Video Editing for a newbie... (also, anyone here experiment running macOS in virtual environment on PC?)

[SKYLANE]

Learning some new hobby skills, I want to engage more with the older cameras that I have to learn how to better use the features that are built into them. I have been browsing through my camera manuals and exploring YouTube to learn more about the camera controls. For now, I will be exploring mostly 1080p content at 24/30fps and experimenting now and then with 4K. Current hardware that I have:

Canon Rebel T3i
- EFS 18-55mm IS
- EFS 55-250mm IS

GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition
(Been experimenting with this on Bike Trail over the last days @ 1080p Superview W, 30fps).

iPhone 8 Plus

Soon, I plan to add a drone to the mix which will likely be one of the following:

DJI Air 2S or DJI Mini 2




I want to get my feet wet with some simple video editing. I have the following computers listed below, I expect that the PC Flt. Sim. is the best candidate for video editing. I would prefer to use a Mac, but of the ones listed they might be capable of some light duty stuff.

Model Name: 2017 MacBook Air 7,2 (2017)
2.2 GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, RAM: 8 GB
GPU (integrated): Intel HD Graphics 6000 (1536MB)
SSD: 1 TB - macOS 12.2.1

Model Name: Mac Mini Server 5,3 (Mid 2011)
2.0 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, RAM: 16 GB
GPU (integrated): Intel HD Graphics 3000 (512MB)
SSD: 1 TB - macOS 10.15.7 (DosDude1)
SSD: 1 TB - Windows 10 Home (Boot Camp)

Model Name: MacBook Pro 8,2 (Late 2011, 15-inch Matte)
2.4 GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, RAM: 16 GB
GPU (integrated): Intel HD Graphics 3000 (512MB)
GPU (dedicated): disabled due to typical AMD failure
SSD: 480 GB - macOS 10.15.6 (DosDude1)

My PC Flight Simulator (built Fall 2020)
Logic Board: MSI - MPG Z490 Gaming Carbon WiFi, ATX, LGA 1200
- CPU: INTEL - 10th Gen i7-10700 2.9/4.8GHz 8-core LGA 1200
-- CPU Cooler: Cooler Master - Hyper 212, Black Edition
- GPU: MSI - GeForce RTX 2070 Gaming Z (8 GB)
- RAM: Corsair - 32GB (2x16GB) Vengeance Pro RGB, DDR4 PC4-25600 3200MHz
- SSD: Aura - P12 M.2 NVMe 1TB 2280 - Windows 10 Pro
Power Supply: Corsair - RM850x
Case: Phanteks - Case P400A Digital




I am trying to save my self some time with the experience of folks here on the forum. What is a good video editor to start learning with? Use it with the PC Build above for the recommendation?

If this hobby were to get serious as time went on, what video editor am I likely headed for? In other words, what are you using?


Side Question: (for some of you that have experimented with Hackintosh in the past, ever try this?)

This scenario is likely not allowed by Apple EULA, has anyone here ever tried running macOS in a virtual environment? I have seen a few YouTubers experimenting with Oracle VirtualBox.

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Mac%20OS...structions

https://www.geekrar.com/how-to-install-m...dows-2021/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO72gadgQGI

[jonny]

Know nothing about PCs but if you want to edit on the Air, DaVinci Resolve is quite powerful and free. (I can's stand iMovie)
As far as editing on your iPhone, try CapCut. Also free. It's a blast.

[SKYLANE]

i saw DaVinci Resolve recommended on two YouTube videos yesterday, thanks for that mention. i will look at CapCut too... thanks...

[Article Accelerator]

SKYLANE wrote: I expect that the PC Flt. Sim. is the best candidate for video editing.

Only if you don't intend to use iMovie or Final Cut Pro.

What is a good video editor to start learning with?

iMovie. It should run fine on the MacBook Air, especially if you're starting out with 1080p footage

https://www.apple.com/imovie/

Check this out: https://youtu.be/aT5mjiffFeo?t=94

If this hobby were to get serious as time went on, what video editor am I likely headed for?

Final Cut Pro.

https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/

[Drew]

I use iMovie every week to edit a live event and then put it onto YouTube. Now that I'm used to it, I like it. Predictable. Stable. It just works. Tons of information on YouTube, etc. about how to use and features. Certainly, lightweight compared to Final Cut Pro, but free and will run on your Air without problem.

Agreed that Final Cut Pro is the next step. Last time I looked there didn't seem to be any decent intermediate stops between iMovie and that.

[SKYLANE]

Since I enjoy using the Mac, if my route may take me in the direction of Final Cut Pro then I will start with iMovie and see how that goes. My initial needs will be fairly basic as I learn what I am doing. I may check out DaVinci Resolve later to see how that is. I don’t have an issue with the cost for Final Cut Pro, just want to make sure I have the need for it before buying it...

Thanks for all the inputs, much appreciated.

[Sam3]

Your 2017 Macbook Air will be fine,and since it comes with iMovie, you're all set. I would strongly suggest getting an external drive to put your video files on, use that for editing. Video files consume a lot of space, and you will fill up that 1TB Air SSD quickly. It's also a pain to transfer projects from one drive to another, you may miss something and then if you need to re-edit, you can find there are glitches of iMovie/Final Cut not being able to find files that it needs.

[SKYLANE]

Thanks Sam3...

I have an 8TB on the TB port. So, all good to go there. ;-)

Thanks for the tips!