Free audio, video and illustration tools for quick and sleek content creation
I wish I knew about these when I first started!
Over the years, my main tasks involved creating short educational content popularising science, be it explainers, timelines, exhibition texts and labels that together supported a more complex narrative or theme (picture all the various types of content you find in an exhibition). Trying to keep the content production sustainable and low-cost, I discovered a few very useful platforms, interfaces and software that enabled me to create professional-looking content for free.
I am not sponsored by nor affiliated to these products and this article only aims to share the free tools that make my life easier and are kind to my wallet when it comes to creating cool, fun and engaging content, in the hope that it can also benefit to other content creators on a budget…
Video production
HitFilm Express
This is one of the most complete video compositing, editing and production software there is for all the creatives on a budget (or without one!).
It comes with a generous bunch of VFX plug-ins and tools that you can always upgrade on the go by buying additional bundles. The free version (“Express”) is also watermark-free! So far I haven’t had to use any paying plug-ins and the Express version was more than enough power and functionality for all the videos I created so far. It is available for Mac and Windows and is regularly updated.
One of the great sides to this free software is the amazingly open and helpful community of over 6.5 million professional and amateur users that feeds YouTube and various forums with numerous tutorials and help threads, allowing you to gain and improve your skills quickly and make the most out of this program.
The only downside I experienced so far is the incompatibility with .mov files, which can be a problem for some Apple users.
PhotoMosh
If you need to alter your videos or images with futuristic, techy-looking and glitching filters, this is the place to go to!
It allows you to upload your video or use your webcam and then apply filters and export as a .jpg, .gif, and .webm. All filters can be combined and customised for a bespoke result. The downside of the free version is the output resolution — enough for web publishing but not if you want to blow it up for high-res display.
OBS Studio
If you need screen recording and streaming, this open-source software is versatile and intuitive to use.
It allows real-time audio and video capturing and mixing and an unlimited number of scenes. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux and is compatible with all main streaming platforms.
Audio production
Cakewalk by Bandlab
A lot of content creators like using Audacity, but I was always put off by its very low-res interface. Also, given my background in audio composition and recording with my former band, I was used to DAW interfaces such as Logic Pro.
To me, Cakewalk was a perfect free alternative to Logic Pro I no longer had access to. It comes with a limited number of plugins that are fairly basic, but you can customise them or import your own.
I mainly used Cakewalk for recording analogue audio (voice, ambient noise, etc.), mixing and mastering (single-track recordings and multi-track editing). You can also use it for midi-based audio composition, although I prefer Ableton Live that has to be purchased.
Code (html, css, js, python, etc.)
Codepen
Whether you’re a neophyte or a seasoned coder, Codepen’s thriving community full of great projects will inspire you — in the true spirit of open-source and shared knowledge, you can fork other people’s work and adapt it to your needs as long as you credit accordingly.
Visual Studio Online
If you need to code, but don’t have access to your own computer, you can use Visual Studio text editor directly in a browser.
I have tried a few editors so far (Atom, Notepad++, Sublime) and Visual Studio Code is the one I prefer as I can use it remotely from other workstations that are sometimes shared, without having to install it.
Processing.org
For visual arts creatives that like to mess about with code, Processing.org is a great place to start coding interactive visual and artistic interfaces.
You need to be familiar with java, JavaScript, or python to get started. You can read more about it in my previous article:
Visual arts (drawing, animation, photo editing, etc.)
Krita
Open-source and community driven, this is a great alternative to Adobe Sketchbook that offers more than just a drawing interface.
You can customise the user interface so it best suits your needs and various workspaces allow for illustration, vector and text, 2D animation and more.
If you are familiar with python, you can use your scripting talents to automate some tasks as Krita comes with a nifty API. I recommend using a drawing tablet for a more comfortable user experience, however Krita does not support all brands of tablets, so make sure to check their compatibility list on their website.
Blender
If you want to dig into 3D animation and procedural art, or just need a cool-looking 3D icon, Blender is the way to go.
I tried Houdini first and rapidly switched to Blender, as I found it easier to get acquainted with and to understand its different interfaces and the way they interact. There are tonnes of tutorials to help you get started and improve your skills rapidly, even though the learning curve can be quite steep for some people.
I personally began with the doughnut tutorial offered by Blender Guru, but there are many many others just as good. I compiled a YouTube playlist of tutorials I actually tried out and that worked well. Blender is a very powerful tool, therefore you will need a powerful machine with good GPU to reduce rendering time. You don’t need a drawing tablet as for most tasks, a keyboard and a mouse are enough. However, when it comes to sculpting, a stylus and tablet can enhance accuracy, user experience and make it more satisfying. Also, learn keyboard shortcuts, as they will make your life easier and speed up the whole creation process. If you are a programming wiz, you can also unleash the power of python, and script crazy animation effects with a few lines of code.
Gimp
Finally, if you’re looking into editing your pictures and photos, Gimp can get the job done up to a certain point.
Although it’s not the most comprehensive tool, it has all the essentials and uses the layer system, just like Photoshop. I mainly use Gimp for scaling and optimising images for web publishing.
For other advanced image and photo manipulation, I still prefer Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
I hope you found this article helpful! As mentioned above, I am not sponsored nor affiliated to the aforementioned products and this article only aims to share the free tools that make my life easier and are kind to my wallet when it comes to creating engaging content.
Thank you for reading and keep creating amazing content!
Jelena
