Shotcut

Overview/Introduction

Shotcut is a free video editing software. 

Details

Download the Software

1. Go to https://shotcut.org.
2. Select Click to Download in the middle of the page. 
3. If you are using a Windows computer, select the Windows installer under either site. If you are using a Mac computer, choose the macOS dmg under either site to download.

4. Search your computer for the Shotcut application (there is no desktop icon) and open it. 

Start a Project 

1. In the New Project section, choose a folder in which to save your projects, give it a name, and then click Start. (Don’t see this? Click on File > New).

2. Set up your project workstation by clicking X next to anything you don’t want to see and using the dots to the left, right, and below the screens to make any of these screens larger or smaller. Generally, you will be working within three main areas:
   1. The top menu items which will display on the left (e.g. Playlist, Filters).
   2. The Preview screen on the right.
   3. The Timeline at the bottom.

Add a Video Clip to the Timeline

1. Select Open File in the top menu and find the video file on your computer.
2. Drag and drop the video showing in the preview screen to the timeline at the bottom (or click the + icon on the timeline). If you do not see the timeline, click Timeline in the top menu. 

Add Photos to the Timeline

1. You can add photos to your timeline the same way you do videos (by selecting Open File in the top menu, finding the photo, and dragging it down to the timeline).
2. To set the length of time the photo should appear in your video, drag the right edge of the photo on the timeline to make it shorter or longer. 
3. To change the size and position of the photo, select the photo in the timeline, then click Filters in the top menu.
4. Select the + icon, then the Video icon.
5. Choose Size and Position. Use the white boxes around the photo in the preview screen to resize it and the circle in the middle of the photo to reposition it.

Add Audio to the Timeline

1. To add audio to your video, select the Timeline Menu icon (the three lines in the left-hand corner of your timeline) and choose Add Audio Track.

2. Double-click the Audio track on your timeline so it’s highlighted in green and move the white playhead line on the timeline to where you want to insert the audio.
3. Select Open File in the top menu and find the audio file on your computer. The preview screen will be white.
4. Drag and drop the white preview screen to the timeline at the bottom (or click the +icon on the timeline).
5. To mute the audio of a video clip, select the Volume icon to the left of that video track on the timeline.  
6. To mute only certain parts of a video, isolate that portion of the video (see Edit your Video instructions), but instead of cutting it, select it on the timeline so it’s outlined in red. Select Filters in the top menu, click the + icon, then the Audio icon, and choose Mute.
7. To keep the audio of a video clip but not the video, add the video to the video track, then follow the steps above to add an audio track. Drag the video on the timeline down to the audio track.

Use the Playlist 

If you have multiple video clips, audio clips, and/or photos to add, consider adding them to your playlist first. You can then add items from your playlist to your timeline as needed.

1. Open the Playlist panel by selecting Playlist in the top menu.
2. Select Open File in the top menu and find the file on your computer.
3. Drag and drop the file showing in the preview screen to the Playlist on the left-hand side (or click the + icon at the bottom of the Playlist screen).
4. Repeat the process for each video clip, audio clip, and/or photo you have.

Add Multiple Clips to the Timeline

1. Add the first video clip to your timeline and drag the white playhead line to the end of that video clip on the timeline. 
2. Double click the second clip on your playlist so it’s showing in the preview screen (if you’re not using the Playlist, click Open File and bring the second clip in so it’s showing in the preview screen).
3. Drag and drop the clip from the preview screen to the timeline (or click +icon on the timeline). Make sure there is no green showing on the timeline between the two video clips.
4. Repeat for each clip.
5. To add the second clip in the middle of the first clip, move the playhead line on the timeline to the location in the first video that you want to insert the second clip. Click the Paste icon (looks like a clipboard) on the timeline.
6. To overlay a video or photo over a video clip, select the Timeline Menu icon (the three lines in the left-hand corner of your timeline) and choose Add Video Track. Open the photo or video and drag it onto that track. The top-most track is what is most prominent in your video.

Edit your Video

1. To trim the beginning and end of a video, pause the video where you want it to start and click the letter I on your keyboard. Then pause the video where you want it to stop and click the letter O on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can drag the sideway triangles on the preview screen to where you want the video to start and stop.

2. To cut out portions of the video in the middle, add it to the timeline, then pause the video right before you want to cut it so the white playhead line is in that location on the timeline. Click the Split at Playhead icon.
3. Pause the video at the end of the portion you want to cut. Click the Split at Playhead icon again.
4. You now have an isolated clip. Select this clip on the timeline and click the Cut icon (looks like scissors) on the timeline to delete it.

Adding Transitions Between Videos

1. To add a transition between two media clips, drag the second clip on the timeline slightly over the first clip and then drop it. This will create a transition, indicated by a purple symbol in between both clips on the timeline.
2. To change the length of the transition, drag the right edge of the transition to make it shorter or longer. 
3. To change the type of transition, right-click the purple transition and select Properties. Choose a new transition.

Add Filters 

There are many filters you can add to your videos.

1. First, isolate that clip (see Edit your Video instructions), but instead of cutting it, select it on the timeline so it’s outlined in red.
2. Select Filters in the top menu, then click the + icon.
   1. The Asterisk shows your favorite filters (click the asterisk to the left of any filter to favorite it).
   2. The Video icon includes videos and photo filters such as fading in and out video, cropping, changing the size and position, sharpening video, and adding text.
   3. The Audio icon includes audio filters such as fading in and out audio, muting the audio, and adjusting the volume.
3. You can add a Text filter under the Video icon.
   1. Delete the timecode and add your own text.
   2. Change the color of the text by clicking the white box next to font and choosing a color.
   3. Use the white boxes around the photo to reposition it.

Record Narration

1. Click on File and then Open Other.
2. Under Devices on the left-hand side, choose Direct Show. Select your microphone in the dropdown menu under Audio Devices. Then click OK.
3. To begin the recording, click Export in the top menu and choose the WAV preset on the left-hand side (or in the format dropdown). Then select Capture File.
4. Choose a location to save your audio in. Then click OK.
5. Shotcut is now recording your audio. Narrate while playing your video and click Stop Capture when done. The audio you recorded will be in your main viewer as a blank white screen.
6. Add an audio track by selecting the Timeline Menu icon (the three lines in the left-hand corner of your timeline) and choosing Add Audio Track.
7. Select the audio track on the timeline so it’s highlighted, then click Open File and find the recording on your computer.
8. Click the +icon on the timeline to add the audio to the track.

Save and Export your Video

1. Save your project frequently by clicking Save in the top menu.
2. When you are ready to export your video, click on Export in the top menu.
3. Select a setting on the left-hand side (H.264 Main Profile or H.264 High Profile is recommended) and then choose Export File at the bottom.
4. The Jobs area on the right-hand side will give you a progress report of the export. Keep Shotcut open until it gets to 100%.

FAQs

1. What do all these icons on the timeline do? 

See Also

• Basic tutorial
• External tutorial
• Additional tutorials
• Recorded workshop

Need help? Contact Instructional Technology.