Avid Pro Tools vs. Final Cut Pro vs. iMovie

Pro Tools is great for recording multiple different tracks of audio at the same time with live inserts that you can later remove/edit if they do not suit the track. It always makes a backup of any file you copy in which is essential when working with original copies of files for clients, and you can rest easy knowing that any changes made can be reverted without having to start over or having any work be lost. You can compile many different tracks for larger-scale projects and group or bus them together with ease. The software is very user-friendly for beginners and is a great tool overall for anyone looking to edit audio. The only instance it is less suited it would be if you're only making small audio edits with any adobe video software. Also if your business is not heavy on audio editing or recording it may be a costly investment.

Incentivized

It's an excellent tool, but maybe too complicated for novice video makers...so not 10. Apart from this, the one thing that could be improved ( and maybe I am a novice and cannot find how to do this!!) is creating videos with much smaller file sizes. Most of the videos in 720 are over 1 GB, and I have to use third-party software to reduce the size ( e.g., Handbrake). This is the one thing I would improve. The rest of the software is very well designed. I would love to know more easily how to use some of the tools, but my usage is very limited anyway. I do not have to buy an annual license, which is fantastic. It is expensive to start using, but there are no annual fees afterward. Perfect for my business.

Incentivized

iMovie is a great editing tool for beginners and users with little to no experience. If you are looking for a simple, straight forward way to edit your videos without having any training, this is the tool for you. If you are looking for a robust and very advanced editing platform, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Incentivized

• Integration with UAD - I have used Pro Tools with a number of UAD devices over the years and it always integrates perfectly, and saves CPU resources by offloading effects processing to dedicated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chips on external hardware. Plus, UAD effects sound great!
• Multitrack Recording and Arrangement of Music - This is really the big one for Pro Tools. It's for recording and arranging, and that's really its focus.
• Import and Export - Pro Tools is great for its ability to import and export multitrack files in a way that mimics traditional analog multitrack recording.

Incentivized

• Adheres to the conceptually easy timeline model, thus making simple onboarding.
• Feature-rich toolset which allows for incredible product manipulation from the get-go
• Expandability via a vibrant plugin ecosystem. Final Cut plugins are broadly developed.
• Rich integration with studio products: Motion, Compressor
• Version updates exhibit a product team in touch with what the market needs

Incentivized

• File management. This is one of the tricky things that is not a benefit if you are a pro user, however iMovie has a built in file management system that makes sure all the files you are using in your edit are carried along with the project file. It's easy to lose these files as it typically requires manual organization - however iMovie does it for you, automatically.
• The editing UI is designed for a modern generation. No longer are we connected to the manual cutting and pasting of the moviola era, it's a drag and drop friendly platform for the digital generation.
• Auto save is another huge feature. You never lose progress due to forgetting to hit command + S.

Incentivized

• It does not like to cooperate with third-party interfaces.
• Plug-ins can get quite expensive.
• They are proprietary about their product, so it does not lend itself well to open-source features that you can use with other programs.

Incentivized

• Would be nice to have more built in exporting options for those of use who don't know how to compress videos well.
• More built in effects would be a plus.
• I always struggle with adding text but it could just be me.

Incentivized

• Exporting. You’d think this would be more intuitive but the language Apple uses is a little bizarre...you can choose to save it as a theater project or as a file but it’s not super clear.
• Fine tuning. Sometimes you need an exact moment where to stop audio and start a person talking and it can be difficult to get that level of detail to match up.
• Tutorials. It would be nice for iMovie to have some quick and dirty tutorials for you to take within the software as many others do but as far as I can tell there is no such thing.

Incentivized

It’s very easy to use it on a basic level. There is a learning curve for advanced stuff, but if you have a need to learn the advanced features and shortcuts then it’s not too hard. Plus, you’re probably using it to make money then anyway, so it all works out

Incentivized

It's clever as can be software-wise. The learning curve wasn't insane. I probably use it with 60% efficiency and I am VERY productive at the rate. In fact, I'm so good at that rate that I don't even bother to become 70 or 80 percent more efficient. I'm doing fine

Incentivized

Once again, iMovie is a fast application. It's easy to use and navigate through. It has never frozen or glitched. There is an auto-save feature which helps you to easily close and re-open the software and continue from where you left off. Being an Apple product I do believe there is a level of superiority that surpasses Windows as well.

The times I've had problems with Avid, they've responded within about 48 hours, and most of the time with a reasonable solution. More often than not, however, I've had to resort to forums to get answers, because when I'm having a problem with the software, I can't afford to wait 48 hours for a solution

Incentivized

Most of the support I need, I find online. While Apple has a Q/A section on their site, it's not always beneficial in answering the questions that I have. With that said, they regularly update the software, and when updates lead to crashes, they usually have another update not far behind.

Incentivized

Apple does a great job supporting its products. I have never encountered trouble that could not be solved through chat or email. The knowledgebase section of the website, video tutorials online and various user forums also help with most issues. If after using all of these avenues you still have an issue, it may be time for you to outsource your project to a professional!

Incentivized

Implementing Final Cut Pro into the organization was a smooth transition from what we didn't had. We felt we went from zero to hero with this software, due to all the great features that we learned. We took some time in training staff on how to use the software but at the end, this was very useful and important.

Incentivized

I like Apple Logic Pro. For certain things. The user interface is relatively simple and it can be quick and easy to get a project going. There are also certain features in Logic that don't yet exist in Avid's Pro Tools. But for most things I find it more cumbersome and less intuitive than Avid Pro Tools. This might be because I worked my way through the industry using Avid Pro Tools vs. Logic. But Knowing both of them, I still think Avid Pro Tools is the better of the two options.

Incentivized

Against all other platforms, Final Cut Pro has provided the most consistent, comprehensive and complete package over any other platform we have tried. The thoroughness of the application and the ease of use make it our no-brainer, must-have editorial tool. All of our top editors won't work with anything else and that is what makes our work consistent and reliable and easy to do the work we need to do without having to 'fight' with the software, application or platform to get the best possible results.

Incentivized

Not as easy to use as iMovie, and a similar cost structure. iMovie is easier for Apple users / and MS users, to both get proficient at. Movie Maker isn't bad, it just isn't as slick as iMovie. We actually used MovieMaker for a couple of years before migrating most users over to iMovie. We have not regretted the move.

Incentivized

• POSITIVE: Even with the 2022 Price Increase ($299/yr) - One billable hour more than covers my software expense. I could drop Slate and Waves and still have all the tools I need to continue producing.
• POSITIVE: "PRO TOOLS POWERED" carries more industry weight than "Reaper Powered" or "We Use Logic."
• NEGATIVE: I am continually tempted to upgrade my hardware to take full advantage of Pro Tools including Atmos, etc.

Incentivized

• Over the nine years that I've been using Final Cut, it's paid for itself multiple times.
• Once you learn the tool, it can be used quickly and efficiently.
• It only works with Macs but can also be used on a iPad if you are budget conscious.

Incentivized

• iMovie has given a fantastic ROI for the brand as it allows us to expand our channels (YouTube, TikTok, IG Reels, etc.) and reach new users.
• Video is the new digital platform to get on and iMovie helps us churn out video content quickly and precisely.
• iMovie helps get our message across in a visually pleasing way for users to easily understand what our product is about, giving us a great ROI as more users convert after watching video content.

Incentivized