ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, proxy support, and easy timeline editing over fancy effects.

My pick: DaVinci Resolve

blackmagicdesign.com is probably the best place to start, especially because the free version is extremely capable. It handles long-form projects, editing, audio, color, and effects in one application. Current comparisons also put Resolve among the strongest all-in-one choices for demanding footage. DaVinci Resolve Club M Studio

Why I'd choose it for you:

• Free version is enough for a highlight reel.
• Excellent for long timelines.
• Proxy/optimized-media workflows can make huge livestream files much easier for your computer.
• You can do your cuts, audio cleanup, captions, color, and export without jumping between programs.
• Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Blackmagic Design

Other good choices

• Final Cut Pro — If you're on a Mac, this is my alternative. It's particularly good for performance on Apple silicon and is designed around a very fast editing workflow. Cutsio
• Adobe Premiere Pro — Great if you eventually want to work with After Effects/Photoshop or collaborate with other editors. It's powerful, but I'd consider it more software than a beginner needs for a first highlight reel. DaVinci Resolve Club
• Premiere Elements — Easier than Premiere Pro and relatively lightweight, but I'd choose Resolve if you're willing to learn a more professional editor. Adobe currently recommends 32 GB+ RAM for 4K workflows and a fast SSD for media/cache. Adobe

The bigger secret to avoiding crashes

The software matters less than how you handle the livestream file.

If your recording is, say, 3–8 hours of 1080p/4K H.264 or H.265, don't try to brute-force the original file at full resolution throughout the edit. Those highly compressed codecs can require substantially more processing power to decode during editing. Blackmagic Design Documents

In Resolve, I'd use proxies/optimized media, keep the project/cache on a fast SSD, and edit at a lower preview resolution. Then export from the original-quality footage at the end.

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + model, RAM, and GPU) and roughly how large the livestream file is, I can tell you exactly which editor/settings I'd use so that hour-long reel is as crash-proof as possible.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, handling big files, and an easy learning curve over having every professional feature. My top picks:

🥇 Best overall: DaVinci Resolve

Best choice for most beginners editing long livestreams. www.folotop.com

Why it fits livestream highlights:

• Handles long timelines well (1–3+ hour recordings are common)
• Free version is extremely capable
• Built-in tools for:
  • cutting clips quickly
  • color correction
  • audio cleanup
  • subtitles/captions
  • exporting for YouTube/Twitch
• Good proxy workflow if your footage is 1080p/4K and your computer struggles allin1panel.com

Downside: The interface looks intimidating at first. Stick mainly to the Cut and Edit pages until you learn more.

🥈 Easiest if you use a Mac: Final Cut Pro

Great if you have an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3/M4/M5). It is known for being very optimized and fast on Macs. larryjordan.com

Pros:

• Very smooth playback
• Excellent for long recordings
• Beginner-friendly organization
• Fast exports

Cons:

• Mac only
• Costs money

🥉 Best if you want to become a professional editor: Adobe Premiere Pro

Used widely in professional workflows. www.folotop.com

Pros:

• Tons of tutorials
• Great for YouTube channels with lots of graphics
• Works well with After Effects and Photoshop

Cons:

• Subscription cost
• Can be heavier on some systems with large projects vidiopicks.net

I’d avoid for your first hour-long highlight reel:

• CapCut Desktop — great for short clips, but a full livestream timeline can become annoying.
• Browser editors — uploading and processing huge livestream files is often frustrating.
• Older/basic editors — they may choke on long recordings.

To prevent crashes no matter what software you use:

1. Create proxies (lower-resolution editing copies)
2. Keep footage on an SSD, not a slow external hard drive
3. Close Chrome/game launchers while editing
4. Edit in sections:
   • Pass 1: remove dead air
   • Pass 2: pick best moments
   • Pass 3: add effects/captions
5. Save versions of your project regularly

If you tell me your computer specs (CPU, RAM, GPU, storage) and whether your stream is 1080p or 4K, I can suggest the safest editor/settings for your setup.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d recommend DaVinci Resolve—especially if you’re on Windows. It’s free, handles large projects well, and has built-in proxy editing, which is one of the biggest things that prevents long/high-resolution footage from becoming painfully slow. Blackmagic specifically describes Resolve as suitable for large projects and live-broadcast editing. Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Design

My picks

• 🥇 DaVinci Resolve — best overall

• Free version is genuinely capable.
• Excellent for long livestream recordings.
• Proxy workflow makes 4K/HEVC footage much easier to edit.
• Lots of room to grow as you get better.
• Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Design
• blackmagicdesign.com
• 🥈 Final Cut Pro — best if you're on Mac

• Particularly good performance on Apple-silicon Macs.
• Very beginner-friendly compared with many professional editors.
• Can optimize footage into ProRes for smoother editing. Apple Apple Support
• 🥉 Adobe Premiere — good, but I'd skip it for your first project

• Extremely capable and widely used.
• But it's subscription-based and can be more complicated than you need right now.
• Adobe currently recommends 32 GB+ RAM for 4K editing, so hardware matters. Adobe Help Center

The important part: don't edit the livestream directly

Even the best editor can struggle if you're throwing a giant 1080p/4K livestream recording with H.264/H.265 compression at it.

For your first project, I'd do this:

Livestream recording → proxy files → edit proxies → export from original footage

YouTube itself recommends using proxies when a computer struggles with high-resolution footage. Google Support

If you tell me your PC/Mac specs (CPU, GPU, RAM) and the livestream's resolution/format (1080p/4K, OBS recording settings, etc.), I can tell you exactly what settings I'd use in Resolve to minimize crashes and lag.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d recommend DaVinci Resolve—especially if your main concern is handling a long recording without your editor constantly falling over.

My picks

1. DaVinci Resolve — best overall for you

• Has a very capable free version.
• Excellent for long timelines and large amounts of footage.
• Its proxy/optimized-media workflow lets you edit lower-resolution copies while keeping the original footage for the final export. Blackmagic specifically recommends proxies when the source footage is difficult for your computer to play smoothly. Blackmagic Design Documents Blackmagic Design Documents
• You can do editing, audio cleanup, color, and exporting in one program.
• Downside: the interface looks intimidating at first.
• Adobe Premiere Pro — best if you want the easiest transition into “professional” editing

• Very good for cutting livestreams, especially if you'll eventually use After Effects or Photoshop.
• Has a mature proxy workflow specifically designed for working with large/heavy media. Adobe Blog Adobe Help Center
• Downside: subscription cost and, in my view, I'd pick Resolve first if stability + value are your priorities.
• CapCut — easiest, but not my first choice for an hour-long project

• Great for simple cuts, captions, zooms, memes, and short-form content.
• I'd rather use Resolve once you're dealing with a huge livestream recording and hundreds of cuts.

The important part: don't edit the livestream directly

Even the best editor can struggle if you're feeding it a massive 1080p/4K livestream recording encoded in a difficult format.

For your first project, I'd do:

Livestream recording → create proxies → edit proxies → export from original footage

Resolve's proxy media is specifically designed to make source footage easier to edit while retaining the full-resolution originals for the finished project. Blackmagic Design Documents

Also, save frequently and keep the project/media on an SSD rather than editing directly from a slow external hard drive or nearly-full drive.

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + CPU + RAM + GPU) and what resolution your livestream recording is (1080p/1440p/4K), I can tell you exactly which editor I'd use and the settings I'd choose to make that hour-long file run smoothly.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d pick DaVinci Resolve—especially if you’re on Windows. It’s powerful enough for very long timelines, has a free version, and gives you room to grow without needing to switch editors later. www.logicalrefer.com

My picks

If you're on a Mac with Apple silicon: I'd seriously consider Final Cut Pro. It's particularly efficient on Apple hardware and is a great fit for solo creators. www.folotop.com

If you're on Windows: DaVinci Resolve is my recommendation.

The important part: proxies

For an hour-long livestream, the software isn't the only thing that determines whether it crashes. If your recording is 1080p/60 or 4K, especially H.264/H.265, editing the original file directly can put a lot of strain on your computer.

Resolve has Proxy Media/Optimized Media, which creates easier-to-play versions of your footage while keeping the original files for the final export. Blackmagic specifically describes proxy media as a way to improve editing performance with lower-bandwidth media. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

Premiere has the same concept: its current workflow lets you right-click footage → Proxy → Create Proxies, with editing-friendly formats such as ProRes or DNxHR. community.adobe.com

For your first project, I'd do this:

1. Keep the original livestream recording untouched.
2. Import it into Resolve.
3. Generate proxies/optimized media.
4. Edit using the proxies.
5. Save the project frequently.
6. Export using the original full-quality footage.

That will generally make a much bigger difference to your experience than obsessing over which editor is theoretically the most stable.

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + CPU/GPU/RAM) and what resolution/frame rate the livestream recording is, I can tell you exactly which editor and proxy settings I'd use so your hour-long file doesn't turn into a crash-fest.

For a beginner editing a 1-hour livestream highlight reel, I’d pick DaVinci Resolve—especially if you’re on Windows. It’s powerful enough for long projects, has a free version, and its proxy-media workflow is specifically designed to make demanding footage easier to edit. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

My picks

If you're on a Mac, I'd seriously consider Final Cut Pro. Apple specifically emphasizes its performance on Apple silicon, and it supports proxy workflows for large/high-resolution footage. www.apple.com It also automatically saves changes and makes library backups, which is reassuring for a first big project. support.apple.com

The biggest tip for avoiding crashes

The software matters less than your editing workflow. Don't throw the original 4K/60fps livestream file onto the timeline and expect a modest computer to play it smoothly.

Use proxy media:

Original livestream → create lower-resolution proxy → edit proxy → export using original footage

Resolve supports this workflow specifically to improve real-time editing performance. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

For your first highlight reel, I'd also:

• Keep the project and footage on an SSD, preferably with plenty of free space.
• Avoid stacking tons of effects while you're doing the initial cut.
• Save/backup the project frequently.
• Cut the boring portions first, then add captions, zooms, memes, music, etc.
• If playback starts stuttering, don't immediately assume the program is crashing—switch to proxies/optimized media.

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + CPU/GPU + RAM) and roughly how big the livestream file is, I can tell you which editor I'd use and the settings I'd start with.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, proxy editing, and handling long timelines over flashy effects. My top picks:

🥇 DaVinci Resolve — best overall choice (especially free)

Best for: YouTube/Twitch highlight reels, long recordings, creators who want room to grow.

Why it’s a strong pick:

• Handles long timelines well when set up correctly
• Excellent built-in audio tools (useful for streams with voice/game audio)
• Powerful free version
• Good proxy workflow for huge files
• Color correction and captions are built in

The downside: it can feel overwhelming at first because it includes editing, color, VFX, and audio tools in one app. www.video-editor.com

🥈 Adobe Premiere Pro — best if you want the “industry standard”

Best for: YouTubers, editors who may collaborate, people already using Adobe apps.

Pros:

• Very mature editing workflow
• Tons of tutorials and templates
• Great with After Effects, Photoshop, and other Adobe tools

Cons:

• Subscription cost
• Large projects can still get sluggish depending on your hardware and footage. www.softwareadvice.com

🥉 Final Cut Pro — best if you’re on a Mac

Best for: Mac users who want speed and fewer headaches.

Pros:

• Extremely optimized for Apple hardware
• Smooth with long projects
• Beginner-friendly once you understand the magnetic timeline

For your specific case (a 1-hour livestream highlight reel), I’d use:

1. DaVinci Resolve
2. Import the stream recording
3. Create proxy media before doing lots of cuts/effects
4. Make a rough cut first (remove dead air, pauses, boring sections)
5. Add memes, zooms, captions, and effects afterward

A few things that prevent crashes regardless of software:

• Keep footage on an SSD if possible
• Don’t edit directly from a slow external hard drive
• Leave plenty of free disk space (cache files get huge)
• Use proxies for 1080p/4K livestream recordings
• Save versions of your project (“Highlight_v1”, “Highlight_v2”, etc.)

If you tell me your PC/Mac specs (CPU, RAM, GPU) and whether your stream files are 1080p or 4K, I can suggest the smoothest setup.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, good handling of long recordings, and an easy workflow over having every fancy feature.

My picks

1. DaVinci Resolve — best overall

• Free version is genuinely capable.
• Excellent for long recordings and large projects.
• Has proxy/optimized-media workflows, which are extremely useful if your livestream footage is 1080p/4K or heavily compressed. documents.blackmagicdesign.com
• Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• More complicated than beginner editors at first, but it's something you can grow into.

2. Final Cut Pro — best if you're on a Mac

• Particularly good choice if you have an Apple-silicon Mac.
• Very fast and well optimized for Mac hardware. cutsio.com
• Its Magnetic Timeline takes a little getting used to, but it's excellent once you understand it.

3. Adobe Premiere — best if you want the industry-standard workflow

• Excellent for large projects and lots of third-party/tutorial support.
• Works on Mac and Windows.
• More expensive because it's subscription-based, and I'd personally choose Resolve over it for a first project unless you already use Adobe. helpx.adobe.com

The bigger secret to avoiding crashes

The software matters less than how you handle the footage.

For an hour-long livestream, I'd do this:

1. Don't edit directly from an external/slow drive if you can avoid it.
2. Import the original recording into the editor.
3. If playback is laggy, generate proxy media rather than trying to force your computer to decode the full-quality recording in real time. Resolve specifically supports this workflow. documents.blackmagicdesign.com
4. Save your project frequently and keep automatic backups enabled.
5. Don't pile dozens of effects onto the timeline while you're still making the basic cuts.
6. Export a short test section first before committing to the full hour-long render.

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + model, RAM, and GPU if you know it) and whether the livestream recording is 1080p or 4K, I can tell you exactly which editor I'd use and what settings I'd start with.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d pick DaVinci Resolve—especially if you’re on Windows.

My ranking

1. DaVinci Resolve — best overall
   • Free version is genuinely capable and handles long-form editing, audio, color, and effects in one program. www.blackmagicdesign.com
   • It has proxy editing, which is one of the biggest things you want when working with huge livestream files. www.blackmagicdesign.com
   • The downside: the interface looks intimidating at first. You only need the Cut/Edit pages to start.

2. Final Cut Pro — best if you have a Mac
   • Very good choice for long footage, particularly on Apple-silicon Macs.
   • Its proxy workflow is excellent: proxies are specifically designed to improve editing performance while using much less storage. support.apple.com
   • Apple currently recommends 16 GB RAM for Final Cut Pro. support.apple.com

3. Adobe Premiere Pro — best if you want an industry-standard workflow
   • Extremely capable, but I'd consider it overkill for your first highlight reel.
   • Adobe recommends 16 GB RAM for HD and 32 GB+ for 4K, plus a fast media drive. helpx-origin-uw2.aws116.adobeitc.com

The important part: don't edit the livestream at full quality

Even the best editor can struggle if you're throwing a massive H.264/H.265 livestream recording at it.

For your project, I'd do this:

Livestream recording → create proxies → edit the proxies → export using the original footage.

That makes a much bigger difference to stability than simply choosing one editor over another.

Also keep the footage and editing cache on an SSD, rather than a slow external hard drive or USB stick.

If you tell me your computer model/specs (Windows or Mac, RAM, CPU/GPU) and roughly how big the livestream file is, I can tell you exactly which editor I'd use and what settings I'd choose to minimize crashes.

If your main concern is editing an hour-long livestream without crashes, I’d narrow it to these:

🥇 Best overall: DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve

For a beginner, Resolve is probably my first recommendation, especially if you're on Windows. It has a free version, handles very long timelines well, and gives you room to grow into more advanced editing.

The big thing for livestream footage is proxy media. Resolve can create lower-bandwidth versions of your footage so your computer doesn't have to constantly decode the giant original files while you edit. You can switch back to the originals for the final render. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

I'd pick Resolve if:

• You're on Windows
• Your livestream recordings are 1080p/4K and several hours long
• You want something free
• You don't mind spending a day learning the interface

🥇 If you're on a Mac: Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro

If you have an Apple-silicon Mac, Final Cut Pro is arguably the easiest choice for a beginner who wants smooth performance. Apple specifically optimizes it for Apple silicon, and it has proxy/optimized-media workflows for making difficult footage easier to edit. www.apple.comsupport.apple.com

Its Magnetic Timeline can also make cutting down a giant livestream into a highlight reel relatively painless.

I'd pick Final Cut if:

• You have an M-series Mac
• You prioritize ease of use
• You don't want to spend much time learning technical editing concepts

🥈 Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro

Premiere is excellent and very capable with long projects, but I wouldn't make it my first recommendation for your specific situation unless you already use Adobe apps or expect to move toward professional editing. Its subscription and larger ecosystem aren't particularly useful when you're simply trying to make your first highlight reel.

The thing that matters more than the software

Don't edit the original livestream directly if your computer struggles with it.

For example, if your stream is a 4K H.265 recording, even a powerful computer can have a miserable time scrubbing through it. Generate 1080p proxy files, edit those, and have the software use the original files when exporting.

That can make the difference between:

😡 "Why is my timeline freezing every 10 seconds?"

and

😎 "Oh, this is actually pretty easy."

Final Cut and Resolve both have proper proxy workflows. documents.blackmagicdesign.comsupport.apple.com

My recommendation:
Windows → DaVinci Resolve
Mac → Final Cut Pro
Already invested in Adobe → Premiere Pro

If you tell me your computer (Mac/Windows + model, RAM, and GPU if you know it) and what format your livestream recording is (1080p/4K, OBS/Twitch/etc.), I can tell you exactly which one I'd use and what settings to start with.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d recommend DaVinci Resolve.

It’s particularly well suited to long recordings because it has proxy/optimized-media workflows, so you can edit lightweight copies of your footage instead of constantly making your computer decode the full-resolution livestream. Blackmagic specifically describes its proxy workflow as improving real-time playback performance. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

My picks

🥇 DaVinci Resolve: My default recommendation. The free version is genuinely capable, and Resolve 21 includes a streamlined Cut page specifically designed for fast editing; Blackmagic even calls out live broadcast/replay workflows. www.blackmagicdesign.com

Download DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design

🥈 Final Cut Pro: If you're on a Mac—especially an Apple-silicon Mac—I'd seriously consider this instead. It's extremely fast and relatively easy to learn. moonbear.shop

🥉 Premiere Pro: Great if you already use Photoshop/After Effects or expect to collaborate with other editors. For a solo beginner, though, I don't think the subscription is necessary just for livestream highlights.

The important part: don't edit the livestream file directly

Even good editing software can struggle if you're throwing a 2–6 hour 1080p/4K H.264/H.265 livestream recording at it.

For Resolve, I'd do this:

1. Import the full livestream.
2. Generate proxy media.
3. Edit using the proxies.
4. Keep the original footage untouched.
5. Export using the original-quality media.

That workflow is much more important for avoiding lag/crashes than choosing between the major editors. Resolve lets you generate proxies from your clips and switch between proxy and original media. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

If you tell me your computer (Windows/Mac + model, RAM, and GPU if you know it) and roughly how large the livestream file is, I can tell you exactly which editor/settings I'd use so you don't spend hours editing and then have it crash.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d pick DaVinci Resolve—especially if your biggest concern is handling a huge recording without your editor constantly choking.

My ranking

Resolve is particularly good for this because it has proxy media, which lets you edit lower-resolution versions of your footage while keeping the original recording for the final export. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

If you're on a Mac with Apple silicon, Final Cut is also an excellent choice; current comparisons continue to highlight its performance and stability on Apple hardware. www.digitalcameraworld.com

The important part: don't edit the livestream directly

Even with good software, a 1–3 hour livestream recording can be a nightmare if it's something like 4K H.264/H.265. The trick is to use proxies.

For example, in Resolve:

Original livestream → proxy → edit → final export from original

That means your computer isn't constantly decoding the giant original file while you're scrubbing through it. Resolve's proxy system is specifically designed to provide easier-to-play versions while retaining the originals for finishing/export. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

Premiere has essentially the same workflow: Adobe recommends creating low-resolution proxy copies for large/resource-intensive footage and then reconnecting the full-resolution media for final work. helpx.adobe.com

What I'd do in your situation

If you're on Windows:
👉 DaVinci Resolve Free

If you're on Mac:
👉 DaVinci Resolve Free or Final Cut Pro
I'd lean Resolve if you want to learn a skill that'll scale with you.

If you already pay for Adobe:
👉 Premiere is perfectly fine—just use proxies from the beginning.

And don't worry about your first highlight reel being an hour long. The software doesn't really care that the finished video is an hour; what matters more is the resolution, codec, number of video tracks, effects, and your computer's RAM/GPU.

If you tell me your PC/Mac specs + the livestream recording's resolution (1080p/1440p/4K), I can tell you exactly which editor I'd use and what proxy settings to choose.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d pick DaVinci Resolve—especially if you want something you can grow into without immediately paying for a subscription.

My ranking

1. DaVinci Resolve — best overall
   • Free version is genuinely capable.
   • Excellent for long timelines and heavy footage.
   • Has editing, audio, color, effects, and exporting all in one app.
   • Most importantly for your concern, it supports proxy media, which lets you edit lightweight copies instead of hammering your computer with the original livestream files. documents.blackmagicdesign.com
   • My pick for you: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Final Cut Pro — best if you're on a Mac
   • Particularly good if you have an Apple-silicon Mac.
   • Very smooth for long-form editing, and Apple's proxy workflow is excellent. documents.blackmagicdesign.comsupport.apple.com
   • Easier to get comfortable with than Resolve in some respects.
   • Downside: Mac-only and paid.

3. Adobe Premiere Pro — best if you expect to go "professional"
   • Extremely capable and widely used.
   • Great ecosystem if you eventually want After Effects/Photoshop integration.
   • But for a beginner who mainly wants "please don't crash while I'm editing this giant stream", I wouldn't make it my first choice.

The secret isn't actually the editor

A one-hour livestream can be surprisingly brutal if it's something like 1080p/60 or 4K H.264/H.265, particularly if you're adding effects, multiple camera angles, or lots of cuts.

Use proxies. That's the single biggest recommendation I'd make.

Your workflow should be roughly:

Import livestream → generate proxies → edit using proxies → switch back to originals → export

Resolve's proxy system is specifically designed to let you work with lower-bandwidth versions for smoother playback, then return to the original footage for finishing/export. documents.blackmagicdesign.com

Also, don't edit the footage directly off a slow external USB drive if you can avoid it. Put your project/cache/proxies on a reasonably fast SSD.

If you tell me your computer specs

Send me your CPU, GPU, RAM, whether you're on Windows/Mac, and the livestream's resolution (1080p/1440p/4K). I can tell you exactly which editor I'd use and what settings to start with so your first hour-long project is as crash-proof as possible.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, handling big files, and easy recovery over having every pro feature. My top picks:

🥇 Best overall: DaVinci Resolve

Best choice if you’re on Windows or want a free tool that can grow with you. www.video-editor.com

Why it fits livestream highlights:

• Handles long timelines well
• Free version is genuinely powerful
• Great audio tools (important for streams)
• Good proxy workflow for preventing lag/crashes
• You can start simple and learn advanced features later

Downsides:

• Uses a lot of GPU power
• The interface can feel overwhelming at first

🥈 Easiest stable option for Mac: Final Cut Pro

If you have a Mac, this is probably the smoothest experience for long edits. It’s optimized for Apple hardware and is known for fast playback and rendering. larryjordan.com

Good for:

• Hour-long streams
• Lots of cuts
• YouTube-style edits
• Beginners who don’t want to tweak settings constantly

🥉 Best if you want a career path: Adobe Premiere Pro

A strong choice if you plan to work with other creators, editors, or agencies. cutsio.com

Pros:

• Huge tutorial ecosystem
• Works well with Photoshop/After Effects
• Very common professionally

Cons:

• Subscription cost
• Can feel heavier on long, complex timelines

For your specific first livestream highlight reel, I’d do this:

1. Use DaVinci Resolve (Windows/Mac) or Final Cut Pro (Mac).
2. Make proxy files before editing if your stream footage is 1080p60, 1440p, or 4K.
3. Keep your project on an SSD, not an old external hard drive.
4. Split the hour-long stream into sections:
   • Intro/setup
   • Best moments
   • Funny moments
   • Clutch plays/reactions
   • Ending
5. Save versions:
   • Stream_Edit_v1
   • Stream_Edit_v2
   • Stream_Final

Your computer specs matter a lot. If you tell me:

• Windows or Mac?
• CPU/GPU
• RAM
• footage resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K?)
• recording format (OBS? Twitch VOD download? YouTube?)

…I can recommend the exact editor settings to avoid crashes.

For a first hour-long livestream highlight reel, I’d prioritize stability, good media management, and an editor that won’t make you fight the software.

My picks

1. DaVinci Resolve — best overall for you

• Excellent for long projects and large video files.
• Free version is genuinely powerful.
• Has editing, audio, color correction, effects, and exporting all in one program.
• Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• The downside: it has a steeper learning curve than beginner-focused editors.

2. Final Cut Pro — best if you have a Mac

• Particularly good if you're on Apple silicon.
• Its library/media organization and Magnetic Timeline make long edits relatively painless.
• Apple currently recommends 16 GB memory for comfortable use, although 8 GB is the minimum. support.apple.com
• I'd pick this over Resolve if you're on a reasonably recent Mac and want the smoothest beginner experience.

3. Adobe Premiere — best if you want to eventually become a serious editor

• Extremely capable and widely used professionally.
• Great if you'll eventually use After Effects/Photoshop too.
• For 4K, Adobe recommends 32 GB+ RAM and 8 GB GPU memory, so hardware matters. helpx.adobe.com
• It's subscription-based, which makes it less attractive for a first project.

The bigger issue isn't actually the software

For an hour-long livestream, don't edit the original giant recording directly if your computer struggles with it. Use proxies (lower-resolution temporary copies) while editing. Your final export still uses the original footage.

Also:

• Keep your footage on an SSD, preferably internal or a fast external SSD.
• Leave plenty of free disk space for cache/render files.
• Turn on automatic project backups.
• Don't pile hundreds of effects onto the timeline while you're still cutting.
• If the livestream is 1080p, edit at 1080p rather than unnecessarily working in 4K.
• Save versions of the project as you go.

If you tell me your computer specs (Windows/Mac, CPU, GPU, RAM, and whether the livestream is 1080p or 4K), I can tell you which editor I'd choose specifically for your machine and how to set it up to minimize crashes.