If you are looking to bring a more personal touch to your videos, it can be quite difficult to find a video editing app that offers premium features without sacrificing the critical interface elements that contribute to an intuitive user experience. Movavi Video Editor 23 for Mac, conveniently strikes the perfect balance between extensive features and straightforward controls that turn complex actions into linear workflows. I had the opportunity to test the latest version of Movavi Video Editor 23 on my 2021 MacBook Pro.

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by Movavi. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.

Drag. Drop. Action!

Part of what makes Movavi Video Editor 23 such a joy to use is how versatile its interface is. In short, if something feels like it should work, it likely does. You can learn a lot about the software by simply playing with it.

When you first launch the application, you are greeted by an empty timeline and an area called the “Media Bin.”

Within a few seconds, I was able start importing videos from the Movies folder on my Mac by dragging and dropping them into the Media Bin. Since Movavi Video Editor 23 supports a wide variety of file formats, including .MOV files from the iPhone, I did not have to worry about converting the footage to a different file format before I imported it. The extensive list of supported file formats is just one of the many ways that Movavi has reduced some of the typical roadblocks that users encounter with other video editors.

Unfortunately, when I tried dragging the very same set of videos out of the built-in Photos app in macOS, the videos surfaced as still images inside the Media Bin. I would like to see Movavi integrate a fix for this unexpected behavior or suggest a workaround, as many creators expect their smartphone videos to be accessible from the native Photos app via drag and drop.

A Clearly Organized Timeline

Aligned to the left of the Media Bin are dedicated toggles for Filters, Transitions, Titles, Stickers, and a “More Tools” menu, housing clip enhancements such as AI video stabilization. All of these effects, except for the options under the “More Tools” section, can be added to clips in the timeline by performing a drag and drop gesture.

It was effortless adding a bold opening title text, a number of tasteful light leak filters, elegant transitions, royalty-free music, and even some emoji stickers to my film.

Understanding where to drag these effect blocks is incredibly straightforward, thanks to Movavi’s timeline design, which breaks the workflow into three distinct parts: Titles track, Videos track, and Audio track. Here is the breakdown:

  • Titles track: displays titles that are attached to a video clip and will stay in sync with the video track. Videos track: contains your videos and photos, as well as the transitions between them.Audio track: this track is best utilized for background music. Audio that is placed in this track will play independent of the video.

When adding effects from the “More Tools” menu to clips in the timeline, Movavi Video Editor 23 automatically marks them with a black and white “fx” icon. I wished I could have toggled a setting that allows video effects to show up in their own separate track, which would make them easier to organize and manipulate.

Movavi’s practice of separating the timeline into distinct “tracks” brings order to the conventional complexity that users have come to expect from other video editors, and it would be a welcome change to see that level of clarity applied more consistently throughout the application.

Accessing Clip Properties

After a few clicks, I realized that double-clicking a clip in the timeline will reveal adjustable clip properties, such as volume and speed. I used the slider to create some amazing slow-mo action footage of my dog running in the grass. Instead of spending time searching for a slow-mo toggle or thumbing through filters, I was able to quickly achieve the effect that I wanted with this intuitive interface.

Right-clicking on a clip in the timeline oddly buries the “Clip Properties” screen under the “General” section of the “Tools” menu item. Since “Clip Properties” is the default menu that is activated by a double-click, It would make sense if the right-click action provided a more direct link to the “Clip Properties” screen.

Edit Elements With Ease

After adding a title text element, I realized that the default color of white was barely legible against the bright background of my clip. My first instinct was to click on the title in hopes that a style editor would appear.

A “Clip Editing” screen appeared complete with controls to change the font, adjust the color of the text, customize opacity, add a background, and more. If you have ever used a word processor or a photo editing app on your smartphone, you will feel right at home using Movavi. You can stylize just about anything you would like just by clicking on it.

Catering to Creators

One of the most seamless tools that the Movavi Video Editor 23 provides is direct integration for some of the most popular content-sharing websites for creators, including YouTube, Vimeo, and even Google Drive. After you click the “Export” button, you can select the “Upload Online” option, sign in to your accounts once and only once, then Movavi will handle the rest, enabling you to upload directly to your favorite websites.

The web export screen also provides a thorough list of toggles for setting export quality, adding a title/description, tags, setting video categories, and customizing content visibility online. This precise level of integration is unparalleled and sets Movavi’s offering apart from its competitors.

System Requirements

According to Movavi, the following system requirements are needed to run Movavi on your Mac:

  • Operating System: macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 or higherProcessor: 64-bit Intel processorGraphics card: Intel HD Graphics 2000, NVIDIA GeForce series 8 and 8M, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX 5600, AMD Radeon R600, Mobility Radeon HD 4330, Mobility FirePro series, Radeon R5 M230 or higher graphics card with up-to-date drivers.Display: 1280 x 800 screen resolution. 32-bit colorRAM: 2 GB RAMHard Drive Space: 400 MB available for installation, 600 MB for ongoing operations.System Permissions: Administrator permissions required for installation.

I compiled this review of Movavi Video Editor 23 while testing the application on a 2021 MacBook Pro powered by Apple’s M1 Pro SoC. While the application ran flawlessly on my Mac, it is only natural to wonder if Movavi is working on a version that is fully optimized for Apple Silicon, which would presumably offer improved export times and dedicated acceleration for ProRes video. Note that if you do have an Apple Silicon Mac, you will have to install Rosetta 2 to run this application.

Availability

You can download Movavi Video Editor 23 for Mac for free, initiating a seven-day trial period. During the trial, Movavi will add a watermark on output videos and only allow the ability to save half the audio length when exporting audio files. After the trial period concludes, you can access all of the features that the video editor has to offer by purchasing a one-year license for $50.95 or lifetime access for $74.95.

With the level of straightforward utility and logical integration with content sharing websites that Movavi Video Editor 23 offers, this app remains an incredible value for home video makers and seasoned creators alike. You can view more details regarding pricing and device compatibility on Movavi’s website.

Self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur and tech enthusiast Brahm Shank is captivated by the impact of consumer tech: “It’s profoundly moving when people discover that the phone in their pocket or the tiny computer on their wrist has the power to enrich their lives in ways they never imagined.” Apple, Inc. and its unique position at the intersection of technology and the creative arts, resonates deeply with Brahm and his passion for helping people unleash their potential using technology. Over the years, Brahm has held various podcasts - including famed technologist David Pogue of The New York Times on topics such as Big Tech and digital wellness.

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