Updated 2024 Approved Color Enhancement Essentials for Final Cut Pro Users

Updated 2024 Approved Color Enhancement Essentials for Final Cut Pro Users

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Color Enhancement Essentials for Final Cut Pro Users

Color Correction in Final Cut Pro

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Most of the advanced camera units these days are capable enough to produce shots with rich quality automatically but still some professionals need to edit captured videos for little color correction. The major reasons behind this additional color correction are:

  • Some people need to correct their mistakes on captured videos; it can be due to an incorrect balance of white and due to under or over-exposure at some points.
  • Customize different video clips by matching them so that they appear in sequence even if they are captured at different moments.
  • For creating a specific style or look in order to support your mood; for example, one may need to make scenes appear cold, dark, cheery, warm, bright or foreboding.

No matter what you want to do for the customization of your videos, Final Cut Pro can provide your complete assistance. The details below can help you to collect complete information about color correction techniques.


The steps below can help all beginners to develop easy video edited projects using Final Cut Pro, but if some of you find this platform a little difficult then it is good to start practicing as a beginner on Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a well-known video editor tool for Mac users that contains all powerful features and an interactive user interface to facilitate all beginners.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Related article:

Methods to Correct Color in Final Cut Pro

Those who wish to use FCP for color signal editing need to follow these steps:

Step 1

First you need to open Color Board on FCP as there is an automatic color correction tool available inside. The Video Board can be opened by using three different ways:

  • You can select audio enhancement and color correction options available below the viewer and then hit “Show Color Board”. It can be simply done by pressing CMD + 6.

Show Color Board”.

  • On effect browser you can easily access color correction effects inside the color category; that is also easier to allocate.

Effect Browser

  • Choose Window and then click on Go To, you will find Color Board on the appeared drop-down menu.

Go to Color Board

  • All the color correction effects will start appearing in the effects section available on the video inspector.

 Color correction effects on video inspector.

Step 2

As soon as you start working on Color Board, it is good to open Video Scopes on your system. For this you need to click on a small icon of light switch available at the top right corner of the viewer and then select Show Video Scopes from drop-down menu. It can be also done by simply pressing Command+7.

 select Show Video Scopes from drop down menu.

As soon as you make this selection, the video scopes window will automatically appear on the next viewer. Here users can easily obtain information related to the current video frame, and they can be easily configured as per need. Go to the settings option available on the top right side of the window and then hit the Waveform option.

 Go to settings option available at top right side of window and then hit Waveform option.

Step 3

Now it is time to work on color correction directly. There are three types of color corrections that users need to work upon: Hue, Saturation, and Exposure. Here is some brief information about all of these:

Exposure or Brightness: On the Color board window you can easily make adjustments for brightness levels of video clips. As you move on to different portions of the image ranging between dark and white parts, the scope will keep on displaying waveforms with values between 0 and 100 representing darkness and brightness respectively. The master slider available on screen helps users to make overall adjustments for brightness by using three control options: highlights for white circles, midtones for gray scale and shadows for black parts. Consider waveform values as a guide for adjustment and move controls up and down to adjust contrast as per need.

 Exposure or Brightness

Saturation: It refers to the richness of colors in an image. Simply select saturation pane from the color board and on the video scopes window you can use the settings menu directly to adjust saturation information for every pixel. The image pixels that are far away from the center of vectorscope circle means they are more saturated as compared to pixels that are little bit closure.

 Saturation

Hue: Hue displays the actual color values in images or frames in terms of primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Use color pane from color board to adjust hue that is displayed in the form of a rainbow on screen. It is possible to manipulate values for highlights, midtones and shadows individually as per need. Using the histogram option available on settings menu can help you to make direct adjustments for all these components.

Hue

Step 4

It is possible to preview all the corrections on the original image before making them final. Simple hit the arrow with left-facing formation in the top left corner of the Color Board and then return to the video inspector. Hit on the Blue box to switch between correction On and Off options.

correction On and Off options

Here’s the video tutorial on how to correct color in Final Cut Pro:

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Most of the advanced camera units these days are capable enough to produce shots with rich quality automatically but still some professionals need to edit captured videos for little color correction. The major reasons behind this additional color correction are:

  • Some people need to correct their mistakes on captured videos; it can be due to an incorrect balance of white and due to under or over-exposure at some points.
  • Customize different video clips by matching them so that they appear in sequence even if they are captured at different moments.
  • For creating a specific style or look in order to support your mood; for example, one may need to make scenes appear cold, dark, cheery, warm, bright or foreboding.

No matter what you want to do for the customization of your videos, Final Cut Pro can provide your complete assistance. The details below can help you to collect complete information about color correction techniques.


The steps below can help all beginners to develop easy video edited projects using Final Cut Pro, but if some of you find this platform a little difficult then it is good to start practicing as a beginner on Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a well-known video editor tool for Mac users that contains all powerful features and an interactive user interface to facilitate all beginners.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Related article:

Methods to Correct Color in Final Cut Pro

Those who wish to use FCP for color signal editing need to follow these steps:

Step 1

First you need to open Color Board on FCP as there is an automatic color correction tool available inside. The Video Board can be opened by using three different ways:

  • You can select audio enhancement and color correction options available below the viewer and then hit “Show Color Board”. It can be simply done by pressing CMD + 6.

Show Color Board”.

  • On effect browser you can easily access color correction effects inside the color category; that is also easier to allocate.

Effect Browser

  • Choose Window and then click on Go To, you will find Color Board on the appeared drop-down menu.

Go to Color Board

  • All the color correction effects will start appearing in the effects section available on the video inspector.

 Color correction effects on video inspector.

Step 2

As soon as you start working on Color Board, it is good to open Video Scopes on your system. For this you need to click on a small icon of light switch available at the top right corner of the viewer and then select Show Video Scopes from drop-down menu. It can be also done by simply pressing Command+7.

 select Show Video Scopes from drop down menu.

As soon as you make this selection, the video scopes window will automatically appear on the next viewer. Here users can easily obtain information related to the current video frame, and they can be easily configured as per need. Go to the settings option available on the top right side of the window and then hit the Waveform option.

 Go to settings option available at top right side of window and then hit Waveform option.

Step 3

Now it is time to work on color correction directly. There are three types of color corrections that users need to work upon: Hue, Saturation, and Exposure. Here is some brief information about all of these:

Exposure or Brightness: On the Color board window you can easily make adjustments for brightness levels of video clips. As you move on to different portions of the image ranging between dark and white parts, the scope will keep on displaying waveforms with values between 0 and 100 representing darkness and brightness respectively. The master slider available on screen helps users to make overall adjustments for brightness by using three control options: highlights for white circles, midtones for gray scale and shadows for black parts. Consider waveform values as a guide for adjustment and move controls up and down to adjust contrast as per need.

 Exposure or Brightness

Saturation: It refers to the richness of colors in an image. Simply select saturation pane from the color board and on the video scopes window you can use the settings menu directly to adjust saturation information for every pixel. The image pixels that are far away from the center of vectorscope circle means they are more saturated as compared to pixels that are little bit closure.

 Saturation

Hue: Hue displays the actual color values in images or frames in terms of primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Use color pane from color board to adjust hue that is displayed in the form of a rainbow on screen. It is possible to manipulate values for highlights, midtones and shadows individually as per need. Using the histogram option available on settings menu can help you to make direct adjustments for all these components.

Hue

Step 4

It is possible to preview all the corrections on the original image before making them final. Simple hit the arrow with left-facing formation in the top left corner of the Color Board and then return to the video inspector. Hit on the Blue box to switch between correction On and Off options.

correction On and Off options

Here’s the video tutorial on how to correct color in Final Cut Pro:

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Most of the advanced camera units these days are capable enough to produce shots with rich quality automatically but still some professionals need to edit captured videos for little color correction. The major reasons behind this additional color correction are:

  • Some people need to correct their mistakes on captured videos; it can be due to an incorrect balance of white and due to under or over-exposure at some points.
  • Customize different video clips by matching them so that they appear in sequence even if they are captured at different moments.
  • For creating a specific style or look in order to support your mood; for example, one may need to make scenes appear cold, dark, cheery, warm, bright or foreboding.

No matter what you want to do for the customization of your videos, Final Cut Pro can provide your complete assistance. The details below can help you to collect complete information about color correction techniques.


The steps below can help all beginners to develop easy video edited projects using Final Cut Pro, but if some of you find this platform a little difficult then it is good to start practicing as a beginner on Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a well-known video editor tool for Mac users that contains all powerful features and an interactive user interface to facilitate all beginners.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Related article:

Methods to Correct Color in Final Cut Pro

Those who wish to use FCP for color signal editing need to follow these steps:

Step 1

First you need to open Color Board on FCP as there is an automatic color correction tool available inside. The Video Board can be opened by using three different ways:

  • You can select audio enhancement and color correction options available below the viewer and then hit “Show Color Board”. It can be simply done by pressing CMD + 6.

Show Color Board”.

  • On effect browser you can easily access color correction effects inside the color category; that is also easier to allocate.

Effect Browser

  • Choose Window and then click on Go To, you will find Color Board on the appeared drop-down menu.

Go to Color Board

  • All the color correction effects will start appearing in the effects section available on the video inspector.

 Color correction effects on video inspector.

Step 2

As soon as you start working on Color Board, it is good to open Video Scopes on your system. For this you need to click on a small icon of light switch available at the top right corner of the viewer and then select Show Video Scopes from drop-down menu. It can be also done by simply pressing Command+7.

 select Show Video Scopes from drop down menu.

As soon as you make this selection, the video scopes window will automatically appear on the next viewer. Here users can easily obtain information related to the current video frame, and they can be easily configured as per need. Go to the settings option available on the top right side of the window and then hit the Waveform option.

 Go to settings option available at top right side of window and then hit Waveform option.

Step 3

Now it is time to work on color correction directly. There are three types of color corrections that users need to work upon: Hue, Saturation, and Exposure. Here is some brief information about all of these:

Exposure or Brightness: On the Color board window you can easily make adjustments for brightness levels of video clips. As you move on to different portions of the image ranging between dark and white parts, the scope will keep on displaying waveforms with values between 0 and 100 representing darkness and brightness respectively. The master slider available on screen helps users to make overall adjustments for brightness by using three control options: highlights for white circles, midtones for gray scale and shadows for black parts. Consider waveform values as a guide for adjustment and move controls up and down to adjust contrast as per need.

 Exposure or Brightness

Saturation: It refers to the richness of colors in an image. Simply select saturation pane from the color board and on the video scopes window you can use the settings menu directly to adjust saturation information for every pixel. The image pixels that are far away from the center of vectorscope circle means they are more saturated as compared to pixels that are little bit closure.

 Saturation

Hue: Hue displays the actual color values in images or frames in terms of primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Use color pane from color board to adjust hue that is displayed in the form of a rainbow on screen. It is possible to manipulate values for highlights, midtones and shadows individually as per need. Using the histogram option available on settings menu can help you to make direct adjustments for all these components.

Hue

Step 4

It is possible to preview all the corrections on the original image before making them final. Simple hit the arrow with left-facing formation in the top left corner of the Color Board and then return to the video inspector. Hit on the Blue box to switch between correction On and Off options.

correction On and Off options

Here’s the video tutorial on how to correct color in Final Cut Pro:

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Most of the advanced camera units these days are capable enough to produce shots with rich quality automatically but still some professionals need to edit captured videos for little color correction. The major reasons behind this additional color correction are:

  • Some people need to correct their mistakes on captured videos; it can be due to an incorrect balance of white and due to under or over-exposure at some points.
  • Customize different video clips by matching them so that they appear in sequence even if they are captured at different moments.
  • For creating a specific style or look in order to support your mood; for example, one may need to make scenes appear cold, dark, cheery, warm, bright or foreboding.

No matter what you want to do for the customization of your videos, Final Cut Pro can provide your complete assistance. The details below can help you to collect complete information about color correction techniques.


The steps below can help all beginners to develop easy video edited projects using Final Cut Pro, but if some of you find this platform a little difficult then it is good to start practicing as a beginner on Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a well-known video editor tool for Mac users that contains all powerful features and an interactive user interface to facilitate all beginners.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Related article:

Methods to Correct Color in Final Cut Pro

Those who wish to use FCP for color signal editing need to follow these steps:

Step 1

First you need to open Color Board on FCP as there is an automatic color correction tool available inside. The Video Board can be opened by using three different ways:

  • You can select audio enhancement and color correction options available below the viewer and then hit “Show Color Board”. It can be simply done by pressing CMD + 6.

Show Color Board”.

  • On effect browser you can easily access color correction effects inside the color category; that is also easier to allocate.

Effect Browser

  • Choose Window and then click on Go To, you will find Color Board on the appeared drop-down menu.

Go to Color Board

  • All the color correction effects will start appearing in the effects section available on the video inspector.

 Color correction effects on video inspector.

Step 2

As soon as you start working on Color Board, it is good to open Video Scopes on your system. For this you need to click on a small icon of light switch available at the top right corner of the viewer and then select Show Video Scopes from drop-down menu. It can be also done by simply pressing Command+7.

 select Show Video Scopes from drop down menu.

As soon as you make this selection, the video scopes window will automatically appear on the next viewer. Here users can easily obtain information related to the current video frame, and they can be easily configured as per need. Go to the settings option available on the top right side of the window and then hit the Waveform option.

 Go to settings option available at top right side of window and then hit Waveform option.

Step 3

Now it is time to work on color correction directly. There are three types of color corrections that users need to work upon: Hue, Saturation, and Exposure. Here is some brief information about all of these:

Exposure or Brightness: On the Color board window you can easily make adjustments for brightness levels of video clips. As you move on to different portions of the image ranging between dark and white parts, the scope will keep on displaying waveforms with values between 0 and 100 representing darkness and brightness respectively. The master slider available on screen helps users to make overall adjustments for brightness by using three control options: highlights for white circles, midtones for gray scale and shadows for black parts. Consider waveform values as a guide for adjustment and move controls up and down to adjust contrast as per need.

 Exposure or Brightness

Saturation: It refers to the richness of colors in an image. Simply select saturation pane from the color board and on the video scopes window you can use the settings menu directly to adjust saturation information for every pixel. The image pixels that are far away from the center of vectorscope circle means they are more saturated as compared to pixels that are little bit closure.

 Saturation

Hue: Hue displays the actual color values in images or frames in terms of primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Use color pane from color board to adjust hue that is displayed in the form of a rainbow on screen. It is possible to manipulate values for highlights, midtones and shadows individually as per need. Using the histogram option available on settings menu can help you to make direct adjustments for all these components.

Hue

Step 4

It is possible to preview all the corrections on the original image before making them final. Simple hit the arrow with left-facing formation in the top left corner of the Color Board and then return to the video inspector. Hit on the Blue box to switch between correction On and Off options.

correction On and Off options

Here’s the video tutorial on how to correct color in Final Cut Pro:

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

The Ultimate Guide to Pinnacle Studio Alternatives for Mac

Best Alternatives of Pinnacle Studio on Mac

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Studio is a video editing software for Windows. There is no version of Studio that runs on Macs, but don’t fret! Check our recommendations below to find your best bet in terms of alternative options that will successfully edit videos on macOS as well.

Studio is designed for anyone new to video editing as well as professionals. believes that there is no one-size-fits-all. There are three tiers of Studio that are designed suited to suit each individual’s editing needs. Studio comes in three plans: Studio 25, Studio 25 Plus, and Studio 25 Ultimate.

<!-- Pinnacle --> Studio

The Studio 25 is the basic version of the software and costs $59.95. The other two advanced versions: Studio 25 Plus and Studio 25 Ultimate, cost $99.95, and $129.95, respectively. There are no monthly or yearly subscriptions. You pay once, and you can use the software as long as you want.

The top-tier version, Studio 25 Ultimate, includes all the features of Studio 25 and Studio 25 Plus. These are:

  • Editing across unlimited tracks
  • 8K Import
  • Advanced Color Grading
  • Multi-camera editing for six cameras
  • 100+ MyDVD menu templates
  • Keyframe controls
  • Motion Tracking with Mosaic Blur

Part 1: Best Alternative - Wondershare Filmora for Mac

With Wondershare Filmora for Mac, you can create great-looking movies on your computer. The software supports various media files and gives access to many sample data and multiple video editing options. You will be able to export the final product in various output formats without any loss of quality.

One unique feature of Filmora for Mac is sharing video clips directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook from the interface. Other notable features include motion tracking, keyframing, creating fun clips with effects, filters, titles, creating custom backgrounds or special effects with green screen, motion elements, cropping videos for different aspect ratios, color matching, auto reframing, audio ducking, and more.

Editing and previewing your video clips in Filmora is a breeze because of exclusive features specially designed for Mac computers. For instance, hardware acceleration makes editing videos faster and smoother on Macs than ever before. Moreover, the Touch Bar has full support so that you can view your footage much easier when scrolling through the timeline.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 2: Top 3 Studio for Mac Alternatives

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a professional video editing software from Apple for anybody looking for a more powerful video editor for their Macs than the included iMovie. The software is also an excellent alternative for professionals creating content for TV and cinema. The latest version runs natively on M1 chip; you can expect apparent video editing improvements.

New features include transcoding media files automatically when copying or consolidating projects and downloadable user guides. Other highlighted recent features include Smart Conform, stabilization for 360-degree videos, performance improvements with RED and Canon RAW files, Inspector panel improvements, and audio crossfades.

Final Cut Pro

Price: $299 (onetime payment, no subscription)

Pros:

  • Fast and superb performance
  • Works perfectly with Apple computers
  • 360-degree video and HDR Support
  • Multicam support

Cons:

  • Lacks motion tracking and stabilization for 360-degree videos
  • Integration with Adobe software seems problematic

2. Lightworks

Another free video editing software that works as a good replacement for pinnacle studio for Mac is Lightworks. It’s packed with many useful features, and although there is paid version, the free version has all the bells and whistles needed for beginners.

However, if you’re working with 4K videos for YouTube or Vimeo—you need to get the paid version of Lightworks as this feature isn’t available in the free version. The paid version costs $25 a month. The free version includes multi-cam support, high-precision video trimming, video exports at 720p, and support for most video formats.

Lightworks

Price: $25/month

Pros:

  • Has many video tutorials
  • Intuitive interface and easy to use
  • The free version is ideal for beginners

Cons:

  • No 4K video support in the free version
  • Lacks predefined filters and effects

3. OpenShot

With easy-to-use features, a simple interface, and real-time previews for transitions between clips, unlimited layers, and audio mixing capabilities, OpenShot is one of the top free video editing software around. One of the best things about OpenShot is that its interface allows for easy-to-use drag and drop features. If you’re a Mac user and looking for a free, open-source video editor that packs more features than iMovie—OpenShot is a great alternative you can’t miss.

With OpenShot’s special effects engine, users can modify, reverse, slow up or slow down videos, and preview projects in real-time. Furthermore, other standard features of OpenShot include composition, image overlays, clip resizing, trimming, snapping, scaling, watermarks, video transitions, title templates, creating personalized SVG vector titles, desktop integration, adjusting fonts, colors, 3D animated titles, and more.

Lightworks

Price: Free, Open Source

Pros:

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Unlimited layers
  • Professional transitions and effects
  • Runs on entry-levels hardware

Cons

  • Exporting videos isn’t the fastest

Conclusion

Studio is a video editor that works well on Windows or Linux computers but lacks support for Macs. This article lists some great options as Studio alternatives on macOS, including Wondershare Filmora for Mac. We think this would be your best pick, given how easy-to-use this program will be, even if you are new to editing videos. Besides, there isn’t much learning curve here due to the software’s intuitive interface and amazing functionalities. And Wondershare Filmora for Mac is the one that can satisfy amateurs and professionals!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Studio is a video editing software for Windows. There is no version of Studio that runs on Macs, but don’t fret! Check our recommendations below to find your best bet in terms of alternative options that will successfully edit videos on macOS as well.

Studio is designed for anyone new to video editing as well as professionals. believes that there is no one-size-fits-all. There are three tiers of Studio that are designed suited to suit each individual’s editing needs. Studio comes in three plans: Studio 25, Studio 25 Plus, and Studio 25 Ultimate.

<!-- Pinnacle --> Studio

The Studio 25 is the basic version of the software and costs $59.95. The other two advanced versions: Studio 25 Plus and Studio 25 Ultimate, cost $99.95, and $129.95, respectively. There are no monthly or yearly subscriptions. You pay once, and you can use the software as long as you want.

The top-tier version, Studio 25 Ultimate, includes all the features of Studio 25 and Studio 25 Plus. These are:

  • Editing across unlimited tracks
  • 8K Import
  • Advanced Color Grading
  • Multi-camera editing for six cameras
  • 100+ MyDVD menu templates
  • Keyframe controls
  • Motion Tracking with Mosaic Blur

Part 1: Best Alternative - Wondershare Filmora for Mac

With Wondershare Filmora for Mac, you can create great-looking movies on your computer. The software supports various media files and gives access to many sample data and multiple video editing options. You will be able to export the final product in various output formats without any loss of quality.

One unique feature of Filmora for Mac is sharing video clips directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook from the interface. Other notable features include motion tracking, keyframing, creating fun clips with effects, filters, titles, creating custom backgrounds or special effects with green screen, motion elements, cropping videos for different aspect ratios, color matching, auto reframing, audio ducking, and more.

Editing and previewing your video clips in Filmora is a breeze because of exclusive features specially designed for Mac computers. For instance, hardware acceleration makes editing videos faster and smoother on Macs than ever before. Moreover, the Touch Bar has full support so that you can view your footage much easier when scrolling through the timeline.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 2: Top 3 Studio for Mac Alternatives

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a professional video editing software from Apple for anybody looking for a more powerful video editor for their Macs than the included iMovie. The software is also an excellent alternative for professionals creating content for TV and cinema. The latest version runs natively on M1 chip; you can expect apparent video editing improvements.

New features include transcoding media files automatically when copying or consolidating projects and downloadable user guides. Other highlighted recent features include Smart Conform, stabilization for 360-degree videos, performance improvements with RED and Canon RAW files, Inspector panel improvements, and audio crossfades.

Final Cut Pro

Price: $299 (onetime payment, no subscription)

Pros:

  • Fast and superb performance
  • Works perfectly with Apple computers
  • 360-degree video and HDR Support
  • Multicam support

Cons:

  • Lacks motion tracking and stabilization for 360-degree videos
  • Integration with Adobe software seems problematic

2. Lightworks

Another free video editing software that works as a good replacement for pinnacle studio for Mac is Lightworks. It’s packed with many useful features, and although there is paid version, the free version has all the bells and whistles needed for beginners.

However, if you’re working with 4K videos for YouTube or Vimeo—you need to get the paid version of Lightworks as this feature isn’t available in the free version. The paid version costs $25 a month. The free version includes multi-cam support, high-precision video trimming, video exports at 720p, and support for most video formats.

Lightworks

Price: $25/month

Pros:

  • Has many video tutorials
  • Intuitive interface and easy to use
  • The free version is ideal for beginners

Cons:

  • No 4K video support in the free version
  • Lacks predefined filters and effects

3. OpenShot

With easy-to-use features, a simple interface, and real-time previews for transitions between clips, unlimited layers, and audio mixing capabilities, OpenShot is one of the top free video editing software around. One of the best things about OpenShot is that its interface allows for easy-to-use drag and drop features. If you’re a Mac user and looking for a free, open-source video editor that packs more features than iMovie—OpenShot is a great alternative you can’t miss.

With OpenShot’s special effects engine, users can modify, reverse, slow up or slow down videos, and preview projects in real-time. Furthermore, other standard features of OpenShot include composition, image overlays, clip resizing, trimming, snapping, scaling, watermarks, video transitions, title templates, creating personalized SVG vector titles, desktop integration, adjusting fonts, colors, 3D animated titles, and more.

Lightworks

Price: Free, Open Source

Pros:

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Unlimited layers
  • Professional transitions and effects
  • Runs on entry-levels hardware

Cons

  • Exporting videos isn’t the fastest

Conclusion

Studio is a video editor that works well on Windows or Linux computers but lacks support for Macs. This article lists some great options as Studio alternatives on macOS, including Wondershare Filmora for Mac. We think this would be your best pick, given how easy-to-use this program will be, even if you are new to editing videos. Besides, there isn’t much learning curve here due to the software’s intuitive interface and amazing functionalities. And Wondershare Filmora for Mac is the one that can satisfy amateurs and professionals!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Studio is a video editing software for Windows. There is no version of Studio that runs on Macs, but don’t fret! Check our recommendations below to find your best bet in terms of alternative options that will successfully edit videos on macOS as well.

Studio is designed for anyone new to video editing as well as professionals. believes that there is no one-size-fits-all. There are three tiers of Studio that are designed suited to suit each individual’s editing needs. Studio comes in three plans: Studio 25, Studio 25 Plus, and Studio 25 Ultimate.

<!-- Pinnacle --> Studio

The Studio 25 is the basic version of the software and costs $59.95. The other two advanced versions: Studio 25 Plus and Studio 25 Ultimate, cost $99.95, and $129.95, respectively. There are no monthly or yearly subscriptions. You pay once, and you can use the software as long as you want.

The top-tier version, Studio 25 Ultimate, includes all the features of Studio 25 and Studio 25 Plus. These are:

  • Editing across unlimited tracks
  • 8K Import
  • Advanced Color Grading
  • Multi-camera editing for six cameras
  • 100+ MyDVD menu templates
  • Keyframe controls
  • Motion Tracking with Mosaic Blur

Part 1: Best Alternative - Wondershare Filmora for Mac

With Wondershare Filmora for Mac, you can create great-looking movies on your computer. The software supports various media files and gives access to many sample data and multiple video editing options. You will be able to export the final product in various output formats without any loss of quality.

One unique feature of Filmora for Mac is sharing video clips directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook from the interface. Other notable features include motion tracking, keyframing, creating fun clips with effects, filters, titles, creating custom backgrounds or special effects with green screen, motion elements, cropping videos for different aspect ratios, color matching, auto reframing, audio ducking, and more.

Editing and previewing your video clips in Filmora is a breeze because of exclusive features specially designed for Mac computers. For instance, hardware acceleration makes editing videos faster and smoother on Macs than ever before. Moreover, the Touch Bar has full support so that you can view your footage much easier when scrolling through the timeline.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 2: Top 3 Studio for Mac Alternatives

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a professional video editing software from Apple for anybody looking for a more powerful video editor for their Macs than the included iMovie. The software is also an excellent alternative for professionals creating content for TV and cinema. The latest version runs natively on M1 chip; you can expect apparent video editing improvements.

New features include transcoding media files automatically when copying or consolidating projects and downloadable user guides. Other highlighted recent features include Smart Conform, stabilization for 360-degree videos, performance improvements with RED and Canon RAW files, Inspector panel improvements, and audio crossfades.

Final Cut Pro

Price: $299 (onetime payment, no subscription)

Pros:

  • Fast and superb performance
  • Works perfectly with Apple computers
  • 360-degree video and HDR Support
  • Multicam support

Cons:

  • Lacks motion tracking and stabilization for 360-degree videos
  • Integration with Adobe software seems problematic

2. Lightworks

Another free video editing software that works as a good replacement for pinnacle studio for Mac is Lightworks. It’s packed with many useful features, and although there is paid version, the free version has all the bells and whistles needed for beginners.

However, if you’re working with 4K videos for YouTube or Vimeo—you need to get the paid version of Lightworks as this feature isn’t available in the free version. The paid version costs $25 a month. The free version includes multi-cam support, high-precision video trimming, video exports at 720p, and support for most video formats.

Lightworks

Price: $25/month

Pros:

  • Has many video tutorials
  • Intuitive interface and easy to use
  • The free version is ideal for beginners

Cons:

  • No 4K video support in the free version
  • Lacks predefined filters and effects

3. OpenShot

With easy-to-use features, a simple interface, and real-time previews for transitions between clips, unlimited layers, and audio mixing capabilities, OpenShot is one of the top free video editing software around. One of the best things about OpenShot is that its interface allows for easy-to-use drag and drop features. If you’re a Mac user and looking for a free, open-source video editor that packs more features than iMovie—OpenShot is a great alternative you can’t miss.

With OpenShot’s special effects engine, users can modify, reverse, slow up or slow down videos, and preview projects in real-time. Furthermore, other standard features of OpenShot include composition, image overlays, clip resizing, trimming, snapping, scaling, watermarks, video transitions, title templates, creating personalized SVG vector titles, desktop integration, adjusting fonts, colors, 3D animated titles, and more.

Lightworks

Price: Free, Open Source

Pros:

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Unlimited layers
  • Professional transitions and effects
  • Runs on entry-levels hardware

Cons

  • Exporting videos isn’t the fastest

Conclusion

Studio is a video editor that works well on Windows or Linux computers but lacks support for Macs. This article lists some great options as Studio alternatives on macOS, including Wondershare Filmora for Mac. We think this would be your best pick, given how easy-to-use this program will be, even if you are new to editing videos. Besides, there isn’t much learning curve here due to the software’s intuitive interface and amazing functionalities. And Wondershare Filmora for Mac is the one that can satisfy amateurs and professionals!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Studio is a video editing software for Windows. There is no version of Studio that runs on Macs, but don’t fret! Check our recommendations below to find your best bet in terms of alternative options that will successfully edit videos on macOS as well.

Studio is designed for anyone new to video editing as well as professionals. believes that there is no one-size-fits-all. There are three tiers of Studio that are designed suited to suit each individual’s editing needs. Studio comes in three plans: Studio 25, Studio 25 Plus, and Studio 25 Ultimate.

<!-- Pinnacle --> Studio

The Studio 25 is the basic version of the software and costs $59.95. The other two advanced versions: Studio 25 Plus and Studio 25 Ultimate, cost $99.95, and $129.95, respectively. There are no monthly or yearly subscriptions. You pay once, and you can use the software as long as you want.

The top-tier version, Studio 25 Ultimate, includes all the features of Studio 25 and Studio 25 Plus. These are:

  • Editing across unlimited tracks
  • 8K Import
  • Advanced Color Grading
  • Multi-camera editing for six cameras
  • 100+ MyDVD menu templates
  • Keyframe controls
  • Motion Tracking with Mosaic Blur

Part 1: Best Alternative - Wondershare Filmora for Mac

With Wondershare Filmora for Mac, you can create great-looking movies on your computer. The software supports various media files and gives access to many sample data and multiple video editing options. You will be able to export the final product in various output formats without any loss of quality.

One unique feature of Filmora for Mac is sharing video clips directly to YouTube, Vimeo, or Facebook from the interface. Other notable features include motion tracking, keyframing, creating fun clips with effects, filters, titles, creating custom backgrounds or special effects with green screen, motion elements, cropping videos for different aspect ratios, color matching, auto reframing, audio ducking, and more.

Editing and previewing your video clips in Filmora is a breeze because of exclusive features specially designed for Mac computers. For instance, hardware acceleration makes editing videos faster and smoother on Macs than ever before. Moreover, the Touch Bar has full support so that you can view your footage much easier when scrolling through the timeline.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Part 2: Top 3 Studio for Mac Alternatives

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a professional video editing software from Apple for anybody looking for a more powerful video editor for their Macs than the included iMovie. The software is also an excellent alternative for professionals creating content for TV and cinema. The latest version runs natively on M1 chip; you can expect apparent video editing improvements.

New features include transcoding media files automatically when copying or consolidating projects and downloadable user guides. Other highlighted recent features include Smart Conform, stabilization for 360-degree videos, performance improvements with RED and Canon RAW files, Inspector panel improvements, and audio crossfades.

Final Cut Pro

Price: $299 (onetime payment, no subscription)

Pros:

  • Fast and superb performance
  • Works perfectly with Apple computers
  • 360-degree video and HDR Support
  • Multicam support

Cons:

  • Lacks motion tracking and stabilization for 360-degree videos
  • Integration with Adobe software seems problematic

2. Lightworks

Another free video editing software that works as a good replacement for pinnacle studio for Mac is Lightworks. It’s packed with many useful features, and although there is paid version, the free version has all the bells and whistles needed for beginners.

However, if you’re working with 4K videos for YouTube or Vimeo—you need to get the paid version of Lightworks as this feature isn’t available in the free version. The paid version costs $25 a month. The free version includes multi-cam support, high-precision video trimming, video exports at 720p, and support for most video formats.

Lightworks

Price: $25/month

Pros:

  • Has many video tutorials
  • Intuitive interface and easy to use
  • The free version is ideal for beginners

Cons:

  • No 4K video support in the free version
  • Lacks predefined filters and effects

3. OpenShot

With easy-to-use features, a simple interface, and real-time previews for transitions between clips, unlimited layers, and audio mixing capabilities, OpenShot is one of the top free video editing software around. One of the best things about OpenShot is that its interface allows for easy-to-use drag and drop features. If you’re a Mac user and looking for a free, open-source video editor that packs more features than iMovie—OpenShot is a great alternative you can’t miss.

With OpenShot’s special effects engine, users can modify, reverse, slow up or slow down videos, and preview projects in real-time. Furthermore, other standard features of OpenShot include composition, image overlays, clip resizing, trimming, snapping, scaling, watermarks, video transitions, title templates, creating personalized SVG vector titles, desktop integration, adjusting fonts, colors, 3D animated titles, and more.

Lightworks

Price: Free, Open Source

Pros:

  • Ideal for beginners
  • Unlimited layers
  • Professional transitions and effects
  • Runs on entry-levels hardware

Cons

  • Exporting videos isn’t the fastest

Conclusion

Studio is a video editor that works well on Windows or Linux computers but lacks support for Macs. This article lists some great options as Studio alternatives on macOS, including Wondershare Filmora for Mac. We think this would be your best pick, given how easy-to-use this program will be, even if you are new to editing videos. Besides, there isn’t much learning curve here due to the software’s intuitive interface and amazing functionalities. And Wondershare Filmora for Mac is the one that can satisfy amateurs and professionals!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Voice to Text: Mastering the Art of Accurate Transcription

icon note Latest Speech-to-Text Feature For 2024 with Filmora

1. Supports direct transcription of bilingual subtitles up to 27 languages.

2. Allows to transcribe video speech to text in one click.

3. Boosts editing efficiency by applying the STT feature.

Try STT Now Try STT Now

toolbar stt

If you’re looking, specifically, for a clean method of doing so, then it’s understandable if you’re facing difficulty with finding the right one. There are many speech-to-text audio converters available.

However, not all of them are all that great in quality. In this article, we’ll be introducing a couple of converters that you can use to change audio to text as well as show you how to do it

In this article

01 [Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?](#Part 1)

02 [How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits](#Part 2)

03 [Best 6 Free Paid and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022](#Part 3)

Part 1 Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?

Do apps that convert speech to text actually exist? The quick answer? Yes

Transcribe (shown in the image below), which is available for all iOS devices, is one such app. This tool, as you might be able to guess from the name, is able to transcribe spoken audio into text. It’s especially useful for creating notes (personal use), as it means you can have your thoughts written down in an instant without ever having to lift up a pen or type it down for yourself.

And, just to be very clear, there are many more speech-to-text apps like this one

Transcribe - Speech to Text App

Part 2 How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits

For this next part, we’ll be introducing a variety of different methods that you can use to convert audio to text. From apps, software, online solutions, etc. There are plenty of ways, so you can find the one that works best for you

01Online Speech-to-Text — VEED.IO

The first and most common way to turn speech-to-text—especially for those who want something more accessible no matter what device they are on—is online speech-to-text MP3 converters A great example of one of these online tools is the MP3 to text converter, VEED-IO. The key feature here is that you won’t have to download or install anything to start using it Also, VEED.IO (and many other online speech-to-text converters) is FREE.

Online MP3 to Text Converter

02Windows Dictate

This next one is more of a live audio-to-text tool. Or rather, a live transcriber tool, but it can be useful despite the fact, especially since, once again, it is 100% free and FREE to use. What we’re talking about, in this case, is Windows Dictate. This is a built-in function for Windows OS users. It’s there to increase accessibility for those with vision impairment, but it’s also a great way of easily converting your speech to text.

Windows - Speech | Dictate Feature

03Smart Phone App - Transcribe

As mentioned earlier, there are apps out there that work in pretty much the same way. Another notable one, besides the app ‘Transcribe’ that we introduced earlier, is the iOS app called ‘Voice to Text Pro - Transcribe.’ This particular app offers advanced speech-to-text functionalities that will allow you to either transcribe live audio or upload an MP3 to transcribe. It also has support for over 150+ languages and has a convenient notes function for taking advantage of the transcription function.

Voice-to-Text App

04Google Docs

Another 100% FREE method of getting live speech to text is Google Doc’s “Voice Typing” function. You can turn this on at any time by making use of the command ‘Ctrl+Shift+S’ or by turning it on manually from the ‘Tools’ tab on a Google Document (shown in the image below). It’s a very easy way of getting your thoughts onto paper while working on other things.

Voice Typing Feature

05Apple Dictation (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)

If you’re a Mac user, then the second item on this list was probably of not much use to you. But, don’t worry, Windows Dictates has a Mac/iOS counterpart It’s in the form of Apple Dictation Again, it was set up to increase accessibility for users with visual impairment, but it can be pretty useful as well for the times when your hands are too busy to actively type your thoughts down.

You can turn on this feature by going to your device’s ‘Accessibility’ settings and enabling ‘Voice Control’ (as is shown in the image below). It will need to be downloaded and installed onto your device, but it should begin working pretty quickly after that.

apple Voice Control Features

Part 3 Best 6 Free, Paid, and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022

For this next section, we’ll be introducing some other speech-to-text solutions. Specific ones this time though A URL for each tool will be provided, as well as a description of how each one works. It will be a mixed list, so expect both FREE & Paid solutions.

01Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an audio-to-text solution that is advertised as an automated notes-taking tool The best part about it is, undoubtedly, the fact that is available for most devices (Mac, PC, tablets, smartphones, etc.) There is a FREE version of the software available as well. So, if you’d like to try it out before committing to it, that’s definitely possible

ai Note-Taking Solution

02Watson Speech to Text

Watson Speech-to-Text is a FREEmium cloud-based audio-to-text converter that, much like Otter.ai, you can try for free It offers multi-language support. And is perfect for transcribing live audio for a more professional setting.

Watson Speech to Text

03Dragon Anywhere

When people talk about advanced transcription methods, the first one to come is usually “Dragon Anywhere.” Again, much like Watson, this is a business solution that is often found in more professional settings. Also, it comes in a software version (for desktops and laptops) and an app version (for tablets and smart devices). The price of this particular piece of software is high, but there’s no denying that it produces high-quality speech-to-text

Dragon Anywhere Professional Dictation App

04Verbit - Transcription & Captioning

Our next pick, ‘Verbit’ is popular with content creators as it is marketed as both a transcription and captioning software (for adding subtitles or captions to video content). It is a FREEmium software as well as a more of a business solution. But that only means that you have access to more advanced features.

Verbit Captioning and Transcription Tool

05Amazon Transcribe

Again, our next pick, “Amazon Transcribe” is an audio-to-text converter that is very popular with businesses. It uses high-grade artificial intelligence to ensure that the end-product is as accurate as possible — which allows you to more comfortably make use of it without having to make constant fixes.

Amazon Transcribe

06Wondershare Filmora

Although Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is better known for its more general content creation functions (video editing), it also offers a vast library of extra solutions, including speech-to-text converting capabilities, that you can use in order to make your projects more accessible It is, much like most of the other tools we’ve introduced, a FREEmium software. But, the benefit here is that you can gain access to audio-to-text software along with all the other tools and features that Filmora offers — giving you more bang for your buck

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

filmora-video-editor

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Despite not being as well-known or, even, as commonly used as its sister-function “Text to Speech”, speech-to-text apps have been growing more and more popular. Especially for both businesses and content creators

Fortunately, there are apps and other solutions that you can use in order to take full advantage of this new technology A whole variety of them, even

Note, however, that many of the better speech-to-text software is PAID or FREEmium products — as the technology required to produce accurate audio-to-text transcriptions is usually quite complex

kwicutKwiCut

Transform Long Videos into Short Ones Instantly

Turn long videos into viral clips. Effortlessly transform lengthy videos into engaging, shareable clips.

Get Started Now

Download For Free

kwicut

Try STT Now Try STT Now

toolbar stt

If you’re looking, specifically, for a clean method of doing so, then it’s understandable if you’re facing difficulty with finding the right one. There are many speech-to-text audio converters available.

However, not all of them are all that great in quality. In this article, we’ll be introducing a couple of converters that you can use to change audio to text as well as show you how to do it

In this article

01 [Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?](#Part 1)

02 [How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits](#Part 2)

03 [Best 6 Free Paid and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022](#Part 3)

Part 1 Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?

Do apps that convert speech to text actually exist? The quick answer? Yes

Transcribe (shown in the image below), which is available for all iOS devices, is one such app. This tool, as you might be able to guess from the name, is able to transcribe spoken audio into text. It’s especially useful for creating notes (personal use), as it means you can have your thoughts written down in an instant without ever having to lift up a pen or type it down for yourself.

And, just to be very clear, there are many more speech-to-text apps like this one

Transcribe - Speech to Text App

Part 2 How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits

For this next part, we’ll be introducing a variety of different methods that you can use to convert audio to text. From apps, software, online solutions, etc. There are plenty of ways, so you can find the one that works best for you

01Online Speech-to-Text — VEED.IO

The first and most common way to turn speech-to-text—especially for those who want something more accessible no matter what device they are on—is online speech-to-text MP3 converters A great example of one of these online tools is the MP3 to text converter, VEED-IO. The key feature here is that you won’t have to download or install anything to start using it Also, VEED.IO (and many other online speech-to-text converters) is FREE.

Online MP3 to Text Converter

02Windows Dictate

This next one is more of a live audio-to-text tool. Or rather, a live transcriber tool, but it can be useful despite the fact, especially since, once again, it is 100% free and FREE to use. What we’re talking about, in this case, is Windows Dictate. This is a built-in function for Windows OS users. It’s there to increase accessibility for those with vision impairment, but it’s also a great way of easily converting your speech to text.

Windows - Speech | Dictate Feature

03Smart Phone App - Transcribe

As mentioned earlier, there are apps out there that work in pretty much the same way. Another notable one, besides the app ‘Transcribe’ that we introduced earlier, is the iOS app called ‘Voice to Text Pro - Transcribe.’ This particular app offers advanced speech-to-text functionalities that will allow you to either transcribe live audio or upload an MP3 to transcribe. It also has support for over 150+ languages and has a convenient notes function for taking advantage of the transcription function.

Voice-to-Text App

04Google Docs

Another 100% FREE method of getting live speech to text is Google Doc’s “Voice Typing” function. You can turn this on at any time by making use of the command ‘Ctrl+Shift+S’ or by turning it on manually from the ‘Tools’ tab on a Google Document (shown in the image below). It’s a very easy way of getting your thoughts onto paper while working on other things.

Voice Typing Feature

05Apple Dictation (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)

If you’re a Mac user, then the second item on this list was probably of not much use to you. But, don’t worry, Windows Dictates has a Mac/iOS counterpart It’s in the form of Apple Dictation Again, it was set up to increase accessibility for users with visual impairment, but it can be pretty useful as well for the times when your hands are too busy to actively type your thoughts down.

You can turn on this feature by going to your device’s ‘Accessibility’ settings and enabling ‘Voice Control’ (as is shown in the image below). It will need to be downloaded and installed onto your device, but it should begin working pretty quickly after that.

apple Voice Control Features

Part 3 Best 6 Free, Paid, and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022

For this next section, we’ll be introducing some other speech-to-text solutions. Specific ones this time though A URL for each tool will be provided, as well as a description of how each one works. It will be a mixed list, so expect both FREE & Paid solutions.

01Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an audio-to-text solution that is advertised as an automated notes-taking tool The best part about it is, undoubtedly, the fact that is available for most devices (Mac, PC, tablets, smartphones, etc.) There is a FREE version of the software available as well. So, if you’d like to try it out before committing to it, that’s definitely possible

ai Note-Taking Solution

02Watson Speech to Text

Watson Speech-to-Text is a FREEmium cloud-based audio-to-text converter that, much like Otter.ai, you can try for free It offers multi-language support. And is perfect for transcribing live audio for a more professional setting.

Watson Speech to Text

03Dragon Anywhere

When people talk about advanced transcription methods, the first one to come is usually “Dragon Anywhere.” Again, much like Watson, this is a business solution that is often found in more professional settings. Also, it comes in a software version (for desktops and laptops) and an app version (for tablets and smart devices). The price of this particular piece of software is high, but there’s no denying that it produces high-quality speech-to-text

Dragon Anywhere Professional Dictation App

04Verbit - Transcription & Captioning

Our next pick, ‘Verbit’ is popular with content creators as it is marketed as both a transcription and captioning software (for adding subtitles or captions to video content). It is a FREEmium software as well as a more of a business solution. But that only means that you have access to more advanced features.

Verbit Captioning and Transcription Tool

05Amazon Transcribe

Again, our next pick, “Amazon Transcribe” is an audio-to-text converter that is very popular with businesses. It uses high-grade artificial intelligence to ensure that the end-product is as accurate as possible — which allows you to more comfortably make use of it without having to make constant fixes.

Amazon Transcribe

06Wondershare Filmora

Although Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is better known for its more general content creation functions (video editing), it also offers a vast library of extra solutions, including speech-to-text converting capabilities, that you can use in order to make your projects more accessible It is, much like most of the other tools we’ve introduced, a FREEmium software. But, the benefit here is that you can gain access to audio-to-text software along with all the other tools and features that Filmora offers — giving you more bang for your buck

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

filmora-video-editor

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Despite not being as well-known or, even, as commonly used as its sister-function “Text to Speech”, speech-to-text apps have been growing more and more popular. Especially for both businesses and content creators

Fortunately, there are apps and other solutions that you can use in order to take full advantage of this new technology A whole variety of them, even

Note, however, that many of the better speech-to-text software is PAID or FREEmium products — as the technology required to produce accurate audio-to-text transcriptions is usually quite complex

kwicutKwiCut

Transform Long Videos into Short Ones Instantly

Turn long videos into viral clips. Effortlessly transform lengthy videos into engaging, shareable clips.

Get Started Now

Download For Free

kwicut

Try STT Now Try STT Now

toolbar stt

If you’re looking, specifically, for a clean method of doing so, then it’s understandable if you’re facing difficulty with finding the right one. There are many speech-to-text audio converters available.

However, not all of them are all that great in quality. In this article, we’ll be introducing a couple of converters that you can use to change audio to text as well as show you how to do it

In this article

01 [Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?](#Part 1)

02 [How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits](#Part 2)

03 [Best 6 Free Paid and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022](#Part 3)

Part 1 Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?

Do apps that convert speech to text actually exist? The quick answer? Yes

Transcribe (shown in the image below), which is available for all iOS devices, is one such app. This tool, as you might be able to guess from the name, is able to transcribe spoken audio into text. It’s especially useful for creating notes (personal use), as it means you can have your thoughts written down in an instant without ever having to lift up a pen or type it down for yourself.

And, just to be very clear, there are many more speech-to-text apps like this one

Transcribe - Speech to Text App

Part 2 How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits

For this next part, we’ll be introducing a variety of different methods that you can use to convert audio to text. From apps, software, online solutions, etc. There are plenty of ways, so you can find the one that works best for you

01Online Speech-to-Text — VEED.IO

The first and most common way to turn speech-to-text—especially for those who want something more accessible no matter what device they are on—is online speech-to-text MP3 converters A great example of one of these online tools is the MP3 to text converter, VEED-IO. The key feature here is that you won’t have to download or install anything to start using it Also, VEED.IO (and many other online speech-to-text converters) is FREE.

Online MP3 to Text Converter

02Windows Dictate

This next one is more of a live audio-to-text tool. Or rather, a live transcriber tool, but it can be useful despite the fact, especially since, once again, it is 100% free and FREE to use. What we’re talking about, in this case, is Windows Dictate. This is a built-in function for Windows OS users. It’s there to increase accessibility for those with vision impairment, but it’s also a great way of easily converting your speech to text.

Windows - Speech | Dictate Feature

03Smart Phone App - Transcribe

As mentioned earlier, there are apps out there that work in pretty much the same way. Another notable one, besides the app ‘Transcribe’ that we introduced earlier, is the iOS app called ‘Voice to Text Pro - Transcribe.’ This particular app offers advanced speech-to-text functionalities that will allow you to either transcribe live audio or upload an MP3 to transcribe. It also has support for over 150+ languages and has a convenient notes function for taking advantage of the transcription function.

Voice-to-Text App

04Google Docs

Another 100% FREE method of getting live speech to text is Google Doc’s “Voice Typing” function. You can turn this on at any time by making use of the command ‘Ctrl+Shift+S’ or by turning it on manually from the ‘Tools’ tab on a Google Document (shown in the image below). It’s a very easy way of getting your thoughts onto paper while working on other things.

Voice Typing Feature

05Apple Dictation (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)

If you’re a Mac user, then the second item on this list was probably of not much use to you. But, don’t worry, Windows Dictates has a Mac/iOS counterpart It’s in the form of Apple Dictation Again, it was set up to increase accessibility for users with visual impairment, but it can be pretty useful as well for the times when your hands are too busy to actively type your thoughts down.

You can turn on this feature by going to your device’s ‘Accessibility’ settings and enabling ‘Voice Control’ (as is shown in the image below). It will need to be downloaded and installed onto your device, but it should begin working pretty quickly after that.

apple Voice Control Features

Part 3 Best 6 Free, Paid, and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022

For this next section, we’ll be introducing some other speech-to-text solutions. Specific ones this time though A URL for each tool will be provided, as well as a description of how each one works. It will be a mixed list, so expect both FREE & Paid solutions.

01Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an audio-to-text solution that is advertised as an automated notes-taking tool The best part about it is, undoubtedly, the fact that is available for most devices (Mac, PC, tablets, smartphones, etc.) There is a FREE version of the software available as well. So, if you’d like to try it out before committing to it, that’s definitely possible

ai Note-Taking Solution

02Watson Speech to Text

Watson Speech-to-Text is a FREEmium cloud-based audio-to-text converter that, much like Otter.ai, you can try for free It offers multi-language support. And is perfect for transcribing live audio for a more professional setting.

Watson Speech to Text

03Dragon Anywhere

When people talk about advanced transcription methods, the first one to come is usually “Dragon Anywhere.” Again, much like Watson, this is a business solution that is often found in more professional settings. Also, it comes in a software version (for desktops and laptops) and an app version (for tablets and smart devices). The price of this particular piece of software is high, but there’s no denying that it produces high-quality speech-to-text

Dragon Anywhere Professional Dictation App

04Verbit - Transcription & Captioning

Our next pick, ‘Verbit’ is popular with content creators as it is marketed as both a transcription and captioning software (for adding subtitles or captions to video content). It is a FREEmium software as well as a more of a business solution. But that only means that you have access to more advanced features.

Verbit Captioning and Transcription Tool

05Amazon Transcribe

Again, our next pick, “Amazon Transcribe” is an audio-to-text converter that is very popular with businesses. It uses high-grade artificial intelligence to ensure that the end-product is as accurate as possible — which allows you to more comfortably make use of it without having to make constant fixes.

Amazon Transcribe

06Wondershare Filmora

Although Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is better known for its more general content creation functions (video editing), it also offers a vast library of extra solutions, including speech-to-text converting capabilities, that you can use in order to make your projects more accessible It is, much like most of the other tools we’ve introduced, a FREEmium software. But, the benefit here is that you can gain access to audio-to-text software along with all the other tools and features that Filmora offers — giving you more bang for your buck

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

filmora-video-editor

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Despite not being as well-known or, even, as commonly used as its sister-function “Text to Speech”, speech-to-text apps have been growing more and more popular. Especially for both businesses and content creators

Fortunately, there are apps and other solutions that you can use in order to take full advantage of this new technology A whole variety of them, even

Note, however, that many of the better speech-to-text software is PAID or FREEmium products — as the technology required to produce accurate audio-to-text transcriptions is usually quite complex

kwicutKwiCut

Transform Long Videos into Short Ones Instantly

Turn long videos into viral clips. Effortlessly transform lengthy videos into engaging, shareable clips.

Get Started Now

Download For Free

kwicut

Try STT Now Try STT Now

toolbar stt

If you’re looking, specifically, for a clean method of doing so, then it’s understandable if you’re facing difficulty with finding the right one. There are many speech-to-text audio converters available.

However, not all of them are all that great in quality. In this article, we’ll be introducing a couple of converters that you can use to change audio to text as well as show you how to do it

In this article

01 [Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?](#Part 1)

02 [How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits](#Part 2)

03 [Best 6 Free Paid and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022](#Part 3)

Part 1 Is There an App That Converts Voice Recording to Text?

Do apps that convert speech to text actually exist? The quick answer? Yes

Transcribe (shown in the image below), which is available for all iOS devices, is one such app. This tool, as you might be able to guess from the name, is able to transcribe spoken audio into text. It’s especially useful for creating notes (personal use), as it means you can have your thoughts written down in an instant without ever having to lift up a pen or type it down for yourself.

And, just to be very clear, there are many more speech-to-text apps like this one

Transcribe - Speech to Text App

Part 2 How to Convert Audio to Text - FREE & No Time Limits

For this next part, we’ll be introducing a variety of different methods that you can use to convert audio to text. From apps, software, online solutions, etc. There are plenty of ways, so you can find the one that works best for you

01Online Speech-to-Text — VEED.IO

The first and most common way to turn speech-to-text—especially for those who want something more accessible no matter what device they are on—is online speech-to-text MP3 converters A great example of one of these online tools is the MP3 to text converter, VEED-IO. The key feature here is that you won’t have to download or install anything to start using it Also, VEED.IO (and many other online speech-to-text converters) is FREE.

Online MP3 to Text Converter

02Windows Dictate

This next one is more of a live audio-to-text tool. Or rather, a live transcriber tool, but it can be useful despite the fact, especially since, once again, it is 100% free and FREE to use. What we’re talking about, in this case, is Windows Dictate. This is a built-in function for Windows OS users. It’s there to increase accessibility for those with vision impairment, but it’s also a great way of easily converting your speech to text.

Windows - Speech | Dictate Feature

03Smart Phone App - Transcribe

As mentioned earlier, there are apps out there that work in pretty much the same way. Another notable one, besides the app ‘Transcribe’ that we introduced earlier, is the iOS app called ‘Voice to Text Pro - Transcribe.’ This particular app offers advanced speech-to-text functionalities that will allow you to either transcribe live audio or upload an MP3 to transcribe. It also has support for over 150+ languages and has a convenient notes function for taking advantage of the transcription function.

Voice-to-Text App

04Google Docs

Another 100% FREE method of getting live speech to text is Google Doc’s “Voice Typing” function. You can turn this on at any time by making use of the command ‘Ctrl+Shift+S’ or by turning it on manually from the ‘Tools’ tab on a Google Document (shown in the image below). It’s a very easy way of getting your thoughts onto paper while working on other things.

Voice Typing Feature

05Apple Dictation (iOS, iPadOS, macOS)

If you’re a Mac user, then the second item on this list was probably of not much use to you. But, don’t worry, Windows Dictates has a Mac/iOS counterpart It’s in the form of Apple Dictation Again, it was set up to increase accessibility for users with visual impairment, but it can be pretty useful as well for the times when your hands are too busy to actively type your thoughts down.

You can turn on this feature by going to your device’s ‘Accessibility’ settings and enabling ‘Voice Control’ (as is shown in the image below). It will need to be downloaded and installed onto your device, but it should begin working pretty quickly after that.

apple Voice Control Features

Part 3 Best 6 Free, Paid, and Online Speech-to-text Software in 2022

For this next section, we’ll be introducing some other speech-to-text solutions. Specific ones this time though A URL for each tool will be provided, as well as a description of how each one works. It will be a mixed list, so expect both FREE & Paid solutions.

01Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an audio-to-text solution that is advertised as an automated notes-taking tool The best part about it is, undoubtedly, the fact that is available for most devices (Mac, PC, tablets, smartphones, etc.) There is a FREE version of the software available as well. So, if you’d like to try it out before committing to it, that’s definitely possible

ai Note-Taking Solution

02Watson Speech to Text

Watson Speech-to-Text is a FREEmium cloud-based audio-to-text converter that, much like Otter.ai, you can try for free It offers multi-language support. And is perfect for transcribing live audio for a more professional setting.

Watson Speech to Text

03Dragon Anywhere

When people talk about advanced transcription methods, the first one to come is usually “Dragon Anywhere.” Again, much like Watson, this is a business solution that is often found in more professional settings. Also, it comes in a software version (for desktops and laptops) and an app version (for tablets and smart devices). The price of this particular piece of software is high, but there’s no denying that it produces high-quality speech-to-text

Dragon Anywhere Professional Dictation App

04Verbit - Transcription & Captioning

Our next pick, ‘Verbit’ is popular with content creators as it is marketed as both a transcription and captioning software (for adding subtitles or captions to video content). It is a FREEmium software as well as a more of a business solution. But that only means that you have access to more advanced features.

Verbit Captioning and Transcription Tool

05Amazon Transcribe

Again, our next pick, “Amazon Transcribe” is an audio-to-text converter that is very popular with businesses. It uses high-grade artificial intelligence to ensure that the end-product is as accurate as possible — which allows you to more comfortably make use of it without having to make constant fixes.

Amazon Transcribe

06Wondershare Filmora

Although Wondershare Filmora Video Editor is better known for its more general content creation functions (video editing), it also offers a vast library of extra solutions, including speech-to-text converting capabilities, that you can use in order to make your projects more accessible It is, much like most of the other tools we’ve introduced, a FREEmium software. But, the benefit here is that you can gain access to audio-to-text software along with all the other tools and features that Filmora offers — giving you more bang for your buck

Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora

Get started easily with Filmora’s powerful performance, intuitive interface, and countless effects

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

filmora-video-editor

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Despite not being as well-known or, even, as commonly used as its sister-function “Text to Speech”, speech-to-text apps have been growing more and more popular. Especially for both businesses and content creators

Fortunately, there are apps and other solutions that you can use in order to take full advantage of this new technology A whole variety of them, even

Note, however, that many of the better speech-to-text software is PAID or FREEmium products — as the technology required to produce accurate audio-to-text transcriptions is usually quite complex

kwicutKwiCut

Transform Long Videos into Short Ones Instantly

Turn long videos into viral clips. Effortlessly transform lengthy videos into engaging, shareable clips.

Get Started Now

Download For Free

kwicut

Chroma Keying Mastery: Advanced FCP X Tutorials for Professionals

FCP X: Create a Chroma-Key (Green-screen) Effect

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.


This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Getting Started

First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:

  • Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
  • In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
  • The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
  • The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
  • There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
  • Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
  • Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.

Setting up the Key

fx chroma 01

The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.

Step 1: Select the green screen clip

From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)

fx chroma 02

Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.

fx chroma 03

Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.

fx chroma 04

In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.

Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:

  • Cleaning up the matte
  • Edge adjustments
  • Light wrap

fx chroma 06

Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.

fx chroma 07

Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)

fx chroma 05

If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.

fx chroma 09

Step 2: Tweaks Video

Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.

fx chroma 09a

Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:

  • Color Selection
  • Matte Tools
  • Spill Suppression
  • Light Wrap

The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)

Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.

This is a subtle effect, but very cool.

fx chroma 10

Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.

fx chroma 11

When you are done, you have a great looking key!

Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask

fx chroma 12

Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)

Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.

fx chroma 13

Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.

NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.

fx chroma 14

Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.

However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.

How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?

Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.

In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.

By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?

Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?

Conclusion

The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.


This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Getting Started

First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:

  • Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
  • In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
  • The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
  • The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
  • There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
  • Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
  • Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.

Setting up the Key

fx chroma 01

The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.

Step 1: Select the green screen clip

From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)

fx chroma 02

Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.

fx chroma 03

Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.

fx chroma 04

In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.

Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:

  • Cleaning up the matte
  • Edge adjustments
  • Light wrap

fx chroma 06

Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.

fx chroma 07

Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)

fx chroma 05

If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.

fx chroma 09

Step 2: Tweaks Video

Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.

fx chroma 09a

Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:

  • Color Selection
  • Matte Tools
  • Spill Suppression
  • Light Wrap

The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)

Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.

This is a subtle effect, but very cool.

fx chroma 10

Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.

fx chroma 11

When you are done, you have a great looking key!

Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask

fx chroma 12

Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)

Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.

fx chroma 13

Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.

NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.

fx chroma 14

Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.

However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.

How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?

Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.

In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.

By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?

Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?

Conclusion

The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.


This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Getting Started

First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:

  • Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
  • In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
  • The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
  • The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
  • There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
  • Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
  • Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.

Setting up the Key

fx chroma 01

The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.

Step 1: Select the green screen clip

From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)

fx chroma 02

Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.

fx chroma 03

Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.

fx chroma 04

In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.

Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:

  • Cleaning up the matte
  • Edge adjustments
  • Light wrap

fx chroma 06

Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.

fx chroma 07

Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)

fx chroma 05

If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.

fx chroma 09

Step 2: Tweaks Video

Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.

fx chroma 09a

Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:

  • Color Selection
  • Matte Tools
  • Spill Suppression
  • Light Wrap

The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)

Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.

This is a subtle effect, but very cool.

fx chroma 10

Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.

fx chroma 11

When you are done, you have a great looking key!

Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask

fx chroma 12

Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)

Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.

fx chroma 13

Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.

NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.

fx chroma 14

Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.

However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.

How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?

Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.

In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.

By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?

Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?

Conclusion

The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.


This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )


Getting Started

First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:

  • Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
  • In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
  • The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
  • The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
  • There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
  • Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
  • Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.

Setting up the Key

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The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.

Step 1: Select the green screen clip

From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)

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Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.

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Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.

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In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.

Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:

  • Cleaning up the matte
  • Edge adjustments
  • Light wrap

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Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.

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Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)

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If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.

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Step 2: Tweaks Video

Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.

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Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:

  • Color Selection
  • Matte Tools
  • Spill Suppression
  • Light Wrap

The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)

Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.

This is a subtle effect, but very cool.

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Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.

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When you are done, you have a great looking key!

Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask

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Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)

Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.

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Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.

NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.

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Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.

However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.

How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?

Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.

In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.

By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?

Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?

Conclusion

The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

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Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Also read:

  • Title: Updated 2024 Approved Color Enhancement Essentials for Final Cut Pro Users
  • Author: MdadeLe
  • Created at : 2024-05-19 08:28:17
  • Updated at : 2024-05-20 08:28:17
  • Link: https://smart-video-editing.techidaily.com/updated-2024-approved-color-enhancement-essentials-for-final-cut-pro-users/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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Updated 2024 Approved Color Enhancement Essentials for Final Cut Pro Users