What Video Editing Software Do YouTubers Use? – Casey Neistat and many more
The most-used video editing software by famous Youtubers are Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X. Adobe Premiere Pro is for example used by Pewdiepie, Markiplier, Peter Mckinnon. Final Cut Pro X is used by Casey Neistat, Marques Brownlee, and Emma Chamberlain. Both programs are also used by Hollywood film studios and a lot of YouTube starters.
Attracting subscribers on YouTube simply requires high-quality content. PewDiePie with more than 100 million subscribers and other top YouTubers rely on the best video editing software to produce slick, professional videos.
So when bringing your own videos to the next level it is often a good bet to look at what the pro’s are doing. And while editing software remains just tools the right one can actually make a big difference in terms of workflow, formats, efficiency, plugins, etc.
Youtbers often want software that gets the job done as efficiently as possible as they need to create a lot of content to get your channel growing. At the same time, they want video formats that are optimized for youtube to get the maximum amount of quality.
In this article, we will take a look at Adobe Premier Pro and Final Cut Pro X to see which YouTubers use these packages, what their standout features are and how to choose your pick.
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most used video editing programs for making YouTube videos. PewDiePie, Jake Paul, and many more of the biggest YouTubers rely on Adobe Premiere Pro to produce high-quality videos.
Many Hollywood films have also been edited using Adobe Premiere Pro, including Deadpool and Superman Returns. YouTubers enjoy using Premiere Pro for its variety of tools and features, including drag-and-drop editing and simple color grading.
Youtubers that use Adobe Premiere Pro include:
Ease of use
We feel a big advantage of Adobe Premiere Pro is compared to many other video editors is that is is quite user friendly. While it does come with many advanced options the core is quite easy to learn especially if you are familiar with other Adobe Programs such as Photoshop or Adobe Aduition. Another plus is that there are many tutorials and guides available online and from Adobe to walk you through any of the features.
Features
A downside is that while this is the most used tool it is known for its unstable performance on low-end computers and laptops. Editing video requires a lot of memory or a decent graphics card, especially when starting to integrate plugins and other tools. If you plan on adding lots of effects, producing longer videos or in 4k resolution it is recommended to use a powerful computer. However, this is less of an issue when editing a short YouTube video compared to editing a full-length film.
Adobe Premiere Pro remains the industry standard for producing professional videos. It offers access to the widest selection of editing tools, but also requires more time to learn how to use the tools.
Subscriptions
Adobe Premiere Pro is available for Windows and Mac computers. However, you can no longer purchase Adobe Premiere upfront. You need to pay for a monthly subscription. The base subscription is $20.99 per month for access to Premiere Pro with a one-year contract. You can also pay $31.49 per month for the monthly plan or $239.88 for the year.
Along with Premiere Pro, Adobe has a suite of creative tools for editors and filmmakers, including Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. These tools integrate seamlessly with the workflow in Premiere Pro. With a $52.99 per month subscription, you can gain access to more than 20 Adobe Creative programs.
Final Cut Pro X
Besides Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X is the other top video editing software for YouTubers. It is used by Casey Neistat and many technology-related YouTube channels.
As with Premiere, Final Cut Pro X has also been used to produce Hollywood films such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, John Carter, The Social Network, and many other films.
Youtubers that use Final Cut Pro X include:
Ease of use
In terms of ease of use Final Cut Pro X is slightly more intuitive than Premiere. If you are already used to the Apple ecosystem you will benefit even more. Having used programs like iMovie or Garageband can lower the learning curve. If you are a Windows user you won’t have this benefit but then again, keep in mind that Final Cut Pro X is an Apple product and it is only available on MacOS computers, so Windows users are out of luck anyway.
Features
Final Cut Pro X provides many of the same features found on Adobe Premiere Pro, including a streamlined timeline with quick access to useful tools. However, Final Cut Pro X has fewer advanced tools and editing options.
With fewer tools, Final Cut Pro X has a shorter learning curve. Beginners, especially mac users can start of right away. Many of the available tools include presets, making it easier to apply color correction or basic effects.
Despite having fewer built-in tools, Final Cut Pro X is a well-rounded editor that can handle almost any task needed for producing high-quality YouTube videos. It also provides access to a wide range of third-party plugins to extend its functionality. Along with an efficient user interface, Final Cut Pro X has efficient coding and is optimized specifically for Apple computers. It is less likely to crash when compiling video on a low-end computer.
Subscription or One-time payment:
The base subscription price is comparable to Adobe Premiere Pro. However, Apple also allows you to pay for the software with a one-time payment. The full cost of Final Cut Pro X is $299.99. The same amount covers about 15 months of an Adobe Premiere Pro subscription making it more cost-effective in the long run.
The price is a great selling point, but the main advantage of Final Cut Pro X is the streamlined interface. Beginners can easily navigate the menus and workstations without spending hours reading instructions or tutorials.
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve has become a popular choice for those who want a free video editing program. DaVinci Resolve is essentially a stripped-down version of DaVinci Resolve Studio. The commercial version of the software supports ultra-high-definition video, HDR color grading, and video noise reduction. However, the free option still provides a reliable solution for editing YouTube videos.
DaVinci Resolve works with a wide range of video formats and provides quality color correction features. While fewer YouTubers use DaVinci Resolve, it is already a common tool in Hollywood. It was used for editing or color grading on Robin Hood, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Unlike Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, Da Vinci Resolve is available on Linux. You can install this program on almost any Windows, Mac, or Linux computer or desktop, including older systems with less RAM and onboard graphics.
The standout feature of DaVinci Resolve is its simplicity. The timeline and workflow are easy to navigate. Within a few minutes, you can start editing YouTube videos.
Which editing software should you choose for Youtube?
Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X reasonably affordable and user-friendly making them the best choice for most video creators. The amount of famous YouTubers using these is a testament to that. Both options also provide a selection of extra tools, allowing you to apply special effects or edit the audio from a single workstation.
The choice mostly comes down to taste and what you are used to. Having used both I can tell you for sure that you can create great videos with either pick. Final Cut Pro X is (like most of Apple’s software) slightly more user-friendly, especially if you are used to the Apple ecosystem, but the downside is you can only run it on mac.
Adobe Premiere Pro is what I use most myself because of the number of tools it features and because I was already used to a lot of other Adobe software such as Adobe XD, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
Lastly, Davinci Resolve provides a great free alternative if you want to start your video editing hobby/career. The premium version or the two programs above could always become the next step later on.
What Is an NLE (Video Editing Software)?
Non-linear editing (NLE) software revolutionized the filmmaking industry by allowing editors to edit footage offline without modifying the source. In the past, editors relied on linear editing, which involved physically splicing film strips together. This method was inexpensive but had major limitations. As linear editing involves using the original content, mistakes are difficult to correct.
NLE video editing software preserves the source material and provides greater flexibility. The video, audio, and other elements are digitally imported into the software. Editors have complete freedom when editing. Instead of working from the beginning to the end, they can start in the middle or instantly jump to another scene.
The use of NLE software made it easier to work with multiple camera angles, audio tracks, and special effects. Over the years, software developers have increased the functionality of NLE software. The latest options, such as Avid Media Composer, come with advanced tools for adjusting the color, editing audio, or adding transitions.
Along with NLE software, professional filmmakers rely on other tools. While video editing software often includes audio tools, Hollywood often uses dedicated digital audio workstations (DAWs), such as Avid Pro Tools or Apple Logic Pro X. For 3D compositing, filmmakers may use Adobe After Effects or The Foundry Nuke.
