I've only tried iMovie and FCP, and very little of the latter for reasons mentioned above. Actually, making training videos is one of the easier things to do with video, although, of course, I don't know your exact needs for football instruction, for example if the cameras are on tripods, run and gun, or a combination of both.Īs for your original question, perhaps someone can chime in with info on non-Apple products. Getting the proper kind of tripod is also useful. You also need a camera, preferably two, with up-to-date video features (such as found on many newer mirrorless cameras) such as a good mic setup (which can be checked via headphones or other means while recording), smooth and quiet video optimized zoom lenses, good stabilization whether in body or built into lenses and equally quiet fixed lenses. For example, as much as I've tried, I often fail to get panning right, which is why some 'professionals' say don't pan. I've seen some real crap come from expensive editors, as well as really good stuff from programs like iMovie. What's more important than the above is the knowledge that if someone's videos appear unprofessional (whatever that means) it's hardly the software's fault it just means that the shooter needs to practice more. I often do a lot of slo-mo for shoots like ice skating, rollerblading, marathons, even unusual recordings such taken while riding a roller coaster. Such features are often more dependent on the codecs being used than the software. Since you mentioned football, it seems that you need slo-mo (as well as the opposite) tools which iMovie has - quite good, in fact, as you can micromanage the percentage of the speed change. If you are using an unusual codec (or using older hardware that uses interlacing) you would need one of the good free programs, such as HandBrake to prepare your clips for whatever editor you end up preferring. It takes all of the usual codecs I throw at it, as I often mix clips from different cameras, even GoPros. I actually learned about a feature that I didn't know existed.

Plus, it's free or close to it - there are a couple of good books on it and, coincidentally, I just took one of the free classes at an Apple Store. It has a wealth of audio, exposure correcting, cropping, PIP, stabilization, transition, and title tools. I have a copy of FCP but haven't used it as I don't see where it does a better job than iMovie for 99% of people.

However, iMovie, mentioned by an earlier poster is quite advanced (latest version) and I've been using it for years to make instruction videos, videos that need voice over added, sports videos, as well as student performances and presentations.

Video editor mac os x