So, you just bought a new PC or probably upgraded your current one to Windows 10 (it was about time!). And now you’re probably looking for a video editor because Microsoft stopped supporting Movie Maker at the beginning of 2017. Rest assured you're not alone in your search - and welcome to the club of thousands of Windows 10 users worldwide.

Since the moment Windows Essentials suite reached its end of support, we've been relentlessly testing various programs to find the ones we could recommend as Movie Maker alternatives. Today we've got you covered with 7 excellent pieces of software for video editing. Whether you have some experience in clip making or this will be your first masterpiece, you'll certainly find the right solution here.

Oh, did we mention that all the programs on the list are free? Well, consider it a nice bonus.

VSDC - Free Windows 10 video editor of our choice (Download)

If you're searching for a multifunctional solution including a video editor, a slideshow creator, and a screen recorder, look no further. VSDC has it all. Named among the best free video editing software for PC by the GoPro technical support team, TechRadar online magazine, and numerous Youtuber channels, VSDC deserves to hold the top spot of this list.

Let's take a closer look at what the program offers.

VSDC has a wide array of tools for multiple purposes. It will come in handy if you're just planning to give your video a quick touch-up - say, cutting it, adding a soundtrack, fixing the angle, changing the light & color balance - you name it! Yet, it will also cope with a serious project requiring more advanced features.

What else is good: VSDC works surprisingly well even on computers with limited resources. In other words, you'll be able to utilize VSDC even if your PC has as little as 2Gb memory left. This capability makes it a good Windows 10 video editor choice even for low-end machine owners.

Format-wise, VSDC will open any file, no matter which device was used to record the footage. It works with 4K resolution too. At the export level, you'll be able to choose pre-configured profiles for further upload to social networks (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or manually set the format, resolution, and quality including HD.

Download the latest version of VSDC

OpenShot - Windows 10 video editor which is open-source

Openshot interface looks much more minimalistic, so does its set of tools. This software, however, gets the job done pretty fast due to the most actions being implemented through a drag'n'drop mouse movement. If you were a fan of that feature in Movie Maker, you'd probably be happy to see the similarity. Unlike Movie Maker though, OpenShot is a non-linear video editor, which instantly makes it twice as powerful.

By the way, first-time users might be also pleasantly surprised by the popping up tutorial windows walking you through the main steps and helping get familiar with the interface.

Openshot has an impressive list of over 300 transitions. Each one can be applied to the required part or the intersection of two media files by the drag'n'drop movement as well. You also get to play with some essential effects, such as blurring, brightness&contrast, Chroma Key, deinterlacing, wipe transitions, negative, and color saturation. The picture-in-picture effect is a bit indirect, but there is a way to perform it by right-mouse clicking on the file and choosing a 1/4 size layout. Right-mouse click will also open the menu for time-related effects: freezing, fast-forwarding, slow-motion, etc.

What else is good: being able to apply actions "in bulk" - for example, copying the effects from a chosen area, or separating audio from a single clip or multiple clips simultaneously.

Where to get it: you can download the 64-bit Windows installer here.

Shotcut - a decent Windows 10 video editor for Chroma keying

There are not so many semi-professional open source video editors out there - Shotcut is one of them. It is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux users. With its minimalistic interface, Shotcut is capable of all the essential video editing operations, including such challenging ones as film restoration, footage stabilization, and white balancing.

Applying effects is even more convenient because of the real-time preview you get from the left-side filters menu. Simply choose the filters you'd like to try on the footage and go through the checkboxes to see how they look on the picture in the right-side preview window.

What makes Shotcut stand out as a video editor for Windows 10 though, is the Chroma Keying tool. Movie Maker didn't have the feature-set for removing a green background from videos and images - you could only perform the operation through a 3rd-party plugin (quite a painful sequence of actions). Shotcut in its turn allows for applying this advanced effect quickly and easily. Perhaps, that's the reason TechRadar has named it among the software to replace Windows Essentials suite components.

What else is good: the ability to quickly reverse your actions in a non-linear order. As mentioned before, each filter or effect you apply to the footage is eventually listed in the left-side window with a marked checkbox. That means you can uncheck any box at any time without having to start the editing process all over again.

Where to get it: Shotcut official website.

Avidemux - ultra-simplistic Windows 10 video editor and encoder

If the previously mentioned software overwhelmed you a bit with the fancy non-linear video editing technology or the endless lists of features, you'll love Avidemux. There seem to be no creative element involved. You won't find multiple video tracks or file library. In a nutshell, you can only cut, copy, paste and encode. May it not turn you away from Avidemux though.

If you have little to no interest in all those post-production bells and whistles, and only need to quickly cut out a piece of footage, go for it. Download Avidemux and you'll never regret. Not only does it take less than 3 seconds to install this software, it also provides the fastest and probably the clearest way to cut a video file into fragments. Once you've set the markers for the required time frame, simply go to the "Edit" tab in the upper menu and choose what you want to do - cut, copy, or delete the piece.

Once you're done, you can go ahead and choose video and audio output parameters. For such a basic and free tool, Avidemux has a noteworthy set of codecs to choose from. This is why calling it not just a video editor, but also an encoder is more correct. It supports most popular formats including MP4, MPG, WMV, AVI, DVD, and MOV - as well as the latest H.265/HEVC codec for high-quality videos.

Truth be told, there are few filters available at the configuration level - such as interlacing, noise or sharpness - but they seem to be more technically-inclined rather than serve creative purposes.

What else is good: options to add subtitles and a logo on top of video with alpha blending. These features are also available in the video output menu.

Where to get it: Avidemux version of video editor for Windows 10 can be found on Fosshub, but you can also go through the official product page.

Davinci Resolve - professional software for the experienced ones

Most professional video editors (think Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas) tend to be pricey for an average user who might only utilize them few times a year. However, if when saying "professional" you think of advanced color correction tools, Resolve is a spectacular video editor for your Windows 10 PC available at zero cost.

You may want to check online courses devoted to Davinci Resolve available on Lynda or Udemy because mastering this beast will require a bit of a steep learning curve if you haven't worked with anything like this before. However, Hollywood-level color grading capabilities should be worth it. On top of that, of course, you get to perform basic operations, such as cutting, splitting and sound adjusting.

There are only two downsides worth mentioning and taking into consideration. First, Davinci Resolve will use your PC GPU to the fullest, so make sure to have a powerful graphic card and a good amount of memory available. Second, there are occasional issues with recognizing certain formats of video and audio. The officially recommended format to work with is ProRes, but it also seems to work smoothly with the majority of files in H.264 codec.

Where to get it: on the official product page. Scroll all the way down to find the free version of the software download link.

Videopad - a Windows 10 video editor for personal use

Videopad is another multifunctional piece of software for video editing, screen recording, audio and video recording. Its free version is called demo and restricted to personal use only. The interface will sure remind you of Movie Maker - especially the file library and the upper menu where video effects and transitions can be found.

Videopad is more a robust tool though. There are multiple video and audio tracks available, so you can work with the non-linear sequence. If you're working with text objects, this editor provides a good number of effects. First, there is a way to add subtitles in real-time. In other words, you can manually input the subtitle text with the precision of a second being able to preview their appearance immediately and correct if required. Second, there is over a dozen of text effects and animations to choose from.

However, the most prominent advanced feature available in Videopad is masking. Right-mouse click on the chosen video fragment and proceed to Effects. A separate window will open, where you'll be able to set the masking parameters.

What else is good: a quick access button to create snapshots in multiple resolutions including 4K Ultra HD.

Where to get it: on the official website of the developer company, NHC Software. Scroll down past the red download button to the "Get it free" section.

Hitfilm Express - a video editor for Windows 10 focused on effects

We're finishing this roundup of Windows 10 video editors with yet another powerful solution popular among YouTube bloggers fond of adding special effects to their videos. Hitfilm Express is a cross-platform software and works on Windows as well as on Mac. Its unique feature set is well hidden behind an unconventional interface though. On the basic level, you'll be able to cut and split media files, add text and work with audio.

Once you get the feeling of how the editing process is organized in Hitfilm Express, you'll able to play with the effects. From chroma keying to 3D compositing and many more special effects you've probably seen on TV. Once finished, video projects can be exported in 1080p resolution only, but there are several pre-configured output profiles for further upload to social media.

What else is good: Hollywood movies inspired tutorials on how to apply effects in Hitfilm Express like a pro.

Where to get it: Go to the "Express" page of Hitfilm website to download the free version. You'll be asked to share the page on social networks and leave your email address to get the link.

Wrapping up

Despite the rumors, the long-anticipated Movie Maker successor released by Microsoft hasn’t met users’ expectations. Moreover, the alternative suggested by the company developer allows you to create a beautiful slideshow from photos at best and doesn’t look like a full-featured video editor. So, we hope this list of programs will be of help to those looking for a decent Windows 10 video editor.

December 6, 2016

VSDC Free Video Editor’s new release focuses on expanding and enhancing a number of visual effects and blur filters as well as adding a new Web-compatible format to make video creating more seamless and accessible.

Fine Tuning for Filters&Effects

1. In addition to the most demanded Gaussian Blur, this filter range now includes Box Blur to create a kind of square distortion effect in the image, Stack Blur to imitate a moving pile of colors and Motion Blur to apply the dim effect in a specific direction, which will be of great use for extreme sports footing.

2. Due to the new ‘Make opaque’ and ‘Make transparent’ effects working with transparency layers has been made much easier and more apt for professional use.

3. The clipping effect that could be implemented only with the help of overlaying two objects and adding an inverted mask, is currently a separate effect applied in a couple of clicks. Videogamers streaming their records online or vbloggers that need to show ‘video or image through text’ will be able to accomplish their specific goals much faster and hassle free.

Color correction using Gradient

Shape object processing has been updated with adding new parameters to the Brush tool. The background can be now filled using a gradient or a special image pattern from a user’s library. Those who are tech-savvy enough will benefit from it making their own smooth video transitions, applying advanced multiple color correction and creating a stroke for text and subtitles.

More Steps to Versatility

1. To enable maximum compatibility with all video Web services and be more accessible for HTML5 supporters, VSDC Video Editor now supports the WebM format as well.

2. Those who have a lot of video content shot on outdated interlaced cameras can now apply deinterlacing methods to make quality more suitable for viewing on modern TV sets, PC screens or mobile devices.

Product page: www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor

What if we told you that by the time you finish reading this text you'll learn about one well-kept Hollywood post-production secret? Which is (wait for it) video masking software.

That's right, with this technique alone you'll be able to reproduce some of the most mind-blowing effects, such as making the same person appear in the same frame multiple times. Like in Friends, where Lisa Kudrow played twin sisters - Phoebe and Ursula Buffay; or in Legend, where Tom Hardy played both twin brothers.

And not only that. Video masking is irreplaceable and constantly used for more trivial tasks - such as blurring faces and objects, removing them from the scene entirely, adding reflections, coloring a particular part of the video, creating a "video playing inside of a text" effect, and even creating a "ghost look" - that's when a person looks half-transparent and you can see objects behind. Not too shabby, huh?

In this article we'll talk about the concept of video masking and its most popular use cases beginners will be able to recreate easily.

Looking for a budget-friendly program to perform video masking? Check out VSDC for Windows and iMovie for Mac.

Download VSDC here for free.

Do I need particular video masking software?

While we've used that term a couple of times already, there is no such a thing as "video masking software". Masking is rather a feature most non-linear video editors have.

For screenshots and video tutorials in this particular article we're using VSDC. It is video editing software for Windows, and you can download it here. VSDC is free, however, masking is considered a part of the Pro version available at $19,99 per year. If you're on Mac, the most budget-friendly video editor with masking capabilities will be iMovie. You can download iMovie here.

If you feel confident enough to jumpstart with professional solutions, you should consider breaking the piggy bank for such post-production programs as Adobe Premiere Pro ($239,88 per year) and Pinnacle (starts with $59,95).

So what the heck is video masking?

Technically speaking, the masking feature helps you outline an area in a video you want to hide, reveal, or modify. This particular area will be considered - and hereinafter called - a mask. If you've ever worked with Photoshop or its alternatives, the terminology sure sounds familiar.

Practically speaking, video masking software enables you to manually choose a particular area in a video and work with it as if it was a standalone object. Here are few examples.

• You can copy the outlined fragment and duplicate it in a scene - and create a clone effect or a freeze frame clone effect.
• You can apply a particular filter to the outlined part - and blur faces or car numbers in a video, and keep them covered even if they are moving.
• You can layer that outlined part on another image or video - and create a text mask or recreate the famous annoying orange effect. The eyes and the mouth of the orange are nothing but masks. They were “cut out” from another video and placed over the orange. We won’t be able to explain why it’s so annoying though.

Is it me, or there are different masks available out there?

Once you start digging deeper into the topic, you'll probably notice here and there video editing geeks mentioning clipping masks or inverted masks when talking about video masking software. These terms describe the video mask application technique, not the tool.

Clipping mask

The first video masking technique we’ll review is called clipping mask. To apply a clipping mask means to add an image or a shape through which the video will be visible. That image is typically a .PNG file with a transparent background. It is called either a clipping mask or a clipping path. Once you apply the effect, the visible part of the video will be "clipped" by the borders of the image, and whatever is outside will not be seen.us

Here is an example of how a clipping mask was used in the famous GTA San Andreas video game opening.

Keep reading to find out how to recreate a clipping mask in VSDC within a few clicks.

Inverted mask

Compared to the clipping mask, an inverted mask blends two videos or images in a reversed way. This means if you place an image A on the timeline, then layer an image B over it and apply the inverted mask, the image B will be seen through the "empty" (black) areas of the image A.

A great example of the inverted mask technique is the popular "Video inside text" effect often referred to as a "Text mask".

Amazing video masking software effects you should definitely try

We hope you got the idea of what video masking can help you achieve. Now let's get practical, shall we? We've briefly mentioned some popular tricks - continue reading if you'd like to learn about how to use them in your projects.

Blur a face or any other object you need to hide in the video

Blurring or pixelating something in a piece of footage is arguably the most popular video masking effect, and you have surely seen it a million times. It is often used in movies, in the news, on security camera records, anonymous interviews, on drone-recorded videos to hide the GPS coordinates - you name it.

Technically, you simply choose an area that must be hidden from a viewer's eye and apply masking to it, so that the blurring effect will only appear on that chosen area.

To achieve your goal, you want to use the Inverted mask in VSDC:

1. Once you've imported your footage to VSDC, go to Video Effects -> Filters -> Pixelize. The entire video will get pixelated, but don’t get confused - it’s a part of the process. You can also use the Properties window on the right-hand side to tweak the filter settings and make the mask more pixelated.
2. Double-click on the effect on the timeline - the "Pixelize” tab will open.
3. Click on the Add object option at the top and select Ellipse, Rectangle or a Free Shape for your mask. Place the object on the area that will be pixelized.
4. Go to the right-hand side menu and click on the Composition menu to select “Mask”.
5. Then switch the Invert mask mode from No to Yes.

This is how you blur an object! Easy enough, isn't it?

The very same way you can apply any other video filter or effect to a chosen area - and it doesn't have to be simple blurring.

Sometimes you might need a mask to follow a moving object. Say, if it's a person who doesn't stay still in the video and whose face must be hidden at all times. That will require you to use motion tracking along with masking, and we encourage you to watch a detailed how-to tutorial below to see how it works.

Create a video playing in text effect in less than a minute

"Video inside text" or a "Text Mask" is a beautiful eye-catching and a very popular effect. You might have seen it in TV shows and video blogs, because it is a perfect intro for any video project. And the best part is - you'll literally spend less than a minute to create it! Below we'll teach you how to do it. Keep in mind that the "Text mask" works best with short words made of large-size extra-bold letters.

Here is what to do:

1. Add a beautiful video you want to be seen through the letters. Bright multicolor videos will look better than monochrome ones.
2. Double-click on the video on the timeline - you'll be automatically switched to the next tab.
3. Add text to the video. Try to keep it short for a better looking text mask.
4. Use the text editing menu at the top to change the size and style as required for your project.
5. Apply black color to the text.
6. Find the "Composition mode" section in the menu to the left of the timeline. Choose the Inverted mask option as shown on the screenshot below.
7. Drag text or video to adjust accordingly.

Create a beautiful clipping mask

The idea behind clipping masks is similar to the "Text mask" effect, although instead of letters you will be using PNG images with transparent background. Think of those images as windows through which the playing video will be visible.

Clipping mask effect may look very artsy. Here is an incredible example of its usage in the True Detective intro, where Louisiana skyline is shown through a silhouette of Matthew McConaughey.

Here is how to apply a clipping mask in VSDC which we are using as a video masking software for this tutorial:

1. First, add an image that will be surrounding your clipping mask. In case of the above mentioned True Detective intro, it is a one-tone beige background, but you can choose any image or video for your project accordingly.
2. The second step is adding the clipping mask image. Remember, it should be a PNG image with transparent background, otherwise the magic will not happen.
3. As you complete step #2, go to Video Effects -> Transparency -> Clipping.
4. Double-click on the clipping effect on the timeline - you'll be transferred to the next tab.
5. Finally, add a video or an image that should be seen through your clipping mask. Drag it around to adjust the look if necessary.

Although it may sound challenging, applying a clipping mask is easier than you think. Take a minute and watch a detailed video tutorial on how to do it.

Clone yourself in a video

While Hollywood directors use this post-production trick to illustrate twisted storylines, you may want to try it just for fun. Because it is fun indeed!

The concept of the "clone effect" is simpler than you probably think. You just need to blend multiple video records of the same person shot in the same area, but standing/moving in different spots. This way, when you combine two pieces of footage on the timeline using video masking software, it will look as if clones appear in the video simultaneously. If this is your first time trying this slightly complicated composition mode, we recommend shooting in front of an even background - of one color, ideally. Chances are higher, the video will come out more naturally-looking if you do so. Additionally, you'll save time and effort during the editing process if the background is plain and monochrome.

Once you shoot the videos, you'll need to add all of them to the timeline and apply the Inverted mask to the areas where the "clones" are located. Watch the video tutorial below to see how everything works.

Create an object reflection

Finally, if you get really geeky about the details, you can apply video editing magic to create object reflections. Here is how it works. You duplicate an object in the same scene, apply color grading, flip it and set up the right perspective. Below, there is a tutorial about creating a text reflection, but you can certainly use the same approach for creating reflections for other objects as well.

More video masking software effects to try

Once you understand the concept and master the technique, you're only limited by your imagination, because the post-production possibilities are endless. Consider splitting screen in a creative way to show multiple videos playing at the same time. Consider creating a round facecam if you are editing gameplay videos. Or consider blurring your video background by means of the above mentioned Inverted Mask technique.

Masking is indeed one of the most powerful tools a video editing enthusiast may make use of. Not only does it allow to apply color correction to the particular areas of the video, but it is also irreplaceable when it comes to special effects like blurring, adding a reflection or creating an awesome intro - such as the clipping mask or the text mask. Now that you know the secret, we hope you'll be able to benefit from it, and make your clips more eye-catching.

Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly new post-production tutorials, and share your results on our Facebook page!

Happy editing!

February 21, 2017

Now VSDC allows for uploading files directly to YouTube as well as has special export profiles for Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo.

While uploading their videos to social networks, users often face difficulties in choosing the correct format and other needed parameters as each website can have various requirements for publishing video content. To make working with Facebook, YouTube and other popular social media much easier, new export profiles have been added to VSDC Free Video Editor.

Export to YouTube

Proceeding to the Web section of the ‘Export project’ tab and clicking the YouTube icon, fans of this video sharing giant will be able to:

• choose among Low, Standard and High quality profiles;
• upload a video to YouTube directly without switching windows, logging in their account right in the program

Preparing video for Facebook

According to our technical support data, the most common problem when exporting a file occurs with finding suitable settings to meet Facebook guidelines. As a result of special testing, one recommended profile has been allocated to this social network.

Any more social network profiles?

Clicking the Social Net button of the Web section, users are also invited to benefit from two profiles for Twitter and 4 profiles for the Vimeo video sharing service.

More opportunities for image compositing operations

With new blending modes added, those, who are more tech-savvy and professional in image and video editing, will be able to carry out more compositing operations, i.e. mixing and overlaying colors and textures of different elements and styles.

• Grain-merge and grain-extract – one of the most popular compositing modes useful for cartographic design

  

• Dodge and burn - modify the lightness of the pictures. Dodging makes an image lighter, while burning darkens it (can be compared to burning a negative)

  

  

• Divide – can be used to brighten images or remove color tints.

  

Product page: www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor