Five simple AI tools we are using every day for video editing and video generation
There are a lot of interesting AI technologies coming out every day related to video editing and video generation. Some of it is good old-fashioned snake oil, and some of it is changing workflows and processes for content marketers. We do not have the space in this post to write reviews for all the technologies being developed. For now, we wanted to share five simple AI tools we are using every day to create videos for B2B SaaS.
1. Descript’s transcriber, green screen, and studio sound tools:
Descript’s automated transcription service is solid. The transcripts happen fast, and their accuracy is decent enough. But, when you add in a couple of other functionalities on top of those transcriptions, specifically for our purposes the green screen and studio sound, the software gives us a powerful leg-up. We take remotely recorded interviews into Descript, leverage the green screen functionality to increase background depth-of-field and alter objects/colors in the background. This gives the interview shot a more premium look. Then, we apply the studio sound functionality (generally setting it somewhere between 70-90% intensity to avoid an unnatural quality to the audio). Then we can export the raw interview with these modifications and bring it into Premiere for editing.
2. Adobe Premiere’s motion tracker: Adobe is building some interesting AI powered tools inside of their video editor, Premiere. The one we use the most is a simple one: a motion tracker to avoid having to make keyframe changes to interview shots or broll shots. Inside of Premiere, we can mask out interviewees or specific objects, make changes to it at one keyframe and then click the “advance keyframe” arrow. Premiere will then use AI to build out keyframes that track the mask we just created to the object in the clip. It will do this for the duration of that specific clip. This is great for finalizing edits by altering background objects, applying color corrections, blurring backgrounds, etc.
3. Chat GPT for social media post ideas: Our team conducts long interviews that are then converted to text. From there, we often create social media clips and other short form assets that fit into various ABA and ABM strategies. Chat GPT is a really great starting point to get a lot of ideas fast about which soundbites to use for each use case. We simply ask it to read a transcript and make suggestions for videos based on the brief and transcript we provide. It is not always perfect, but it’s a great starting point.
4. Zoom’s meeting summary function for project briefs: This is a simple but powerful one. For each video, we have to create a brief, and the brief’s are based off of meetings with clients. We use Zoom’s meeting summary function to help build project briefs that go out to our creative team (and sometimes to clients). It saves our team a lot of time building this type of document from scratch, and it catches a surprising amount of nuance that gives our briefs the kind of specificity in messaging that strong B2B marketing has.
5. Adobe Premiere’s warp motion stabilizer: lastly, we use the motion stabilizer inside of Adobe Premiere to help handle a lot of the UGC content we produce. Often people are sending our company shots from iPhone, androids, small cameras, etc. and we want to give everything as much of a polish as possible. One simple way to do this is to stabilize the image, so it feels a lot more deliberate of a shot. Abode’s stabilizer does an excellent job at this.
Honorable mentions: Ultimately, we have tested dozens of video editing and video generation software, and they range from truly innovative to simple repackaging of technologies that have been around for a long time. There are a couple softwares that did not make the list that we have used in the past: Runway ML and Midjourney. They are doing very interesting work, but currently we do not use them daily.
FAQs about these AI tools
How much do these AI tools cost, and are they accessible to individuals or small businesses with limited budgets?
The cost of AI video editing tools varies, with some offering free basic plans and others requiring monthly subscriptions. They're designed to be accessible, with many providing scalable pricing to accommodate individuals and small businesses.
What is the learning curve associated with these tools, and what type of support or tutorials are available for new users?
The learning curve for these AI tools ranges from beginner-friendly to more advanced, depending on the tool's complexity. Most provide extensive tutorials, online support, and community forums to help new users get started and advance their skills.
How do these AI tools compare with other similar tools not mentioned in the post?
Comparing the mentioned AI tools with others not listed would involve evaluating features, ease of use, and the quality of output. The tools chosen for the blog post are based on their effectiveness in simplifying video editing tasks and enhancing productivity for their specific needs.
