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iMovie - Enabling Mac Users Everywhere to Edit Video
August 26, 2019

iMovie - Enabling Mac Users Everywhere to Edit Video

Joel McAfee | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with iMovie

iMovie is not an app I would recommend for use within a business setting unless the video editing required is basic. Cut, paste, export, etc... That said - in a world where more people have a Mac computer than ever before - Apple provides the built in ability to edit video in a very accessible manner. It's very user-friendly for new users to pick it up, and very easy for an Apple based organization to implement it. It gives the power of video editing to the everyday person across your organization.
  • 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.
  • Audio for video editing is a bit limiting. A pro user would feel limited, but the average person can pretty well do what they need in iMovie and that's what matters for this platform.
  • The design of the UI could use some updating so it doesn't feel so bubbly. This may purely be an aesthetic concern, and maybe the old style makes it more approachable, but i'd prefer to see a more slick design so you don't feel like you are using a kids program.
  • If you ever want to share the project or manually manage files, it can be a bit difficult to figure out. Fortunately Apple allows you to import a project from iMovie into FCPX if you ever want to be upwardly mobile.
  • One of the most commonplace ways we use iMovie is to teach young editors or clients with no video experience how to edit. It's usually something an Apple owner already has access to, whether on their phone, ipad, or mac - so you can almost always direct them to pull it up and get started right away.
  • Considering there is no extra cost to use iMovie, there is little to no investment so that's a big plus. Apple updates their software regularly and make it so automated that you hardly know it has happened. This saves a ton of time and energy towards keeping your computer and software functioning 100%
  • I hesitate to say we use it for this, but if you ever need to create well designed graphics for video - iMovie is a bit too limiting - you get what you pay for here. You're better off designing your graphics in another platform or using a different editor entirely as the templates are not great, nor that customizable.
I'd give it a higher rating but there seems to be some things that are so over-simplified that it's tough for an experienced user to work backwards when needed. That said, it certainly is easy enough for a 7 year old to pick up and use without much instruction or training.
Aside from needing to call in, I've had no issues with support. Apple keeps their software modern, up to date, and functioning without any complaints from me or my team. It's always prompting me to update (or performing it in the background without me knowing) before I think it needs one.
iMovie is not a pro video editor like FCPX or Adobe - however if you are entry level and not looking to advance further, I'd recommend staying there. If you plan to get more experienced in the industry, I'd leave it behind in an instance and move on to a pro editor.
If you or your organization need to perform some simple video editing tasks but don't need the feature set of a pro-editor - the free with a Mac iMovie is the way to go. It's a true gateway into the FCPX universe but not necessarily something you have to invest a ton of time to learn and put to use.