Software for simple cutting together of GoPro clips

[dangoesfast]

Hi,

I race bikes and I've started cutting together some clips for a bit of fun, and to learn a little basic editing for similar projects at work. Basically all I need to do for now is join a bunch of files together with a simple transition between them (fade to black and back is fine), while being able to shorten each clip at each end to get rid of those few seconds gopros pick up that nobody wants.

So far I've tried Premiere Rush and DaVinci Resolve. Rush was exceptionally easy to use and did exactly what I needed it to while exporting files quickly, in quality exactly matching the source file (at first), in a reasonable time, and resulting in a similar sized file. The only issue is that my Adobe subscription "Comes with Rush" but then requires a significant extra fee to be able to continue to export in 4k after a trial otherwise it was limited to 1080p. I ended up cancelling my Adobe subscription altogether as I didn't use the other products and only had it so I could start using Rush. I'll consider subscribing again if there's absolutely no other option.

DaVinci I find way more complicated but I have an IT background, so far there's been no question a quick google for a youtube video couldn't answer. It does what I need it to however on my current machine it's very slow particularly when trying to play back a part of the unfinished project, and upgrading the machine just for this isn't really an option now (it may be in the future). It also takes several hours to encode a ten minute video where Rush would take <30mins, and the files coming out of DaVinci are enormous. The only way I've been able to get the file size to come out similar to the source file is to limit the bitrate to 80000 which results in visibly blotchy video with washed out colours and poor detail.

I'm using FFMPEG to prep the files - mainly to rotate when the GoPro forgets it's upside down, and to join single clips that the GoPro has cut into parts - and it does plenty without re-encoding. I can also use the GoPro Quik app on my phone to trim the start and end of the files without re-encoding, but moving the files from PC to phone and back is massively inconvenient for a few reasons so I'm trying to do it all on my PC/laptop.

Multiple steps is an option i.e. if I had to use one piece of software to trim the files and another to join them with a fade, that'd be ok.

Thanks!

[dangoesfast]

P.S. here's a raw video on the left next to the DaVinci export on the right.. the file size of the exported video that's visibly worse is almost identical to the left video.


[Attachment 69494 - Click to enlarge]

[ConnorD]

Hi,

I race bikes and I've started cutting together some clips for a bit of fun, and to learn a little basic editing for similar projects at work. Basically all I need to do for now is join a bunch of files together with a simple transition between them (fade to black and back is fine), while being able to shorten each clip at each end to get rid of those few seconds gopros pick up that nobody wants.

So far I've tried Premiere Rush and DaVinci Resolve. Rush was exceptionally easy to use and did exactly what I needed it to while exporting files quickly, in quality exactly matching the source file (at first), in a reasonable time, and resulting in a similar sized file. The only issue is that my Adobe subscription "Comes with Rush" but then requires a significant extra fee to be able to continue to export in 4k after a trial otherwise it was limited to 1080p. I ended up cancelling my Adobe subscription altogether as I didn't use the other products and only had it so I could start using Rush. I'll consider subscribing again if there's absolutely no other option.

DaVinci I find way more complicated but I have an IT background, so far there's been no question a quick google for a youtube video couldn't answer. It does what I need it to however on my current machine it's very slow particularly when trying to play back a part of the unfinished project, and upgrading the machine just for this isn't really an option now (it may be in the future). It also takes several hours to encode a ten minute video where Rush would take <30mins, and the files coming out of DaVinci are enormous. The only way I've been able to get the file size to come out similar to the source file is to limit the bitrate to 80000 which results in visibly blotchy video with washed out colours and poor detail.

I'm using FFMPEG to prep the files - mainly to rotate when the GoPro forgets it's upside down, and to join single clips that the GoPro has cut into parts - and it does plenty without re-encoding. I can also use the GoPro Quik app on my phone to trim the start and end of the files without re-encoding, but moving the files from PC to phone and back is massively inconvenient for a few reasons so I'm trying to do it all on my PC/laptop.

Multiple steps is an option i.e. if I had to use one piece of software to trim the files and another to join them with a fade, that'd be ok.

Thanks!

Other options that I've at least been a bit familiar with are Filmora and Vegas Pro, I'd say both are more intuitive compared to Resolve(at least for me, used those to cut my hiking trips and survival gear tests). Haven't tried Rush myself, but heard plenty of good things about it

[smrpix]

Rush was exceptionally easy to use and did exactly what I needed it to while exporting files quickly, in quality exactly matching the source file (at first), in a reasonable time, and resulting in a similar sized file. The only issue is that my Adobe subscription "Comes with Rush" but then requires a significant extra fee to be able to continue to export in 4k after a trial otherwise it was limited to 1080p. I ended up cancelling my Adobe subscription altogether as I didn't use the other products and only had it so I could start using Rush. I'll consider subscribing again if there's absolutely no other option.

Rush as a standalone is $10/month.

[dangoesfast]

Rush was exceptionally easy to use and did exactly what I needed it to while exporting files quickly, in quality exactly matching the source file (at first), in a reasonable time, and resulting in a similar sized file. The only issue is that my Adobe subscription "Comes with Rush" but then requires a significant extra fee to be able to continue to export in 4k after a trial otherwise it was limited to 1080p. I ended up cancelling my Adobe subscription altogether as I didn't use the other products and only had it so I could start using Rush. I'll consider subscribing again if there's absolutely no other option.

Rush as a standalone is $10/month.

I'm aware of that - Adobe were d*cks about it when I approached support about it being advertised as included with my plan, so I'd rather not give Adobe another dollar if I can avoid it.

As the last sentence says, it's an option only once I'm satisfied there's nothing else.