I have just about concluded that I should learn how to edit video and I will be starting from square one. I’ve always presumed that Final Cut Pro is the tool to use for serious video editing but it seems that Davinci Resolve Studio is now a worthy challenger. Since I would rather learn one and be done I would appreciate recommendations from anyone here who has experience with both programs.
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I dabble in this, take my comments with a grain of salt. Both of my kids have done more video work and so I benefit from looking over their shoulders.
DaVinci resolve has massive number of features and is mostly free. However, it has a learning curve.
Final Cut Pro? Easier for humans to learn.
I have not tried DaVinci, but read on the topic a ton. Have the apple bundle (fcp, motion, Logic Pro etc) and use fcp extensively with motion sprinkled here and there.
Davinci allegedly is an absolute beast for color grading, and if that’s something you’ll be aiming for it has to be the top contender.
Final Cut is considered to be the easiest to dip your toes in, and the most pleasant/fast in terms of UX/UI. I concur, albeit have not tried DaVinci/premiere pro.
One thing that kinda bothers me is the looming question of subscriptions and if the lifetime version of it is going to be abandoned (which would be a huge middle finger from apple to the users, considering it costed 300$ to the recent owners). Apple also acquired motionvfx, a company that made top notch, expensive addons for FCP, and the question now is if any of that is going to be integrated into the perpetual FCP version or be locked behind the paywall.
Apple motion is used for motion graphics in Final Cut, so if you’re into making your own you’ll have to get it too. Davinci has Fusion, but that is node based and generally a much steeper learning curve.
Another thing to think about is platform availability - DaVinci wins here, obviously, and if you wanna edit, say, on your PC too - FCP is not an option.
TL;DR - For quicker, lighter editing (social media, YouTube etc.) imo FCP is the right choice. It’s really fast with assembly/cutting of footage and its unique magnetic timeline makes it faster for simpler needs (although it can definitely be used for bigger projects). There is a huge addon scene there to fit your needs outside of standard tools should the need arise.
Davinci is a much steeper learning curve, but doesn’t need as many addons and is cross platform. It’s the right tool for filmmakers and color grading specialists; It’s also easier to collaborate with others in this ecosystem.
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I guess we’re all different, and will also admit to be a dabbler / non-frequent user of video editors. That said, I am absolutely loving DaVinci Resolve. It fits with the way I think about the editing process, as established by prior Adobe Premiere experiences.
I’ve had Apple Motion for many years, but never managed to produce even a single clip of motion graphics from it. Using the node based Fusion editor in Resolve allowed me to realize an idea that lived in my head for like 10 years. Yes, I did take an online class on Fusion to get started, and it’s crazy advanced and capable, but also so much fun.
FCP has always been too expensive for my limited use, so can’t compare unfortunately. DaVinci Resolve’s free tier includes (AFAIK) everything expect the colour grading module (which was less expensive than FCP last time I checked).
I would recommend you download Resolve and test that first. If it fits your way of working, it might save you a few bucks. It will not in any way limit your output or creative options, for sure.
EDIT: I forgot - Resolve also includes solid audio management and now integrates with native Affinity Studio files.
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