Ok, this will be a somewhat lengthy review of this product, but I'm hoping it will help people decide whether to get it or not. I've had this product for a few months now, almost 6 I believe. And in that time, I've been satisfied with the editing software. I decided mid last year to start a YouTube channel and wanted to get a video editing software to help me spruce up my vids. I had been using Windows MovieMaker but it was so barebones and hard to work with when it came to large files that it wasn't up to snuff. After searching and researching several different software packages, I decided to purchase this one.
Now, the major factor in me purchasing this software were 2 reasons and they were the following; First, this editing software is actually Filmora Wondershare. It is known to be a very easy program for beginners to use in order to get acquainted with video editing software. The second being that the software doesn't require a super high end PC to work.
I'm using a rather old but well taken cared of PC and this video editor works on it. At the time I purchased the editing software, it functioned on both a 32bit or 64bit version of Windows. Unfortunately, if you don't have a 64bit version of Windows, this will no longer work because of the recent update that was done to the editor. Now, even though it does work with older PCs with 64bit versions of Windows, it doesn't mean that it will be a smooth experience. Not saying that you will have constant crashes or anything, but you will notice a slower performance but that is because of the hardware. It's not severe but it is noticeable and thus worth mentioning.
When you receive the product it will come in a DVD like package with both the CD and an insert containing the registration information. Now, if you don't have a way to use the CD on your PC, you can head over to Filmora Wondershare's website and download the editing software with the link they provide and then use the insert to register the product. I've read some of these reviews where it says that the product is a trial version, now I'm not sure what they got exactly, but from my experience, the initial installed editor is a trial version but when you actually use the registration information that is provided, it removes any watermarks or requests to register the product. Be aware that to register the software, it requires the PC to be connected to the internet in order to access the site's activation page. If you can't connect to the internet, you have to contact Filmora directly.
Let's get to the actual software review, as I stated earlier, Filmora Wondershare is known to be a very easy to use video editor. Many other video editors can be a bit complicated and overwhelm the user because it requires a bit of setup before actually using. The beauty of Wondershare is that when you start the application, it prompts you to choose between various modes but the software still sets everything up for you. So, if you choose the full mode, it sets everything up so that you can easily import your videos and drop them into the timeline to begin editing. It has enough options for beginners to make their simple projects into professional looking ones. You can splice, trim, insert transitions, overlay art that is provided by the software or your imported ones, add music, etc.. It has enough for a novice but more than enough for a beginner to tinker around with. You can import a variety of different file formats, an exact list can be found on their website, I believe. One of the great parts of the software is that you have enough options to render your file into several formats, from MP4, AVI, MOV, MP3, GIF and many more. Again, there is enough here for the beginner to the intermediate video editing user.
One thing that really bugged me about the software is this, if you actually use the CD to install the software, it is installing, at least the CD I had, an earlier version of Filmora's video editing software. That version has several transitions and effects in it that are worthwhile to use, but once you register the product it will force download the newest version. Well, with this newer version, you actually lose access to some of these older effects. I contacted Filmora regarding this issue and the reply was not helpful, basically these old effects were removed because supposedly the new editor had trouble using these legacy effects so they removed them and cannot provide you a link to download them again. Definitely sucked to hear that.
I'm giving this product a 4 star rating simply because it is definitely recommended for someone that isn't familiar with video editing but want to start doing it for their projects or to start a YouTube channel. For someone that has a ton of experience and has used other editors, that is another story. Personally, if you like a ton of features this in no way will satisfy you as there simply isn't enough there. For beginners it's plenty and a great way to learn. Now, if you have used other editors and want something easier, this is it. Last, I want to apologize for the long review, but again, I'd rather be as thorough as I can be to better help someone who is deciding to purchase this product. Have a great day.
Edit: Something that I forgot to add, for those that are wanting to know, yes, Filmora Wondershare can screen record. It's not the best for my PC because it is older hardware, but I'm sure that people with newer PCs should have a smoother experience.