Adobe After Effects CS6 for Mac

Adobe After Effects CS6 for Mac provides you with professional tools for creating special video effects and making complex video edits. This subscription software comes with a free trial and is the current industry standard. Because of the sheer amount of features it includes, it requires a powerful Mac in order to run smoothly.

Pros

Large installer and slow installation: Installing Adobe After Effects CS6 for Mac may take a few minutes since the app weighs 1GB. The need to obtain an Adobe ID if you don't have one already further slows down the installation.

Plenty of features: This app has everything, including brush support, mask interpolation, and grid alignment. Through an elaborate menu system, you will be able to access functions like different text, object, and video effects like 3D extrusions, ray tracing, color correction, and bendable footage. Much like Photoshop, the app gives you access to layers for making complex edits.

Cons

Steep learning curve: The app provides very powerful features at the expense of a very steep learning curve. Even if you're used to video editing software, you'll still need to invest some time in becoming familiar with this software.

Slow rendering: In our tests the app needed six minutes to render a 30-second video with 3D text effects.

Bottom Line

If you're a professional video editor and need an environment that gives you great flexibility and control, look no further than Adobe After Effects CS6 for Mac. However, due to the high learning curve, this software is not for everyone. If you find the product too sophisticated for your needs, an Apple offering like Final Cut X or iMovie might suit you better.