Learn to use DaVinci Resolve! Yes, the learning curve requires some work, but it is worth some effort. I still use Cyberlink Power Director for quick edits of non-log footage but resort to Resolve for log 10 bit footage, even from an action camera. Once one becomes familiar with the color correction and grading tools of Resolve, it is hard to skip that step when using less sophisticated NLE's.
March 28, 2023
7
-
-
Agree, another thumbs up for Davinci Resolve.
Both the free and paid version are a lot of bang for the buck. -
Another vote for Resolve - freedom from the evil empire and the power to edit a full length commercial film if you need it!
-
Another vote for Resolve from me.
-
For those who don't know Blackmagic has hours of free training on their website covering all the tabs in Resolve. They include the assets so the learner can follow along. Doesn't go into all possible detail but is a good place to start.
-
I think that the word “learn” is the core stumbling block for me. That's on me. I tried an early version of it and couldn’t find a white balance eye dropper tool anywhere. All of those powerful grading tools were cool but I had no confidence that I could start from a good foundation. I am completely on board with the concept of grading but for me it is only a finishing step. I don't want to use fine sand paper as a substitute for a table saw or planer.
I posed my WB question in a Resolve users group and felt like I had provoked a pack of junkyard dogs. I could not get them them to understand what the function of a gray card is. They only wanted to talk about mired this and mired that, and that the Kelvin scale isn’t linear to perception.
Resolve was clearly a powerful tool for the right kind of wizard, just look at the feature films that it has been used on. But Premiere and (for some tasks) PowerDirector presented tools that I already understood and knew what to look for. PD gets tiresome when wading through the crap features that jazz up videos of birthday parties of 5 year olds so for my most recent projects I used Premiere - I already use PS and LR and can switch Premiere on or off anytime.
I’m sure that I will take another look at Resolve at some point, my ears aren’t deaf to the praise it gets. Thanks for bringing it up!
-
-
When I first got involved with editing my videos I stumbled around in Adobe Premiere Pro for several months. I could make videos, but it wasn't a pleasant process because I spent half my time trying to figure out how to do things. My lack of understanding was a big impediment.
I eventually relented and picked up the Premiere Pro edition of Adobe's "Classroom in a book" series and methodically went through it chapter by chapter, following along on my system by actually using the software with the included sample files. Suddenly the whole editing experience was a lot more enjoyable and I had a lot more creative freedom because I understood most of the things that the software was capable of.
When I first installed Resolve I tinkered with it a bit to just to get a feel for whether it was worth the time to learn it properly - it only took me a week to decide that it was. So I went to the Resolve Training Page, downloaded all of the sample files and then went through all of the training videos one by one. Thanks to doing that I was immediately comfortable and productive despite being a neophyte with the software.
It does require a time investment to get up to speed with Resolve, but IMHO that investment is handsomely rewarded every time you open the program. It's the only way to go as far as I'm concerned.