market. It is a subscription-based video editor.

It is an industry-level software with many professional and advanced features. From beginner video editing to film compositing, all can be done in this software. Whether you have a 360 video or a 4K video in Raw format recorded from your GoPro, just import it into premiere pro and start editing. It has a downloadable “GoPro FX Reframe” plugin to edit your 360 videos. It has different panels designed to deal with specific parts of post-production such as the Effects panel, Graphics panel, Sound panel, Colour Grading panel, e.t.c.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Have different panels to enhance different segments of post-production.
• Have an essential Effects panel to create motion effects and animations using keyframes.
• Supports hundreds of third-party extensions.
• Have useful features like warp stabilizer and denoiser.
• You can import or create your color LUTs.
• Have a creative cloud with 100 Gb of storage.
• The bundle also includes a mobile video editor and a stock library.

~ Cons:

• Real-time rendering. It will take some time to render before exporting if you work on a mid-range PC.
• Freezes or crashes sometimes.
• Cache data fill-up quickly and eats a lot of storage. (It’s better to clear it after every project)

Pricing: It is cloud-based software, therefore it can’t be purchased one time. It has a monthly subscription starting at $ 20.99/month. It includes “premiere rush” mobile video editor and 100 GB of cloud storage within the plan. It also has a “Creative cloud All apps” plan that includes all 30+ Softwares + 100Gb cloud storage along with premiere pro for $ 54.99 only. All plans also include Behance (adobe creative community), Adobe Fonts, and Adobe stock assets for free. Adobe also provides educational access at a much discounted price.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Premiere Pro”. Click “New Project” to start with then Click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the window then select the “Import files” button to import files. Or press “CTRL + I” to import files or drag your files from their location to premiere pro.

Edit: Drag and Drop the files to add them to the timeline. Drop a file above a clip to add as a layer. or drop over a clip to overwrite it. On the right side of the timeline, you can find a bunch of tools to do basic edits like trimming, splitting, speed ramping, masking, or adding text.

In the “Effects Control” tab you can transform the selected clip or change its properties.

Select multiple clips then right-click and select “make Nested clip” to combine them into a single clip for easy editing.

Slide between 8 different workspace styles designed for specific post-production tasks by clicking the buttons available on the top of the window.

Effects: Go to the “Effects” panel on the bottom-left window to apply an effect or transitions. Here you can find all audio, video, 2D, and 3D effects. Drag and Drop on a clip to apply it. Change the properties of these effects in the “Effects Control” panel.

To color grade, your clips move to the “Color” workspace. Here you will find all the color grading features: correction, curves, color wheels, creative tab, e.t.c. To import a LUT click the “creative tab” then click “Browse” to import a LUT.

Export: To Export go to the “Files” tab on top of the screen then select the “Export” button to open the export tab. Select the desired settings then click “Export”.

Power Director 365 :

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly video editor that is powerful enough to edit your GoPro videos like a content creator then Power director can be the right choice for you. It has many unique and useful features. It has different plugins and design centers to do specific post-production tasks like Ad designer, Multicam editor, AI style plugins, e.t.c.

It also has a separate action cam center to fix or enhance action cam videos. IT also has chapter and subtitle rooms to add subtitles and chapters for your Youtube videos or films. It also has a vast stock and preset library to speed up your project.

Pricing: It has a subscription plan which is available at $69/year. It is now available at 30% off till 22nd May,2022.

~ Features:

• It supports 4K videos and a wide range of import formats.
• Have many built-in plugins and design centers.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have an action cam center to deal with action cam footage.
• Have separate aspect ratio mode for 360 videos.
• Also, have a chapter and subtitle room. many recording aspects of the video.
• Have a content-aware editing feature that detects the recording aspects.
• Can import presets and color LUTs.
• Have a vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• Have some playback issues with 4K videos. (create shadow files to overcome this issue to an extent).
• Its UI is a little bit complicated for beginners.
• Not ideal for fast pace editing.

~ Steps:

Import: Open Power director and a pop-up will appear, select desired aspect ratio then click “Full mode” to open the software. Or select 360 aspect ratio if you want to edit 360 videos.

Click the “Import Media” icon below the Files tab in the top-left corner of the window to import files or press “CTRL + Q” to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to any desired layer in the timeline. Click the icon on the top left corner of the timeline to add layers. When you select a clip in the timeline, some tools appear on the top timeline. Select any specific tool to edit your selected clip. Or click the “Plugins” button on the top-left of the window to open a specific designer tab.

Double-click on the clip to open ‘PIP designer”. Here you will find all the editing tools to edit or animate your clip.

After selecting a clip, in the “Plugins” menu click the “Action Camera Center” button to open an edit tab, Here you can fix your GoPro videos.

Effects: On the top-left corner of the window in a vertical bar you will find all the effects material lile Project library, titles, effects, transitions, overlays, e.t.c. Simply just drag and drop them on the timeline to use them. Here you can also do audio mixing and add subtitles and chapters.

Double click a clip or an overlay element to open the designer window. Here you can customize the clips and overlays to enhance your project.

Export: Click the blue “Produce” button on top of the screen to export your edited file. Select the desired mode and file format and add an export destination, then click “Start” to start exporting.

Which One Should I Choose Free or Paid GoPro Video Editor?

You can choose free or paid softwares depending on your requirements and budget. If a free software meets your requirements then stay on it otherwise move towards a paid alternative. If you have a GoPro and you make videos just for fun then use a free and simple video editor. Even if you are an experienced video editor, I would recommend you to go for free video editors which I have mentioned above as they are quite powerful and professional software but if you are harvesting a good amount of money from this field then you can upgrade to pro versions of these free softwares or get a paid software from start. As almost all of these softwares are professional and can get your job done, so it’s better to choose one, which is comfortable for you to work on.

FAQs about GoPro Video Editing:

1. Q) Does GoPro has its own video editor?

Yes, GoPro has its own video editor “Quik”. It is available on mobile phones and desktops both. It is simple and easy to use. It provides basic features to edit your video. But the main disadvantage of this desktop software is that it supports only GoPro videos, you can’t import files from other devices. Although this isn’t the issue with Quik mobile app, here you can import videos from other devices also.

1. Q) Can I make videos for social media with a GoPro?

It was basically made for recording sports and action videos. But as the market is revolutionized and new models are released it has covered a wide range of the video industry like vlogging, travel and cooking videos e.t.c. As new models of GoPros are waterproof, you can get some amazing underwater shots for your Instagram.

1. Q) What is GoPro media format?

GoPro export files in popular file format MP4. MP4 is the most common file format and is supported by almost all the video editors. While it is efficient and takes less storage but isn’t supported in many devices.

1. Q) How do I transfer files from my GoPro to Mac?

You can transfer your GoPro files through 3 methods:

• Eject the SD card from your GoPro and connect it to your Mac using a SD card adapter to transfer files.
• Connect your GoPro to Mac through USB connector and use “iphoto” or any other photo importer to import files.

Free Download

For macOS 10.14 or later

~ Features:

• It supports 4K files and a wide range of file formats.
• It has a simple UI that is suitable for beginners.
• It Supports 360 video files (in equirectangular format).
• Supports industry-standard plugins like Boris fx.
• Have features like standard motion tracking, masking, chroma key, e.t.c.
• The paid version has more features like Speed ramping, Auto-sync, keyframing, and animation.
• Have vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• The free version leaves a watermark on export.
• Have playback issues with 4k videos.
• Lacks some standard editing features.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Filmora” then select the desired aspect ratio and click “New Project’ to start editing. Click on the “Import panel” to import media files.

Edit: Drag and drop the clips to add them to the timeline. Drop the clips above or below to add them in layers. Click the top-left icon of the timeline to add layers. Select a clip and you will see a bunch of tools appear on the top bar of the timeline, use them to perform basic editing tasks like split, crop, speed ramping, keyframing, e.t.c.

Double-click on a clip to open its properties. . Click the blue “Ok” button to move back to the previous window.

Select the “Video” icon to transform the clip or to do motion tracking, stabilization, chroma-key, Masking, e.t.c.

Select the “Audio” icon to apply effects and enhance your audio.

Select the “Color” icon to do color correction and grading.

Select the “3D LUT” option to import a new customized lut.

Select the “Animation” icon to add preset animations or make custom animations by using keyframes.

Select the “Speed” icon to adjust the speed of the clip or to do speed ramping.

Click the blue “OK” button below to go back to the previous window.

Effects: On the horizontal bar at the top-left corner of the screen, all the effects, transitions, title present, and stock library are located. Drag and drop to apply them.

Export: Click the blue “Export” button to open export window, choose the desired settings than click “Export”. and don’t forget to save the project if you want to edit it again.

Free GoPro Video Editors for Mac:

If you are tight on budget but still want a professional video editor to edit your GoPro videos then here I have mentioned some free but powerful video editors. Whether you are a beginner or a professional content creator, these free softwares can get your job done.

Blackmagic - Davinchi Resolve:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a freelance video editor or an industry-level filmmaker, if you want to step up your game and stand out from your competition then you need a powerful video editor to help you out and Davinchi Resolve can be the right choice for you. From sports vlogging using action cams to Hollywood filmmaking using Red cinema cameras, Davinchi Resolve can handle and edit all this footage easily and smoothly. It is even used in the making of several Hollywood projects including Marvels’s feature films.

It is one of the best color grading software available in the market. It has advanced color grading tools that can help color grade your GoPro raw videos easily as raw videos look dull but provide greater flexibility. It is a timeline-based editor but its Fusion and Color grading panel provides a Node-based editing system which is hard to use but provides great flexibility once mastered.

Resolve has 6 different pages to deal with different editing parts:

“Edit” and “Cut” pages to deal with simple editing tasks. Its “Fusion” page allows users to do VFX and 3D compositing. The “Color Grading” page has all the professional grading tools. While the “Fairlight” page is designed to edit and enhance audio. And the “Deliver” page to export your files.

All these features are available for free without even giving a watermark. Although it has a studio version that provides some additional features to get more out of this amazing software.

• Davinchi Resolve Studio:

The free version has almost everything a professional video editor needs. but you can purchase the Studio version to get some really juicy features to enhance your video editing experience. It includes the Davinci neural engine, stereoscopic 3D tools, Dolby atmos audio mastering,e.t.c.

Pricing: Studio version is available at $ 295 for a lifetime license and with free updates.

~ Features:

• It supports a 4K resolution at 60fps. (while the Studio version supports up to 32K resolution at 120 fps.)
• It is a multi-feature software that provides editing, color grading, VFX, 3D compositing, and audio editing all in one place.
• It has the most advanced and powerful Node-based color grading system, which is also used by Hollywood film studios.
• Supports Raw and 360 videos from GoPro or other action cameras.
• Supports multi-cam editing up to 16 camera angles.
• Can make Compound clips and add adjustment layers.
• Fairlight panel has professional audio production tools like waveform editing, audio ducking, and Channel mapping. (Dolby Vision mastering and 3D spatial Panning [audio editing in 3D space] are available in the Studio version.)
• Supports third-party plugins.
• Has a 3D workspace and provides a virtual set extension for 3D modeling and compositing.

~ Cons:

• Its node-based editing style is quite difficult for beginners.
• Requires a high-end workstation to run smoothly otherwise will often crash during editing.
• Its node-based editing system is hard to learn.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Davinci Resolve’. Select a previously saved project or press “New project” to start a new one. Click “File” >> “Import” >> “Media” to import files or press “CTRL + I”.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to the timeline Use the tools present above the timeline to trim, cut or move your clips. Click the “Inspector” icon on the top-right corner of the window to open the Inspector tab. Here you will find the properties of all the clips, audio, transitions, effects, e.t.c. There are different editing tabs at the bottom of the window.

In the “Fusion” window, click “Nodes” to open the Node screen. Import a clip or use it from the editor timeline. Usually, a clip will have two nodes connected through a line. Above the nodes panel, different types of nodes are available. Drag any node in the panel and connect it through lines. or add a “merge” node to connect nodes.

Its color grading panel also has Node based editing system.

Effects: Click “Effects Library” then select any effect and drop it in the timeline to apply it. You can change its properties in the “Inspector” panel.

Click the diamond icon on the right side of the property to start keyframing then change the value of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Open the “Deliver” window, choose the desired settings then click “Add to Render Queue” to start exporting.

FXhome - Hitfilm Express:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux also.

If you are looking for a free but powerful video editor to edit your GoPro clips then Hitfilm Express can be the right choice for you. It is a free timeline-based editing software with professional-grade VFX tools. It is a timeline-based editor where you can add dozens of audio, videos, and text layers.

It has a composite shot sequence where you can do complex editing like editing 3D videos and elements, lights e.t.c. It has physic-base behaviors and effects also to enhance 3D compositing. For professional-level editing almost most of the effects and properties have keyframing options. It has different workspace modes to suit your editing needs.

It can also edit 360 videos recorded from your GoPro max. It has a “GoPro Lens Reframe” effect to adjust your 360 clips, but some 360 toolkits can only be available when you purchase Hitfilm pro or buy a 360 toolkit add-on. Similarly, you can purchase more add-ons according to your editing needs or you can purchase Hitfilm Pro to gain access to all add-ons and features. But can use these pro features for free but without exporting as exporting with a paid effect can give a watermark.

Hitfilm Pro:

Although Hitfilm express doesn’t give a watermark on export, but to use more features like 3D composition, LUTs, e.t.c you need to purchase add-ons, there are over 30+ add-ons available to purchase which you can purchase depending on your needs, but if you want to get all the features than its better to get your hands on Hitfilm Pro.

Pricing: Available for purchase at £ 309 or $ 388 for a lifetime license. With 12 months of free updates. It has 3 seat license which means It can run on 3 PCs simultaneously.

~ Features:

• It is a free editing software with no watermark.
• It can edit 3D videos and it can also import and edit 3D models and tracking data.
• It can edit 360 videos also.
• You can add effects and color grades as layers in the timeline also.
• Can add adjustment layers and create nested clips within nested clips to make complex editing easier.
• It has a motion track and locked-on stabilization features.
• Can do smooth keyframing and animation with the help of value graphs.
• It supports multi-cam editing also.
• Keyboard shortcuts make workflow quite easy and quick.

~ Cons:

• It has some playback issues while using 4K videos.
• It crashes sometimes, so it’s better to save the project frequently during editing.
• Hitfilm express doesn’t have a dark mode.
• Some common features are only available on the Pro version or add-ons.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Hitfilm”, Select “New Project” to open a blank project then click “open” to open an existing file or click “new” to create a new project. Then set project settings on pop-up then and click “ok”.

Then click the “Media” tab on the top-left corner of the screen. Then select the “Import” button to import videos, images, audio, or 3d models. You can also import previously made composite shots.

Edit: Drag and drop media files from the media tab to the timeline. or click the “New” tab to create a “Composite shot” or a solid plane layer. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to insert or delete layers. On the left side of the timeline, you will find some basic tools located on the vertical bar to do simple tasks.

In the “Viewer” tab, on the left side of the playback screen, you can find tools for masking and adding text.

In the “Controls” tab, you can adjust the properties of clips and other features related to the clip like masking, track, blend, transform, e.t.c.

Create a “Composite shot” to do complex editing like 3D compositing. Or select multiple layers then right-click and select “make Composite shot” to combine them for easy editing. Double-click the composite shot to open its contents.

Effects: From the “Effects” tab drag and drop effects on the clip to add them. Some effects can be added as layers which can affect all the layers beneath it. Properties of these effects can be adjusted in the “Control” tab.

To do keyframing, Click the circle icon on the left side of the property to start keyframing then change the values of that property to add keyframes at desired time period.

Export: Click the “Export” icon then “Export now” located at the top right side of the timeline to open the export window. The export will start automatically.

Shotcut:

It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux.

If you are making videos from your GoPro or mobile phone just for fun that doesn’t require much editing then you can look for a free and simple video editor and “Shotcut” can be the right choice for this purpose.

It is a free and open-source video editor with many cool features to get your hands on. It doesn’t have any pro version. It is simple and easy to use but takes some time to understand. It supports multi-track timeline editing. It has a basic timeline design but you can customize your timeline to meet your editing needs. It has some good color grading options, you can also import your color luts. It has many cool features and effects. It supports 360 video editing and also has a few 360 video filters. It has audio effects also.

~ Features:

• All its features are for free and it doesn’t leave any watermark.
• It supports 4K resolution and a wide range of file formats.
• It also supports 360 video files.
• Has keyframing and chroma kry features.
• It has advanced color grading features.
• It provides standard animation and keyframing features.

~ Cons:

• It is a basic video editor and lacks some professional editing features.
• Have playback issues with 4K videos.
• It does have proper text editing tools.
• It is difficult to understand as its UI is different from other familiar video editors.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Shot Cut” then click the “Open Files” button on the top-left corner of the window to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop clips on an empty timeline panel to add tracks and drag the clip from corners to trim them. Right-click on the left side of the timeline to add a video or an audio track. You will find a bunch of tools above the timeline to do some basic tasks.

You can choose from 6 different workspace designs (available in the top-right corner of the window) to suit your editing styles.

On top of the window, you will see a bunch of icons like Timeline, filter, project, and properties. e.t.c. In the properties tab, you can change the aspect ratio and speed of the clip.

Effects: Click the “Filters” icon on top of the window to open the filters menu, Click “+” above it to add filters. Double click a filter to add it to the selected clip, then click the filter to open its properties menu. You can also add text from here.

Click the “Keyframes” icon on top of the window to open the Keyframes window. Select the “clock” icon on the filters to start keyframing then change the values at a specific time to add keyframes. Click the “Timeline” icon to go back to the previous window.

Export: Click the “Export” button on the top of the screen. Select a preset or click the “Advanced” button to change export settings then click “Export File”.

Paid GoPro Video Editor for Mac:

If you are a professional athlete or a vlogger using GoPro for all of your contents and want to invest some money on paid video editors to improve your content. Then here we have mentioned some paid video editors worthy of your investment.

Apple - Final Cut Pro:

It is available for Mac only.

If you are an Apple enthusiastic person and want everything Apple, then why look for any other video editor when you can have a powerful video editor “Final cut pro” made by Apple. It is a paid but professional software that can raise your GoPro videos to the next level. Whether it’s a 360 video or a RAW file recorded from your GoPro or from the RED cinema camera, all can be edited smoothly inside Final Cut Pro. It has dozens of useful features that a professional video editor looks for like 3D tracking, Motion Graphics, Color Grading, Audio Mixing, Multi-cam editing e.t.c.

Pricing: It is a one-time purchase software available at $ 299.9 for a lifetime license and all its future updates can be downloaded free of cost.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Support 360 and RAW video files.
• Edit videos in complete 360 and 3D spaces.
• Supports third-party video and audio plugins.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have professional color grading tools with HDR support.
• Its UI is easy to use.

~ Cons:

• It is designed for Apple devices only.
• Requires a powerful PC.
• Its UI is a bit different from other common video editors in the market.
• ~ Steps:

Import: Open “Final Cut Pro” then click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the screen, then select “Project” to create a new project. In the “Files” menu, click “import” then “media” to import your media files. Here most of the work is done with Keyboard commands.

Edit: Drag and Drop clips on the timeline. In the viewer panel, press “I” and “O” to add input and output points then drag the clip to add only a specific part of the clip. Press “Cmd + B” to split the clip at the desired location. Or add the clips above to add the layer.

Click the “Text” icon on the top-left corner of the screen to open the text page. Choose from presets or import your own Text presets and drag them to the timeline. Click the text to open “Text Editor” on the left side of the screen.

Select multiple clips then Right-click and select “New Compound Clip” to combine them. Double-click the compound clip to edit its components.

Effects: Click 2 icons on the top-right side of the timeline to open the effects and transition panel. Drag and drop on the clip to use them. You can change their properties in the “Effects editor” tab located in the same place as “Text Editor”.

In the editor tab, click the diamond icon beside any property to start keyframing, then change its property to add keyframes at the desired time.

Press “Cmd + 6” to open the Color Grading tab, here you can color grade your clips.

Export: To export the edited video. Click “File” >> “Share” >> “Master file” to open export window. Choose the desired settings then click “Next” then “Save” to export the video.

Adobe - Premiere Pro:

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

Whether you are a content creator or not, if you use a DSLR or an action camera for the first time, then maybe the output wouldn’t meet your expectations. In order to make it good, you need a video editor. And if you will ask your gathering about a good video editor, most of them will recommend you Adobe Premiere Pro, because it is such a versatile and well-known software available in the market. It is a subscription-based video editor.

It is an industry-level software with many professional and advanced features. From beginner video editing to film compositing, all can be done in this software. Whether you have a 360 video or a 4K video in Raw format recorded from your GoPro, just import it into premiere pro and start editing. It has a downloadable “GoPro FX Reframe” plugin to edit your 360 videos. It has different panels designed to deal with specific parts of post-production such as the Effects panel, Graphics panel, Sound panel, Colour Grading panel, e.t.c.

~ Features:

• It supports up to 8K resolution.
• Have different panels to enhance different segments of post-production.
• Have an essential Effects panel to create motion effects and animations using keyframes.
• Supports hundreds of third-party extensions.
• Have useful features like warp stabilizer and denoiser.
• You can import or create your color LUTs.
• Have a creative cloud with 100 Gb of storage.
• The bundle also includes a mobile video editor and a stock library.

~ Cons:

• Real-time rendering. It will take some time to render before exporting if you work on a mid-range PC.
• Freezes or crashes sometimes.
• Cache data fill-up quickly and eats a lot of storage. (It’s better to clear it after every project)

Pricing: It is cloud-based software, therefore it can’t be purchased one time. It has a monthly subscription starting at $ 20.99/month. It includes “premiere rush” mobile video editor and 100 GB of cloud storage within the plan. It also has a “Creative cloud All apps” plan that includes all 30+ Softwares + 100Gb cloud storage along with premiere pro for $ 54.99 only. All plans also include Behance (adobe creative community), Adobe Fonts, and Adobe stock assets for free. Adobe also provides educational access at a much discounted price.

~ Steps:

Import: Open “Premiere Pro”. Click “New Project” to start with then Click the “Files” button on the top-left corner of the window then select the “Import files” button to import files. Or press “CTRL + I” to import files or drag your files from their location to premiere pro.

Edit: Drag and Drop the files to add them to the timeline. Drop a file above a clip to add as a layer. or drop over a clip to overwrite it. On the right side of the timeline, you can find a bunch of tools to do basic edits like trimming, splitting, speed ramping, masking, or adding text.

In the “Effects Control” tab you can transform the selected clip or change its properties.

Select multiple clips then right-click and select “make Nested clip” to combine them into a single clip for easy editing.

Slide between 8 different workspace styles designed for specific post-production tasks by clicking the buttons available on the top of the window.

Effects: Go to the “Effects” panel on the bottom-left window to apply an effect or transitions. Here you can find all audio, video, 2D, and 3D effects. Drag and Drop on a clip to apply it. Change the properties of these effects in the “Effects Control” panel.

To color grade, your clips move to the “Color” workspace. Here you will find all the color grading features: correction, curves, color wheels, creative tab, e.t.c. To import a LUT click the “creative tab” then click “Browse” to import a LUT.

Export: To Export go to the “Files” tab on top of the screen then select the “Export” button to open the export tab. Select the desired settings then click “Export”.

Power Director 365 :

It is available for both Windows and Mac.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly video editor that is powerful enough to edit your GoPro videos like a content creator then Power director can be the right choice for you. It has many unique and useful features. It has different plugins and design centers to do specific post-production tasks like Ad designer, Multicam editor, AI style plugins, e.t.c.

It also has a separate action cam center to fix or enhance action cam videos. IT also has chapter and subtitle rooms to add subtitles and chapters for your Youtube videos or films. It also has a vast stock and preset library to speed up your project.

Pricing: It has a subscription plan which is available at $69/year. It is now available at 30% off till 22nd May,2022.

~ Features:

• It supports 4K videos and a wide range of import formats.
• Have many built-in plugins and design centers.
• Supports Multi-cam editing.
• Have an action cam center to deal with action cam footage.
• Have separate aspect ratio mode for 360 videos.
• Also, have a chapter and subtitle room. many recording aspects of the video.
• Have a content-aware editing feature that detects the recording aspects.
• Can import presets and color LUTs.
• Have a vast stock library.

~ Cons:

• Have some playback issues with 4K videos. (create shadow files to overcome this issue to an extent).
• Its UI is a little bit complicated for beginners.
• Not ideal for fast pace editing.

~ Steps:

Import: Open Power director and a pop-up will appear, select desired aspect ratio then click “Full mode” to open the software. Or select 360 aspect ratio if you want to edit 360 videos.

Click the “Import Media” icon below the Files tab in the top-left corner of the window to import files or press “CTRL + Q” to import files.

Edit: Drag and drop files to add them to any desired layer in the timeline. Click the icon on the top left corner of the timeline to add layers. When you select a clip in the timeline, some tools appear on the top timeline. Select any specific tool to edit your selected clip. Or click the “Plugins” button on the top-left of the window to open a specific designer tab.

Double-click on the clip to open ‘PIP designer”. Here you will find all the editing tools to edit or animate your clip.

After selecting a clip, in the “Plugins” menu click the “Action Camera Center” button to open an edit tab, Here you can fix your GoPro videos.

Effects: On the top-left corner of the window in a vertical bar you will find all the effects material lile Project library, titles, effects, transitions, overlays, e.t.c. Simply just drag and drop them on the timeline to use them. Here you can also do audio mixing and add subtitles and chapters.

Double click a clip or an overlay element to open the designer window. Here you can customize the clips and overlays to enhance your project.

Export: Click the blue “Produce” button on top of the screen to export your edited file. Select the desired mode and file format and add an export destination, then click “Start” to start exporting.

Which One Should I Choose Free or Paid GoPro Video Editor?

You can choose free or paid softwares depending on your requirements and budget. If a free software meets your requirements then stay on it otherwise move towards a paid alternative. If you have a GoPro and you make videos just for fun then use a free and simple video editor. Even if you are an experienced video editor, I would recommend you to go for free video editors which I have mentioned above as they are quite powerful and professional software but if you are harvesting a good amount of money from this field then you can upgrade to pro versions of these free softwares or get a paid software from start. As almost all of these softwares are professional and can get your job done, so it’s better to choose one, which is comfortable for you to work on.

FAQs about GoPro Video Editing:

1. Q) Does GoPro has its own video editor?

Yes, GoPro has its own video editor “Quik”. It is available on mobile phones and desktops both. It is simple and easy to use. It provides basic features to edit your video. But the main disadvantage of this desktop software is that it supports only GoPro videos, you can’t import files from other devices. Although this isn’t the issue with Quik mobile app, here you can import videos from other devices also.

1. Q) Can I make videos for social media with a GoPro?

It was basically made for recording sports and action videos. But as the market is revolutionized and new models are released it has covered a wide range of the video industry like vlogging, travel and cooking videos e.t.c. As new models of GoPros are waterproof, you can get some amazing underwater shots for your Instagram.

1. Q) What is GoPro media format?

GoPro export files in popular file format MP4. MP4 is the most common file format and is supported by almost all the video editors. While it is efficient and takes less storage but isn’t supported in many devices.

1. Q) How do I transfer files from my GoPro to Mac?

You can transfer your GoPro files through 3 methods:

• Eject the SD card from your GoPro and connect it to your Mac using a SD card adapter to transfer files.
• Connect your GoPro to Mac through USB connector and use “iphoto” or any other photo importer to import files.

3D Ray Traced Settings In After Effects: A Comprehensive Guide

3D Ray Traced is a hot topic in the world of graphic design and video editing that allows you to create three-dimensional images from scratch or add realistic effects to existing 2D footage.

In After Effects, it is a lightning technique for generating a photorealistic image by tracing the light’s path through a scene in three dimensions. Raytracing lets you have proper reflections, internal refraction, and transparency.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the basics of Ray Tracing and everything you need to know about 3D Ray Traced in After Effects.

1. History
2. Advantages
3. Disadvantages

• How Does Ray Tracing Work
• Ray Tracing In Adobe After Effects

1. Functions
2. How Does It Work

• Ray-Traced 3D Settings In Adobe After Effects

1. How To Set It
2. When To Use It
3. Ray Traced 3D After Effects Plugin Download

Part 1. What Is Ray Tracing?

Ray Tracing is a powerful rendering technique that can create incredibly realistic lighting and shadows. By tracing the path of light, algorithms can simulate the way that light interacts with virtual objects in a computer-generated world.

This results in more lifelike shadows, reflections, and translucence. Ray Tracing has been responsible for the dramatic increase in realism we’ve seen in video games over the years, and its benefits are only becoming more apparent as technology improves.

In simple words, Ray Tracing is a computer graphics technique for generating realistic images and works by tracing the light’s path from the camera through the scene. This allows for accurate simulations of light interactions, such as reflection, refraction, and shadows.

Part 2. Overview Of Ray Tracing

In this part, we will explain what Ray Tracing is from the following sides and for your better understanding.

History

Albrecht Dürer first gave the idea of Ray Tracing in the 16th century through his invention, the Dürer’s door. However, it was not until 1968 that Arthur Appel used a computer for the first time to create a shaded picture through Ray Tracing.

First conceptualized in 1969, Ray Tracing is a common technique used to create computer-generated graphics for movies and TV shows today. This is because studios can use the processing power of multiple computers to get the job done quickly and efficiently. However, even with this extra processing power, Ray Tracing can be a long and difficult process.

Despite the challenges, Ray Tracing is becoming increasingly popular due to computer hardware and software advances. And as technology continues to improve, we can expect to see even more realistic images in the future.

Advantages

Here’re some advantages of Ray Tracing:

1. Realistic Rendering: Ray Tracing can create more realistic images than those created with traditional rendering techniques. This is because it calculates the light path more accurately, resulting in more realistic shadows, refraction, and reflections.
2. Anti-aliasing And Depth Of Field: Ray Tracing can help you quickly get the anti-aliasing and depth of field effects.

Disadvantages

The downside of Ray Tracing technology is that it requires a lot of computing power to run, and it can be difficult to create more complex lighting effects like caustics.

Part 3. How Does Ray Tracing Work?

Ray Tracking uses the process of denoising. The algorithm starts with the camera and traces the shades of shadows and lights.

Ray Tracing uses machine learning to fill in the gaps to form a realistic image. The brighter the scene, the higher the graphics quality; the higher the quality, the more expensive it is. This is why Ray Tracing didn’t become popular in the video game industry until recently.

Part 4. Ray Tracing In Adobe After Effects

After the introduction of Ray Tracing, we will combine it with a popular video editor - Adobe After Effects to see how it works. Adobe After Effects is a useful and powerful tool for creating visual effects and animated graphics. Adobe introduced Ray Tracing or Ray-Traced 3D feature in After Effect to help graphic designers create photorealistic 3D images and render light and shadow. This feature was added in 2012 with the release of After Effects CS 6.

However, the Ray Tracing feature was later removed from After Effects in 2020 due to multiple reasons:

• The Ray Tracing tool always faced bugs and glitches.
• This feature did not work correctly if you were not using Adobe Media Encoder.
• NVIDIA would change the standards from time to time.

Functions

Though as mentioned above, the Ray Tracing feature was removed in 2020, its advanced 3D features are still worth of introducing. Here’re some functions of Ray Traced 3D After Effects:

• Ray Traced allows you to generate and place multiple lights.
• You can set a material option for 3D layers.
• Moreover, you can control how shadows are cast.

How Does It Work

3D Ray Tracing in After Effects works by giving your text and paths more depth. Extruded layers have a z-axis depth, making them three-dimensional. This extra dimension is viewable from all angles, even when the layer is rotated. In contrast, non-extruded layers have zero depth on the z-axis. So, they will disappear if you try to rotate them 90 degrees on the x or y-axis.

Part 5. Ray-Traced 3D Settings In Adobe After Effects

The release of the Ray-Traced 3D setting in After Effects CS6 made it easier than ever to create stunning 3D images and animations. Let’s focus on how to use it in After Effects appropriately.

How To Set It

Adobe After Effects has a three-dimensional space animation setting, but this doesn’t include Ray Tracing. You need to change the default settings if you want to use it in your animation. To do so:

Step1 Go to the Composition Settings panel to set up the Ray-Traced 3D composition.

Step2 Open the Advanced tab, and from the “Renderer” option, select “Ray-Traced 3D” from the drop-down menu.

A layer becomes a 3D layer when the 3D checkbox is checked in the timeline and has more options than a normal layer regarding composition. When you open the layer properties timeline, you can access two options: Geometry Options and Material Options.

The former deals with the layer’s depth and edges shape, while the latter deals with the interaction of layers with depth and includes shadow, reflection, refraction, and transparency option.

When To Use It

Here’re some instances of when to use Ray-Traced 3D compositions in After Effects:

• When you want to create true 3D types and animate them.
• If you want to get a logo extruded and present it as if it was a real object.
• When you want to create realistic shadows or reflections to create stunning motion graphics.
• You can also use it to create realistic images or simulate lighting effects.

Ray Traced 3D After Effects Plugin Download

Zaxwerks ProAnimator AE is a 3D animation plugin for After Effects that makes it easier to animate objects in three dimensions. With ProAnimator AE, you don’t have to use keyframes to animate objects.

Instead, you’re given an interface that makes it simpler to learn than traditional 3D animation programs. Moreover, ProAnimator AE is capable of near real-time Ray Tracing so that you can create realistic reflections in very little time.

Video - What is Ray Tracing?

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve discussed Ray Tracing, how it works, and its function in Adobe After Effect. We also shed light on Ray Traced 3D settings in After Effect, how to set it, and when to use it. Moreover, we discussed a plugin to help you create photorealistic reflections and shadows.

Hopefully, your queries have been resolved, and you now fully understand the Ray Tracing technology.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

• Functions
• How Does It Work
• Ray-Traced 3D Settings In Adobe After Effects

1. How To Set It
2. When To Use It
3. Ray Traced 3D After Effects Plugin Download

Part 1. What Is Ray Tracing?

Ray Tracing is a powerful rendering technique that can create incredibly realistic lighting and shadows. By tracing the path of light, algorithms can simulate the way that light interacts with virtual objects in a computer-generated world.

This results in more lifelike shadows, reflections, and translucence. Ray Tracing has been responsible for the dramatic increase in realism we’ve seen in video games over the years, and its benefits are only becoming more apparent as technology improves.

In simple words, Ray Tracing is a computer graphics technique for generating realistic images and works by tracing the light’s path from the camera through the scene. This allows for accurate simulations of light interactions, such as reflection, refraction, and shadows.

Part 2. Overview Of Ray Tracing

In this part, we will explain what Ray Tracing is from the following sides and for your better understanding.

History

Albrecht Dürer first gave the idea of Ray Tracing in the 16th century through his invention, the Dürer’s door. However, it was not until 1968 that Arthur Appel used a computer for the first time to create a shaded picture through Ray Tracing.

First conceptualized in 1969, Ray Tracing is a common technique used to create computer-generated graphics for movies and TV shows today. This is because studios can use the processing power of multiple computers to get the job done quickly and efficiently. However, even with this extra processing power, Ray Tracing can be a long and difficult process.

Despite the challenges, Ray Tracing is becoming increasingly popular due to computer hardware and software advances. And as technology continues to improve, we can expect to see even more realistic images in the future.

Advantages

Here’re some advantages of Ray Tracing:

1. Realistic Rendering: Ray Tracing can create more realistic images than those created with traditional rendering techniques. This is because it calculates the light path more accurately, resulting in more realistic shadows, refraction, and reflections.
2. Anti-aliasing And Depth Of Field: Ray Tracing can help you quickly get the anti-aliasing and depth of field effects.

Disadvantages

The downside of Ray Tracing technology is that it requires a lot of computing power to run, and it can be difficult to create more complex lighting effects like caustics.

Part 3. How Does Ray Tracing Work?

Ray Tracking uses the process of denoising. The algorithm starts with the camera and traces the shades of shadows and lights.

Ray Tracing uses machine learning to fill in the gaps to form a realistic image. The brighter the scene, the higher the graphics quality; the higher the quality, the more expensive it is. This is why Ray Tracing didn’t become popular in the video game industry until recently.

Part 4. Ray Tracing In Adobe After Effects

After the introduction of Ray Tracing, we will combine it with a popular video editor - Adobe After Effects to see how it works. Adobe After Effects is a useful and powerful tool for creating visual effects and animated graphics. Adobe introduced Ray Tracing or Ray-Traced 3D feature in After Effect to help graphic designers create photorealistic 3D images and render light and shadow. This feature was added in 2012 with the release of After Effects CS 6.

However, the Ray Tracing feature was later removed from After Effects in 2020 due to multiple reasons:

• The Ray Tracing tool always faced bugs and glitches.
• This feature did not work correctly if you were not using Adobe Media Encoder.
• NVIDIA would change the standards from time to time.

Functions

Though as mentioned above, the Ray Tracing feature was removed in 2020, its advanced 3D features are still worth of introducing. Here’re some functions of Ray Traced 3D After Effects:

• Ray Traced allows you to generate and place multiple lights.
• You can set a material option for 3D layers.
• Moreover, you can control how shadows are cast.

How Does It Work

3D Ray Tracing in After Effects works by giving your text and paths more depth. Extruded layers have a z-axis depth, making them three-dimensional. This extra dimension is viewable from all angles, even when the layer is rotated. In contrast, non-extruded layers have zero depth on the z-axis. So, they will disappear if you try to rotate them 90 degrees on the x or y-axis.

Part 5. Ray-Traced 3D Settings In Adobe After Effects

The release of the Ray-Traced 3D setting in After Effects CS6 made it easier than ever to create stunning 3D images and animations. Let’s focus on how to use it in After Effects appropriately.

How To Set It

Adobe After Effects has a three-dimensional space animation setting, but this doesn’t include Ray Tracing. You need to change the default settings if you want to use it in your animation. To do so:

Step1 Go to the Composition Settings panel to set up the Ray-Traced 3D composition.

Step2 Open the Advanced tab, and from the “Renderer” option, select “Ray-Traced 3D” from the drop-down menu.

A layer becomes a 3D layer when the 3D checkbox is checked in the timeline and has more options than a normal layer regarding composition. When you open the layer properties timeline, you can access two options: Geometry Options and Material Options.

The former deals with the layer’s depth and edges shape, while the latter deals with the interaction of layers with depth and includes shadow, reflection, refraction, and transparency option.

When To Use It

Here’re some instances of when to use Ray-Traced 3D compositions in After Effects:

• When you want to create true 3D types and animate them.
• If you want to get a logo extruded and present it as if it was a real object.
• When you want to create realistic shadows or reflections to create stunning motion graphics.
• You can also use it to create realistic images or simulate lighting effects.

Ray Traced 3D After Effects Plugin Download

Zaxwerks ProAnimator AE is a 3D animation plugin for After Effects that makes it easier to animate objects in three dimensions. With ProAnimator AE, you don’t have to use keyframes to animate objects.

Instead, you’re given an interface that makes it simpler to learn than traditional 3D animation programs. Moreover, ProAnimator AE is capable of near real-time Ray Tracing so that you can create realistic reflections in very little time.

Video - What is Ray Tracing?

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve discussed Ray Tracing, how it works, and its function in Adobe After Effect. We also shed light on Ray Traced 3D settings in After Effect, how to set it, and when to use it. Moreover, we discussed a plugin to help you create photorealistic reflections and shadows.

Hopefully, your queries have been resolved, and you now fully understand the Ray Tracing technology.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Something That You Should Know About MP4 Video Format

You all must have taken pictures and made videos at various occasions of life, and it might be someone’s wedding, birthday, or any other party. The images and videos are saved in different file formats, and sometimes sharing file across different platforms get difficult because of this.

What if you want to edit your MP4 video but don’t know much about the MP4 file format? The following article will help you learn more about it. From the introduction to the technical descriptions, all are discussed in detail below.

In this article

01 What Is MP4 Video Format?

02 Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

03 Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

04 How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

05 MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

Part 1. What Is MP4 Video Format?

MP4 file format is mostly used for video files. The original data is not in MP4 format. The format can also contain audio, video, subtitles, or image data in different streams. All the streams can be decoded by different decoders.

MP4 video format is developed by the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG). MP4 file format is compatible with a wide range of software and devices. It has relatively high post-compressed video quality thus takes less space than other formats.

Part 2. Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

You all must have heard about various file formats, but can you name the most popular format? Well, it’s MP4 format. Now that you know about the MP4 format, let’s tell you why it’s famous among other formats:

· Compatibility

Do you know something about MP4 compatibility? The file format is extremely compatible with online and also mobile internet browsers. Moreover, you can also find its compatibility with various social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

· Codecs

The MP4 containers can use codecs like MPEG-4, , . MP4 file format is also suitable for images and audio files.

· Size

Do you know another reason why the MP4 video format is famous? It’s because of the size. MP4 format delivers high-quality video but in a relatively smaller size.

Part 3. Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

When we talk about MP4 video format editing, Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is the best choice you could ever have. The video editor is easy and straightforward for beginners, and you don’t need any technical expertise to use the Filmora video editor. Moreover, the interface is very clean and intuitive. The software offers a precision cutter.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Do you know any video editor that supports 4k? Filmora does support 4K video resolution and also high definition image quality. Additionally, Filmora has a media library; you can get cool and stunning editing elements, titles, effects, transitions, and a lot more things. Wondershare Filmora offers a wide range of features; let’s discuss a few:

Green Screen Effect

Distractions in videos are very annoying, but with Filmora, you can get rid of this. The Green Screen Effect offered by Filmora helps in removing all the distractions from your video like any unwanted person, irritating light, or whatever.

Motion Tracking

It’s tough to find good software that offers features like motion tracking. Luckily, you have Wondershare Filmora to use the feature. Motion Tracking is among the most anticipated and prominent features of the video editor, which help you track movements in the video.

Split Screen

Are you creating a tutorial? Do try the Split Screen feature of Filmora for creating tutorials, commentary, or even interviews. This classical feature is fantastic and makes your video unique. You can switch between 4 to 6 screen panels.

Transitions and Effects

Video Editing is incomplete without effects and transitions. If you are using Filmora Video Editor, you will get a lot of brilliant transitions and effects to add to your video and make it shine. You also get a variety of title and text templates.

Part 4. How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

If you are worried about editing your videos in MP4 file format, let’s share something that will help you. Read the following section of this article to learn more about some tips regarding MP4 editing.

1. Cut the Video

If your video has any rough or extra content, remove it. You can easily cut your MP4 video and remove unwanted parts. Filmora Video Editor offers a ‘Cut’ feature that could be used for this purpose.

2. Join MP4 Videos

Do you know what else you can do? With Filmora, you can join and combine several MP4 videos with great ease. The software lets you create cool joined videos that look like an entire movie. The feature lets you add your desired videos.

3. Edit Audio of MP4 Video

Can you edit audio from Filmora Video Editor? Surprisingly, yes, you can also edit the audio of your MP4 video from this editor. The software lets you adjust the different features of the audio like its Pitch, Speed, Volume, etc.

4. Add Effects, Titles, and Transitions

You can also add stunning effects to your MP4 video while editing it. Moreover, explore Filmora and find the perfect title for your video. Apart from this, you also get tons of cool transitions that you can add for smooth transitioning effects.

Part 5. MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

There are multiple types of documents that you can have your material saved into. Among them exists MOV and MP4. Do you know the difference between these two? Allow us to help you out by sharing the qualities of MOV and MP4.

MP4

Let us tell you about MP4 first. MP4 is a multimedia storage format mainly used to store videos. It is widely used and can be used is multiple devices. MP4 is the wrapper around the video, not the video itself. If we talk technically, MP4 contains the compressed video data and necessary data files that are required to play the video. MP4 is more compressed than other files types, thus taking less space.

MOV

MOV is a file-saving format that Apple owns. It would not be wrong to say that MOV works best in iOS and macOS devices. MOV files can be converted into MP4 and vices versa if needed. MOV has the best video quality and sound under the same compression level. MOV files are also decoded by MPEG-4 codec, the same as MP4.

Final Words

After reading and learning from the above article, we hope that you have increased your knowledge about the MP4 video format. The article shared various things about MP4, like the factors for its popularity, editing MP4 video, etc. We also introduced a great video editor to edit your MP4 file format videos.

Wondershare Filmora is the best editor for videos when you want to create unique and stunning content. The editor offers a whole new editing world with limitless features. Do you know any good software for Color Match? Its Filmora! The easy-to-use, multi-track, drag, and drop video editor will change your editing game.

If you want to stun your viewers with your videos, then try Wondershare Filmora. You can add brilliant transitions, effects, titles to your video. Apart from this, you also get features like cut, crop, trim, join, split, and many more.

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

02 Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

03 Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

04 How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

05 MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

Part 1. What Is MP4 Video Format?

MP4 file format is mostly used for video files. The original data is not in MP4 format. The format can also contain audio, video, subtitles, or image data in different streams. All the streams can be decoded by different decoders.

MP4 video format is developed by the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG). MP4 file format is compatible with a wide range of software and devices. It has relatively high post-compressed video quality thus takes less space than other formats.

Part 2. Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

You all must have heard about various file formats, but can you name the most popular format? Well, it’s MP4 format. Now that you know about the MP4 format, let’s tell you why it’s famous among other formats:

· Compatibility

Do you know something about MP4 compatibility? The file format is extremely compatible with online and also mobile internet browsers. Moreover, you can also find its compatibility with various social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

· Codecs

The MP4 containers can use codecs like MPEG-4, , . MP4 file format is also suitable for images and audio files.

· Size

Do you know another reason why the MP4 video format is famous? It’s because of the size. MP4 format delivers high-quality video but in a relatively smaller size.

Part 3. Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

When we talk about MP4 video format editing, Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is the best choice you could ever have. The video editor is easy and straightforward for beginners, and you don’t need any technical expertise to use the Filmora video editor. Moreover, the interface is very clean and intuitive. The software offers a precision cutter.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Do you know any video editor that supports 4k? Filmora does support 4K video resolution and also high definition image quality. Additionally, Filmora has a media library; you can get cool and stunning editing elements, titles, effects, transitions, and a lot more things. Wondershare Filmora offers a wide range of features; let’s discuss a few:

Green Screen Effect

Distractions in videos are very annoying, but with Filmora, you can get rid of this. The Green Screen Effect offered by Filmora helps in removing all the distractions from your video like any unwanted person, irritating light, or whatever.

Motion Tracking

It’s tough to find good software that offers features like motion tracking. Luckily, you have Wondershare Filmora to use the feature. Motion Tracking is among the most anticipated and prominent features of the video editor, which help you track movements in the video.

Split Screen

Are you creating a tutorial? Do try the Split Screen feature of Filmora for creating tutorials, commentary, or even interviews. This classical feature is fantastic and makes your video unique. You can switch between 4 to 6 screen panels.

Transitions and Effects

Video Editing is incomplete without effects and transitions. If you are using Filmora Video Editor, you will get a lot of brilliant transitions and effects to add to your video and make it shine. You also get a variety of title and text templates.

Part 4. How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

If you are worried about editing your videos in MP4 file format, let’s share something that will help you. Read the following section of this article to learn more about some tips regarding MP4 editing.

1. Cut the Video

If your video has any rough or extra content, remove it. You can easily cut your MP4 video and remove unwanted parts. Filmora Video Editor offers a ‘Cut’ feature that could be used for this purpose.

2. Join MP4 Videos

Do you know what else you can do? With Filmora, you can join and combine several MP4 videos with great ease. The software lets you create cool joined videos that look like an entire movie. The feature lets you add your desired videos.

3. Edit Audio of MP4 Video

Can you edit audio from Filmora Video Editor? Surprisingly, yes, you can also edit the audio of your MP4 video from this editor. The software lets you adjust the different features of the audio like its Pitch, Speed, Volume, etc.

4. Add Effects, Titles, and Transitions

You can also add stunning effects to your MP4 video while editing it. Moreover, explore Filmora and find the perfect title for your video. Apart from this, you also get tons of cool transitions that you can add for smooth transitioning effects.

Part 5. MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

There are multiple types of documents that you can have your material saved into. Among them exists MOV and MP4. Do you know the difference between these two? Allow us to help you out by sharing the qualities of MOV and MP4.

MP4

Let us tell you about MP4 first. MP4 is a multimedia storage format mainly used to store videos. It is widely used and can be used is multiple devices. MP4 is the wrapper around the video, not the video itself. If we talk technically, MP4 contains the compressed video data and necessary data files that are required to play the video. MP4 is more compressed than other files types, thus taking less space.

MOV

MOV is a file-saving format that Apple owns. It would not be wrong to say that MOV works best in iOS and macOS devices. MOV files can be converted into MP4 and vices versa if needed. MOV has the best video quality and sound under the same compression level. MOV files are also decoded by MPEG-4 codec, the same as MP4.

Final Words

After reading and learning from the above article, we hope that you have increased your knowledge about the MP4 video format. The article shared various things about MP4, like the factors for its popularity, editing MP4 video, etc. We also introduced a great video editor to edit your MP4 file format videos.

Wondershare Filmora is the best editor for videos when you want to create unique and stunning content. The editor offers a whole new editing world with limitless features. Do you know any good software for Color Match? Its Filmora! The easy-to-use, multi-track, drag, and drop video editor will change your editing game.

If you want to stun your viewers with your videos, then try Wondershare Filmora. You can add brilliant transitions, effects, titles to your video. Apart from this, you also get features like cut, crop, trim, join, split, and many more.

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

02 Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

03 Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

04 How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

05 MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

Part 1. What Is MP4 Video Format?

MP4 file format is mostly used for video files. The original data is not in MP4 format. The format can also contain audio, video, subtitles, or image data in different streams. All the streams can be decoded by different decoders.

MP4 video format is developed by the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG). MP4 file format is compatible with a wide range of software and devices. It has relatively high post-compressed video quality thus takes less space than other formats.

Part 2. Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

You all must have heard about various file formats, but can you name the most popular format? Well, it’s MP4 format. Now that you know about the MP4 format, let’s tell you why it’s famous among other formats:

· Compatibility

Do you know something about MP4 compatibility? The file format is extremely compatible with online and also mobile internet browsers. Moreover, you can also find its compatibility with various social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

· Codecs

The MP4 containers can use codecs like MPEG-4, , . MP4 file format is also suitable for images and audio files.

· Size

Do you know another reason why the MP4 video format is famous? It’s because of the size. MP4 format delivers high-quality video but in a relatively smaller size.

Part 3. Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

When we talk about MP4 video format editing, Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is the best choice you could ever have. The video editor is easy and straightforward for beginners, and you don’t need any technical expertise to use the Filmora video editor. Moreover, the interface is very clean and intuitive. The software offers a precision cutter.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Do you know any video editor that supports 4k? Filmora does support 4K video resolution and also high definition image quality. Additionally, Filmora has a media library; you can get cool and stunning editing elements, titles, effects, transitions, and a lot more things. Wondershare Filmora offers a wide range of features; let’s discuss a few:

Green Screen Effect

Distractions in videos are very annoying, but with Filmora, you can get rid of this. The Green Screen Effect offered by Filmora helps in removing all the distractions from your video like any unwanted person, irritating light, or whatever.

Motion Tracking

It’s tough to find good software that offers features like motion tracking. Luckily, you have Wondershare Filmora to use the feature. Motion Tracking is among the most anticipated and prominent features of the video editor, which help you track movements in the video.

Split Screen

Are you creating a tutorial? Do try the Split Screen feature of Filmora for creating tutorials, commentary, or even interviews. This classical feature is fantastic and makes your video unique. You can switch between 4 to 6 screen panels.

Transitions and Effects

Video Editing is incomplete without effects and transitions. If you are using Filmora Video Editor, you will get a lot of brilliant transitions and effects to add to your video and make it shine. You also get a variety of title and text templates.

Part 4. How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

If you are worried about editing your videos in MP4 file format, let’s share something that will help you. Read the following section of this article to learn more about some tips regarding MP4 editing.

1. Cut the Video

If your video has any rough or extra content, remove it. You can easily cut your MP4 video and remove unwanted parts. Filmora Video Editor offers a ‘Cut’ feature that could be used for this purpose.

2. Join MP4 Videos

Do you know what else you can do? With Filmora, you can join and combine several MP4 videos with great ease. The software lets you create cool joined videos that look like an entire movie. The feature lets you add your desired videos.

3. Edit Audio of MP4 Video

Can you edit audio from Filmora Video Editor? Surprisingly, yes, you can also edit the audio of your MP4 video from this editor. The software lets you adjust the different features of the audio like its Pitch, Speed, Volume, etc.

4. Add Effects, Titles, and Transitions

You can also add stunning effects to your MP4 video while editing it. Moreover, explore Filmora and find the perfect title for your video. Apart from this, you also get tons of cool transitions that you can add for smooth transitioning effects.

Part 5. MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

There are multiple types of documents that you can have your material saved into. Among them exists MOV and MP4. Do you know the difference between these two? Allow us to help you out by sharing the qualities of MOV and MP4.

MP4

Let us tell you about MP4 first. MP4 is a multimedia storage format mainly used to store videos. It is widely used and can be used is multiple devices. MP4 is the wrapper around the video, not the video itself. If we talk technically, MP4 contains the compressed video data and necessary data files that are required to play the video. MP4 is more compressed than other files types, thus taking less space.

MOV

MOV is a file-saving format that Apple owns. It would not be wrong to say that MOV works best in iOS and macOS devices. MOV files can be converted into MP4 and vices versa if needed. MOV has the best video quality and sound under the same compression level. MOV files are also decoded by MPEG-4 codec, the same as MP4.

Final Words

After reading and learning from the above article, we hope that you have increased your knowledge about the MP4 video format. The article shared various things about MP4, like the factors for its popularity, editing MP4 video, etc. We also introduced a great video editor to edit your MP4 file format videos.

Wondershare Filmora is the best editor for videos when you want to create unique and stunning content. The editor offers a whole new editing world with limitless features. Do you know any good software for Color Match? Its Filmora! The easy-to-use, multi-track, drag, and drop video editor will change your editing game.

If you want to stun your viewers with your videos, then try Wondershare Filmora. You can add brilliant transitions, effects, titles to your video. Apart from this, you also get features like cut, crop, trim, join, split, and many more.

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

02 Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

03 Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

04 How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

05 MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

Part 1. What Is MP4 Video Format?

MP4 file format is mostly used for video files. The original data is not in MP4 format. The format can also contain audio, video, subtitles, or image data in different streams. All the streams can be decoded by different decoders.

MP4 video format is developed by the Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG). MP4 file format is compatible with a wide range of software and devices. It has relatively high post-compressed video quality thus takes less space than other formats.

Part 2. Why MP4 Video Format Is the Most Popular Video File?

You all must have heard about various file formats, but can you name the most popular format? Well, it’s MP4 format. Now that you know about the MP4 format, let’s tell you why it’s famous among other formats:

· Compatibility

Do you know something about MP4 compatibility? The file format is extremely compatible with online and also mobile internet browsers. Moreover, you can also find its compatibility with various social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

· Codecs

The MP4 containers can use codecs like MPEG-4, , . MP4 file format is also suitable for images and audio files.

· Size

Do you know another reason why the MP4 video format is famous? It’s because of the size. MP4 format delivers high-quality video but in a relatively smaller size.

Part 3. Best MP4 Video Editor- Filmora Video Editor

When we talk about MP4 video format editing, Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is the best choice you could ever have. The video editor is easy and straightforward for beginners, and you don’t need any technical expertise to use the Filmora video editor. Moreover, the interface is very clean and intuitive. The software offers a precision cutter.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Do you know any video editor that supports 4k? Filmora does support 4K video resolution and also high definition image quality. Additionally, Filmora has a media library; you can get cool and stunning editing elements, titles, effects, transitions, and a lot more things. Wondershare Filmora offers a wide range of features; let’s discuss a few:

Green Screen Effect

Distractions in videos are very annoying, but with Filmora, you can get rid of this. The Green Screen Effect offered by Filmora helps in removing all the distractions from your video like any unwanted person, irritating light, or whatever.

Motion Tracking

It’s tough to find good software that offers features like motion tracking. Luckily, you have Wondershare Filmora to use the feature. Motion Tracking is among the most anticipated and prominent features of the video editor, which help you track movements in the video.

Split Screen

Are you creating a tutorial? Do try the Split Screen feature of Filmora for creating tutorials, commentary, or even interviews. This classical feature is fantastic and makes your video unique. You can switch between 4 to 6 screen panels.

Transitions and Effects

Video Editing is incomplete without effects and transitions. If you are using Filmora Video Editor, you will get a lot of brilliant transitions and effects to add to your video and make it shine. You also get a variety of title and text templates.

Part 4. How to Edit MP4 Video Files?

If you are worried about editing your videos in MP4 file format, let’s share something that will help you. Read the following section of this article to learn more about some tips regarding MP4 editing.

1. Cut the Video

If your video has any rough or extra content, remove it. You can easily cut your MP4 video and remove unwanted parts. Filmora Video Editor offers a ‘Cut’ feature that could be used for this purpose.

2. Join MP4 Videos

Do you know what else you can do? With Filmora, you can join and combine several MP4 videos with great ease. The software lets you create cool joined videos that look like an entire movie. The feature lets you add your desired videos.

3. Edit Audio of MP4 Video

Can you edit audio from Filmora Video Editor? Surprisingly, yes, you can also edit the audio of your MP4 video from this editor. The software lets you adjust the different features of the audio like its Pitch, Speed, Volume, etc.

4. Add Effects, Titles, and Transitions

You can also add stunning effects to your MP4 video while editing it. Moreover, explore Filmora and find the perfect title for your video. Apart from this, you also get tons of cool transitions that you can add for smooth transitioning effects.

Part 5. MOV VS. MP4: What’s the Difference?

There are multiple types of documents that you can have your material saved into. Among them exists MOV and MP4. Do you know the difference between these two? Allow us to help you out by sharing the qualities of MOV and MP4.

MP4

Let us tell you about MP4 first. MP4 is a multimedia storage format mainly used to store videos. It is widely used and can be used is multiple devices. MP4 is the wrapper around the video, not the video itself. If we talk technically, MP4 contains the compressed video data and necessary data files that are required to play the video. MP4 is more compressed than other files types, thus taking less space.

MOV

MOV is a file-saving format that Apple owns. It would not be wrong to say that MOV works best in iOS and macOS devices. MOV files can be converted into MP4 and vices versa if needed. MOV has the best video quality and sound under the same compression level. MOV files are also decoded by MPEG-4 codec, the same as MP4.

Final Words

After reading and learning from the above article, we hope that you have increased your knowledge about the MP4 video format. The article shared various things about MP4, like the factors for its popularity, editing MP4 video, etc. We also introduced a great video editor to edit your MP4 file format videos.

Wondershare Filmora is the best editor for videos when you want to create unique and stunning content. The editor offers a whole new editing world with limitless features. Do you know any good software for Color Match? Its Filmora! The easy-to-use, multi-track, drag, and drop video editor will change your editing game.

If you want to stun your viewers with your videos, then try Wondershare Filmora. You can add brilliant transitions, effects, titles to your video. Apart from this, you also get features like cut, crop, trim, join, split, and many more.

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects!

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

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