Useful Software

This list serves as a cache of software applications often used for the production of film and video. It is not a list of software licensed and made available by UCF or NSCM. While we generally consider these to be reputable applications, this list should not be considered as an official endorsement.

Development

• Arc Studio (iOS, macOS & Windows) – The easiest way to outline, write, and edit screenplays and television scripts, for solo-writers, large writing staffs, and everything in between. 
• Celtx – Write scripts, pre-visualize, and manage productions quickly and easily with an online workspace.
• Evernote – Capture all of your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations, into a single place. Access everything whenever you need it from your computer, even when offline.
• Fade In (macOS, Windows, Linux) – Advanced software used by professionals writing for motion pictures, television, video games, the stage, radio, and more. It features support for multiple languages, tools for outlining, organizing, and navigating, plus extensive screenplay formatting and robust functionality for managing rewrites and revisions.
• Final Draft (macOS, Windows) – A screenwriting software for writing and formatting screenplays complete with story mapping, image support, night mode, speech to script, & more.
• Google G Suite – A free powerful suite of applications that include multiple email accounts and sophisticated calendars, document creation, and cloud storage.
• Microsoft Office 365 (macOS, Windows) – Complete online suite of Office software, free to all UCF students. Get the latest Office apps -both the desktop and the online versions – and updates when they happen.
  • Excel – Create spreadsheets with ease from templates or on your own and perform calculations with modern formulas.
  • OneDrive – An intelligent files app connecting you to all your files so you can share and work together from anywhere while protecting your work.
  • OneNote – Get organized in notebooks you can divide into sections and pages.
  • Outlook – Work efficiently with email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and more – together in one place.
  • PowerPoint – Get your ideas across with beautiful design, rich animation, cinematic motion, 3D models and icons.
  • Word – Write with confidence, knowing intelligent technology can help with spelling, grammar and even stylistic writing suggestions.
• Open Office (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A powerful, free office suite that includes word processing, spreadsheets, multimedia presentation, and other software. Free and Open-Source
• WriterDuet – Collaborate, outline, and create with professional screenwriting software.

Pre-Visualization

• Boords – Boords is a web-based tool that allows users to create storyboards quickly and easily. Its interface offers drag and drop options and a library of characters, props and settings.
• Celtx Storyboards – Pre-visualize quickly and easily with an online workspace.
• Firefly Adobe – Firefly Adobe is a powerful tool that analyzes scripts and automatically generates images that are both 3D and 2D to help a production team to visualize each shot of the storyline.
• FrameForge – FrameForge can easily produce storyboards, but at its core, it’s an OPTICALLY ACCURATE VIRTUAL FILM STUDIO where you can explore, experiment, troubleshoot and discover, just as if you had unlimited time on set. It can mimic the optical properties of virtually any camera and lens set on the planet.
• Google Sky – Visual astronomy online application.
• Shot Pro – ShotPro is a mobile app that helps filmmakers create storyboards for their projects. It has an extensive library of 3D objects and settings that can be incorporated into the storyboard. Within ProCam mode, you get access to professional controls like aperture, focus distance, ISO, shutter speed, lens size, depth of field, camera shake and more.
• Set.A.Light 3D (Windows)- A studio simulator that photographers and filmmakers to construct lighting setups and simulate the expected results. It also exports lighting diagrams in PDF.
• SketchUp – A fun and easy to use 3D modeling application that is useful in pre-visualization and design solutions. Made by Google.
• Virtual Lighting Studio – An interactive lighting tool to learn how to light portraits with a combination of lighting fixtures.

Pre-Production

• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (macOS, Windows)– The global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents.
• Celtx Production (iOS) – Everything your crew needs to prep for the shoot – budget, call sheets, and production reports.
• Department Head (iOS) – A databasing and communications app for film, television, and commercial professionals.
• Doodle – Doodle simplifies group scheduling.
• Gorilla Film Budgeting (macOS, Windows) – Traditional budgeting tool for film & TV productions that includes globals, fringes, tax credits, deferments, rate books and expense tracking.
• Gorilla Film Scheduling (macOS, Windows) – Important and breakdown scripts, create call sheets and other reports.
• Movie Magic Scheduling (macOS, Windows) – Software for production professionals working on schedules for any size project.
• Movie Magic Budgeting (macOS, Windows) – Software for production professionals responsible for estimating and managing the costs of any project.
• Scenechronize – Cloud-based production scheduling and breakdown software.
• Showbiz Budgeting & Actualization (macOS, Windows) – Allows production accountants, production managers and independent producers to create all types of budgets for feature film, TV, commercial, music video, web series and corporate video projects.
• ShowBiz Shotlogic (macOS, Windows) – An intuitive new production scheduling application that can handle any situation with a single drag.
• ShowBiz PC Envelope (macOS, Windows) – A standalone version of the PC module from Showbiz Budgeting and Actualization. Showbiz PC Envelope will keep you organized during prep, shoot, and wrap.
• ShowBiz PO Log (macOS, Windows) – Allows crew in the field to enter their purchase orders, including vendor and payment info, and email the file to the lead accountant.
• Skype (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – Messaging, HD voice and video calling will help you share experiences and get things done with others. Free
• Slack – Brings all your communication together in one place. It is real-time messaging, archiving and search for modern teams.
• StudioBinder – Provides customizable, online solutions for production managers to better manage their productions, all in one place.
• Zoom (macOS, Windows) – Unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, and group messaging into one easy-to-use platform.

Media Utilities

• AJA System Test (macOS & Windows) – Use this handy app to check the performance of any drive on your system to ensure it is tuned for the performance you need to use today’s demanding media file formats. Free
• Arri Format and Data Rate Calculator – An online tool that calculates the record durations and data rates for different camera settings (combinations of camera model, codec, resolution, project rate, sensor speed, recording media, audio on/off).
• Aspect Ratio Calculator – A handy interactive form that helps you calculator aspect ratio values.
• Aspect Ratio Matte Generator – This tool generates an image file you can place over a video to mask it to a particular aspect ratio.
• Automatic Duck – Migration tools for translating and transforming Final Cut Pro X timelines to Motion and After Effects projects.
• Avidemux (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A unique video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks. Free and Open-Source
• Bit Calculator – Quickly convert between units of data – bits/bytes, kilobits/kilobytes, megabits/megabytes, gigabits/gigabytes, terabits/terabytes, and petabits/petabytes.
• BRAW.info – A calculator for determining the media storage capacity needed for the various codecs, frame sizes, and frame rates that Blackmagic Design cinema cameras can record with.
• Burn (macOS) – Simple but advanced disc burning. Free
• Cinelerra (Windows, Linux) – A capable non-linear video editing software with titling, effects, and transitions. Free and Open-Source
• ClipGrab (macOS, Windows) – Downloads and converts videos from most major video hosting websites. Adware
• Compressor – Integrates with Final Cut Pro to add custom output settings, distributed encoding, and extensive delivery features.
• DCP-O-Matic (macOS, Windows) – A tool to create Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) from videos, images, sound and subtitle files. You can use it to make content for playback on DCI-compliant cinema projectors. Free and Open-Source
• Depth of Field Calculator – DOF Master’s online depth of field reference tool (try the WebApp version for iPhone/iPad users).
• ffmpeg (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A complete, cross-platform solution to record, convert and stream audio and video. Free and Open-Source
• FileZilla (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – Free and open-source FTP client. Free and Open-Source
• Format Factory (Windows) – Multifunctional, multimedia file processing tools. Freeware
• Gimp (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – GIMP is the GNU Image Manipulation Program, software developed for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring. Free and Open-Source
• Handbrake (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – Handbrake is a multi-platform, multi-threaded video transcoder and disc ripper. Free and Open-Source
• Hedge (macOS, Windows) – Hedge allows you to create multiple copies, backups, and archives from multiple sources – at the same time. Built with video workflows in mind, it supports about every type of storage medium.
• IINA (macOS) – The modern media player for macOS. Powered by the open-source media player mpv, IINA can play almost every media file you have. Free and Open-Source
• MacDrive (macOS, Windows) – MacDrive makes your PC smarter giving you the ability read and write to Mac disks. MacDrive creates peace between the platforms.
• MakeMKV (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A one-click solution to convert videos into free and patents-unencumbered format that can be played everywhere. Free and Open-Source
• NTFS for Mac (macOS) – Write, edit, copy, move and delete files on Microsoft NTFS volumes from your Mac! Fast, seamless, easy to use.
• OBS Studio (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – Software for video recording and live streaming. Free and Open-Source
• OpenShot (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A free, open-source video editor with effects, transitions, and titling. Free and Open-Source
• Post Haste (macOS, Windows) – A project management tool that allows you to setup file and folder templates for your media projects. Free
• Processing (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A programming language, development environment, and online community. Free and Open-Source
• Power Load Calculator – A simple and helpful tool to determine the remaining electrical circuit capacity, required breaker capacity or required voltage.
• RAID Disk Space Calculator – An easy way to calculate the storage capacity of your Redundant Array of Independent Disks.
• Red Tools – A multipurpose toolkit designed for use by filmmakers and cinematographers that aid camera setup, including Crop Factor, Recording Time, and Exposure.
• QLab (macOS) – A powerful macOS software for designing and playing back sound, video, light, and show control cues. Free and Premium versions.
• Shotcut (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – Shotcut is a powerful, cross-platform video editor. Free and Open-Source
• Video Space Calculator – A web tool that is intended to give an indication of the amount of space a given video format will take up on disk.
• Video Projection Tool (VPT) (macOS, Windows) – A rich tool for projecting mapping on complex forms, adapting a projection to a particular space/surface, combing recorded and live footage for multiscreen HD playback, and for interactive installations using Arduino sensors or camera tracking ++. Free
• VirtualDub (Windows) – A video capture/processing utility that has been streamlined for fast linear operations over video. It has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files and can be extended with third-party video filters. Free and Open-Source
• Visual Studio (iOS, Windows) – A code editor redefined and optimized for building and debugging modern web and cloud applications. Free
• VLC (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – VLC is a cross-platform multimedia player and framework that supports most media files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols. Free and Open-Source
• xACT (macOS) – Audio compression toolkit. Free

Online Storage, Web and Media Hosting

• Dropbox – Dropbox is software that syncs your files online and across your computers. It’s an incredible useful tool.
• Frame.io – Native integrations with your favorite NLEs boost the functionality of your workbench and speed up your workflow. Easy-to-add integrations with hundreds of additional apps from task- to dailies-management make Frame.io a customizable hub for all your tools.
• Google Drive – Store, share, and collaborate on files and folders from your mobile device, tablet, or computer.
• Microsoft OneDrive – Online cloud storage, free to all UCF students.
• Soundcloud – The world’s leading social sound platform where anyone can create sounds and share them everywhere.
• YouTube – A forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.
• Vimeo – A community for filmmakers and video creators to share their work with like-minded individuals.
• Wipster.io – A new way to share creative work, gather client feedback, and work through revisions – in the cloud, in real-time.
• Wix – Powerful website creation made simple.
• WordPress – An open-source software you can use to create a beautiful website, blog, or app.

Mobile Applications

• 8mm (iOS) – Create old-fashioned 8mm movies in real time.
• AJA DataCalc (iOS) – Computes storage requirements for various professional video and audio media formats.
• Blackmagic Camera – Unlocks the power of your iPhone by adding Blackmagic’s digital film camera controls and image processing. Now you can create the same cinematic ‘look’ as Hollywood feature films. You get the same intuitive and user-friendly interface as Blackmagic Design’s award-winning cameras. 
• Digital Clapper (Android) – A professional mobile app for synchronizing multiple cameras and sound devices on a film production sets.
• FiLMiC Pro (iOS, Android) – One of the most advanced cinematic video camera app for mobile devices. Featuring focus peaking, zebras, true LOG +, manual controls, and so much more.
• Moon Seeker (iOS) – A moon tracking program that literally gives you the arc of the moon while overlaying on your iPhone’s camera.
• pCAM (iOS) – A time-tested, industry-standard tool. Designed by a working camera technician who understands that cinematography app calculations must be done quickly, simply and on the run.
• Photo Tools (Android) – A densely packed photography utility.
• Pocket AC (Android) – An app for cinematographers, camera assistants, operators, DITs, and videographers featuring various calculators and charts to help prep and execute productions.
• Teleprompt+ (iOS) – Teleprompt+ is a simple yet powerful teleprompter for the iPad.
• Stellar (iOS) – The intelligent lighting control app from ARRI.
• Sun Seeker (iOS) – A sun tracking program that literally gives you the arc of the sun while overlaying on your iPhone’s camera.
• Sun Surveyor (iOS, Android) – Helps filmmakers to better scout locations, plan effectively, and get the right shot by providing detailed information regarding sunrise, sunset, and moon phases.
• VLC (iOS, Android) – VLC is a cross-platform multimedia player and framework that supports most media files and various streaming protocols.
• Windy (iOS) – Besides tracking current wind conditions this app also provides detailed animated radar, future rain accumulation forecasts, sea temperature, several forms of air quality, and snow depth.

Non-Linear Editing

• Adobe Premiere Pro – Edit and craft polished films and video.
• Avid Media Composer – Media Composer is a widely adopted non-linear editor that provides the powerful storytelling tools. From AI-powered timesaving features, flexible workflow options, to customizable UI and remote collaboration tools, Media Composer makes it easy to create and deliver content from anywhere and turn around more projects faster.
• DaVinci Resolve Studio (macOS, Windows) – A dynamic application with a suite of innovative tools for editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction and audio post-production with the ability to export high resolution files.
• Final Cut Pro X (macOS) – A complete video post-production studio on your Mac.
• Audacity (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – An easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder. Free and Open-Source
• DaVinci Resolve (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A dynamic application with a suite of innovative tools for editing, visual effects, motion graphics, color correction and audio post-production. Free
• Lightworks Pro (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A full-featured, professional non-linear editor for video assembly and mastering that supports a wide variety of workflows and codecs with Advanced Project sharing, 3D support, and console support.
• Kdenlive (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A feature-rich, nonlinear video editor complete with multi-track video editing, titler, key-framable effects, transitions, and scopes for audio and video calibration. Free and Open-Source
• Lightworks (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A professional, non-linear editor for video assembly and mastering that supports a wide variety of workflows and codecs.

Computer-Generated Images (CGI / VFX)

• Adobe After Effects – Industry-standard motion graphics and visual effects tool.
• AutoDesk Flame (macOS, Windows) – Enables post-production professionals to meet today’s tough challenges with high-performing tools for 3D visual effects, compositing, advanced graphics, look development, conform, color management, and editorial finishing.
• AutoDesk Maya (macOS, Windows) – 3D computer animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software.
• Blender (macOS, Windows, & Linux) – A free and open-source 3D animation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, even video editing and game creation.
• Mocha – A world-renowned software and plugin for planar motion tracking, 3D tracking, rotoscoping, object removal, image stabilization, and PowerMesh organic warp tracking.
• Motion – A powerful motion graphics tool that makes it easy to create cinematic 2D, 3D, and 360° titles, fluid transitions, and realistic effects in real time.
• Nuke – An Industry-standard, node-based compositing tool at the heart of the Nuke family.

Adobe Creative Cloud

• Adobe Creative Cloud (macOS, Windows) – Provides a full suite of creative apps and online services so you can make anything you can imagine.
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro DC – Complete PDF solution for a connected world.
  • Adobe After Effects – Industry standard motion graphics and visual effects.
  • Adobe Animate – A new age for animation.
  • Adobe Audition – Bring stories to life with audio.
  • Adobe Bridge – Centralize your creative assets.
  • Adobe Character Animator – Animate in realtime.
  • Adobe Dreamweaver – Design and develop modern, responsive websites.
  • Adobe Illustrator – Create stunning illustrations and graphics.
  • Adobe InDesign – Design and publish elegant layouts.
  • Adobe Media Encoder – Quickly output video files for virtually any screen.
  • Adobe Lightroom – Professional photo ingest and editing.
  • Adobe Photoshop – Create beautiful graphics, photos, and art.
  • Adobe Premiere Pro – Edit and craft polished films and video.
  • Adobe Premiere Rush – Create and share online videos anywhere.
  • Adobe Prelude – Metadata ingest, logging, and rough cuts.