Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

devnull · 2018-02-08 14:03:53

Hello everyone,

I wanted to do some video-editing lately, mostly small documentaries and videos to enjoy, and I'm looking at what possibilities I do have with debian packages (I can use some external repos if needed and trusted).

I'd like some first hand opinion of fellow *nixers who do video editing, what do you use and how do you optimize the programs?

I did my homework and I came out with the impressions that most guides just suggest a program, and the most basic ones (openshot, pitivi and such) crash fairly often and offer limited possibilities. I am about to try blender, but as the learning curve looks a bit steep I'd first like to know if that is a tool that is worth learning to do video editing (not 3d animation or graphic).

I don't need to have one program to do all the things, working with many programs in a unix way is totally fine. For example, in image editing I use inkscape, gimp, imagemagick and blackroom, and that's alright. I'd like to know what do you use, what plugins and such.

Thanks everyone for helping me in moving in this new world, any suggestion is highly appreciated!

Indian · 2018-02-08 14:44:01

I have used the last version of Openshot (the AppImage available in the official page) and it works fine, it is much more stable than previous versions.
To cut, join, resize ... i use ffmpeg.
And for tweaking the sound audacity.

devnull · 2018-02-08 15:09:07

Hi, thanks for your inputs. I'll try the latest openshot, actually the stretch repo has the 1.4.3, while the current one from is 2.4.3. On a sidenote, how far do you reckon openshot will get you, in terms of stuff you can do? Like color managing, chroma-key, more advanced editing?

Is there a reason for using ffmpeg instead of avconv? I use avconv for most small stuff I'm doing right now and works pretty well.

brontosaurusrex · 2018-02-08 17:12:41

I have used kdenlive once or twice for the fun of it, but I doubt It will do all you need. Blender, well it can be used as a gui to splice some animation frames together, would not call it an editor. There is non-free lightworks, but needs nvidia (last time i tested) and again i'd have some doubt about stuff like chroma-key.

Last edited by brontosaurusrex (2018-02-09 06:14:23)

devnull · 2018-02-08 17:24:59

thanks @brontosaurusrex! Could you highlight for me some deficiencies of blender and kdenlive? I'm right now mostly trying to understand which one of this two is the best for me.

No non-free, I feel awkward with it, if you understand what I mean

ohnonot · 2018-02-08 18:35:19

devnull wrote:

Is there a reason for using ffmpeg instead of avconv? I use avconv for most small stuff I'm doing right now and works pretty well.

it's confusing, but avconv and ffmpeg are virtually the same thing. (*)
just go with whatever your distro provides you with, most command line options should be the same.
i think avconv was a fork of ffmpeg, but these days it has been merged back. something like that. (*)

(*) not very accurate.
no honestly, i don't know.
don't trust my word on this, better search the web.

Last edited by ohnonot (2018-02-08 18:36:55)

brontosaurusrex · 2018-02-08 20:42:59

@devnull; Take a few hours with each and see where you land is all I can suggest.

Last edited by brontosaurusrex (2018-02-08 20:43:40)

Martin · 2018-02-08 21:25:35

Blender may not show up as a video editor in your search results but it is actually quite OK and I have had no stability problems. There are lots of good tutorials to be found on youtube.

Disclaimer: I am neither advanced nor ambitious in my movie making: https://www.youtube.com/user/N59E18

/Martin

martix · 2018-02-09 00:33:49

^Einstein loved sailing too! smile Sometimes he had to be rescued because he was completely lost in his thoughts and didn't realize that his sailing became dangerous.

@devnull Here is a useful link. I agree with @bronto, just give them a try.

stevep · 2018-02-09 00:34:12

I do have some updated program versions in my own multimedia repository, if you want shiny new ̶s̶h̶i̶ stuff.

https://build.opensuse.org/project/show … evepassert

http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=127574

brontosaurusrex · 2018-02-09 06:32:35

@Martin, awesome, whatis the top speed you got out of that katamaran?

Martin · 2018-02-09 07:16:28

brontosaurusrex wrote:

@Martin, awesome, whatis the top speed you got out of that katamaran?

20 something knots but very seldom.

/Martin

Indian · 2018-02-09 08:04:54

I have used openshot mainly to create presentations of videos and photos, add some music, it's possible to add transitions, color managing, resize images or video.
And i use ffmpeg 'cause i don't know avconv smile

brontosaurusrex · 2018-02-09 08:16:12

Martin wrote:

brontosaurusrex wrote:
@Martin, awesome, whatis the top speed you got out of that katamaran?
20 something knots but very seldom.
/Martin

I had few runs on this https://transfer.sh/8D5DT/VIDEO0074.mp4 (grey sailboat) over the years, I think top speed is around 11 knots (with 'performance' sails).

Martin · 2018-02-11 11:53:55

I just happaned on video editig tool overview. It is real quick...

/Martin

devnull · 2018-02-11 13:41:44

Thanks Martin! Any reason why you didn't include Blender? I started testing that and looks powerful as video editor

Martin · 2018-02-11 16:41:34

You'll have to ask the guy who created that video rather than me. My guess is Blender's video editing capability is not wellknown.

/Martin

devnull · 2018-02-11 23:08:47

Ah, sorry, I thought video was yours... thanks smile

titan · 2018-02-12 10:29:28

I had a look at all the apps mentioned here last year as I wanted to edit some simple stuff from some gopro type footage. In the end I found Blender the best for me. A bit of a learning curve but worked fine. I have not looked at any other of the apps since and things may well have improved.

martix · 2018-03-06 23:41:34

@devnull So which one fit your needs the best?

I came across a very comprehensive list of audio and video tools, here it is on github. Pretty good collection.

rodeoflea · 2019-02-26 17:32:48

I've been using Flowblade for a while now and it seems pretty good. Very stable.

Version 2 just came out.

Worth a look.

brontosaurusrex · 2019-02-26 19:14:52

Also Olive https://www.olivevideoeditor.org/ (crashy and alpha at this point)

Last edited by brontosaurusrex (2019-02-26 19:34:18)

#1 2018-02-08 14:03:53

Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#2 2018-02-08 14:44:01

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#3 2018-02-08 15:09:07

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#4 2018-02-08 17:12:41

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#5 2018-02-08 17:24:59

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#6 2018-02-08 18:35:19

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#7 2018-02-08 20:42:59

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#8 2018-02-08 21:25:35

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#9 2018-02-09 00:33:49

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#10 2018-02-09 00:34:12

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#11 2018-02-09 06:32:35

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#12 2018-02-09 07:16:28

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#13 2018-02-09 08:04:54

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#14 2018-02-09 08:16:12

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#15 2018-02-11 11:53:55

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#16 2018-02-11 13:41:44

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#17 2018-02-11 16:41:34

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#18 2018-02-11 23:08:47

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#19 2018-02-12 10:29:28

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#20 2018-03-06 23:41:34

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#21 2019-02-26 17:32:48

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

#22 2019-02-26 19:14:52

Re: Help me to choose how to start with video editing on linux

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