AI Video Generators vs. Traditional Video Editing: Which Is Better for Businesses?

AI video generation vs traditional video editing

Your choice of video creation method dictates your speed, cost, and content quality. Let's break down the key differences to help you decide which is best for your business:

Key features

The foundation of AI video generation is built on templates or a definitive few-step workflow. They offer you the freedom and access to pre-built designs where you only need to add your content and make some modifications.

They automate the painful parts of video editing like syncing audio to visuals, generating smooth transitions, and even creating voice overs from text. Most platforms also offer automatic caption generation and personalization options that adjust content per viewer. Some platforms even offer AI-driven personalization, adjusting videos based on audience data.

Traditional video editing, on the other hand, puts complete creative control in your hands, with no limitations whatsoever. So, you are in control of storytelling, footage, visual effects, and post-production requirements.

Every element, from sound design to motion graphics and color grading to advanced transitions, can be meticulously crafted to achieve the exact impact you're looking for. The ultimate control paves the path to a better match with a brand's vision.

Time efficiency

AI video creation tools are designed to handle all the repetitive tasks in video production, cutting down on average turnaround times. The automation capability makes it possible for brands to achieve editing tasks like trimming, text animation, transitions, and text overlays in minutes.

So, 5-10 minutes in total after providing all your inputs is what you need with AI video generators to have a crisp video. For example, your team can simply upload product images, choose a template, and let the AI do editing, voiceovers, and captions while grabbing a coffee.

Speaking of traditional video editing software, every stage, like cutting footage, adding effects, syncing audio, and more, requires manual inputs. Such a degree of effort at each stage can easily pan out the editing process across hours or even days to perfect.

Sure, the process results in high-quality output, but it's far less time-efficient. For instance, a one-minute professionally edited video often requires 4-6 hours of editing time as each cut, transition, effect, and sound must be manually placed and fine-tuned.

Cost

AI tools eliminate the need for expensive software and skilled editors, making professional-looking videos accessible even for small businesses. You can easily have a marketing team of one produce professional-looking content without specialised expertise.

Safe to say that using AI in business video production is affordable and would only cost you a fraction of traditional costs, i.e., either a monthly subscription fee or pay-per-video charge. For example, Videomagic's monthly plan starts at $49, offering 2000 credits per month.

Custom video editing can be expensive, requiring investments in high-end software, skilled editors, and production teams. Costs rise with respect to special effects, animation, or professional voice overs.

Professional video editing software can cost you, say, $22.99/mo for Adobe Premiere Pro's annual paid monthly plan. Freelance editor costs can range from $20 to $200 per hour, production team's cost depends on the project, and equipment investments start at $2,000.

Customization and creativity

AI tools are designed to function and work on predefined templates and styles, which can limit creative flexibility. They are efficient, but they may not fully align with a brand's unique aesthetic or storytelling needs.

While you can adjust colors, fonts, and content, fundamental decisions like transitions, custom animations, or unconventional storytelling remain out of reach. This results in content that can sometimes feel formulaic or similar to other brands using the same tools.

With traditional editing, the possibilities are endless, and you can create what you imagine. You can craft narratives, design animations, or refine intricate visuals at your free will with 100% control over the final product.

Be it blending three different transition styles or creating a split-screen effect that morphs into an animated sequence, traditional editing places no boundaries on your creative vision. The result is an original banger video in the saturated content market.

Learning curve

Learning curves for AI video generators are almost non-existent because they are designed for non-technical users. Their drag-and-drop interfaces and wizard-style workflows guide users through each step.

You can typically master the basics in under an hour and produce your first professional-looking video the same day you sign up. No understanding of video codecs, resolution settings, or complex editing terminology is required.

Becoming proficient in professional editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut takes weeks of dedicated practice, with true mastery requiring months or years.

New users face steep learning curves understanding concepts like non-linear editing, keyframing, and effect stacking. Even basic projects require knowledge of technical aspects like aspect ratios, frame rates, and export settings.

Scalability

The winning aspect among the AI vs manual video editing debate is scalability. Need to create 50 personalized product videos for different audience segments? AI's got your back with multiple variations just by swapping out text, images, or data points.

One template can be repurposed across dozens of videos without additional time investment, say product demos, social media snippets, or FAQs. AI tools help generate videos in bulk without sacrificing quality.

Traditionally, creating 10 videos means approximately 10 times the work. While templates and presets can help somewhat, each video still requires individual attention and manual adjustments. This makes scaling content production linearly expensive, requiring more time, staff, and budget.

Use cases

AI video generators are the perfect avenue for marketing videos, product showcases, social media clips, and explainer videos vs traditional editing that is best for brands that need to evoke specific feelings, say documentaries that tell complex stories or high-end commercials requiring precise timing and visual flourishes.

For example, an e-commerce business can easily generate dozens of product showcase videos following the same structure but featuring different items that are perfect for platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where regular posting is crucial for engagement, using AI tools.

For high-end promos, long-form content, or emotionally driven storytelling, traditional editing remains unmatched. It's ideal for projects that require depth, nuance, and a human touch.

Conclusion

Video editing doesn't have to be a bottleneck for your content creation pipeline.

Some applications of traditional methods have their special place, but the benefits of AI video editing far outweigh it in keeping pace with the current content demands.

Instead of spending hours perfecting transitions and adjusting timelines, you can now apply professional-grade edits in minutes with tools like Videomagic, freeing you to focus on strategy and creativity rather than technical execution.

Ready to change your video content workflow for the better?

Generate your first video with Videomagic today!