Escalium Video Editor is the desktop app of our Advanced Video Editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. It's the same editor you use on the web, with the same account and the same projects, but in its own window and with a few advantages a browser tab can't give you. Like the web version, all editing and exporting happens on your computer: your clips are never uploaded to be rendered.

In this article we cover what your computer needs to run the app, with minimum and recommended specs.

Why use the app instead of the browser?

• Exports keep full speed in the background. Browsers slow down tabs that are minimised or covered. In the app, an export runs at the same pace while you do something else.

• Everything works out of the box: your files and folders, the save dialog for large exports, on-device transcription on the graphics card (WebGPU) and the microphone for voice-overs. You don't need to worry about which browser you have.

• Multi-monitor workspace. The editor can open extra windows on other screens, and in full screen every window follows, each on its own monitor.

• It's always up to date. The app updates itself, and it always loads the latest version of the editor.

• It remembers your setup: window size, position and full screen.

Quick summary

1. Operating system

There are installers for the three major systems and for both kinds of processor:

• Windows: 64-bit installer (.exe) for Intel/AMD (x64) and for ARM computers (such as Snapdragon laptops). You can choose the installation folder, and it creates desktop and Start menu shortcuts.

• macOS: .dmg for Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4…) and for Intel Macs. Download the version that matches your Mac: Apple Silicon Macs get the best performance from the native version.

• Linux: .AppImage (works on most distributions) and .deb (Ubuntu, Debian and derivatives).

Keep your system and, above all, your graphics drivers up to date. The editor relies on the graphics card for encoding, color correction and transcription, and old drivers are the most common cause of problems.

Note for Linux: on-device transcription on the graphics card (WebGPU) is still considered experimental on Linux. The app turns it on for you, but depending on your GPU and drivers it may not be available. In that case the editor automatically uses the fast transcription model on the processor.

2. Processor (CPU)

The processor composes every frame of the export (video layers, animated text, transitions and effects) at 30 frames per second, mixes the audio, runs the fast transcription model, creates lightweight proxies of heavy clips, and converts ProRes and DNxHD/DNxHR files so you can edit them.

Frame composition runs on a single main thread, so single-core performance matters as much as the number of cores.

Minimum: a reasonably modern 4-core processor.
Recommended: 6–8 cores from a recent generation, or any Apple Silicon chip.

3. Memory (RAM)

During export, full-resolution frames are kept in memory (about 8 MB each at 1080p). ProRes/DNx conversions and the AI models (transcription and background removal) also use memory. In the app, large exports are written straight to the file you choose, so they use less RAM than in browsers that can't do that.

Minimum: 8 GB.
Recommended: 16 GB or more, especially for 4K clips, ProRes footage or long projects with many layers.

4. Graphics card (GPU)

1. Hardware video encoding. The editor uses your graphics card's H.264 encoder, which is much faster than the processor and uses very little power. If your computer doesn't have one, it uses the processor: the result is the same, just slower.

2. Color correction. Color wheels, curves, LUTs, masks and scopes are computed on the GPU. Any modern integrated graphics is enough.

3. Accurate transcription. The Whisper Large V3 Turbo model runs on the graphics card (WebGPU), which is built into the app on Windows and macOS. With a dedicated GPU or Apple Silicon, a song is transcribed in very little time.

4. Background removal and text behind the subject are also faster with a good GPU.

Minimum: integrated graphics (Intel UHD 620 or newer, AMD Radeon Vega integrated graphics, Apple M1) with up-to-date drivers.
Recommended: dedicated graphics with 4 GB of VRAM or more (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 / RTX 3050 or better, AMD Radeon RX 6000 or better, Intel Arc) or Apple Silicon.

Laptops with two graphics cards: if your laptop has integrated and dedicated graphics, set Escalium Video Editor to use the high-performance GPU in your system's graphics settings (on Windows: Settings → System → Display → Graphics).

5. Storage

• The app itself: a few hundred MB.

• Transcription models: about 760 MB for the accurate one and about 140 MB for the fast one, downloaded once.

• Library clip cache: up to 1 GB.

• Your own videos, proxies and thumbnails, which stay on your computer.

• Your exports: about 120 MB per minute at 1080p.

Minimum: 4 GB free.
Recommended: 10 GB free or more, on an SSD.

6. Screen and multiple monitors

The app opens in full screen the first time, so the whole screen is your workspace. You can use it on a single monitor, but it really shines with two: move panels to the second screen and keep the preview and timeline big on the main one.

• Minimum: 1366 × 768.

• Recommended: 1920 × 1080 or higher, and a second monitor if you have one.

7. Internet connection

The app needs an internet connection: it signs you in to your Escalium account, saves your projects, loads the clip library and always gives you the latest version of the editor. Your clips and exports, however, are processed on your computer and never uploaded to be rendered.

The first time you use on-device transcription or background removal, the models are downloaded (up to about 900 MB in total). After that they're kept on your computer.

8. Tips for the best performance

1. Update your graphics drivers before you start.

2. Plug your laptop in and use your system's high-performance power mode while exporting.

3. On a Mac, download the Apple Silicon version if your Mac has an M-series chip.

4. Let the editor create proxies for 4K or very heavy clips. The export always uses the original at full quality.

5. Minimise the app and keep working: exports keep their speed in the background.

6. If your computer is on the limit, use the fast transcription model and export at 720p.

In short

If your computer runs Windows 10 or 11, macOS 12 or later, or a modern 64-bit Linux, and has 8 GB of RAM, you can use Escalium Video Editor. With 16 GB of RAM, a modern 6–8 core processor, a dedicated GPU or Apple Silicon, and an SSD, you'll get fast exports, near-instant transcription and smooth editing even on big projects.