Free alternative to Corel VideoStudio for simple tasks?

[yetanotherlogin]

Hello

I need to perform simple tasks on videos:
- Multi-trimming (ie. keep only some parts of a video)
- Adding some video transitions between the parts I kept
- Sometimes, add a second video track to insert pictures (eg. slides)

I've been battling with ShotCut for over an hour, but can't figure it out. Maybe it doesn't even support multi-trimming.

OpenShot is unavailable for 32-bit Windows.

Lightworks seems daunting for newbies.

AviDemux and VirtualDub don't seem to support multi-trimming and transitions.

Is there a free (open- or closed-source) application that I should try as an alternative to Corel VS?

Thank you.

[Bernix]

Hi,
for your task you definitely needs some NLE (Non linear editing) program. You didin't tried Kdenlive for example. It is bit tricky installation, you need ffmpeg and point some files, but from my POV is it cross platform program is good and is free. But each such program you need bit of learning. How to create project (basic settings like resolution etc.).
Many people here are using free version of this. Probably it is easy enough to use. VSDC free version
Probably good enough for your simple tasks.

Bernix

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks.

It's strange that VSDC includes no Play button in the main window. "Preview" is something else.

I found Corel more intuitive.

Does it support splitting a video into multiple parts, and join them with transitions?

Kdenlive seems only available for 64-bit Windows.

[Bernix]

There on this site should be supporting thread, or there are plenty of tutorials on youtube. I believe it answered you everything. Personally I didn't tested it. But razor or similar tools should split videos and move them to different tracks.
Suggesting you to try video tutorials on net.

Bernix

[julitomg]

Today at the giveawayoftheday you can download and isntall the Pro version of VSDC for free, you could try it since it has more features than the Free version, I personally don´t use it (nor I am in anyway connected to the developers or the GOTD site)

[yetanotherlogin]

Thanks for the info.

It looks like Shotcut is good enough for my simple needs.

At this point, I still need to make sure it can…

1. support a second video track to overlay slides during talks
2. let me draw shapes (eg. circles or arrows) over the main video track to highlight stuff

[Bernix]

As far as I know VSDC free has ability of shapes (has its own predefined). You can do it in any NLE program, when you create this shape itself in any painting program (Krita) as PNG, Tiff or TGA, simply in format supported by editor (in your case Shotcut) and also has alpha channel. It means transparency information of image (shape). Or you can do it through in those typ of program common features as is for example green background and similar things.

Bernix