The Best Video Editing Software 2013 (Part One): The Beginning

wolfcrow by Sareesh Sudhakaran

It had to come to this. This article compares seven of the biggest names in video editing to find the best video editing software.

We all know this is going to end in a bloodbath. Look around far and wide, and you won’t find a single comprehensive comparison of every major video editing software. So, I decided to put one together myself. This article is the result of months of hands on experience with each and every one of the applications mentioned here. I’m taking no prisoners. There will be one and only one winner.

First, a note on updates till the end of 2013:

I’m expecting major updates in FCP-X (once the new Mac Pro starts shipping), Premiere Pro, Sony Vegas, etc. If and when they become available, and if the new features are worthy of being added here, I’ll make the necessary modifications and update this ‘shootout’. So, check back in December for the ‘final verdict’.

The philosophy and the goal
There are four words in ‘best video editing software’. We all know there is no absolute ‘best’ for anything, let alone software. So, my first task is to give meaning to the other three words.

What is a video editing software?

When I say ‘video editing software’, I specifically mean a non-linear editing application (NLE). What does that mean? Here are some definitions: read more...