Here is a collection of more than two dozen websites providing resources for media professionals. Most of these are free. Other are simply important to know about.
If I missed your favorite, tell me in the comments and I’ll update this list.
NOTE: I also keep this list available on my website.
LarryJordan.com — A comprehensive training website for Adobe and Apple media software featuring 2,700 written tutorials and hundreds of hours of video training.
The Inside Tips – Free weekly newsletters covering: Apple Final Cut Pro X, Apple Motion, Adobe Premiere Pro, Codecs & Media, Visual Effects and Random Media Weirdness. Written by Larry Jordan.
2 Reel Guys – Webisode series hosted by Norman Hollyn and Larry Jordan on the art of making a film, without going to film school.
Apple System Status – A real-time display showing all Apple services and their status.
Artlist.io – Provides subscription-based royalty-free music and effects.
Audiio.Pro — Get unlimited music + sfx for your videos and a license that covers any platform in the world.
Audio Design Desk (ADD) – A Digital Audio Workstation merged with an enormous royalty free library that uses AI to assist editors in creating sound for their videos 10x faster than any other software.
BlastwaveFX.com – Outstanding and extensive sound effects library recorded by Rick Viers.
Creative Cow – This site covers virtually every known creative tool. Worth visiting on a regular basis.
EditMentor — A website offering online training on story-telling for editors.
EditStock – Providing sample scenes and footage you can use to practice your story-telling and editing.
FCP.CO – A UK-based web resource covering Final Cut Pro.
FilmIndependent – Non-profit arts organization that supports independent film and filmmakers.
FreeVisuals.net – Free presets, LUTs, templates, and more. Emphasizes After Effects.
Future Media Concepts (FMC) – Apple certification exams for Final Cut Pro editors.
Getty Images – The 800-pound gorilla of stock footage, news, celebrity, and video collections.
Indiewire – Movie news, reviews, union developments, and industry gossip.
L.A. Creative Pro User Group – Everything you ever wanted to know about everything in post. Excellent forums.
L. A. Post-Production Group – This user group covers all of post-production, without being tied to any specific software or hardware.
MotionArray.com – All-in-one video & filmmakers platform including templates, presets, motion graphics, plugins, music, sound effects, videos and photos.
NoFilmSchool – Stories that make us better filmmakers — no film school required.
Pexels.com – My favorite site for free images and video for projects and posts.
Philip Hodgetts Blog – Probably the most insightful blog on the post-production industry.
Pond5.com – Extensive library of stock footage, music, sfx, After Effects templates, photos, 3D models, PSDs & illustrations.
Post Magazine – A weekly magazine covering the entire post-production industry.
Post-Perspective.com – Interesting interviews with filmmakers who matter. Edited by Randi Altman.
PremiumBeat.com – Covering video production, filmmaking, video editing, post production & music.
Ripple Training – Steve and Mark provide training, plugins and resources for a variety of software.
Shutterstock.com – Millions of professional stock photos and videos. They also have a great blog.
SmartSound.com – High-quality, royalty-free music that you can adjust for mix and duration.
Storyblocks.com – Subscription-based royalty-free music, images, and templates.
17 Responses to Free (or Important) Resources for Video Editors
https://www.storyblocks.com – Video- music- image- templates Subscription
https://artlist.io Music and Effects – This site is also a Subscription site and worth every penny
Kr Shaun
Shaun:
Thanks. I added these to the list. Storyblocks I knew about, Artlist I didn’t.
Larry
Kevin MacLeod’s https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
I’ve been using his music for years. Lots of variety plus he answers questions.
Great guy and great music.
Philip:
Thanks!
Larry
Thanks for this.
Tom:
I’m glad you like it.
Larry
Pond5 . Extensive library of stock footage, music, sfx, after effects, photos, 3D models, PSDs & illustrations. They give away a free clip each week if you subscribe to their newsletter.
Bernard:
Ah! Good catch. I’ll add them.
Larry
I’ve found AudioNetwork.com to be a great source for quality music. As an amateur, I appreciate being able to pay per project/usage, and not have to pay for a subscription.
Mark:
Thanks. While I understand why developers like subscriptions, as an editor/user, they are a pain in the posterior. I agree that paying per use makes more sense.
Larry
Great list Larry. Another very useful one is https://www.videomaker.com/
Their free e-bulletin is excellent plus their free twice yearly e-magazine which has great tech reviews.
This is a good reminder. I used to read them religiously.
Larry
Check out: http://www.personal-view.com
Lot’s of reviews on the YouTube channel.
Editing Tools https://en.editingtools.io/ has a lot of very niche but very useful free tools like timecode comments, xml to cue sheet converter, and various timeline conversion tools. 🙂 I haven’t yet needed any of them personally but I’ve heard great things.
David:
Thanks.
Larry
Larry, you put your site first. Good for you – its a great resource.
Tim:
Smile… I debated with myself whether to list me first or not. Then, I figured it was my article so I got to pick the order.
I’m glad you like my site.
Larry