Im trying to get my small YouTube channel off the ground before the end of the year and the editing part is just killing me. I usually shoot gaming clips and commentary stuff from my bedroom in Seattle, but I have zero formal background in video production and honestly, my laptop is starting to sound like a jet engine whenever I open Premiere. I need something faster.
Ive been looking into Descript because the text-based editing seems like a lifesaver, but then I keep hearing about Adobe Premiere Elements with its new AI features or even CapCut for being super quick for social media exports. My budget is pretty tight since im just starting out, maybe around 30 bucks a month max if the tool is really worth it. Im torn between going with Descript for the ease of use or just sticking with Adobe since everyone says its the industry standard, but I dont know if my current setup can even handle it. Do you guys think the AI workflow in Descript is actually reliable for long-term projects or should I just suck it up and learn the heavy software now?
If your hardware is hitting a wall with Adobe, stop torturing your machine. Honestly, heavy software like Adobe Premiere Pro 2024 just isnt efficient for gaming commentary unless you have a dedicated rig with at least 32GB of RAM. If you want speed, stop trying to force your laptop to render heavy files and look at Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 18. It handles GPU acceleration way better than most apps, even on mid-range hardware. Its free, and the AI features for voice isolation and magic masks are honestly top tier for the price. I use it for all my projects and have no complaints about the export speeds. Just grab a cheap SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable SSD to offload your raw clips and you will see a massive improvement in your workflow without breaking the bank.
Honestly, if your laptop sounds like a jet engine, stop stressing over pro software! You should look into Wondershare Filmora 13 AI Video Editor instead. It is super lightweight and the AI features like smart cutout and auto-reframing are actually fantastic for gaming clips. Here is what I think about your best budget options:
Honestly, skip Premiere if your laptop is struggling. I tried running Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2024 on my older machine and it was a total nightmare, just constant crashes. If you want speed, Descript is honestly way better for commentary stuff.