Ubuntu Video Editor

A video editor is convoluted in post-production and video production of filmmaking. The responsibilities of a video editor affect decisions about the combining and selecting of shots into arrangements, the addition of attending the sound music and effects for ultimately creating a finished snipe, promo, commercial, television program, or movie.

Usually, video editors apply non-linear editing software for accomplishing the editing task. Technically, a video editor is an inclined individual that creates decisions of creative video editing.

Also, a video editor can refer to a system device controller that manages video machines for mechanically putting the film's pieces together with a 9-Pin Protocol. Also, it is referred to as linear or machine to machine.

In this article, we will discuss some best video editors in Ubuntu, their aspects, advantages, disadvantages, and how we can install them on our Linux distributions.

Kdenlive

It is an open-source and free video editing application from KDE that supports dual video monitors, basic transitions, basic effects, customizable layout support, clip list, and multi-track timeline.

It supports a huge range of file formats through a huge variety of cameras and camcorders, including DNxHD streams, DVCPR050 streams, DVCPRO, DVCAM, DVCAM (D10), IMX (D10) streams, XDCAM-HD streams, HDV, AVCHD, h.264, mpeg4, mpeg2, dv, avi, and raw.

Kdenlive will be our best bet if we are looking for an alternative to iMovie for Ubuntu.

Features of Kdenlive

Keyframeable effects
Huge hardware support
Automatic save
Proxy editing
Video and audio scopes ensure that the footage is balanced correctly
Plenty of transitions and effects
Easily make tiles using images or text
Configurable shortcuts and interface
A huge range of video audio formats
Multi-track video editing

Pros of Kdenlive

Not too difficult for those who are usual with video editing
Video editor (all-purpose)

Cons of Kdenlive

Applications of KDE are disgraceful for being bloated
Still, it might be complicated if we are looking for anything extremely simple.

How to install Kdenlive?

It is available for every major distribution of Linux. Simply, we can search for it in our software center. Several packages are present in the Kdenlive website's download section.

The enthusiasts of command-line can install it using the terminal by executing the below command in Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions of Linux:

Shotcut

It is a video editor for Ubuntu that could be put in a similar league OpenShot and Kdenlive. Shotcut is more advanced along with the 4K video support.

Supports a number of video and audio formats, effects, and transitions are a few of the numerous aspects of Shotcut. Also, an external monitor is supported here. It is available for macOS and Windows, so we can use what we learn on other OSes.

Features of Shotcut

Hardware support
External monitoring over an extra system monitor/display
Trimming on source timeline or clip player with many ripple options
Clip resizing, cutting, rotation, snapping, trimming, and scaling
Unlimited redo and undo for playlist editing such as a history view
Multi-track timeline with waveforms and thumbnails
Cross-platform and available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Video filters and transitions
Audio filters, effects, and mixing
Mix and match frame rates and resolutions in a project
Native timeline editing
Supports a huge range of image, audio, and video formats

Pros of Shotcut

Available on macOS and Windows with Linux
Supports 4k videos
Video editor (all-purpose) for basic needs of video editing

Cons of Shotcut

Too many aspects diminish the simplicity of the software

How to install Shotcut?

It is present in Snap format. We can find it within the Ubuntu Software Center. We can also get the exe files through its download page for other distros.

OpenShot

OpenShot is a video editor (multi-purpose) for Ubuntu. It helps us to create several videos with effects and transitions and adjust the levels of audio. It supports most codecs and formats.

Also, we can burn a film to DVD, export it in several basic video formats, and upload it to Vimeo or YouTube. OpenShot is a bit simpler as compared to Kdenlive. So, if we need any video editor along with basic UI, then OpenShot could be a great choice.

Features of OpenShot

Digital video effects including chroma key, grayscale, hue, gamma, brightness, etc.
Audio editing and mixing
Speed changes and time mapping on clips
Fame accuracy
Scrolling the credits of motion picture
SVG friendly to create and include vector credits and titles
3D animated effects and titles
Supports 2D animation by image sequences
Title templates, sub-titles, and title creation
Compositing, watermarks, and image overlays
Video transitions using real-time previews
Clip resizing, cutting, rotation, snapping, trimming, and scaling
Unlimited layers or tracks
Desktop development with the support of drag and drop
Powerful keyframe animations (curve-based)
Supports a huge variety of image, audio, and video format
Cross-platform and available on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Pros of OpenShot

Available on macOS and Windows with Linux
Video editor (all-purpose) for average needs of video editing

Cons of OpenShot

Still, we might not search the mark of a movie making professional-grade editing application
It might be normal but if we are extremely new to the process of video editing. There is a learning curve associated here.

How to install OpenShot?

OpenShot is available within the repositories of every major distribution of Linux. Simply, we can find it in our software center. Also, we can get it from the official website of OpenShot.

We can use the below command in Ubuntu and Debian-based Linux distributions for installing OpenShot:

Flowblade

It is a non-linear and multitrack video editor for Ubuntu. Flowblade is open-source and free software. It provides a modern and stylish user interface. It is developed to be precise and fast and written in Python. It has concentrated on giving the best possible experience on Ubuntu and other non-paid platforms, so there is no macOS or Windows version for now. Also, we can get documentation for helping us use every feature of it.

Features of Flowblade

Multitrack timeline with waveforms and thumbnails
Video filters and transitions
Watermarks
Batch rendering
Supports a huge variety of image, video, and audio formats
Supports drag and drop feature
Support for proxy editing
Plenty of video and audio filters and effects
Facilitate a simple interface for general tasks like overwriting, merging, splitting, etc.
Lightweight application

Pros of Flowblade

Good for normal purpose video editing lightweight

Cons of Flowblade

Not present on other platforms

How to install Flowblade?

It should be present in the repositories of every major distribution of Linux. We can install it using the Ubuntu Software Center. More details are available on the download page of Flowblade.

We can alternatively install Flowblade in Ubuntu-based and Ubuntu systems with the help of the following command:

Lightworks

If we are looking for software for video editing that contains more aspects, then it is the answer. This tool is a professional and cross-platform video editor, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux

It is a professional and award-winning non-linear video editing application that provides resolutions up to 4K and video in HD and SD formats as well.

Lightworks is present for Ubuntu, although it's not open-source software.

It has two different versions which are mentioned below:

Lightworks Pro
Lightworks Free

The Pro version contains more aspects like the support of Blue Ray and 4K, higher resolution, etc. Extensive documentation is present on its website.

Features of Lightworks

Wide range of video and audio filters and effects
Supports drag and drop feature
Export videos for Vimeo/YouTube, HD/SD, up to 4K
Proxy workflows (Lo-Res) for 4K
Access excellent royalty-free video and audio content
Ready to use and real-time video and audio FX
Easy timeline trimming and editing
Intuitive and simple user interface
Cross-platform

Pros of Lightworks

Feature-rich and professional video editor

Cons of Lightworks

Restricted free version

How to install Lightworks?

This tool offers DEB packages for Ubuntu and Debian-based distributions of Linux and RPM packages for Fedora-based distributions of Linux. We can search many Packages on the download page of Lightworks.

Blender

Blender is a cross-platform, open-source industry-grade, and professional video editor. It is famous for 3D works. It has been used in many Hollywood movies like the series of Spider-Man.

Also, it can be used for many video editing purposes and has many input capabilities along with a range of formats, however originally developed for 3D modeling.

Features of Blender

Speed control, filters, keyframes, transitions, adjustment layers, and more
Up to 32 slots to add effects, masks, scenes, audio, images, and video
Audio mixing, waveform visualization, scrubbing, and syncing
Live preview, histogram displays, chroma vectorscope, and luma waveform

Pros of Blender

Professional grade adding
Cross-platform

Cons of Blender

Primarily for 3D animation, not emphasized on general video editing
Complicated

How to install Blender?

The latest Blender version can be installed and downloaded from its download page.

DaVinci Resolve

If we wish Hollywood-like video editing, we can use the DaVinci Resolve tool. DaVinci Resolve through Blackmagic is what several professionals are applying for editing tv shows and movies.

This tool is not our normal video editor. It is a full-fledged tool for editing purposes that gives color correction, editing, and professional post-production of audio in one application.

It is an open-source tool. It offers a non-paid version for Ubuntu like Lightworks. Its Pro version is for 300 dollars.

Features of DaVinci Resolve

Non-linear VFX editing
Timeline curve editor
Speed effects
Filter and transition effects
Multi-cam editing permits footage editing from more than one camera
Audio Overlays
Advanced trimming
All types of editing such as append at the end, fit to fill, replace, ripple overwrite, insert, overwrite, etc.
High-quality playback engine

Pros of DaVinci Resolve

Professional video editor
Cross-platform

Cons of DaVinci Resolve

A few features are not present in the non-paid version
Not open-source
Not convenient for average editing

How to install DaVinci Resolve?

We can download this tool for Ubuntu from its official website. We will need to register ourselves, even for the non-paid version.

Cinelerra

Since 1998, Cinelerra has been present and it has been installed over more than 5 million times. Back in 2003, this tool was the initial video editor for providing non-linear editing over 64-bit systems. It was a very handy video editor for the users of Ubuntu at the time, but it lost its gloss after a few developers discarded this project.

The nice thing is that it is back on track and it is being actively integrated again.

Features of Cinelerra

Split pane editing
Unlimited layers
Several video effects
Frame rendered (built-in)
Supports HD videos
Non-linear editing

Pros of Cinelerra

Video editor (all-purpose)

Cons of Cinelerra

No packages are available
Not convenient for beginners

How to install Cinelerra?

We can download its source code through SourceForge. More details are available on its download page.

VidCutter

VidCutter is a simple video editing tool, unlike another video editor explained here. It does not do much except merge and split videos. Although, sometimes that is what we require and VidCutter provides us just that.

It is known as a robust video trimmer present in macOS, Linux, and Windows. It is effortless for cutting or joining a video in Ubuntu.

Features of VidCutter

Merges and trims the videos, nothing other than that
Simple interface
Supports almost every basic format of video such as FLV, 3GP, MOV, MP3, WMV, MPEG 1/2, MP4, AVI, etc.
Cross-platform application available for macOS, Windows, and Linux
Doesn't take too much time for cutting or joining video
Offers us to cut more than one clip from a similar video
Provides us to trim or cut larger video files into shorter ones
Built with the help of the Qt5 and Python script

Pros of VidCutter

Good for general merge and split
Cross-platform

Cons of VidCutter

Often crashes
Not convenient for normal video editing

How to install VidCutter?

If we are using an Ubuntu-based distribution of Linux, then we can use its official PPA:

This tool is present in AUR, so the users of Arch Linux can also easily install it. We can see the files of installation on its GitHub page for other distributions of Linux.

Avidemux

It is an open-source software used for video editing purposes in Ubuntu. It offers us simple encoding, cutting, and filtering tasks. A wide variety of file categories are supported in this software. This software is genuine to use.

Features of Avidemux

Almost every bug is fixed
Good and easy to use navigation
Provides us to fix affected audio files
Offers developed image loading
Best for encoding, cutting, and filtering tasks
Offers robust scripting capabilities
Supports several file types like ASF, MP4, MPEG, AVI, etc.

HandBrake

This video editor is the most potent software for video editing. It provides several features. Also, it is available on most platforms such as macOS, Linux, and Windows. It can convert the video formats as well.