Australian company Blackmagic Design offers their video editing application DaVinci Resolve for a wide range of high quality ultra HD effects, render queue, and video uploading options among other features.
$0
Free
Storyblocks
Score 9.6 out of 10
N/A
Storyblocks is a rapid video creation platform that allows individuals and businesses to create videos fast enough to meet strategic objectives. Storyblocks helps users avoid having to choose between creativity, output, & meeting business goals. It is presented as a complete content solution for creators and businesses alike, providing an unlimited library of high-quality royalty-free video, audio and images available through subscription plans.
Hands down, Storyblocks offers more for your investment. The licensing is straightforward, and provides all the coverage we need to legally offer services to our clients within a budget we can live with.
I learned so much from this instructional exercise, and I appreciated how the educator is an expert all-day colorist. The section on sound reduction was particularly instructive. I noticed a few inconsistencies between certain methodologies in this instructional exercise and approaches suggested in the Advanced Color Grading in Resolve 15 instructional exercise (e.g., where to place sound reduction in the hub tree), but this is to be expected given that there is no one right way to do any of this. I also learned a lot about Resolve's "Restoration" modules for working with authentic film. This instructional exercise will come up again and again in my work.
Storyblocks is perfect for your advertisements, films, music videos, and any type of video media. It's also great for still imagery. I can't imagine someone not being able to find suitable material for their creative or corporate project. The best part is that with a subscription, you can download UNLIMITED assets. That's absolutely incredible, as most other stock sites require monthly fees as well as enormous costs per video purchase. With Storyblocks, every picture, song, sound effect, and image comes to you at no extra cost. It's not quite as good as iStock. I've used both, and the quality of iStock is ultimately superior. But for Storyblocks' convenience, it's almost as good.
Comprehensive - It has video editing, motion graphics, audio, and export tools in one package. It's probably more than most people need, but you don't have to use all of the tools.
Platform and format agnostic - I like that I can work on projects on Mac or PC, and there are regular updates for new codecs and cameras. You can edit pretty much any format with no compatibility worries.
Price - They offer a free version which has most of the functionality. It's a great way to try before you buy and learn the tools. The final price is only $300 per license for the full product. It's a bargain for everything you get, and you don't feel like you're not getting your money's worth, even if you don't use all of the tools.
Some areas of Resolve can leave inexperienced users feeling a bit handicapped. Multiple user sign-ins can be confusing, and determining where to place the database of users might need troubleshooting. The exporting workflow is a bit finicky and will need to be learned to use for even simple capabilities.
Resolve is not friendly on a single screen editing workflow, and even worse on a laptop. Ideally, an editor has multiple screens in the first place, but because a colorist needs to see scopes and monitor, handling both on the same screen, along with all tools is a challenge. This software is best with more screens.
While the NLE capability of Resolve makes for a quick editing workspace, my little experience with it leads me to the conclusion that unless someone desires a completely free alternative to other NLE software, Resolve is not your best friend. Other programs are better.
I give it 9 out of 10 because I have been using Resolve since 2013 and am happy to see its evolution over the years. The Blackmagic team has really done a great job to make it better on a year-on-year basis. I like its workflow, that it has all a video editor needs, like transcoding, supporting a wide range of codes, video editing capabilities, a professional color grading suite, and improved Fusion and Fairlight, and in the end its export and mastering capability i can export pretty much every formate from it.
Not only do they have classes available in Los Angeles, but they'll also allow you to work from home with the manual and demo materials, and then let you test out to get a certification. They get back to you quickly when you email, and they've got a "family" approach to customer service, they make you feel like you're important to them.
It has a free version that is very complete. It lets everyone on the team use a lot of very good tools for video editing that would be very expensive while using other solutions that are equally excellent but not as generous. The cost is a very good reason but not the only one, the software is actually really good.
Storyblocks is significantly better for videos. Pexels is better for photography. Pexels doesn't have audio, so no competition there. I have found these two resources to be complimentary and great to use for client promotions and educational videos
Most of my videos are not public which is shown to clients. There is a clear improvement of quality which impacts the client interest. It's difficult to put a number but I am much more confident in showing our videos in the sales pitch.
