AVS Video Editor review

AVS Video Editor is easily learnable video editing software for beginners and casual users alike.

AVS Video Editor review
(Image: © AVS)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

This program should fit the needs of most beginner, novice and casual video editors.

Pros

  • +

    Lots of tutorial videos

  • +

    Easy to use

  • +

    Plenty of effects

Cons

  • -

    Lacks many advanced features

  • -

    Only a single editing track

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AVS Video Editor is perfect for beginners, but more advanced users will find it limiting and frustrating. Everything here is tailored towards learning and tutorials, to rally hold your hand as you start you first few steps into video editing. When you initially launch AVS Video Editor, the program walks you through a series of prompts that show you exactly how to use each module of the software. These prompts link you to video guides on the AVS website that show you how to use each feature most effectively. Great if you're a newbie, but very frustrating if you're a more seasoned editor who wants to get started. While we think it's a decent package overall, it isn't part of our guide to the best video editing software.

The editing space itself offers both timeline and storyboard workflows. The timeline shows each element of your project by length and allows you to make granular changes. The storyboard is more simplified, giving you an overview of each object, regardless of length. You can switch from one to the other with a single click, with all your changes and modifications intact.

You only get one video editing track, which limits the program's versatility. You can, however, add as many video effects, overlays, and music and voice tracks as you need. While these extra tracks are useful for enhancing your video, it’s unfortunate you can’t add more video editing tracks, since that would allow you to work with more video clips simultaneously rather than trying to fit all your main videos onto a single track. Look to the likes of Adobe Premiere Elements if you want a more feature-filled editor.

A healthy library of transitions and video effects is important for any video editing program. AVS Video Editor offers hundreds of transitions and effects that craft the look and feel of your project with precision. You also get a healthy selection of text templates that includes titles, scrolling credits, lower-third text or simple plain text to add anywhere you want on the screen. This program has the ability to make slideshows out of your still images. These are great because it allows you to add transitions and audio easily, even if you’re not very good at editing in the other editing modes.

While the tools on this program are great, it’s worth noting that AVS Video Editor is missing many features we look for in this category. For example, AVS Video Editor has no multicam tools, action cam module or 360-degree editing. However, you may not need them if your needs are simple enough.

When you’ve finished your video project, AVS Video Editor provides four options to export it so you can get it in front of an audience. You can create a stand-alone video file most popular file formats like AVI, MOV, MP4 and many more. You can also create a DVD or Blu-ray copy of your video, complete with menus, if you use one of the best DVD rippers. Additionally, you have dozens of options to optimize your video for devices like smartphones, tablets and gaming systems. This program has the most optimization choices in any video editing programs we reviewed.

Unfortunately, when we examined the exported video, we noted major pixelation that would distract viewers from the video's content. Make sure you review all your exported videos to ensure they’re up to the quality standards you want before you share them. You may have to export the same project several times before you get a crisp, clear picture.

Should you buy AVS Video Editor?

AVS Video Editor has most of the editing and enhancement tools we look for in this category, as well as a healthy library of transitions, effects and titles. You should be able to learn this software quite easily. But it falls short when it comes to the quality of the exported video. Advanced users will find the lack of editing tracks extremely limiting, though, so they would be advised to look elsewhere.

J.D. Chadwick
Contributor

J.D. Chadwick started writing articles for Top Ten Reviews 2008 and, after filling the role of Multimedia Editor, the keen video creator and expert in software was one of the most prolific members of the TTR team, authoring articles on things like antivirus software, video editing apps, and more.