Best Zero-Cost 4K Video Editing Tools for Beginners

The Ultra HD video, also known as 4K video , defines 3840 2160 pixels. It became popular in 2016 and has overtaken both HD and ultra-HD to become the video with the highest resolution. Most videos are shot in HD, but as camera technology improves, 4K video seems to have become increasingly common. Because of the additional level of detail that the camera acquires, 4K videos are large files that allow you more editing possibilities.

Several free 4K video editing software has been developed to make video editing relatively easy in recent times. These free 4K video editors allow you to import, edit, and export videos easily. This article will provide you with some of the best free 4K video editors you should try in 2022.

In this article

01 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.

iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.

2. Advanced editing features:

What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .

3. Saving all the original files

An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.

Cons:

• Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
• Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.

VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.

Pros:

• Every tool for video editing is available
• Amazing Visual Effects
• Efficient Text Processing
• Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

• Pro editing features are missing
• Available for Windows only
• Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.

This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

• Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
• Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
• Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

• The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

• The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
• Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
• Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

• Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
• You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.

Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

• Clean and Intuitive User Interface
• 4K Video Support
• Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

• Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
• Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

• Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
• Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
• Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.

iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.

2. Advanced editing features:

What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .

3. Saving all the original files

An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.

Cons:

• Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
• Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.

VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.

Pros:

• Every tool for video editing is available
• Amazing Visual Effects
• Efficient Text Processing
• Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

• Pro editing features are missing
• Available for Windows only
• Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.

This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

• Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
• Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
• Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

• The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

• The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
• Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
• Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

• Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
• You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.

Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

• Clean and Intuitive User Interface
• 4K Video Support
• Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

• Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
• Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

• Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
• Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
• Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.

iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.

2. Advanced editing features:

What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .

3. Saving all the original files

An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.

Cons:

• Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
• Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.

VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.

Pros:

• Every tool for video editing is available
• Amazing Visual Effects
• Efficient Text Processing
• Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

• Pro editing features are missing
• Available for Windows only
• Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.

This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

• Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
• Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
• Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

• The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

• The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
• Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
• Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

• Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
• You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.

Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

• Clean and Intuitive User Interface
• 4K Video Support
• Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

• Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
• Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

• Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
• Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
• Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

02 Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

03 Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

Part 1: Top 5 Best Free 4K Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac

1. iMovie

Supported OS: iPhone, iPad, and Mac

iMovie is one of the most popular free 4K Video editing software. Using iMovie, you can create a professional-looking video even without any editing experience. You can import 4K images and 4K videos to iMovie, and then trim, split and add titles, transitions, filters or effects to the video by dragging and dropping. What’s more, you can import and export 60 frames per second video in iMovie.

iMovie is a video editing software that imports video footage from digital video cameras that use the MiniDV format. It can play DV, HDV, AVCHD, iFrame, Animation Codec, and other video formats. You can import 4K videos directly to iMovie and export them as 4K videos at 24fps/30fps/60fps. You can also share the 4K video to YouTube from iMovie directly.

Pros:

1. Switching across different devices:

This free 4K video editor is designed to work together using different devices (iPhone, iPad & Mac). You can begin a project on your iPhone, then transfer it to your iPad using AirDrop or iCloud Drive. It allows you to share what you have worked on to different devices, and you can also send projects from your iPad to your MacBook or iMac.

2. Advanced editing features:

What makes this free 4K video editor special is the ability to add some innovative editing functions when creating and editing your videos. Understandably, any video editor should offer basic editing features; however, iMovie allows you to work with more advanced functions like split-screen , picture-in-picture , and green-screen effects .

3. Saving all the original files

An advantage of working with different devices provides an opportunity to save all original files. It saves you time since you can import any media you need to get your project started in the video editor without losing the original files.

Cons:

• Distorted files: If you don’t follow the importing and exporting process, the files might get distorted, resulting in fuzzy images.
• Only available on iOS/macOS/iPad devices

2. VSDC

Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8/10

VSDC is a free 4K video editor that allows for beginner-level editing. It supports recording voice-over, capturing the desktop screen, editing the video and audio files. With VSDC, you can blend multiple footage layers into a single composition. You can easily apply a picture-in-picture effect and make things change their appearance or position.

VSDC allows you to import 4K video, audio, and image files. To successfully import these files; Click ‘Shift + I’ to add an image, ‘Shift A’ to add an audio file, and ‘Shift V’ to add a video file. VSDC allows you to export 4K videos to PC or share to web platforms like YouTube. To export these files, go to the export project tab at the top, and then set the profile to the highest quality. Click the Edit profile button and then select the 4K preset from the list. Choose the video and audio quality size, and then save the video as 4K.

Pros:

• Every tool for video editing is available
• Amazing Visual Effects
• Efficient Text Processing
• Lots of Blending modes

Cons:

• Pro editing features are missing
• Available for Windows only
• Audio waveform and hardware acceleration features are not available

3. ShotCut

Supported OS: Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Shotcut is another free 4K video editor made for Linux, Macintosh, and Windows gadgets. It has wide arranged support that features its astounding usefulness. This 4K video editing software may not be the most alluring programming you see, yet it can assist with making the process of editing smooth and straightforward.

This professional video editing software support almost all the latest audio and video formats, including ProRes, DNxHD, and 4K, and it allows you to trim, cut, insert, and overwrite the video and audio. With its video effects, you can do color correction and grading, add fade-in and fade-out effects, reverse the clip, and even edit the 360° videos.

Here is a completed video tutorial from YouTuber Kevin Stratvert, which provides almost all information about how to use Shotcut, including how to create a project, add media, edit clips and export.

Pros:

• Easy Access: The 4K video editor is open source. Users can easily alter the source codes, enabling the process of editing simple and clear.
• Shotcut has every one of the required instruments to give excellent outcomes to clients. It has all elements of good video editing software and a bunch of other supportive and current choices.
• Shotcut offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to finish a project quickly while having it examined by multiple members of your team. Its preview panel gives users access to a quick start menu, and its view menu lets them decide which features appear on the screen. The software’s video and audio filters are the most amazing of all its features. These filters can be customized, and they can be combined and layered in a variety of ways. Adjusting is now easier thanks to the easy checkbox and slider systems. Shotcut is so good that it makes even the most complicated effects understandable to the average user.

Cons:

• The platform might be a bit confusing when using the software for the first time because the interface isn’t intuitive.

4. LightWorks

Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Lightworks is another video editor that can edit 4K videos from EditShare for people who have video editing experience. It has a simple and intuitive user interface, and you will find LOG, EDIT, VFX, and AUDIO tabs at the top of the interface. It integrates some paid royalty-free audio files, so you don’t need to find the background music from somewhere else. This software has some advanced editing features such as Multicam editing and batch export. It even supports third-party plugins, such as Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, and GenArts Sapphire. It enables its users to freely edit videos, even to the extent of trimming a video down to the size you desire.

However, if you want to export the videos in 4K, you need to pay, since it is limited to Lightworks Pro users.

Pros:

• The software allows clips to be easily imported and provides a platform where these clips can be played. This is made possible because this 4K video editor provides an interface made of panels such as bins, timeline, and edit review.
• Lightworks provides an easy way of applying varieties of effects from different clips in a coordinated manner. The software utilizes the hub-based framework to put together clips and recordings, which is needed for clips with numerous effects and tracks.
• Navigating this software, a right-click menu allows the user to export videos directly to YouTube. Also, the software automatically saves your work, so you don’t lose the files you’ve worked on.

Cons:

• Poor quality exporting options when making use of the free version (720p only)
• You need to register first to use it

5. Filmora Instant Cutter Tool

Supporting OS: Windows and Mac

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Filmora is one of the best video editors for beginners to create professional-looking videos in a modern way. One of the biggest advantages of using Filmora is its resources. You can now search the resources in the search bar and drag and drop them to the timeline to preview the result without paying first.

Some of you may say, Filmora is not a free video editor since there will be a watermark at the export video. But here, I will introduce the Instant Cutter Tool which is a perfect tool to trim and merge large 4K videos and action camera videos. This free 4k tool provides a proper way of instantly trimming or merging videos without de-coding, which means the video resolution will not be changed. Using the instant cutter tool, you can upload or merge files of huge sizes in different formats, such as MP4/MOV or MTS/M2TS.

Note: You can try some legal ways to remove the Filmora watermark without paying .

Pros:

• Clean and Intuitive User Interface
• 4K Video Support
• Trim and merge large videos quickly

Cons:

• Limited video formats supported when using Instant Cutter Tool

Part 2: Things You Need to Pay Attention to Run Free 4K Video Editors

While the general features of the best free 4K video editors have been discussed, it’s important you are aware of some specific requirements your system must possess to edit your videos successfully. Irrespective of the kind of device you’re using to edit your videos, you need to pay attention to some features your device must have. However, these requirements depend on the 4K video editing software free.

• Central Processing Unit (CPU): The Processor of the software being used must be Intel Core i7, 2.3Ghz four-core; this is applicable if you will be editing your videos offline. Then, Dual Intel Xeon 2Ghz six-core is applicable if you will be editing your videos online.
• Random Access Memory (RAM): Preferably an 8GB Memory if you’re editing offline, and 32GB Memory if you’re editing online.
• Internal storage: The required storage must be sufficient because 4K videos are huge files.

Note: Offline editing refers to editing a proxy file of the original source material ; online editing is the editing of the original material.

Part 3: Tips for Editing 4K Videos Smoothly

• Choose the software based on your hardware: To choose the best 4K video editing software free, you must not opt for an editing software with higher requirements than your hardware; such software won’t work well on your device. You should instead select an editing software with lower requirements.
• Split large 4K videos into several parts: It has been reiterated that 4K videos are huge files; to edit your videos smoothly, it is recommended to split up the videos and edit one after the other. This will save you from heavy data loss.
• Enable graphics accelerator: A graphic accelerator is used in video editing to turbocharge your video exporting. It’s usually clung to a video board of your system. It makes the editing easier and faster by preventing a heavy workload.

Best 3D Video Makers [Free and Paid]

Best Video Editor for Beginners on Windows and Mac

Wondershare Filmora is one of the most popular video editing software among YouTubers , download and have a try.

Try It Free Try It Free

3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.

In this article

01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

02 FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

1. Blender

Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.

Key Features

• Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
• The edited videos are always of high quality.
• Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.

2. Xara 3D Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.

Key Features

• Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
• You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
• You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.

3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.

Key Features

• Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
• The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
• The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.

4. Maxon

Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.

Key Features

• It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
• It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
• The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.

5. Adobe Character Animator

Supported Systems: Windows and macOS

If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.

Key Features

• Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
• You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
• You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.

6. Autodesk MotionBuilder

Supported Systems: Windows and Linux

Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.

Key Features

• It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
• The tools let you do motion capture editing.
• For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.

7. Jahshaka Studio

Supported Systems: Linux and Windows

Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.

Key Features

• Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
• You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
• You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.

8. Tipard video converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.

Key Features

• Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
• The software comes along with robust editing features.
• You can convert the animated video to different video formats.

9. Vidmore Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.

Key Features

• Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
• The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
• Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.

10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).

Keyfeatures:

• EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
• Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.

So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.

Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?

All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.

2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?

It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.

Try It Free Try It Free

3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.

In this article

01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

02 FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

1. Blender

Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.

Key Features

• Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
• The edited videos are always of high quality.
• Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.

2. Xara 3D Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.

Key Features

• Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
• You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
• You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.

3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.

Key Features

• Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
• The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
• The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.

4. Maxon

Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.

Key Features

• It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
• It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
• The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.

5. Adobe Character Animator

Supported Systems: Windows and macOS

If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.

Key Features

• Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
• You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
• You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.

6. Autodesk MotionBuilder

Supported Systems: Windows and Linux

Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.

Key Features

• It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
• The tools let you do motion capture editing.
• For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.

7. Jahshaka Studio

Supported Systems: Linux and Windows

Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.

Key Features

• Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
• You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
• You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.

8. Tipard video converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.

Key Features

• Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
• The software comes along with robust editing features.
• You can convert the animated video to different video formats.

9. Vidmore Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.

Key Features

• Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
• The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
• Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.

10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).

Keyfeatures:

• EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
• Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.

So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.

Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?

All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.

2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?

It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.

Try It Free Try It Free

3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.

In this article

01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

02 FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

1. Blender

Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.

Key Features

• Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
• The edited videos are always of high quality.
• Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.

2. Xara 3D Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.

Key Features

• Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
• You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
• You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.

3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.

Key Features

• Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
• The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
• The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.

4. Maxon

Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.

Key Features

• It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
• It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
• The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.

5. Adobe Character Animator

Supported Systems: Windows and macOS

If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.

Key Features

• Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
• You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
• You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.

6. Autodesk MotionBuilder

Supported Systems: Windows and Linux

Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.

Key Features

• It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
• The tools let you do motion capture editing.
• For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.

7. Jahshaka Studio

Supported Systems: Linux and Windows

Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.

Key Features

• Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
• You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
• You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.

8. Tipard video converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.

Key Features

• Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
• The software comes along with robust editing features.
• You can convert the animated video to different video formats.

9. Vidmore Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.

Key Features

• Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
• The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
• Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.

10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).

Keyfeatures:

• EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
• Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.

So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.

Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?

All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.

2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?

It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.

Try It Free Try It Free

3D videos are in trend these days. If you want to give a three-dimensional effect to your videos, it’s time to look for the best 3D video makers. It’s not just the film industry that uses 3D video editors, but you will see companies, brands, and video makers creating 3D videos as well to showcase their products, services, and more. So, to join this bandwagon, you will first have to find the best 3d video makers, and if that’s what you are looking for, you are in for a treat because this post will introduce you to the top 10 3D video editors. Keep reading to know what these apps are.

In this article

01 Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

02 FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

Part 1: Best 3D Video Makers You Should Know [Free and Paid]

1. Blender

Supported System: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Blender is a leading 3D video editor and is preferred by many. This is an open-source 3D video editor and is free to use. This award-winning 3D animation tool is extremely popular within the animation creation communities. It works seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux. If you have any queries about how it works or want some advice on what else you can do, Blender has a massive community that is always willing to help you out. You can adjust the layouts, colors, font size, and more. It’s a professional tool and is not recommended for novice 3D video makers.

Key Features

• Blender is an open-source video editing tool with tons of features.
• The edited videos are always of high quality.
• Keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more.

2. Xara 3D Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Unlike the traditional 3D video editors, Xara 3D Maker makes things easy for you. It lets you create high-quality 3D graphics and tests. Whether you want to create a 3D video for a web page, movie, presentation, etc., with Xara 3D Maker, you will have no difficulty. You can do extrude, real-time positioning, pick an animation type, and more. The interface is easy to understand and comes with all the functionalities needed to create a 3D video. A free trial is available.

Key Features

• Xara 3D Maker provides you with more than 700 templates.
• You can choose a few objects to make it animated or the complete video.
• You can move the 3D objects as per your requirements.

3. Aurora 3D Animation Maker

Supported Systems: Mac OS and Windows

Aurora 3D Animation Maker is not a free 3D video maker and is fully equipped with multiple features that will let you create fantastic 3D videos without investing a lot of time. Whether you are a novice or a professional video maker, you will not face any difficulty in using Aurora 3D Animation Maker. The 3D graphics mode feature is fantastic because it lets you change the animation mode swiftly, meaning you can switch from 3D to 2D and vice versa. However, you will have to buy a license to use Aurora 3D Animation Maker. One license will cost you $69.95.

Key Features

• Keyframe animation lets you control different aspects of animation efficiently.
• The tool is equipped with multiple animation templates.
• The 3D graphic mode allows you to change from 3D to 2D.

4. Maxon

Supported Systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux

Maxon is a fantastic 3D video editor that allows users to quickly create a stunning 3D video. This powerful tool is easy to use, and the interface is petty intuitive. This is a Microsoft 3D movie maker, and you need to pay $149.00 per month if billed monthly, but if you choose the annual plan, you will pay $99.91 per month. Maxon is an ideal 3D movie maker for both professionals and novices. Some of the features you will get with Maxon are 3D animation, motion design, VFX, GPU rendering.

Key Features

• It works fast and is a powerful 3D video editing and making tool.
• It is equipped with GPU-accelerated rendering permits.
• The global illumination feature lets you create more realistic and accurate visuals.

5. Adobe Character Animator

Supported Systems: Windows and macOS

If you want to create animated characters based on someone’s facial expressions and faces, Adobe Character Animator will be an ideal choice for you. Adobe Character Animator is designed to help users create professional 3D videos. You can use the webcam to use your face and facial expressions on the animated character. Not just this, you can even add voice lines to the animated videos, and that too in real-time. Adobe Character Animator will cost you $54.41/month.

Key Features

• Adobe Character Animator lets you do full-body animation efficiently.
• You can add audio to your 3D animation videos.
• You can start a project by using a predesigned character as well.

6. Autodesk MotionBuilder

Supported Systems: Windows and Linux

Autodesk MotionBuilder is an intelligent and professional 3D video editor and maker that allows you to work on skeletal and facial animation. So, whether you want to create animated animals or characters, Autodesk MotionBuilder will let you do it all. The best part about MotionBuilder is that it allows you to create movements and actions in real-time. The only drawback of MotionBuilder is its price. It costs $1950 per year. So, if you don’t have a budget issue and want to invest in a high-quality 3D video maker, go for it.

Key Features

• It is equipped with a real-time 3D engine to create realistic character movements.
• The tools let you do motion capture editing.
• For easy access to data transfer, the files get saved in FBX format.

7. Jahshaka Studio

Supported Systems: Linux and Windows

Jahshaka comes with multiple royalty-free assets and scenes. In addition, this open-source 3D video maker allows you to do 3D animation in real-time. This open-source software works seamlessly on Windows and Linux. You can download Jahshaka today and start making creative 3D films, animations, and VRs. This is an immersive 3D content creation tool with multiple features.

Key Features

• Jahshaka comes equipped with playback and preview buttons.
• You can use it to create different characters and avatars.
• You will find multiple 3D content creation materials and effects.

8. Tipard video converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Whether you have 3D animation editing knowledge or not, Tipard video converter will make things easy for you. This 3D animation editor is available for both Windows and Mac users, and for Mac, you get a 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s essentially a video converter but comes with multiple video editing features, one of them being the 3D animation feature. The animated video that you will create can be converted to various formats. Once you download the software, you just need to select the 3D Master tool and get started. One month’s license for Tipard video converter will cost you $28.00.

Key Features

• Tipard video converter allows you to create fantastic 3D animation videos.
• The software comes along with robust editing features.
• You can convert the animated video to different video formats.

9. Vidmore Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

Vidmore Video Converter is available for $19.95 per month for one PC. It comes along with a multicore processor and can easily create 3D films. This is a lightweight video editing tool with standard features, such as effects, crop, rotate, trim, and much more. You can edit your favorite 3D video on the go and quickly save it in different video formats, such as MOV, MKV, MP4, etc.

Key Features

• Vidmore Video Converter allows you to edit videos quickly and even compress them to a smaller size.
• The edited file won’t lose its original video quality.
• Vidmore Video Converter is equipped with robust video editing tools.

10. EaseFab 3D Video Converter

Supported Systems: macOS and Windows

EaseFab 3D video converter allows you to make 3D video from 2D video easily. All you need to do is upload the source 2D video, and then choose the 3D output format to start the conversion. This video converter can convert almost all popular formats to 5 types of 3D videos, including Anaglyph(Red/Cyan), Side by Side, Side by Side (half-width), Top and Bottom, and Top and Bottom (half-height).

Keyfeatures:

• EaseFab allows you to convert standard 2D video to 3D video, or convert 3D video to 2D;
• Supports multimedia players on iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, etc.

So, these are the ten best 3D video makers that you can try. All of them come with unique features, and each one of them allows you to work on 3D videos without any hassle.

Part 2: FAQs About 3D Movie Makers

1. Which 3D Movie Maker software is the easiest to use?

All the video editing tools you can see here are easy to use. However, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Blender are better for people who are experienced. Beginners can try Vidmore Video Converter and Tipard video converter.

2. Should I use 3D Movie Maker freeware or paid ones?

It depends on your requirements. Both paid and freeware video editing tools will allow you to edit your 3D animation videos, but if you have additional requirements and looking for an advanced video editing tool, paid ones will be better suitable. Consider the video requirements you have, and accordingly choose a paid or freeware 3D video editor.

Mastering Audio Transitions in FCPX: L-Cuts and J-Cuts Explained

Final Cut Pro X Tutorial: L-Cuts and J-Cuts

Benjamin Arango

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

If you wish to edit or create videos like a pro, you do not need to be a professional. Instead, be creative, learn new things, and think out of the box. You could draw inspiration from videos and films for their great clips and animations. If you are already familiar with video making, you would know basic editing tasks like trim, crop, transitions, filters, and so on. Ever knew the term J-Cuts, and L-Cuts?

It could be surprising, but yes, your well-known Final Cut Pro X has this powerful feature still overlooked by many people. So, today, we take it on hand and shall share what L-Cuts and J-Cuts mean. You will be able to create it on your own by the end of this article.

Part 1: The Use of L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Video Editing

Ordinary images, text, subtitles, and GIF doesn’t work anymore to get followers or likes on a video on YouTube channel or Instagram. Thus, video creators are tired of trying the same filters, transitions on the video editor tool. To create amazing videos like the ones played on your television and favorite movies, all you need is the split edit type techniques, a powerful editing tool used by professional editors. Although called professional, it isn’t difficult for a beginner if you know J-Cuts and L-Cuts.

They are nothing but the transition between the video and audio at different times and are entirely separate from wipes and fades. Such video editing technique helps in maintaining visual continuity. These super basic cuts are a combination of dialogue and imagery, thus keeping the video flow without a monotonous feeling.

When you look at the above interface, you will see the basic phenomenon behind the two split cuts. In L-Cuts, although the first video ends, the audio continues to clip two as well.

Then, what is a J cut in Final Cut Pro? It is ultimately reverse or opposite of L-Cuts. Yes, the second clip’s audio starts a while before the scene of the first video ends.

Part 2: Step-by-step Guide on Using L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro X

As Final Cut Pro X comes overloaded with advanced, powerful tools, you can find it a little tricky. Hence, we are here to help you perform the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts in this session. And, yes, the Final Cut Pro J-Cuts as well.

Step 1: Import media files

Once you launch Final Cut Pro X on your Mac device, create a new project by tapping project under the new section of the “File” menu.

You can now import the video file to the workspace by executing “File > Export > Media” or by tapping the “Import Media” option on the welcome screen.

Step 2: Expand audio in video

Now, drag the videos to the timeline in the respective order, and expand or detach the video’s audio on the timeline for easy or precise working.

Step 3: Drag the second video to the left

To create the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts, make sure that the first clip’s edit point or audio fades out at the end.

Finally, drag the second clip’s edit point to the left so that the video gets the audio of the first video.

L-Cuts are now in Final Cut Pro X.

Note: Here, the L-Cuts added video clip has no audio and has related well enough to the first video clip. If the second video has audio, it must be detached first, and then you should drag the edit point.

Step 4: Final Cut Pro J-Cuts

In the case of Final Cut Pro J-Cuts, the process is reverse, where you need to detach the audio of the preceding or following video clip and drag the first video to the right.

When you look at the transition closely, you can see that it resembles the letter J.

Part 3: Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Shortcuts for L-Cuts and J-Cuts

Final Cut Pro X offers specific keyword shorts to perform Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and Final Cut Pro J-Cuts.

1. As the first step, trim the clips shorter to get the media handles. To detach audio from the video clip, you need to press “Ctrl + S” which will expand the audio.

2. Now, move or place the playhead at the endpoint of both the video clips where here are the keyboard shortcuts:

• To shift the playhead to the earlier edit point: press “Semicolon (;) or up arrow key”.
• To move the playhead to the next edit point: press “Apostrophe (‘) or down arrow key”.

3. To choose the audio or the video edit point, you can do one of the following:

• Press “**Shift-Backslash (\)**” to select both sides of the audio endpoint.
• Press “**Backslash (\)**” to pick both sides of the video endpoint.

4. Here is the actual process or the keyboard shortcut that helps accomplish final cut pro-L-cuts or final cut pro-J-cuts by nudging the edit points.

• To nudge or push the edit point to the left or right: press “**Comma (,) or period (.)**”.
• To move the edit point to the left or right with ten frames: press “**Shift-Comma (,) or Sift-Period (.)**”.
• Using timecode to add or subtract the present edit: press the “**Plus (+)” or “Minus (-)**” key with the timecode duration.

Conclusion

Are you wondering and puzzled that you are a popular Final Cut Pro X user but weren’t aware of this powerful split edit tool till now? It isn’t too late for you to start yet. Finally, as assured at the beginning of the article, we gave you detailed information on what are J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro along with L-Cuts. With practical implementation on creating Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and J-Cuts, all the best for your first video project!

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

If you wish to edit or create videos like a pro, you do not need to be a professional. Instead, be creative, learn new things, and think out of the box. You could draw inspiration from videos and films for their great clips and animations. If you are already familiar with video making, you would know basic editing tasks like trim, crop, transitions, filters, and so on. Ever knew the term J-Cuts, and L-Cuts?

It could be surprising, but yes, your well-known Final Cut Pro X has this powerful feature still overlooked by many people. So, today, we take it on hand and shall share what L-Cuts and J-Cuts mean. You will be able to create it on your own by the end of this article.

Part 1: The Use of L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Video Editing

Ordinary images, text, subtitles, and GIF doesn’t work anymore to get followers or likes on a video on YouTube channel or Instagram. Thus, video creators are tired of trying the same filters, transitions on the video editor tool. To create amazing videos like the ones played on your television and favorite movies, all you need is the split edit type techniques, a powerful editing tool used by professional editors. Although called professional, it isn’t difficult for a beginner if you know J-Cuts and L-Cuts.

They are nothing but the transition between the video and audio at different times and are entirely separate from wipes and fades. Such video editing technique helps in maintaining visual continuity. These super basic cuts are a combination of dialogue and imagery, thus keeping the video flow without a monotonous feeling.

When you look at the above interface, you will see the basic phenomenon behind the two split cuts. In L-Cuts, although the first video ends, the audio continues to clip two as well.

Then, what is a J cut in Final Cut Pro? It is ultimately reverse or opposite of L-Cuts. Yes, the second clip’s audio starts a while before the scene of the first video ends.

Part 2: Step-by-step Guide on Using L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro X

As Final Cut Pro X comes overloaded with advanced, powerful tools, you can find it a little tricky. Hence, we are here to help you perform the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts in this session. And, yes, the Final Cut Pro J-Cuts as well.

Step 1: Import media files

Once you launch Final Cut Pro X on your Mac device, create a new project by tapping project under the new section of the “File” menu.

You can now import the video file to the workspace by executing “File > Export > Media” or by tapping the “Import Media” option on the welcome screen.

Step 2: Expand audio in video

Now, drag the videos to the timeline in the respective order, and expand or detach the video’s audio on the timeline for easy or precise working.

Step 3: Drag the second video to the left

To create the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts, make sure that the first clip’s edit point or audio fades out at the end.

Finally, drag the second clip’s edit point to the left so that the video gets the audio of the first video.

L-Cuts are now in Final Cut Pro X.

Note: Here, the L-Cuts added video clip has no audio and has related well enough to the first video clip. If the second video has audio, it must be detached first, and then you should drag the edit point.

Step 4: Final Cut Pro J-Cuts

In the case of Final Cut Pro J-Cuts, the process is reverse, where you need to detach the audio of the preceding or following video clip and drag the first video to the right.

When you look at the transition closely, you can see that it resembles the letter J.

Part 3: Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Shortcuts for L-Cuts and J-Cuts

Final Cut Pro X offers specific keyword shorts to perform Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and Final Cut Pro J-Cuts.

1. As the first step, trim the clips shorter to get the media handles. To detach audio from the video clip, you need to press “Ctrl + S” which will expand the audio.

2. Now, move or place the playhead at the endpoint of both the video clips where here are the keyboard shortcuts:

• To shift the playhead to the earlier edit point: press “Semicolon (;) or up arrow key”.
• To move the playhead to the next edit point: press “Apostrophe (‘) or down arrow key”.

3. To choose the audio or the video edit point, you can do one of the following:

• Press “**Shift-Backslash (\)**” to select both sides of the audio endpoint.
• Press “**Backslash (\)**” to pick both sides of the video endpoint.

4. Here is the actual process or the keyboard shortcut that helps accomplish final cut pro-L-cuts or final cut pro-J-cuts by nudging the edit points.

• To nudge or push the edit point to the left or right: press “**Comma (,) or period (.)**”.
• To move the edit point to the left or right with ten frames: press “**Shift-Comma (,) or Sift-Period (.)**”.
• Using timecode to add or subtract the present edit: press the “**Plus (+)” or “Minus (-)**” key with the timecode duration.

Conclusion

Are you wondering and puzzled that you are a popular Final Cut Pro X user but weren’t aware of this powerful split edit tool till now? It isn’t too late for you to start yet. Finally, as assured at the beginning of the article, we gave you detailed information on what are J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro along with L-Cuts. With practical implementation on creating Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and J-Cuts, all the best for your first video project!

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

If you wish to edit or create videos like a pro, you do not need to be a professional. Instead, be creative, learn new things, and think out of the box. You could draw inspiration from videos and films for their great clips and animations. If you are already familiar with video making, you would know basic editing tasks like trim, crop, transitions, filters, and so on. Ever knew the term J-Cuts, and L-Cuts?

It could be surprising, but yes, your well-known Final Cut Pro X has this powerful feature still overlooked by many people. So, today, we take it on hand and shall share what L-Cuts and J-Cuts mean. You will be able to create it on your own by the end of this article.

Part 1: The Use of L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Video Editing

Ordinary images, text, subtitles, and GIF doesn’t work anymore to get followers or likes on a video on YouTube channel or Instagram. Thus, video creators are tired of trying the same filters, transitions on the video editor tool. To create amazing videos like the ones played on your television and favorite movies, all you need is the split edit type techniques, a powerful editing tool used by professional editors. Although called professional, it isn’t difficult for a beginner if you know J-Cuts and L-Cuts.

They are nothing but the transition between the video and audio at different times and are entirely separate from wipes and fades. Such video editing technique helps in maintaining visual continuity. These super basic cuts are a combination of dialogue and imagery, thus keeping the video flow without a monotonous feeling.

When you look at the above interface, you will see the basic phenomenon behind the two split cuts. In L-Cuts, although the first video ends, the audio continues to clip two as well.

Then, what is a J cut in Final Cut Pro? It is ultimately reverse or opposite of L-Cuts. Yes, the second clip’s audio starts a while before the scene of the first video ends.

Part 2: Step-by-step Guide on Using L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro X

As Final Cut Pro X comes overloaded with advanced, powerful tools, you can find it a little tricky. Hence, we are here to help you perform the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts in this session. And, yes, the Final Cut Pro J-Cuts as well.

Step 1: Import media files

Once you launch Final Cut Pro X on your Mac device, create a new project by tapping project under the new section of the “File” menu.

You can now import the video file to the workspace by executing “File > Export > Media” or by tapping the “Import Media” option on the welcome screen.

Step 2: Expand audio in video

Now, drag the videos to the timeline in the respective order, and expand or detach the video’s audio on the timeline for easy or precise working.

Step 3: Drag the second video to the left

To create the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts, make sure that the first clip’s edit point or audio fades out at the end.

Finally, drag the second clip’s edit point to the left so that the video gets the audio of the first video.

L-Cuts are now in Final Cut Pro X.

Note: Here, the L-Cuts added video clip has no audio and has related well enough to the first video clip. If the second video has audio, it must be detached first, and then you should drag the edit point.

Step 4: Final Cut Pro J-Cuts

In the case of Final Cut Pro J-Cuts, the process is reverse, where you need to detach the audio of the preceding or following video clip and drag the first video to the right.

When you look at the transition closely, you can see that it resembles the letter J.

Part 3: Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Shortcuts for L-Cuts and J-Cuts

Final Cut Pro X offers specific keyword shorts to perform Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and Final Cut Pro J-Cuts.

1. As the first step, trim the clips shorter to get the media handles. To detach audio from the video clip, you need to press “Ctrl + S” which will expand the audio.

2. Now, move or place the playhead at the endpoint of both the video clips where here are the keyboard shortcuts:

• To shift the playhead to the earlier edit point: press “Semicolon (;) or up arrow key”.
• To move the playhead to the next edit point: press “Apostrophe (‘) or down arrow key”.

3. To choose the audio or the video edit point, you can do one of the following:

• Press “**Shift-Backslash (\)**” to select both sides of the audio endpoint.
• Press “**Backslash (\)**” to pick both sides of the video endpoint.

4. Here is the actual process or the keyboard shortcut that helps accomplish final cut pro-L-cuts or final cut pro-J-cuts by nudging the edit points.

• To nudge or push the edit point to the left or right: press “**Comma (,) or period (.)**”.
• To move the edit point to the left or right with ten frames: press “**Shift-Comma (,) or Sift-Period (.)**”.
• Using timecode to add or subtract the present edit: press the “**Plus (+)” or “Minus (-)**” key with the timecode duration.

Conclusion

Are you wondering and puzzled that you are a popular Final Cut Pro X user but weren’t aware of this powerful split edit tool till now? It isn’t too late for you to start yet. Finally, as assured at the beginning of the article, we gave you detailed information on what are J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro along with L-Cuts. With practical implementation on creating Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and J-Cuts, all the best for your first video project!

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

If you wish to edit or create videos like a pro, you do not need to be a professional. Instead, be creative, learn new things, and think out of the box. You could draw inspiration from videos and films for their great clips and animations. If you are already familiar with video making, you would know basic editing tasks like trim, crop, transitions, filters, and so on. Ever knew the term J-Cuts, and L-Cuts?

It could be surprising, but yes, your well-known Final Cut Pro X has this powerful feature still overlooked by many people. So, today, we take it on hand and shall share what L-Cuts and J-Cuts mean. You will be able to create it on your own by the end of this article.

Part 1: The Use of L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Video Editing

Ordinary images, text, subtitles, and GIF doesn’t work anymore to get followers or likes on a video on YouTube channel or Instagram. Thus, video creators are tired of trying the same filters, transitions on the video editor tool. To create amazing videos like the ones played on your television and favorite movies, all you need is the split edit type techniques, a powerful editing tool used by professional editors. Although called professional, it isn’t difficult for a beginner if you know J-Cuts and L-Cuts.

They are nothing but the transition between the video and audio at different times and are entirely separate from wipes and fades. Such video editing technique helps in maintaining visual continuity. These super basic cuts are a combination of dialogue and imagery, thus keeping the video flow without a monotonous feeling.

When you look at the above interface, you will see the basic phenomenon behind the two split cuts. In L-Cuts, although the first video ends, the audio continues to clip two as well.

Then, what is a J cut in Final Cut Pro? It is ultimately reverse or opposite of L-Cuts. Yes, the second clip’s audio starts a while before the scene of the first video ends.

Part 2: Step-by-step Guide on Using L-Cuts and J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro X

As Final Cut Pro X comes overloaded with advanced, powerful tools, you can find it a little tricky. Hence, we are here to help you perform the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts in this session. And, yes, the Final Cut Pro J-Cuts as well.

Step 1: Import media files

Once you launch Final Cut Pro X on your Mac device, create a new project by tapping project under the new section of the “File” menu.

You can now import the video file to the workspace by executing “File > Export > Media” or by tapping the “Import Media” option on the welcome screen.

Step 2: Expand audio in video

Now, drag the videos to the timeline in the respective order, and expand or detach the video’s audio on the timeline for easy or precise working.

Step 3: Drag the second video to the left

To create the Final Cut Pro L-Cuts, make sure that the first clip’s edit point or audio fades out at the end.

Finally, drag the second clip’s edit point to the left so that the video gets the audio of the first video.

L-Cuts are now in Final Cut Pro X.

Note: Here, the L-Cuts added video clip has no audio and has related well enough to the first video clip. If the second video has audio, it must be detached first, and then you should drag the edit point.

Step 4: Final Cut Pro J-Cuts

In the case of Final Cut Pro J-Cuts, the process is reverse, where you need to detach the audio of the preceding or following video clip and drag the first video to the right.

When you look at the transition closely, you can see that it resembles the letter J.

Part 3: Final Cut Pro X Keyboard Shortcuts for L-Cuts and J-Cuts

Final Cut Pro X offers specific keyword shorts to perform Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and Final Cut Pro J-Cuts.

1. As the first step, trim the clips shorter to get the media handles. To detach audio from the video clip, you need to press “Ctrl + S” which will expand the audio.

2. Now, move or place the playhead at the endpoint of both the video clips where here are the keyboard shortcuts:

• To shift the playhead to the earlier edit point: press “Semicolon (;) or up arrow key”.
• To move the playhead to the next edit point: press “Apostrophe (‘) or down arrow key”.

3. To choose the audio or the video edit point, you can do one of the following:

• Press “**Shift-Backslash (\)**” to select both sides of the audio endpoint.
• Press “**Backslash (\)**” to pick both sides of the video endpoint.

4. Here is the actual process or the keyboard shortcut that helps accomplish final cut pro-L-cuts or final cut pro-J-cuts by nudging the edit points.

• To nudge or push the edit point to the left or right: press “**Comma (,) or period (.)**”.
• To move the edit point to the left or right with ten frames: press “**Shift-Comma (,) or Sift-Period (.)**”.
• Using timecode to add or subtract the present edit: press the “**Plus (+)” or “Minus (-)**” key with the timecode duration.

Conclusion

Are you wondering and puzzled that you are a popular Final Cut Pro X user but weren’t aware of this powerful split edit tool till now? It isn’t too late for you to start yet. Finally, as assured at the beginning of the article, we gave you detailed information on what are J-Cuts in Final Cut Pro along with L-Cuts. With practical implementation on creating Final Cut Pro L-Cuts and J-Cuts, all the best for your first video project!

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Don’t Miss These: The Most Impressive 4K Videos

Top 10 4K Video Samples

Max Wales

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

So, you have that 4K TV, now what? It’s only as good as the video that it displays, so as we wait for the world to catch up with 4K content, what is out there now to give you a taste of what the future holds for Ultra HD resolution content.

---

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Free Your Video/Music-Transfer and Download 4K Video/Music, Record, Manager, Burn Music.

• Download 4K video/music from YouTube/another video/music site.
• Transfer 4K Video/music between any devices.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Use iTunes with Android.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Record any song or playlist you find on the web.
• Fix music tags, covers and delete duplicates.
• Manage music without iTunes restrictions.
• Perfectly backup/restore iTunes library.
• Create your personal custom mixtape CD easily!
• Professional music player/music sharing tool.

Click Here to Download>>>

---

1. Ocean Footage underwater sample

This one is first on my choice of 4K video sample for a couple of reasons, firstly I love the subject matter, and secondly from a technical perspective it is one of the best samples out there.

Filmed using a Red One camera, it displays the vibrancy and detail that we associate with 4K resolution at its best, the color depth of the fish and coral is astounding, and when the shot moves to a passing whale the sense of scale the resolution gives really shows what 4K is capable of, and why it is a step up from anything we have seen before.

2. Trailer for the movie ‘Elysium’

Very little movie production footage is easily available out there in 4K, but this is one of the exceptions. The full theatrical trailer for the movie in glorious Ultra HD, Why does this make the list? Well I think if you are wanting to see the benefits of 4K, then samples like the Ocean Footage one mentioned above really show off the technical prowess, but it is actual movies that most people will be wanting to use 4K kit for, and this gives you a very good indication of how much of an increase in clarity, detail and vibrancy can be gained by switching to 4K. The standard HD version of this trailer is readily available too, so this is something you could make a direct comparison with. The nature of the film, a sci-fi action film, also lends itself to 4K with lots of beautifully rendered CGI scenes in the trailer to look at.

3. Timescapes

This is the trailer for an interesting project, filmed entirely in 4K and the work of one man, it is purported to be the first 4K film made available for sale. The film itself, and this trailer, is a simple concept, slow-motion and time lapse cinematography of the South West of America, taken as the director, Tom Lowe, travels around in his pickup truck. The concept itself makes for an interesting effect, but this sample is here because of the content. Watching the big expanses of nature flow by in 4K is simply mind blowing, here you really see the almost 3D effect so much resolution and detail bring to the medium, it isn’t like watching a video, it really is like looking out of a window at real life.

4. Boat Scenes

There are actually several test videos on this subject, all of them do a good job of displaying 4K but for me it is the this one that focuses on passing boats against an expansive backdrop that is the one to look at. Again it shows the effect of 4K resolution when displaying the wider world around us, this time a harbor vista as the boat passes through it, detail can be seen in the water, the passengers on the boat and the backdrop, and the sense of realism and scale, which for me are the things that set 4K apart, are readily apparent here.

5. Tears of Steel trailer

Another rare 4K movie trailer, this one again shows lots of very high quality CGI that really show off the capabilities of 4K at their best. Some great use of the depth of field that 4K emphasizes in a lot of the shots and overall provides a great insight into 4K and what you can expect from it. An interesting video that also manages to tell a little story as well as being a showcase.

6. Sintel

Sintel is an animated short created in the blender animation program, here in 4K it represents a fantastic look into what 4K can offer all forms of media, the opening scene, with the snow blowing in the wind, for instance, enables you to see incredible detail that just isn’t visible within the standard HD version. Seeing individual flies as the character searches through the wreckage of a town is another high point in terms of technical prowess.

Another feature of Sintel is its soft focus look that accentuates the high resolution, and makes this video stand out from others in the list. The small dragon is well animated and the main characters features, particularly the hair, are incredibly well realized. A great way to showcase your 4K equipment.

7. Stock Footage Sample

This one is an amalgam of short clips from commercial stock footage that is used a sample of the product. That doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic 4K clip however, with footage chosen specifically to show off the benefits of 4K at its very best (it is a promotional package after all) there is something here for everyone. From the glorious colors of a sunrise to the explosions and the amazing time lapse, with, again, fantastic and vibrant colors, a real showcase for 4K in the true sense of the word.

8. Honey Bees

Back to nature for this one, and the eponymous Honey Bee. Showing not only the color rendition and detail of the surroundings, it also captures the Bees themselves in incredible fidelity, the wing detail, especially on the close-ups, is just way beyond anything we have seen from moving images before, high resolution stills? Certainly, but not video. Another great advert for 4K footage and a lovely film as well.

9. Skyfall Trailer

Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the films, but as a way to see what very fast action looks like in 4K this is a great one. Unlike the other movie trailers, this one isn’t full of CGI, so it shows a different aspect of 4K movies here, the real-life stunts performed by traditional stunt professionals is what this one is all about. And it doesn’t let us down, crashes, explosions and car chases, everything that Bond is about. Except in 4K. Great.

10. Fireworks

This one is just a lot of fun. Fireworks, in 4K. Color rendition, detail, it has it all. It opens with a magnificent view across the city showing the lights at dusk and beyond, and then into the stunning firework display, it really is quite spectacular and a great look at 4K footage.

That’s our top 10, not all the best technically, but each offers something a little different to give a taste of what 4K is all about, and exactly what your 4K screen is capable of.

There are multiple 4K video converters with powerful functions. However, if video converting is new to you, consider Wondershare UniConverter , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Max Wales

Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Max Wales

Max Wales

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

So, you have that 4K TV, now what? It’s only as good as the video that it displays, so as we wait for the world to catch up with 4K content, what is out there now to give you a taste of what the future holds for Ultra HD resolution content.

---

Recommend Product

Free Your Video/Music-Transfer and Download 4K Video/Music, Record, Manager, Burn Music.

• Download 4K video/music from YouTube/another video/music site.
• Transfer 4K Video/music between any devices.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Use iTunes with Android.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Record any song or playlist you find on the web.
• Fix music tags, covers and delete duplicates.
• Manage music without iTunes restrictions.
• Perfectly backup/restore iTunes library.
• Create your personal custom mixtape CD easily!
• Professional music player/music sharing tool.

Click Here to Download>>>

---

1. Ocean Footage underwater sample

This one is first on my choice of 4K video sample for a couple of reasons, firstly I love the subject matter, and secondly from a technical perspective it is one of the best samples out there.

Filmed using a Red One camera, it displays the vibrancy and detail that we associate with 4K resolution at its best, the color depth of the fish and coral is astounding, and when the shot moves to a passing whale the sense of scale the resolution gives really shows what 4K is capable of, and why it is a step up from anything we have seen before.

2. Trailer for the movie ‘Elysium’

Very little movie production footage is easily available out there in 4K, but this is one of the exceptions. The full theatrical trailer for the movie in glorious Ultra HD, Why does this make the list? Well I think if you are wanting to see the benefits of 4K, then samples like the Ocean Footage one mentioned above really show off the technical prowess, but it is actual movies that most people will be wanting to use 4K kit for, and this gives you a very good indication of how much of an increase in clarity, detail and vibrancy can be gained by switching to 4K. The standard HD version of this trailer is readily available too, so this is something you could make a direct comparison with. The nature of the film, a sci-fi action film, also lends itself to 4K with lots of beautifully rendered CGI scenes in the trailer to look at.

3. Timescapes

This is the trailer for an interesting project, filmed entirely in 4K and the work of one man, it is purported to be the first 4K film made available for sale. The film itself, and this trailer, is a simple concept, slow-motion and time lapse cinematography of the South West of America, taken as the director, Tom Lowe, travels around in his pickup truck. The concept itself makes for an interesting effect, but this sample is here because of the content. Watching the big expanses of nature flow by in 4K is simply mind blowing, here you really see the almost 3D effect so much resolution and detail bring to the medium, it isn’t like watching a video, it really is like looking out of a window at real life.

4. Boat Scenes

There are actually several test videos on this subject, all of them do a good job of displaying 4K but for me it is the this one that focuses on passing boats against an expansive backdrop that is the one to look at. Again it shows the effect of 4K resolution when displaying the wider world around us, this time a harbor vista as the boat passes through it, detail can be seen in the water, the passengers on the boat and the backdrop, and the sense of realism and scale, which for me are the things that set 4K apart, are readily apparent here.

5. Tears of Steel trailer

Another rare 4K movie trailer, this one again shows lots of very high quality CGI that really show off the capabilities of 4K at their best. Some great use of the depth of field that 4K emphasizes in a lot of the shots and overall provides a great insight into 4K and what you can expect from it. An interesting video that also manages to tell a little story as well as being a showcase.

6. Sintel

Sintel is an animated short created in the blender animation program, here in 4K it represents a fantastic look into what 4K can offer all forms of media, the opening scene, with the snow blowing in the wind, for instance, enables you to see incredible detail that just isn’t visible within the standard HD version. Seeing individual flies as the character searches through the wreckage of a town is another high point in terms of technical prowess.

Another feature of Sintel is its soft focus look that accentuates the high resolution, and makes this video stand out from others in the list. The small dragon is well animated and the main characters features, particularly the hair, are incredibly well realized. A great way to showcase your 4K equipment.

7. Stock Footage Sample

This one is an amalgam of short clips from commercial stock footage that is used a sample of the product. That doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic 4K clip however, with footage chosen specifically to show off the benefits of 4K at its very best (it is a promotional package after all) there is something here for everyone. From the glorious colors of a sunrise to the explosions and the amazing time lapse, with, again, fantastic and vibrant colors, a real showcase for 4K in the true sense of the word.

8. Honey Bees

Back to nature for this one, and the eponymous Honey Bee. Showing not only the color rendition and detail of the surroundings, it also captures the Bees themselves in incredible fidelity, the wing detail, especially on the close-ups, is just way beyond anything we have seen from moving images before, high resolution stills? Certainly, but not video. Another great advert for 4K footage and a lovely film as well.

9. Skyfall Trailer

Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the films, but as a way to see what very fast action looks like in 4K this is a great one. Unlike the other movie trailers, this one isn’t full of CGI, so it shows a different aspect of 4K movies here, the real-life stunts performed by traditional stunt professionals is what this one is all about. And it doesn’t let us down, crashes, explosions and car chases, everything that Bond is about. Except in 4K. Great.

10. Fireworks

This one is just a lot of fun. Fireworks, in 4K. Color rendition, detail, it has it all. It opens with a magnificent view across the city showing the lights at dusk and beyond, and then into the stunning firework display, it really is quite spectacular and a great look at 4K footage.

That’s our top 10, not all the best technically, but each offers something a little different to give a taste of what 4K is all about, and exactly what your 4K screen is capable of.

There are multiple 4K video converters with powerful functions. However, if video converting is new to you, consider Wondershare UniConverter , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Max Wales

Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Max Wales

Max Wales

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

So, you have that 4K TV, now what? It’s only as good as the video that it displays, so as we wait for the world to catch up with 4K content, what is out there now to give you a taste of what the future holds for Ultra HD resolution content.

---

Recommend Product

Free Your Video/Music-Transfer and Download 4K Video/Music, Record, Manager, Burn Music.

• Download 4K video/music from YouTube/another video/music site.
• Transfer 4K Video/music between any devices.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Use iTunes with Android.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Record any song or playlist you find on the web.
• Fix music tags, covers and delete duplicates.
• Manage music without iTunes restrictions.
• Perfectly backup/restore iTunes library.
• Create your personal custom mixtape CD easily!
• Professional music player/music sharing tool.

Click Here to Download>>>

---

1. Ocean Footage underwater sample

This one is first on my choice of 4K video sample for a couple of reasons, firstly I love the subject matter, and secondly from a technical perspective it is one of the best samples out there.

Filmed using a Red One camera, it displays the vibrancy and detail that we associate with 4K resolution at its best, the color depth of the fish and coral is astounding, and when the shot moves to a passing whale the sense of scale the resolution gives really shows what 4K is capable of, and why it is a step up from anything we have seen before.

2. Trailer for the movie ‘Elysium’

Very little movie production footage is easily available out there in 4K, but this is one of the exceptions. The full theatrical trailer for the movie in glorious Ultra HD, Why does this make the list? Well I think if you are wanting to see the benefits of 4K, then samples like the Ocean Footage one mentioned above really show off the technical prowess, but it is actual movies that most people will be wanting to use 4K kit for, and this gives you a very good indication of how much of an increase in clarity, detail and vibrancy can be gained by switching to 4K. The standard HD version of this trailer is readily available too, so this is something you could make a direct comparison with. The nature of the film, a sci-fi action film, also lends itself to 4K with lots of beautifully rendered CGI scenes in the trailer to look at.

3. Timescapes

This is the trailer for an interesting project, filmed entirely in 4K and the work of one man, it is purported to be the first 4K film made available for sale. The film itself, and this trailer, is a simple concept, slow-motion and time lapse cinematography of the South West of America, taken as the director, Tom Lowe, travels around in his pickup truck. The concept itself makes for an interesting effect, but this sample is here because of the content. Watching the big expanses of nature flow by in 4K is simply mind blowing, here you really see the almost 3D effect so much resolution and detail bring to the medium, it isn’t like watching a video, it really is like looking out of a window at real life.

4. Boat Scenes

There are actually several test videos on this subject, all of them do a good job of displaying 4K but for me it is the this one that focuses on passing boats against an expansive backdrop that is the one to look at. Again it shows the effect of 4K resolution when displaying the wider world around us, this time a harbor vista as the boat passes through it, detail can be seen in the water, the passengers on the boat and the backdrop, and the sense of realism and scale, which for me are the things that set 4K apart, are readily apparent here.

5. Tears of Steel trailer

Another rare 4K movie trailer, this one again shows lots of very high quality CGI that really show off the capabilities of 4K at their best. Some great use of the depth of field that 4K emphasizes in a lot of the shots and overall provides a great insight into 4K and what you can expect from it. An interesting video that also manages to tell a little story as well as being a showcase.

6. Sintel

Sintel is an animated short created in the blender animation program, here in 4K it represents a fantastic look into what 4K can offer all forms of media, the opening scene, with the snow blowing in the wind, for instance, enables you to see incredible detail that just isn’t visible within the standard HD version. Seeing individual flies as the character searches through the wreckage of a town is another high point in terms of technical prowess.

Another feature of Sintel is its soft focus look that accentuates the high resolution, and makes this video stand out from others in the list. The small dragon is well animated and the main characters features, particularly the hair, are incredibly well realized. A great way to showcase your 4K equipment.

7. Stock Footage Sample

This one is an amalgam of short clips from commercial stock footage that is used a sample of the product. That doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic 4K clip however, with footage chosen specifically to show off the benefits of 4K at its very best (it is a promotional package after all) there is something here for everyone. From the glorious colors of a sunrise to the explosions and the amazing time lapse, with, again, fantastic and vibrant colors, a real showcase for 4K in the true sense of the word.

8. Honey Bees

Back to nature for this one, and the eponymous Honey Bee. Showing not only the color rendition and detail of the surroundings, it also captures the Bees themselves in incredible fidelity, the wing detail, especially on the close-ups, is just way beyond anything we have seen from moving images before, high resolution stills? Certainly, but not video. Another great advert for 4K footage and a lovely film as well.

9. Skyfall Trailer

Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the films, but as a way to see what very fast action looks like in 4K this is a great one. Unlike the other movie trailers, this one isn’t full of CGI, so it shows a different aspect of 4K movies here, the real-life stunts performed by traditional stunt professionals is what this one is all about. And it doesn’t let us down, crashes, explosions and car chases, everything that Bond is about. Except in 4K. Great.

10. Fireworks

This one is just a lot of fun. Fireworks, in 4K. Color rendition, detail, it has it all. It opens with a magnificent view across the city showing the lights at dusk and beyond, and then into the stunning firework display, it really is quite spectacular and a great look at 4K footage.

That’s our top 10, not all the best technically, but each offers something a little different to give a taste of what 4K is all about, and exactly what your 4K screen is capable of.

There are multiple 4K video converters with powerful functions. However, if video converting is new to you, consider Wondershare UniConverter , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Max Wales

Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Max Wales

Max Wales

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

So, you have that 4K TV, now what? It’s only as good as the video that it displays, so as we wait for the world to catch up with 4K content, what is out there now to give you a taste of what the future holds for Ultra HD resolution content.

---

Recommend Product

Free Your Video/Music-Transfer and Download 4K Video/Music, Record, Manager, Burn Music.

• Download 4K video/music from YouTube/another video/music site.
• Transfer 4K Video/music between any devices.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Use iTunes with Android.
• Download music from built-in top playlists.
• Record any song or playlist you find on the web.
• Fix music tags, covers and delete duplicates.
• Manage music without iTunes restrictions.
• Perfectly backup/restore iTunes library.
• Create your personal custom mixtape CD easily!
• Professional music player/music sharing tool.

Click Here to Download>>>

---

1. Ocean Footage underwater sample

This one is first on my choice of 4K video sample for a couple of reasons, firstly I love the subject matter, and secondly from a technical perspective it is one of the best samples out there.

Filmed using a Red One camera, it displays the vibrancy and detail that we associate with 4K resolution at its best, the color depth of the fish and coral is astounding, and when the shot moves to a passing whale the sense of scale the resolution gives really shows what 4K is capable of, and why it is a step up from anything we have seen before.

2. Trailer for the movie ‘Elysium’

Very little movie production footage is easily available out there in 4K, but this is one of the exceptions. The full theatrical trailer for the movie in glorious Ultra HD, Why does this make the list? Well I think if you are wanting to see the benefits of 4K, then samples like the Ocean Footage one mentioned above really show off the technical prowess, but it is actual movies that most people will be wanting to use 4K kit for, and this gives you a very good indication of how much of an increase in clarity, detail and vibrancy can be gained by switching to 4K. The standard HD version of this trailer is readily available too, so this is something you could make a direct comparison with. The nature of the film, a sci-fi action film, also lends itself to 4K with lots of beautifully rendered CGI scenes in the trailer to look at.

3. Timescapes

This is the trailer for an interesting project, filmed entirely in 4K and the work of one man, it is purported to be the first 4K film made available for sale. The film itself, and this trailer, is a simple concept, slow-motion and time lapse cinematography of the South West of America, taken as the director, Tom Lowe, travels around in his pickup truck. The concept itself makes for an interesting effect, but this sample is here because of the content. Watching the big expanses of nature flow by in 4K is simply mind blowing, here you really see the almost 3D effect so much resolution and detail bring to the medium, it isn’t like watching a video, it really is like looking out of a window at real life.

4. Boat Scenes

There are actually several test videos on this subject, all of them do a good job of displaying 4K but for me it is the this one that focuses on passing boats against an expansive backdrop that is the one to look at. Again it shows the effect of 4K resolution when displaying the wider world around us, this time a harbor vista as the boat passes through it, detail can be seen in the water, the passengers on the boat and the backdrop, and the sense of realism and scale, which for me are the things that set 4K apart, are readily apparent here.

5. Tears of Steel trailer

Another rare 4K movie trailer, this one again shows lots of very high quality CGI that really show off the capabilities of 4K at their best. Some great use of the depth of field that 4K emphasizes in a lot of the shots and overall provides a great insight into 4K and what you can expect from it. An interesting video that also manages to tell a little story as well as being a showcase.

6. Sintel

Sintel is an animated short created in the blender animation program, here in 4K it represents a fantastic look into what 4K can offer all forms of media, the opening scene, with the snow blowing in the wind, for instance, enables you to see incredible detail that just isn’t visible within the standard HD version. Seeing individual flies as the character searches through the wreckage of a town is another high point in terms of technical prowess.

Another feature of Sintel is its soft focus look that accentuates the high resolution, and makes this video stand out from others in the list. The small dragon is well animated and the main characters features, particularly the hair, are incredibly well realized. A great way to showcase your 4K equipment.

7. Stock Footage Sample

This one is an amalgam of short clips from commercial stock footage that is used a sample of the product. That doesn’t make it any less of a fantastic 4K clip however, with footage chosen specifically to show off the benefits of 4K at its very best (it is a promotional package after all) there is something here for everyone. From the glorious colors of a sunrise to the explosions and the amazing time lapse, with, again, fantastic and vibrant colors, a real showcase for 4K in the true sense of the word.

8. Honey Bees

Back to nature for this one, and the eponymous Honey Bee. Showing not only the color rendition and detail of the surroundings, it also captures the Bees themselves in incredible fidelity, the wing detail, especially on the close-ups, is just way beyond anything we have seen from moving images before, high resolution stills? Certainly, but not video. Another great advert for 4K footage and a lovely film as well.

9. Skyfall Trailer

Can’t say I’m much of a fan of the films, but as a way to see what very fast action looks like in 4K this is a great one. Unlike the other movie trailers, this one isn’t full of CGI, so it shows a different aspect of 4K movies here, the real-life stunts performed by traditional stunt professionals is what this one is all about. And it doesn’t let us down, crashes, explosions and car chases, everything that Bond is about. Except in 4K. Great.

10. Fireworks

This one is just a lot of fun. Fireworks, in 4K. Color rendition, detail, it has it all. It opens with a magnificent view across the city showing the lights at dusk and beyond, and then into the stunning firework display, it really is quite spectacular and a great look at 4K footage.

That’s our top 10, not all the best technically, but each offers something a little different to give a taste of what 4K is all about, and exactly what your 4K screen is capable of.

There are multiple 4K video converters with powerful functions. However, if video converting is new to you, consider Wondershare UniConverter , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Max Wales

Max Wales is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Max Wales

Also read: