IMovie and Final Cut Pro are both good video editing software for Mac users. It depends on your demands and video editing skills to determind which one is better for you. In this article, we are going to show you the comparison of these two applications, and also the best alternative for iMovie and Final Cut Pro for Mac.
If you are running a Mac machine and someday would like to create a video clip by yourself, you may possibly fall into a difficult situation with no idea of which video editing software to choose, especially when it comes to iMoive and Final Cut Pro, as both video editors are produced by Apple for use on Mac OS X. To figure it out, you should firstly get a clear understand of the fact that iMoive and Final Cut Pro are both unique in design and developed for different user bases. Generally speaking, iMovie is for the typical home user, while Final Cut Pro is for more skillful users. In order to help you choose the better tool to suit your video editing requirements, we are listing the major differences between iMovie and Final Cut Pro in the following review by providing the key features, as well as advantages of each program over the other for your reference.
Winner: Final Cut Pro. IMovie vs Final Cut Pro: Which One Is Better For Video Color Correction. We've already noted that Final Cut has advanced color grading features. Let's take a closer look at them. In this program, you can work with color wheels, color curves, and hue/saturation curves. You can adjust color corrections over time. Apple Final Cut Pro X: Audio editing is a strength in Final Cut Pro X. It can automatically fix hum, noise, and peaks, or you can manually adjust these, if you prefer. IMovie and Final Cut Pro X, are the most popular editing tools that you can find on macOS. They both offer unique features that suit your needs. So in this article, we will make a small comparison between iMovie and Final Cut Pro X in some key factors to see which one is. In fact, the iMovie color correction features are made for enhancing the quality of the footage. Meanwhile, you will have total customization on the colors of your footage to suit its tone and mood in Final Cut Pro. Winner: Final Cut Pro X. As it's aimed for professional use, Final Cut Pro X has a price of $299.99. You can find it on.
Introduction to Apple iMovie and Final Cut Pro
What is iMovie
As part of Apple's iLife suite of multimedia projects, iMovie is a basic video editing solution known by most Mac and iOS users. With a user-friendly interface, iMovie will allow users to create their own home movies or video clips easily from a number of different sources including digital video cameras, DV-encoded files, and images while adding multiple themes and transition effects. Emoji 2 1 1 – emoticons.
What is Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro on the other hand, mainly focuses on more technical features with which users can produce more professional videos and movies. The most recent version is Final Cut Pro X 10.2 powered by OS X version 10.9 Mavericks or later. Magic keyboard space grey review. Final Cut Pro X provides a wider range of video effects, themes, titles, animations, and others than iMovie with a superior quality.
Overview of Major Differences between iMovie and Final Cut Pro
Before we get stared on discussing the major differences between iMovie and Final Cut Pro X, you can take a glance at the following overview of the face-to-face comparison to get a quick understand of their different features to see which video editor is better for you.
iMovie | Final Cut Pro X | |
Price | $14.99 | $299.99 |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
HD video supported | 1080p | UHD 4K |
Multicamera scene sync | No | Yes |
Work with team | No | Yes |
iCloud sync | Yes | No |
Background processing | No | Yes |
Supported input formats | MPEG-4, QuickTime Movie, MPEG-2, AVCHD, DV & HDV | AVC, DV, HDV, DVCPRO HD, QuickTime formats, AAC, AIFF |
Supported output formats | QuickTime formats, DV & AIC, AAC, JPEG | DV, DVCPRO HD, MPEG IMX, HDV, H.264 |
Supported OS | Mac OS X 10.10.2 or later | Mac OS X 10.10.2 or later, 64-bit processor |
Usability | Easy | Difficult |
Skill level | Consumer, Prosumer | Professional, High-end Movie Production |
iMovie vs Final Cut Pro: Head-to-head Comparison
We will continue to discuss the major differences between iMovie and Final Cut Pro X from different parts in details, including the usability, video editing features, video sharing, etc.
Ease of Use
iMovie is without doubt more easy to use because of a novice interface and organized function layout. Even if you are a newbie, iMovie will enable you edit the videos by adding a lot of effects, themes and background music with great convenience. In fact, iMovie can provide every basic feature one need to edit videos in the way of simplification. Final Cut Pro X, on the other hand, due to the more powerful functions and professional editing options, it would inevitably make users take a lot of time to understand the operation as it's more complicated.
Video Editing
As we mentioned previously, iMovie is made to be handled easily by everyone. So the video editing options of iMovie are set to be the basic ones. Safari add ons remove. In result, it's only supposed to create simple videos instead of complex ones. On the contrary, Final Cut Pro is capable of dealing with both simple and complex videos with powerful video editing tools such as the magnetic timeline, background processing, good organization tools—ratings, tagging, auto analysis for faces, scenes, and stabilization, etc. In a word, Final Cut Pro comes with more formats, more audio and video layers, more dizzying video and audio effects, more in-depth video and audio processing tools, more complicated audio and video transitions, etc than iMovie. Besides, unlike iMovie, Final Cut Pro is able to integrate with Apple's other multimedia editing software included in Final Cut Studio.
Video Sharing
Once the videos are completed, you are allowed to share and publish the edited video clips onto videos sites like YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo and others directly with iMovie. What's more, unlike Final Cut Pro which is not supported by mobile platform, iMovie is also available in iOS version so that iOS users could install it on their iPhone or iPad.
Conclusion: Which Video Editor is Better
To sum up, you can see that iMovie is a basic yet cheaper video editor that will create simple videos in a few minutes and steps. Anesidora 1 01 – listen to pandora on your macbook. In the meantime, Final Cut Pro X is overall a faster, more comprehensive and professional video editing solution to edit high-end videos that always require high performances. So if you are new to video editors and only want to edit a simple video clip for your own use, you are suggested to choose iMovie. Otherwise Final Cut Pro could be the best choice to present stronger abilities for video editing.
Tips for iTunes Users: How to Edit iTunes Movies with iMovie/FCP
In most cases, Mac users also like to use Apple's other services, such as iTunes. If you ever purchased movies from iTunes store and tried to import the iTunes movie files to iMovie or Final Cut Pro X for editing, you might probably met the problem that it won't let you edit the iTunes movies with iMovie or FCP at all. In this case, you need to know that it's because iTunes movies are protected by Apple with its FairPlay DRM copy protection. Only iPhone, iPad, iTunes and QuickTime are approved to play iTunes movies directly. It's impossible to edit iTunes DRM'd movies with iMovie and Final Cut Pro unless the DRM protection is removed from the protected movies. Now if this is your case and you need to import iTunes movies to iMovie or FCP to edit, you are recommended to try TunesKit DRM M4V Converter for Mac, one of the best iTunes DRM removal tools in the world developed to remove DRM from iTunes rented and purchased movies while converting the protected .M4V format to common MP4 supported by iMovie and Final Cut Pro. It's also able to preserve the original 100% lossless quality of the iTunes movies, including AC3 5.1 surround sound, closed caption, subtitles, etc. You can follow these tutorials 'How to Import iTunes M4V Movies to iMovie for Editing', 'How to Edit iTunes DRM Movies with Final Cut Pro X' to learn how to edit iTunes DRM M4V movies with iMovie or FCP with ease.
Nick Orin is a review writer, software geek and Mac OS enthusiast. He spends all his free time in searching useful software and gadgets to share with others.
by Christine Smith • 2020-12-03 17:16:03 • Proven solutions
If you own a Mac PC or any of the iOS or iPadOS devices, this iMovie vs Final Cut Pro comparison would be of great help while deciding which video editor you should go for as per your requirements. After reading this, you will have clear understanding of the two editing tools. In addition to this, you will also learn about another equally efficient program that is worth giving a try if you are a beginner and want to understand the basics, and/or you don't have access to any of the Apple devices and use a Windows computer instead.
Part 1. Best Alternative to iMovie and Final Cut Pro for Beginners
Although both iMovie and Final Cut Pro X are good video editing tools for Apple users where iMovie is even free to use, none of the two offers a simple UI, and neither is any of them available for a platform other than iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Therefore, if you are new to post-production field and want to understand the basics, you need a program that not only has an easy-to-use interface, it is also cheap, and can do many relevant things without having you to invest in any other application. One such program that meets all the above conditions is UniConverter by Wondershare. Wondershare UniConverter (originally Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) offers user-friendly UI, is inexpensive, has several built-in programs like video editor, video compressor, screen recorder, VR converter, etc., and is available for both Mac and Windows platforms.
Wondershare UniConverter - Best Video Editor and Converter
- Edit video files with trimming, cutting, adding subtitles, applying effects, and more.
- Convert videos to Final Cut Pro compatible formats easily and quickly on Mac/Windows.
- Support 1000+ video formats including MP4, MOV, WMV, AVI, MKV, and customized output settings.
- 30X faster conversion speed than any conventional converters.
- Burn video to playable DVD with attractive free DVD template.
- Download or record videos from 10,000+ video sharing sites.
- Versatile toolbox combines fix video metadata, GIF maker, cast video to TV, video compressor, and screen recorder.
- Stream your videos from Windows or Mac to other devices, including Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Xbox 360 or PS3.
- Supported OS: macOS 11 Big Sur, 10.15 (Catalina), 10.14, 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8, 10.7, 10.6, Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista.
Editing videos in Wondershare UniConverter is extremely easy as compared to iMovie or Final Cut. The instructions given below explain how things can be done using UniConverter on a Windows computer:
Step 1 Launch Wondershare UniConverter and Import a Footage.
Launch Wondershare UniConverter on your Mac or Windows computer, ensure that the Video Converter tile is selected from the top, and click the icon from the center of the window. Use the Open box that appears next to select a video you want to edit, and click Open to import the footage.
Step 2 Click Scissors and Edit the Video.
Click the Scissors (Trim) icon present under the thumbnail of the imported video. When the editor window opens up, place the Playhead (called ‘Skimmer' in Final Cut Pro X) in the Timeline you want to trim the clip from, and click Cut. Next, select the unwanted section, and click Delete. If needed, repeat the process for the other side of the footage to get rid of the end section as well, and click OK to save the changes.
Step 3 Click Crop and Add More Effects.
Click the Crop icon present next to that of Trim to open the Crop/Effect box. Use the tabs given at the top to access their relevant options, and make the necessary modifications to crop or rotate the video, add watermarks, subtitles, and audio as required. Click OK from the bottom when you are done.
Step 4 Choose a Format and Export the Video.
Open the Output Format: menu from the top-right of the main window, use the tabs at the top of the menu to locate and select your preferred format and resolution (MP4 with the Same as source resolution for this tutorial), define a destination folder in the Output field at the bottom, and click the Start All to begin rendering and export the video.
Part 2. Comparison Table Between iMovie VS. Final Cut Pro
In case you are still interested in learning more about iMovie and Final Cut Pro and want to choose any one among the two, the iMovie vs Final Cut Pro table given in this section highlights the key differences between both the programs. This would help you decide which application should you go for depending on your level of expertise in video editing. Other factors that may influence your decision to pick one software over the other would be the target audience you wish to prepare the videos for, the amount of funds you want to invest in a tool, and the device(s) you intend to use the app on.
Particulars | iMovie | Final Cut Pro X |
---|---|---|
Features | Multiple Projects Support, Built-in Backdrops and Themes, Clip Stabilization | Motion Graphic Templates, Virtual Reality (VR) Support, HDR Support for Videos |
Price | Free | USD299.99 |
Pricing Model | Not Applicable | Onetime Payment |
Pros | Simple UI, Does Not Require Prior Training, Has Built-in Social Media Sharing Options | Smooth Working, Has Advanced Features, Gives Industry-Standard Output |
Cons | Lack Advanced Features and Tools, Doesn't Allow Professional Editing, Changes Permanently Saved on Original Files | Has Steep Learning Curve, Doesn't Have Built-in Sharing Options, No Automatic Updates Available |
Platforms | iOS, iPadOS, Mac | Mac |
Part 3. What are the Key Differences Between iMovie VS. Final Cut Pro
https://vgkxnl.over-blog.com/2021/01/widsmob-montage-1-3-stunning-mosaic-photographs.html. In addition to the table given above explaining iMovie vs Final Cut Pro, another difference between iMovie and Final Cut Pro, or say, other key differences between the two applications are discussed below:
Imovie Vs Filmora
Ultrabeat logic pro 8. iMovie vs Final Cut Pro: General Information
While iMovie is a free application designed for novice users or the beginners in post-production field, Final Cut Pro X is a full-fledged video editing program used by highly skilled professional editors in commercial projects.
iMovie vs Final Cut Pro: Learning and Using
Learning iMovie is easy because of its simple UI that is developed keeping the Home users or amateurs in mind. On the other hand, Final Cut Pro X requires moderate amount of knowledge in the field of video editing. The latter also recommends that the users should have good understanding of technical terms like framerate, pixels, resolution, etc. in order to work on Final Cut Pro X effectively.
iMovie vs Final Cut Pro: Rendering Efficiency
Since iMovie mostly uses built-in templates and presets to produce final outputs, rendering videos consume less amount of processing power and GPU. Whereas Final Cut Pro, unlike iMovie, allows users to add custom effects, filters, and other transitions, and therefore it uses the GPU to its full, thus increasing the render duration. Nevertheless, rendering in Final Cut Pro is significantly quicker when compared to other non-Apple professional video editing applications available in the market.
iMovie vs Final Cut Pro: Sharing
Imovie Vs Final Cut Pro X
Because iMovie is good at editing and exporting videos for domestic uses, it has built-in options to share the outputs to social media websites. This is something that Final Cut Pro lacks in. Because of being a tool that is expected to produce commercial projects, sharing the Final Cut Pro X's outputs to social networking sites for free isn't ethically correct.
Conclusion
Imovie For Windows
Although discussing about difference between iMovie and Final Cut Pro would be injustice to both the editing tools, you may want to choose iMovie or Final Cut Pro X if you intend to produce videos for your personal use or commercial gains respectively. However, if you don't have access to iOS, iPadOS, or macOS device(s), you can always and by all means skip the iMovie vs Final Cut Pro part, and choose Wondershare UniConverter instead that is more equipped, simple, and can be installed on either a Windows or Mac PC.