“I have recently purchased my first video camcorder. Are you able to offer me some advice on what video editing software would be good for a complete beginner?”
Since you mention a camcorder and not video recorded on your phone, the suggestions that follow are intended for editing on computers with either Windows or macOS.
My top choice for Windows users is Pinnacle Studio. It’s not free, but I find the editing to be intuitive for just starting out. For most beginners, one of the versions that cost in the $30 range will get you started and likely keep you going for quite awhile. If you find the features limiting, you can upgrade right inside the application. It should handle your camcorder’s video like a champ and allow you to add special effects, create custom titles, and save out files for common use cases like YouTube, TikTok, or playback on your iPad or TV.
If you have a Mac, iMovie is available to you for free. It supports all of the common camcorder video formats as well as footage recorded on an iPhone or iPad. Like Pinnacle Studio, it allows you to do all the basics of editing your videos. Apple also makes versions that work with the iPad and iPhone. If it isn’t already installed on your computer, you can download it from the Mac App Store.
Another option for both Windows and macOS is the free version of the DaVinci Resolve video editing tool from Blackmagic Design. I personally find it a bit overwhelming when compared to the simplicity of either Pinnacle Studio or iMovie, but it has quite a few powerful features. If you are thinking about learning more complicated video editing techniques, learning with Resolve so that you can later upgrade to the paid version could be worth the initial learning curve. The free version works for editing video all 8‑bit video formats at up to 60 frames per second, with a max resolution of 3840 x 2160. Unless you purchased a professional grade video camera, it will most likely handle the video you record just fine.
