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Updated Free MP4 Video Editing Software Top 10 Picks for 2024
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Free MP4 Video Editing Software: Top 10 Picks
Top 10 Best MP4 Video Editors
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is one of the most popular video formats in the world, however, finding a free video editing software which can edit MP4 or MOV formats videos can be hard - with so many video editing software on the market, you don’t know what is great and what is a piece of junk, you don’t have time to test it one by one.
Thankfully, we have produced a top-five list of the best free MP4 editors for you to check. That’s right - with these video editors, you can just go with it and edit your MP4 video files in no time at all!
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora
If you’re inclined to edit videos with presets and templates and looking for a fully-featured product, you may also want to consider a commercial product like Wondershare Filmora .
This video editing tool enables you to seamlessly put together video clips, music & text, apply effects and get a professional-looking home movie in minutes. Download and try it out.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
See also: Best Video Editing for Windows
Here is a comparison table about the top MP4 editors. Have a quick look.
Supported system | Ratings from G2 | Pricing | Free Trial | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Filmora | Windows/Mac | 4.4/5 | $49.99/Year, $79.99/Perpetual | Available | Newbies and experts. All levels of users. |
Windows Movie Maker | Windows | 4.0/5 | Free | Available | User-friendly. Suitable for all levels. |
iMovie | Mac | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Beginner friendly |
Avidemux | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Great for beginners |
Lightworks | Mac/Windows/Linux | 3.5/5 | $9.99 per user per month. | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users |
VSDC | Windows | 4.0/5 | $19.99 per month | Not available | Intermediate |
VEGAS Pro | Windows | 4.3/5 | $12.99 per month | 30-day free trial | Suitable for experts. |
Openshot | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Suitable for newbies and experts. |
Clipchamp | Web-based | 4.3/5 | $6 per month | Available | Newbie-friendly |
Freemake | Windows | 3.8/5 | $24 per month. | Available | Simple. No learning curve. Suitable for all levels of users. |
MiniTool MovieMaker | Windows | 4.0/5 | $12.99 per month | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users. |
1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a great video editing tool and has been a part of the Windows system for many years. It supports various video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V and more. The drag-n-drop functionality enables you to easily add video clips from the computer and drop them to the program.
With it, you can easily combine photos and videos, apply transitions and effects, add music or sound, move images and videos around and have them play at the speed of your choice, post to YouTube and much more.
Pros:
- Various video editing options;
- Easy-to-use;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- It crashes a lot;
- Many different versions of the same product;
- Not available anymore as a part of Windows OS.
Learn more details about Windows Movie Maker
2. iMovie
As the equivalent of Windows Movie Make for Mac OS X, iMovie gives you the chance to turn any movie into a major production. With a simple to use UI, you can easily enhance your videos quicker than ever. Now just import your video clips from computer or external devices, arrange them on the timeline, drop titles, effects and sounds on to the part of the video you wish to edit, and preview the results.
Once it’s all done, one-click to export your file for iOS or Internet usage.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface;
- Improved audio editing and fun Movie Trailers.
Cons:
- No native AVCHD editing or direct import;
- Pre-processing and import trans-coding can be time-consuming.
Learn more details about iMovie video editing tips
3. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free open-source video editing program for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It natively supports a great number of video formats like MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV and ASF and comes with a well selected feature set to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks done. It’s also filled with features like different filters, decoding options, frame rate configuration, processing tools etc.
Other great feature is that tasks can be automated using projects and job queue.
Pros:
- Lightweight and fairly simple;
- A wide selection of filters;
- Provides command-line interface for advanced users.
Cons:
- Outdated interface;
- May drop frames in certain formats;
- Can be complicated for beginning users.
4. Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the most advanced free video editing tools available. With the user-friendly interface and packed timeline, you can easily import, trim and seamlessly weave audio and video files together with a few effortless mouse clicks.
On top of that, it also includes the features like profession-level color correction, video capture function, GPU-accelerated real-time effects and board video formats support.
Pros:
- Customizable screens;
- Amount of video editing options;
- High video quality.
Cons:
- It crashes occasionally;
- Requires a long learning curve.
5. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC is a free video editing program for Windows. The support video formats include MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. It provides various video filters, transitions, audio effects as well as drawing and selection tools.
When the editing done, you can choose the optimized save outputs for a variety of devices, including smart phones and gaming consoles.
Pros:
- Provides various useful filters;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.
6. VEGAS Pro MP4
VEGAS Pro is one of the highly-rated premium MP4 editor tools in the market. This program has many amazing features, including advanced HDR color correction, scene detection, sound design, and live streaming.
Furthermore, it has hundreds of filters, effects, titles, and transitions to transform your output file. This array of features makes it easy to edit videos on Windows PC.
Pros:
- This program has plenty of video editing features.
- It offers many filters, titles, and transitions.
- It allows unlimited video and audio tracks.
- It allows a nested timeline.
- The color grading tools are clear and top-grade.
Cons:
- Many users feel the interface is disorganized and difficult for newbies to navigate.
- The Multicam feature, although present, is nearly unusable.
- There are no welcome tutorials to get you started with ease.
- Vegas Pro is expensive and is only suitable for Windows. You can buy it at $249 or subscribe for $12.99 monthly.
7. OpenShot MP4 Video Editor
OpenShot is a popular free media editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This open-source tool has evolved and now supports many media formats, including audio, video, and image formats.
This tool has one of the simplest user interfaces designed with all categories of users in mind. It supports over 70 languages, and users can add as many layers of tracks.
OpenShot offers a powerful animation framework to allow users to play around with animations to produce quality output videos. OpenShot also provides transitions and over 14 effects to make your output MP4 file attractive.
Pros:
- OpenShot is a cross-platform video editor; hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux without compatibility issues.
- It offers a good collection of animations and effects to make your video more appealing.
- It has a simple and user-friendly interface. Therefore, amateurs won’t struggle to edit their MP4 videos.
- It supports over 70 different languages.
- It is free.
Cons:
- Some of the purported features don’t function well.
- Although it has a good collection of features, several other useful features are missing.
- It cannot open AVCHD files.
8. Clipchamp MP4 Editor Online
Clipchamp is a free, easy-to-use video editor that is suitable for small business marketing. This web-based MP4 editor is designed with simplicity; hence, users can easily edit videos.
With Clipchamp, you can edit videos of all sizes directly on your browser without experience! You can add special effects, transitions, background music, and texts to make your output MP4 file eye-catchy.
Furthermore, you can trim, cut, split, combine, rotate, flip, and mirror videos depending on your need.
Pros:
- The combination of intelligent features and shortcuts significantly saves your time and energy.
- It offers a sleek and intuitive interface to edit MP4 videos seamlessly.
- It provides styling effects and lots of good transitions.
- It offers several templates to get started.
Cons:
- Users have limited control over the effects.
- Most useful content requires subscriptions.
- Users complain of slow export rendering.
9. Freemake MP4 Video Editor
Freemake is a common name in the media editing industry and is undoubtedly one of the best MP4 video editor tools.
Although it is not a fully-fledged app like other hot names, it allows you to quickly and easily edit MP4 videos on Windows. With Freemake, you can cut, rotate, and import files directly from YouTube.
Pros:
- It supports direct uploads from YouTube.
- It supports several file formats.
- It is easy to use.
Cons:
- It offers basic video editing features.
- It does not provide Mac support.
10. MiniTool MovieMaker
MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editor enriched with plenty of good video editing features. This tool offers an intuitive interface and collection of features that easily transform how you produce stunning videos.
With several video templates, you are one click away from generating stylish videos. The good with this tool is that it gives you a platform to inspire your creativity and export 1080P videos without a watermark.
Pros:
- It is friendly for beginners. Thanks to the simple and intuitive interface.
- It offers plenty of templates, filters, themes, and stickers.
Cons:
- It has limited editing features compared to top-grade tools like Filmora.
- The free version is ad-laden and has a forced watermark on the exported file.
FAQs About MP4 Video Editing
1. How Do I Shorten an MP4 Video?
In this article, we have listed 10 free MP4 video editors, but Filmora is one the best tool for shortening mp4 videos. It comes with Auto Scene Detection tool, Instant cutter tool & the Trim feature. The Instant Cutter tool allows you to trim MP4 videos quickly without re-encoding. On the timeline, drag the trim icon to the right or left to remove the video’s beginning and end parts, respectively, and trim your video to shorten an MP4 video easily. The instant cutter tool is totally free to use and there is no watermark.
2. How Can I Split MP4 Files Into Parts for Free?
With the instant cutter tool in Filmora, you can easily split mp4 videos into parts for free as you require. Click Import with Instant Cutter Tool and then open the file, move the playhead to the start position of the video part that you want to keep, and then click the Set In icon. Repeat the process to find the ending point, and then click the Add Segment button to split the video and save it as a new one. You can split several clips from the original footage.
A more accessible alternative to this approach is using the Auto Scene Detection tool . It splits your video into multiple strategic segments automatically based on scene changes. You then end up with multiple split parts of the original video which you can selectively delete and then add to the timeline.
Conclusion
This article has highlighted some of the best MP4 converters worth trying. However, not every tool works for you. Choosing a tool that meets your needs and gives you desired MP4 editing experience is important.
Fortunately, the all-in-one Video editor-Filmora Video Editor, ticks all the boxes and easily becomes the best choice. This MP4 editor offers an unmatchable video and audio editing experience within your budget. Try Filmora today and take your MP4 editing experience to another level.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is one of the most popular video formats in the world, however, finding a free video editing software which can edit MP4 or MOV formats videos can be hard - with so many video editing software on the market, you don’t know what is great and what is a piece of junk, you don’t have time to test it one by one.
Thankfully, we have produced a top-five list of the best free MP4 editors for you to check. That’s right - with these video editors, you can just go with it and edit your MP4 video files in no time at all!
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora
If you’re inclined to edit videos with presets and templates and looking for a fully-featured product, you may also want to consider a commercial product like Wondershare Filmora .
This video editing tool enables you to seamlessly put together video clips, music & text, apply effects and get a professional-looking home movie in minutes. Download and try it out.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
See also: Best Video Editing for Windows
Here is a comparison table about the top MP4 editors. Have a quick look.
Supported system | Ratings from G2 | Pricing | Free Trial | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Filmora | Windows/Mac | 4.4/5 | $49.99/Year, $79.99/Perpetual | Available | Newbies and experts. All levels of users. |
Windows Movie Maker | Windows | 4.0/5 | Free | Available | User-friendly. Suitable for all levels. |
iMovie | Mac | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Beginner friendly |
Avidemux | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Great for beginners |
Lightworks | Mac/Windows/Linux | 3.5/5 | $9.99 per user per month. | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users |
VSDC | Windows | 4.0/5 | $19.99 per month | Not available | Intermediate |
VEGAS Pro | Windows | 4.3/5 | $12.99 per month | 30-day free trial | Suitable for experts. |
Openshot | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Suitable for newbies and experts. |
Clipchamp | Web-based | 4.3/5 | $6 per month | Available | Newbie-friendly |
Freemake | Windows | 3.8/5 | $24 per month. | Available | Simple. No learning curve. Suitable for all levels of users. |
MiniTool MovieMaker | Windows | 4.0/5 | $12.99 per month | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users. |
1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a great video editing tool and has been a part of the Windows system for many years. It supports various video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V and more. The drag-n-drop functionality enables you to easily add video clips from the computer and drop them to the program.
With it, you can easily combine photos and videos, apply transitions and effects, add music or sound, move images and videos around and have them play at the speed of your choice, post to YouTube and much more.
Pros:
- Various video editing options;
- Easy-to-use;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- It crashes a lot;
- Many different versions of the same product;
- Not available anymore as a part of Windows OS.
Learn more details about Windows Movie Maker
2. iMovie
As the equivalent of Windows Movie Make for Mac OS X, iMovie gives you the chance to turn any movie into a major production. With a simple to use UI, you can easily enhance your videos quicker than ever. Now just import your video clips from computer or external devices, arrange them on the timeline, drop titles, effects and sounds on to the part of the video you wish to edit, and preview the results.
Once it’s all done, one-click to export your file for iOS or Internet usage.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface;
- Improved audio editing and fun Movie Trailers.
Cons:
- No native AVCHD editing or direct import;
- Pre-processing and import trans-coding can be time-consuming.
Learn more details about iMovie video editing tips
3. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free open-source video editing program for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It natively supports a great number of video formats like MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV and ASF and comes with a well selected feature set to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks done. It’s also filled with features like different filters, decoding options, frame rate configuration, processing tools etc.
Other great feature is that tasks can be automated using projects and job queue.
Pros:
- Lightweight and fairly simple;
- A wide selection of filters;
- Provides command-line interface for advanced users.
Cons:
- Outdated interface;
- May drop frames in certain formats;
- Can be complicated for beginning users.
4. Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the most advanced free video editing tools available. With the user-friendly interface and packed timeline, you can easily import, trim and seamlessly weave audio and video files together with a few effortless mouse clicks.
On top of that, it also includes the features like profession-level color correction, video capture function, GPU-accelerated real-time effects and board video formats support.
Pros:
- Customizable screens;
- Amount of video editing options;
- High video quality.
Cons:
- It crashes occasionally;
- Requires a long learning curve.
5. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC is a free video editing program for Windows. The support video formats include MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. It provides various video filters, transitions, audio effects as well as drawing and selection tools.
When the editing done, you can choose the optimized save outputs for a variety of devices, including smart phones and gaming consoles.
Pros:
- Provides various useful filters;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.
6. VEGAS Pro MP4
VEGAS Pro is one of the highly-rated premium MP4 editor tools in the market. This program has many amazing features, including advanced HDR color correction, scene detection, sound design, and live streaming.
Furthermore, it has hundreds of filters, effects, titles, and transitions to transform your output file. This array of features makes it easy to edit videos on Windows PC.
Pros:
- This program has plenty of video editing features.
- It offers many filters, titles, and transitions.
- It allows unlimited video and audio tracks.
- It allows a nested timeline.
- The color grading tools are clear and top-grade.
Cons:
- Many users feel the interface is disorganized and difficult for newbies to navigate.
- The Multicam feature, although present, is nearly unusable.
- There are no welcome tutorials to get you started with ease.
- Vegas Pro is expensive and is only suitable for Windows. You can buy it at $249 or subscribe for $12.99 monthly.
7. OpenShot MP4 Video Editor
OpenShot is a popular free media editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This open-source tool has evolved and now supports many media formats, including audio, video, and image formats.
This tool has one of the simplest user interfaces designed with all categories of users in mind. It supports over 70 languages, and users can add as many layers of tracks.
OpenShot offers a powerful animation framework to allow users to play around with animations to produce quality output videos. OpenShot also provides transitions and over 14 effects to make your output MP4 file attractive.
Pros:
- OpenShot is a cross-platform video editor; hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux without compatibility issues.
- It offers a good collection of animations and effects to make your video more appealing.
- It has a simple and user-friendly interface. Therefore, amateurs won’t struggle to edit their MP4 videos.
- It supports over 70 different languages.
- It is free.
Cons:
- Some of the purported features don’t function well.
- Although it has a good collection of features, several other useful features are missing.
- It cannot open AVCHD files.
8. Clipchamp MP4 Editor Online
Clipchamp is a free, easy-to-use video editor that is suitable for small business marketing. This web-based MP4 editor is designed with simplicity; hence, users can easily edit videos.
With Clipchamp, you can edit videos of all sizes directly on your browser without experience! You can add special effects, transitions, background music, and texts to make your output MP4 file eye-catchy.
Furthermore, you can trim, cut, split, combine, rotate, flip, and mirror videos depending on your need.
Pros:
- The combination of intelligent features and shortcuts significantly saves your time and energy.
- It offers a sleek and intuitive interface to edit MP4 videos seamlessly.
- It provides styling effects and lots of good transitions.
- It offers several templates to get started.
Cons:
- Users have limited control over the effects.
- Most useful content requires subscriptions.
- Users complain of slow export rendering.
9. Freemake MP4 Video Editor
Freemake is a common name in the media editing industry and is undoubtedly one of the best MP4 video editor tools.
Although it is not a fully-fledged app like other hot names, it allows you to quickly and easily edit MP4 videos on Windows. With Freemake, you can cut, rotate, and import files directly from YouTube.
Pros:
- It supports direct uploads from YouTube.
- It supports several file formats.
- It is easy to use.
Cons:
- It offers basic video editing features.
- It does not provide Mac support.
10. MiniTool MovieMaker
MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editor enriched with plenty of good video editing features. This tool offers an intuitive interface and collection of features that easily transform how you produce stunning videos.
With several video templates, you are one click away from generating stylish videos. The good with this tool is that it gives you a platform to inspire your creativity and export 1080P videos without a watermark.
Pros:
- It is friendly for beginners. Thanks to the simple and intuitive interface.
- It offers plenty of templates, filters, themes, and stickers.
Cons:
- It has limited editing features compared to top-grade tools like Filmora.
- The free version is ad-laden and has a forced watermark on the exported file.
FAQs About MP4 Video Editing
1. How Do I Shorten an MP4 Video?
In this article, we have listed 10 free MP4 video editors, but Filmora is one the best tool for shortening mp4 videos. It comes with Auto Scene Detection tool, Instant cutter tool & the Trim feature. The Instant Cutter tool allows you to trim MP4 videos quickly without re-encoding. On the timeline, drag the trim icon to the right or left to remove the video’s beginning and end parts, respectively, and trim your video to shorten an MP4 video easily. The instant cutter tool is totally free to use and there is no watermark.
2. How Can I Split MP4 Files Into Parts for Free?
With the instant cutter tool in Filmora, you can easily split mp4 videos into parts for free as you require. Click Import with Instant Cutter Tool and then open the file, move the playhead to the start position of the video part that you want to keep, and then click the Set In icon. Repeat the process to find the ending point, and then click the Add Segment button to split the video and save it as a new one. You can split several clips from the original footage.
A more accessible alternative to this approach is using the Auto Scene Detection tool . It splits your video into multiple strategic segments automatically based on scene changes. You then end up with multiple split parts of the original video which you can selectively delete and then add to the timeline.
Conclusion
This article has highlighted some of the best MP4 converters worth trying. However, not every tool works for you. Choosing a tool that meets your needs and gives you desired MP4 editing experience is important.
Fortunately, the all-in-one Video editor-Filmora Video Editor, ticks all the boxes and easily becomes the best choice. This MP4 editor offers an unmatchable video and audio editing experience within your budget. Try Filmora today and take your MP4 editing experience to another level.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is one of the most popular video formats in the world, however, finding a free video editing software which can edit MP4 or MOV formats videos can be hard - with so many video editing software on the market, you don’t know what is great and what is a piece of junk, you don’t have time to test it one by one.
Thankfully, we have produced a top-five list of the best free MP4 editors for you to check. That’s right - with these video editors, you can just go with it and edit your MP4 video files in no time at all!
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora
If you’re inclined to edit videos with presets and templates and looking for a fully-featured product, you may also want to consider a commercial product like Wondershare Filmora .
This video editing tool enables you to seamlessly put together video clips, music & text, apply effects and get a professional-looking home movie in minutes. Download and try it out.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
See also: Best Video Editing for Windows
Here is a comparison table about the top MP4 editors. Have a quick look.
Supported system | Ratings from G2 | Pricing | Free Trial | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Filmora | Windows/Mac | 4.4/5 | $49.99/Year, $79.99/Perpetual | Available | Newbies and experts. All levels of users. |
Windows Movie Maker | Windows | 4.0/5 | Free | Available | User-friendly. Suitable for all levels. |
iMovie | Mac | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Beginner friendly |
Avidemux | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Great for beginners |
Lightworks | Mac/Windows/Linux | 3.5/5 | $9.99 per user per month. | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users |
VSDC | Windows | 4.0/5 | $19.99 per month | Not available | Intermediate |
VEGAS Pro | Windows | 4.3/5 | $12.99 per month | 30-day free trial | Suitable for experts. |
Openshot | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Suitable for newbies and experts. |
Clipchamp | Web-based | 4.3/5 | $6 per month | Available | Newbie-friendly |
Freemake | Windows | 3.8/5 | $24 per month. | Available | Simple. No learning curve. Suitable for all levels of users. |
MiniTool MovieMaker | Windows | 4.0/5 | $12.99 per month | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users. |
1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a great video editing tool and has been a part of the Windows system for many years. It supports various video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V and more. The drag-n-drop functionality enables you to easily add video clips from the computer and drop them to the program.
With it, you can easily combine photos and videos, apply transitions and effects, add music or sound, move images and videos around and have them play at the speed of your choice, post to YouTube and much more.
Pros:
- Various video editing options;
- Easy-to-use;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- It crashes a lot;
- Many different versions of the same product;
- Not available anymore as a part of Windows OS.
Learn more details about Windows Movie Maker
2. iMovie
As the equivalent of Windows Movie Make for Mac OS X, iMovie gives you the chance to turn any movie into a major production. With a simple to use UI, you can easily enhance your videos quicker than ever. Now just import your video clips from computer or external devices, arrange them on the timeline, drop titles, effects and sounds on to the part of the video you wish to edit, and preview the results.
Once it’s all done, one-click to export your file for iOS or Internet usage.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface;
- Improved audio editing and fun Movie Trailers.
Cons:
- No native AVCHD editing or direct import;
- Pre-processing and import trans-coding can be time-consuming.
Learn more details about iMovie video editing tips
3. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free open-source video editing program for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It natively supports a great number of video formats like MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV and ASF and comes with a well selected feature set to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks done. It’s also filled with features like different filters, decoding options, frame rate configuration, processing tools etc.
Other great feature is that tasks can be automated using projects and job queue.
Pros:
- Lightweight and fairly simple;
- A wide selection of filters;
- Provides command-line interface for advanced users.
Cons:
- Outdated interface;
- May drop frames in certain formats;
- Can be complicated for beginning users.
4. Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the most advanced free video editing tools available. With the user-friendly interface and packed timeline, you can easily import, trim and seamlessly weave audio and video files together with a few effortless mouse clicks.
On top of that, it also includes the features like profession-level color correction, video capture function, GPU-accelerated real-time effects and board video formats support.
Pros:
- Customizable screens;
- Amount of video editing options;
- High video quality.
Cons:
- It crashes occasionally;
- Requires a long learning curve.
5. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC is a free video editing program for Windows. The support video formats include MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. It provides various video filters, transitions, audio effects as well as drawing and selection tools.
When the editing done, you can choose the optimized save outputs for a variety of devices, including smart phones and gaming consoles.
Pros:
- Provides various useful filters;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.
6. VEGAS Pro MP4
VEGAS Pro is one of the highly-rated premium MP4 editor tools in the market. This program has many amazing features, including advanced HDR color correction, scene detection, sound design, and live streaming.
Furthermore, it has hundreds of filters, effects, titles, and transitions to transform your output file. This array of features makes it easy to edit videos on Windows PC.
Pros:
- This program has plenty of video editing features.
- It offers many filters, titles, and transitions.
- It allows unlimited video and audio tracks.
- It allows a nested timeline.
- The color grading tools are clear and top-grade.
Cons:
- Many users feel the interface is disorganized and difficult for newbies to navigate.
- The Multicam feature, although present, is nearly unusable.
- There are no welcome tutorials to get you started with ease.
- Vegas Pro is expensive and is only suitable for Windows. You can buy it at $249 or subscribe for $12.99 monthly.
7. OpenShot MP4 Video Editor
OpenShot is a popular free media editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This open-source tool has evolved and now supports many media formats, including audio, video, and image formats.
This tool has one of the simplest user interfaces designed with all categories of users in mind. It supports over 70 languages, and users can add as many layers of tracks.
OpenShot offers a powerful animation framework to allow users to play around with animations to produce quality output videos. OpenShot also provides transitions and over 14 effects to make your output MP4 file attractive.
Pros:
- OpenShot is a cross-platform video editor; hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux without compatibility issues.
- It offers a good collection of animations and effects to make your video more appealing.
- It has a simple and user-friendly interface. Therefore, amateurs won’t struggle to edit their MP4 videos.
- It supports over 70 different languages.
- It is free.
Cons:
- Some of the purported features don’t function well.
- Although it has a good collection of features, several other useful features are missing.
- It cannot open AVCHD files.
8. Clipchamp MP4 Editor Online
Clipchamp is a free, easy-to-use video editor that is suitable for small business marketing. This web-based MP4 editor is designed with simplicity; hence, users can easily edit videos.
With Clipchamp, you can edit videos of all sizes directly on your browser without experience! You can add special effects, transitions, background music, and texts to make your output MP4 file eye-catchy.
Furthermore, you can trim, cut, split, combine, rotate, flip, and mirror videos depending on your need.
Pros:
- The combination of intelligent features and shortcuts significantly saves your time and energy.
- It offers a sleek and intuitive interface to edit MP4 videos seamlessly.
- It provides styling effects and lots of good transitions.
- It offers several templates to get started.
Cons:
- Users have limited control over the effects.
- Most useful content requires subscriptions.
- Users complain of slow export rendering.
9. Freemake MP4 Video Editor
Freemake is a common name in the media editing industry and is undoubtedly one of the best MP4 video editor tools.
Although it is not a fully-fledged app like other hot names, it allows you to quickly and easily edit MP4 videos on Windows. With Freemake, you can cut, rotate, and import files directly from YouTube.
Pros:
- It supports direct uploads from YouTube.
- It supports several file formats.
- It is easy to use.
Cons:
- It offers basic video editing features.
- It does not provide Mac support.
10. MiniTool MovieMaker
MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editor enriched with plenty of good video editing features. This tool offers an intuitive interface and collection of features that easily transform how you produce stunning videos.
With several video templates, you are one click away from generating stylish videos. The good with this tool is that it gives you a platform to inspire your creativity and export 1080P videos without a watermark.
Pros:
- It is friendly for beginners. Thanks to the simple and intuitive interface.
- It offers plenty of templates, filters, themes, and stickers.
Cons:
- It has limited editing features compared to top-grade tools like Filmora.
- The free version is ad-laden and has a forced watermark on the exported file.
FAQs About MP4 Video Editing
1. How Do I Shorten an MP4 Video?
In this article, we have listed 10 free MP4 video editors, but Filmora is one the best tool for shortening mp4 videos. It comes with Auto Scene Detection tool, Instant cutter tool & the Trim feature. The Instant Cutter tool allows you to trim MP4 videos quickly without re-encoding. On the timeline, drag the trim icon to the right or left to remove the video’s beginning and end parts, respectively, and trim your video to shorten an MP4 video easily. The instant cutter tool is totally free to use and there is no watermark.
2. How Can I Split MP4 Files Into Parts for Free?
With the instant cutter tool in Filmora, you can easily split mp4 videos into parts for free as you require. Click Import with Instant Cutter Tool and then open the file, move the playhead to the start position of the video part that you want to keep, and then click the Set In icon. Repeat the process to find the ending point, and then click the Add Segment button to split the video and save it as a new one. You can split several clips from the original footage.
A more accessible alternative to this approach is using the Auto Scene Detection tool . It splits your video into multiple strategic segments automatically based on scene changes. You then end up with multiple split parts of the original video which you can selectively delete and then add to the timeline.
Conclusion
This article has highlighted some of the best MP4 converters worth trying. However, not every tool works for you. Choosing a tool that meets your needs and gives you desired MP4 editing experience is important.
Fortunately, the all-in-one Video editor-Filmora Video Editor, ticks all the boxes and easily becomes the best choice. This MP4 editor offers an unmatchable video and audio editing experience within your budget. Try Filmora today and take your MP4 editing experience to another level.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is one of the most popular video formats in the world, however, finding a free video editing software which can edit MP4 or MOV formats videos can be hard - with so many video editing software on the market, you don’t know what is great and what is a piece of junk, you don’t have time to test it one by one.
Thankfully, we have produced a top-five list of the best free MP4 editors for you to check. That’s right - with these video editors, you can just go with it and edit your MP4 video files in no time at all!
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora
If you’re inclined to edit videos with presets and templates and looking for a fully-featured product, you may also want to consider a commercial product like Wondershare Filmora .
This video editing tool enables you to seamlessly put together video clips, music & text, apply effects and get a professional-looking home movie in minutes. Download and try it out.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
See also: Best Video Editing for Windows
Here is a comparison table about the top MP4 editors. Have a quick look.
Supported system | Ratings from G2 | Pricing | Free Trial | Level | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Filmora | Windows/Mac | 4.4/5 | $49.99/Year, $79.99/Perpetual | Available | Newbies and experts. All levels of users. |
Windows Movie Maker | Windows | 4.0/5 | Free | Available | User-friendly. Suitable for all levels. |
iMovie | Mac | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Beginner friendly |
Avidemux | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Great for beginners |
Lightworks | Mac/Windows/Linux | 3.5/5 | $9.99 per user per month. | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users |
VSDC | Windows | 4.0/5 | $19.99 per month | Not available | Intermediate |
VEGAS Pro | Windows | 4.3/5 | $12.99 per month | 30-day free trial | Suitable for experts. |
Openshot | Mac/Windows/Linux | 4.4/5 | Free | Available | Suitable for newbies and experts. |
Clipchamp | Web-based | 4.3/5 | $6 per month | Available | Newbie-friendly |
Freemake | Windows | 3.8/5 | $24 per month. | Available | Simple. No learning curve. Suitable for all levels of users. |
MiniTool MovieMaker | Windows | 4.0/5 | $12.99 per month | Not available | Suitable for all levels of users. |
1. Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a great video editing tool and has been a part of the Windows system for many years. It supports various video formats including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, M4V and more. The drag-n-drop functionality enables you to easily add video clips from the computer and drop them to the program.
With it, you can easily combine photos and videos, apply transitions and effects, add music or sound, move images and videos around and have them play at the speed of your choice, post to YouTube and much more.
Pros:
- Various video editing options;
- Easy-to-use;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- It crashes a lot;
- Many different versions of the same product;
- Not available anymore as a part of Windows OS.
Learn more details about Windows Movie Maker
2. iMovie
As the equivalent of Windows Movie Make for Mac OS X, iMovie gives you the chance to turn any movie into a major production. With a simple to use UI, you can easily enhance your videos quicker than ever. Now just import your video clips from computer or external devices, arrange them on the timeline, drop titles, effects and sounds on to the part of the video you wish to edit, and preview the results.
Once it’s all done, one-click to export your file for iOS or Internet usage.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface;
- Improved audio editing and fun Movie Trailers.
Cons:
- No native AVCHD editing or direct import;
- Pre-processing and import trans-coding can be time-consuming.
Learn more details about iMovie video editing tips
3. Avidemux
Avidemux is a free open-source video editing program for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It natively supports a great number of video formats like MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV and ASF and comes with a well selected feature set to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks done. It’s also filled with features like different filters, decoding options, frame rate configuration, processing tools etc.
Other great feature is that tasks can be automated using projects and job queue.
Pros:
- Lightweight and fairly simple;
- A wide selection of filters;
- Provides command-line interface for advanced users.
Cons:
- Outdated interface;
- May drop frames in certain formats;
- Can be complicated for beginning users.
4. Lightworks
Lightworks is one of the most advanced free video editing tools available. With the user-friendly interface and packed timeline, you can easily import, trim and seamlessly weave audio and video files together with a few effortless mouse clicks.
On top of that, it also includes the features like profession-level color correction, video capture function, GPU-accelerated real-time effects and board video formats support.
Pros:
- Customizable screens;
- Amount of video editing options;
- High video quality.
Cons:
- It crashes occasionally;
- Requires a long learning curve.
5. VSDC Free Video Editor
VSDC is a free video editing program for Windows. The support video formats include MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. It provides various video filters, transitions, audio effects as well as drawing and selection tools.
When the editing done, you can choose the optimized save outputs for a variety of devices, including smart phones and gaming consoles.
Pros:
- Provides various useful filters;
- Different output options.
Cons:
- Computer resources (CPU and RAM) are required at a high level.
6. VEGAS Pro MP4
VEGAS Pro is one of the highly-rated premium MP4 editor tools in the market. This program has many amazing features, including advanced HDR color correction, scene detection, sound design, and live streaming.
Furthermore, it has hundreds of filters, effects, titles, and transitions to transform your output file. This array of features makes it easy to edit videos on Windows PC.
Pros:
- This program has plenty of video editing features.
- It offers many filters, titles, and transitions.
- It allows unlimited video and audio tracks.
- It allows a nested timeline.
- The color grading tools are clear and top-grade.
Cons:
- Many users feel the interface is disorganized and difficult for newbies to navigate.
- The Multicam feature, although present, is nearly unusable.
- There are no welcome tutorials to get you started with ease.
- Vegas Pro is expensive and is only suitable for Windows. You can buy it at $249 or subscribe for $12.99 monthly.
7. OpenShot MP4 Video Editor
OpenShot is a popular free media editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac. This open-source tool has evolved and now supports many media formats, including audio, video, and image formats.
This tool has one of the simplest user interfaces designed with all categories of users in mind. It supports over 70 languages, and users can add as many layers of tracks.
OpenShot offers a powerful animation framework to allow users to play around with animations to produce quality output videos. OpenShot also provides transitions and over 14 effects to make your output MP4 file attractive.
Pros:
- OpenShot is a cross-platform video editor; hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux without compatibility issues.
- It offers a good collection of animations and effects to make your video more appealing.
- It has a simple and user-friendly interface. Therefore, amateurs won’t struggle to edit their MP4 videos.
- It supports over 70 different languages.
- It is free.
Cons:
- Some of the purported features don’t function well.
- Although it has a good collection of features, several other useful features are missing.
- It cannot open AVCHD files.
8. Clipchamp MP4 Editor Online
Clipchamp is a free, easy-to-use video editor that is suitable for small business marketing. This web-based MP4 editor is designed with simplicity; hence, users can easily edit videos.
With Clipchamp, you can edit videos of all sizes directly on your browser without experience! You can add special effects, transitions, background music, and texts to make your output MP4 file eye-catchy.
Furthermore, you can trim, cut, split, combine, rotate, flip, and mirror videos depending on your need.
Pros:
- The combination of intelligent features and shortcuts significantly saves your time and energy.
- It offers a sleek and intuitive interface to edit MP4 videos seamlessly.
- It provides styling effects and lots of good transitions.
- It offers several templates to get started.
Cons:
- Users have limited control over the effects.
- Most useful content requires subscriptions.
- Users complain of slow export rendering.
9. Freemake MP4 Video Editor
Freemake is a common name in the media editing industry and is undoubtedly one of the best MP4 video editor tools.
Although it is not a fully-fledged app like other hot names, it allows you to quickly and easily edit MP4 videos on Windows. With Freemake, you can cut, rotate, and import files directly from YouTube.
Pros:
- It supports direct uploads from YouTube.
- It supports several file formats.
- It is easy to use.
Cons:
- It offers basic video editing features.
- It does not provide Mac support.
10. MiniTool MovieMaker
MiniTool MovieMaker is an easy-to-use video editor enriched with plenty of good video editing features. This tool offers an intuitive interface and collection of features that easily transform how you produce stunning videos.
With several video templates, you are one click away from generating stylish videos. The good with this tool is that it gives you a platform to inspire your creativity and export 1080P videos without a watermark.
Pros:
- It is friendly for beginners. Thanks to the simple and intuitive interface.
- It offers plenty of templates, filters, themes, and stickers.
Cons:
- It has limited editing features compared to top-grade tools like Filmora.
- The free version is ad-laden and has a forced watermark on the exported file.
FAQs About MP4 Video Editing
1. How Do I Shorten an MP4 Video?
In this article, we have listed 10 free MP4 video editors, but Filmora is one the best tool for shortening mp4 videos. It comes with Auto Scene Detection tool, Instant cutter tool & the Trim feature. The Instant Cutter tool allows you to trim MP4 videos quickly without re-encoding. On the timeline, drag the trim icon to the right or left to remove the video’s beginning and end parts, respectively, and trim your video to shorten an MP4 video easily. The instant cutter tool is totally free to use and there is no watermark.
2. How Can I Split MP4 Files Into Parts for Free?
With the instant cutter tool in Filmora, you can easily split mp4 videos into parts for free as you require. Click Import with Instant Cutter Tool and then open the file, move the playhead to the start position of the video part that you want to keep, and then click the Set In icon. Repeat the process to find the ending point, and then click the Add Segment button to split the video and save it as a new one. You can split several clips from the original footage.
A more accessible alternative to this approach is using the Auto Scene Detection tool . It splits your video into multiple strategic segments automatically based on scene changes. You then end up with multiple split parts of the original video which you can selectively delete and then add to the timeline.
Conclusion
This article has highlighted some of the best MP4 converters worth trying. However, not every tool works for you. Choosing a tool that meets your needs and gives you desired MP4 editing experience is important.
Fortunately, the all-in-one Video editor-Filmora Video Editor, ticks all the boxes and easily becomes the best choice. This MP4 editor offers an unmatchable video and audio editing experience within your budget. Try Filmora today and take your MP4 editing experience to another level.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
MP4 Video Editing Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide for Mac and Windows
How to Edit MP4 Video in Mac/Windows (Windows 8 included)
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is a very common media format that can keep the high image and sound quality. Many downloaded movies, streaming music videos, or recorded video clips are with .MP4 file extension. Confused about different kinds of formats? Check out this video to learn what video format is and the differences between video formats.
If you have many such files, chances are that you need to edit MP4 videos.
Although various MP4 editors are available on the market, they are a little space-consuming in order to ensure good performance. Here I’d like to share a powerful and efficient MP4 editor that designed for beginners and hobbyists.
It’s Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor). With it, you’re able to trim, rotate, crop, merge MP4 files, as well as personalize your MP4 videos with rich text, filter and transitions. Moreover, after you finish MP4 video editing, you can directly share your creation on YouTube, Facebook, or save to any format you want.
All-in-one MP4 Editor to Edit MP4 File [Free to Download]
Wondershare MP4 Video Editor
- Supports almost all kinds of MP4 files, including AVC, XVID, MPEG-4 and more.
- Crop, trim, cut, split and combine - edit MP4 videos in a few clicks.
- Easily edit MP4 videos with 300+ styles and audio/visual effects.
- Provides advanced MP4 video editing tools like Tilt Shift, Face off, Mosaic, Jump Cut, etc.
- Burn to DVD or convert to any popular video format.
- Convert video to formats compatible on various mobile devices or upload to YouTube and Facebook instantly.
How to Easily Edit MP4 Video?
Before we proceed to illustrate every detail on how to edit the MP4 video, you can download the MP4 editor first so you can follow the below steps one by one.
It’s free to download now.
1. Cut MP4 Video
To cut your MP4 video into certain parts, drag and drop the video on the Timeline and highlight it. Then place the red Time Indicator to where you want to cut the video, and click the Scissor button above the timeline.
After that, move the red marker to the end of the scene, and repeat this again to cut the video into several fragments. If you want to cut off the unwanted parts, right click the video and choose “Delete”.
2. Join MP4 Video
To join several MP4 video files into one, you just need to place all the video files on the timeline, adjust the order and hit “Create” to export it.
If you want to make the joined videos look like a really intact movie, just add transitions between clips for smooth change from one to next. To do this, click “Transition” tab on the main screen. Then drag the effect you like to the timeline to apply.
If you don’t want to choose the transition one by one, let the software choose the transition randomly by right clicking and selecting “Random to All” option.
3. Edit the audio of MP4 Video
Sometimes you may need to adjust the settings of audio. To do it, double click the video on the Timeline. Then a editing panel will pop up. Switch to the Audio column and you can easily change the Speed, Volume, Pitch of the audio file or add the Fade in/out effect to it.
Want to change the original audio track of your MP4 video?
No problem.
Just highlight your MP4 video, right click and choose “Audio Detach”. The audio file of your video will immediately be separated and appear on the music timeline. Since it is separated from the video, you can easily delete the audio track or replace it with your own music.
4. Add 300+ Effects to Touch Up MP4 Video
Besides the basic video editing functions, Video Editor also provides various stunning scene effects to take your MP4 (MPEG-4) video to a higher level:
- Different transitions & motion effects are provided to make your video animated.
- Pre-made Intro/Credit makes your video like a real movie.
- 100+ funny cliparts to adorn your MP4 video with much more fun.
- More special effects like PIP, Jump Cut, Face Off, Tilt-shift for you to try!
5. Save or Share the Edited Video
When all the editing is done, hit “Create” to save or share your videos in different ways:
- Export as standard or high-quality MP4 format or MOV, AVI and more formats.
- Premiere your video on iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, HTC and more mobile devices.
- Burn to DVD to preserve or share, super fast.
- Directly upload your video to Facebook and YouTube.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is a very common media format that can keep the high image and sound quality. Many downloaded movies, streaming music videos, or recorded video clips are with .MP4 file extension. Confused about different kinds of formats? Check out this video to learn what video format is and the differences between video formats.
If you have many such files, chances are that you need to edit MP4 videos.
Although various MP4 editors are available on the market, they are a little space-consuming in order to ensure good performance. Here I’d like to share a powerful and efficient MP4 editor that designed for beginners and hobbyists.
It’s Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor). With it, you’re able to trim, rotate, crop, merge MP4 files, as well as personalize your MP4 videos with rich text, filter and transitions. Moreover, after you finish MP4 video editing, you can directly share your creation on YouTube, Facebook, or save to any format you want.
All-in-one MP4 Editor to Edit MP4 File [Free to Download]
Wondershare MP4 Video Editor
- Supports almost all kinds of MP4 files, including AVC, XVID, MPEG-4 and more.
- Crop, trim, cut, split and combine - edit MP4 videos in a few clicks.
- Easily edit MP4 videos with 300+ styles and audio/visual effects.
- Provides advanced MP4 video editing tools like Tilt Shift, Face off, Mosaic, Jump Cut, etc.
- Burn to DVD or convert to any popular video format.
- Convert video to formats compatible on various mobile devices or upload to YouTube and Facebook instantly.
How to Easily Edit MP4 Video?
Before we proceed to illustrate every detail on how to edit the MP4 video, you can download the MP4 editor first so you can follow the below steps one by one.
It’s free to download now.
1. Cut MP4 Video
To cut your MP4 video into certain parts, drag and drop the video on the Timeline and highlight it. Then place the red Time Indicator to where you want to cut the video, and click the Scissor button above the timeline.
After that, move the red marker to the end of the scene, and repeat this again to cut the video into several fragments. If you want to cut off the unwanted parts, right click the video and choose “Delete”.
2. Join MP4 Video
To join several MP4 video files into one, you just need to place all the video files on the timeline, adjust the order and hit “Create” to export it.
If you want to make the joined videos look like a really intact movie, just add transitions between clips for smooth change from one to next. To do this, click “Transition” tab on the main screen. Then drag the effect you like to the timeline to apply.
If you don’t want to choose the transition one by one, let the software choose the transition randomly by right clicking and selecting “Random to All” option.
3. Edit the audio of MP4 Video
Sometimes you may need to adjust the settings of audio. To do it, double click the video on the Timeline. Then a editing panel will pop up. Switch to the Audio column and you can easily change the Speed, Volume, Pitch of the audio file or add the Fade in/out effect to it.
Want to change the original audio track of your MP4 video?
No problem.
Just highlight your MP4 video, right click and choose “Audio Detach”. The audio file of your video will immediately be separated and appear on the music timeline. Since it is separated from the video, you can easily delete the audio track or replace it with your own music.
4. Add 300+ Effects to Touch Up MP4 Video
Besides the basic video editing functions, Video Editor also provides various stunning scene effects to take your MP4 (MPEG-4) video to a higher level:
- Different transitions & motion effects are provided to make your video animated.
- Pre-made Intro/Credit makes your video like a real movie.
- 100+ funny cliparts to adorn your MP4 video with much more fun.
- More special effects like PIP, Jump Cut, Face Off, Tilt-shift for you to try!
5. Save or Share the Edited Video
When all the editing is done, hit “Create” to save or share your videos in different ways:
- Export as standard or high-quality MP4 format or MOV, AVI and more formats.
- Premiere your video on iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, HTC and more mobile devices.
- Burn to DVD to preserve or share, super fast.
- Directly upload your video to Facebook and YouTube.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is a very common media format that can keep the high image and sound quality. Many downloaded movies, streaming music videos, or recorded video clips are with .MP4 file extension. Confused about different kinds of formats? Check out this video to learn what video format is and the differences between video formats.
If you have many such files, chances are that you need to edit MP4 videos.
Although various MP4 editors are available on the market, they are a little space-consuming in order to ensure good performance. Here I’d like to share a powerful and efficient MP4 editor that designed for beginners and hobbyists.
It’s Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor). With it, you’re able to trim, rotate, crop, merge MP4 files, as well as personalize your MP4 videos with rich text, filter and transitions. Moreover, after you finish MP4 video editing, you can directly share your creation on YouTube, Facebook, or save to any format you want.
All-in-one MP4 Editor to Edit MP4 File [Free to Download]
Wondershare MP4 Video Editor
- Supports almost all kinds of MP4 files, including AVC, XVID, MPEG-4 and more.
- Crop, trim, cut, split and combine - edit MP4 videos in a few clicks.
- Easily edit MP4 videos with 300+ styles and audio/visual effects.
- Provides advanced MP4 video editing tools like Tilt Shift, Face off, Mosaic, Jump Cut, etc.
- Burn to DVD or convert to any popular video format.
- Convert video to formats compatible on various mobile devices or upload to YouTube and Facebook instantly.
How to Easily Edit MP4 Video?
Before we proceed to illustrate every detail on how to edit the MP4 video, you can download the MP4 editor first so you can follow the below steps one by one.
It’s free to download now.
1. Cut MP4 Video
To cut your MP4 video into certain parts, drag and drop the video on the Timeline and highlight it. Then place the red Time Indicator to where you want to cut the video, and click the Scissor button above the timeline.
After that, move the red marker to the end of the scene, and repeat this again to cut the video into several fragments. If you want to cut off the unwanted parts, right click the video and choose “Delete”.
2. Join MP4 Video
To join several MP4 video files into one, you just need to place all the video files on the timeline, adjust the order and hit “Create” to export it.
If you want to make the joined videos look like a really intact movie, just add transitions between clips for smooth change from one to next. To do this, click “Transition” tab on the main screen. Then drag the effect you like to the timeline to apply.
If you don’t want to choose the transition one by one, let the software choose the transition randomly by right clicking and selecting “Random to All” option.
3. Edit the audio of MP4 Video
Sometimes you may need to adjust the settings of audio. To do it, double click the video on the Timeline. Then a editing panel will pop up. Switch to the Audio column and you can easily change the Speed, Volume, Pitch of the audio file or add the Fade in/out effect to it.
Want to change the original audio track of your MP4 video?
No problem.
Just highlight your MP4 video, right click and choose “Audio Detach”. The audio file of your video will immediately be separated and appear on the music timeline. Since it is separated from the video, you can easily delete the audio track or replace it with your own music.
4. Add 300+ Effects to Touch Up MP4 Video
Besides the basic video editing functions, Video Editor also provides various stunning scene effects to take your MP4 (MPEG-4) video to a higher level:
- Different transitions & motion effects are provided to make your video animated.
- Pre-made Intro/Credit makes your video like a real movie.
- 100+ funny cliparts to adorn your MP4 video with much more fun.
- More special effects like PIP, Jump Cut, Face Off, Tilt-shift for you to try!
5. Save or Share the Edited Video
When all the editing is done, hit “Create” to save or share your videos in different ways:
- Export as standard or high-quality MP4 format or MOV, AVI and more formats.
- Premiere your video on iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, HTC and more mobile devices.
- Burn to DVD to preserve or share, super fast.
- Directly upload your video to Facebook and YouTube.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
MP4 is a very common media format that can keep the high image and sound quality. Many downloaded movies, streaming music videos, or recorded video clips are with .MP4 file extension. Confused about different kinds of formats? Check out this video to learn what video format is and the differences between video formats.
If you have many such files, chances are that you need to edit MP4 videos.
Although various MP4 editors are available on the market, they are a little space-consuming in order to ensure good performance. Here I’d like to share a powerful and efficient MP4 editor that designed for beginners and hobbyists.
It’s Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor). With it, you’re able to trim, rotate, crop, merge MP4 files, as well as personalize your MP4 videos with rich text, filter and transitions. Moreover, after you finish MP4 video editing, you can directly share your creation on YouTube, Facebook, or save to any format you want.
All-in-one MP4 Editor to Edit MP4 File [Free to Download]
Wondershare MP4 Video Editor
- Supports almost all kinds of MP4 files, including AVC, XVID, MPEG-4 and more.
- Crop, trim, cut, split and combine - edit MP4 videos in a few clicks.
- Easily edit MP4 videos with 300+ styles and audio/visual effects.
- Provides advanced MP4 video editing tools like Tilt Shift, Face off, Mosaic, Jump Cut, etc.
- Burn to DVD or convert to any popular video format.
- Convert video to formats compatible on various mobile devices or upload to YouTube and Facebook instantly.
How to Easily Edit MP4 Video?
Before we proceed to illustrate every detail on how to edit the MP4 video, you can download the MP4 editor first so you can follow the below steps one by one.
It’s free to download now.
1. Cut MP4 Video
To cut your MP4 video into certain parts, drag and drop the video on the Timeline and highlight it. Then place the red Time Indicator to where you want to cut the video, and click the Scissor button above the timeline.
After that, move the red marker to the end of the scene, and repeat this again to cut the video into several fragments. If you want to cut off the unwanted parts, right click the video and choose “Delete”.
2. Join MP4 Video
To join several MP4 video files into one, you just need to place all the video files on the timeline, adjust the order and hit “Create” to export it.
If you want to make the joined videos look like a really intact movie, just add transitions between clips for smooth change from one to next. To do this, click “Transition” tab on the main screen. Then drag the effect you like to the timeline to apply.
If you don’t want to choose the transition one by one, let the software choose the transition randomly by right clicking and selecting “Random to All” option.
3. Edit the audio of MP4 Video
Sometimes you may need to adjust the settings of audio. To do it, double click the video on the Timeline. Then a editing panel will pop up. Switch to the Audio column and you can easily change the Speed, Volume, Pitch of the audio file or add the Fade in/out effect to it.
Want to change the original audio track of your MP4 video?
No problem.
Just highlight your MP4 video, right click and choose “Audio Detach”. The audio file of your video will immediately be separated and appear on the music timeline. Since it is separated from the video, you can easily delete the audio track or replace it with your own music.
4. Add 300+ Effects to Touch Up MP4 Video
Besides the basic video editing functions, Video Editor also provides various stunning scene effects to take your MP4 (MPEG-4) video to a higher level:
- Different transitions & motion effects are provided to make your video animated.
- Pre-made Intro/Credit makes your video like a real movie.
- 100+ funny cliparts to adorn your MP4 video with much more fun.
- More special effects like PIP, Jump Cut, Face Off, Tilt-shift for you to try!
5. Save or Share the Edited Video
When all the editing is done, hit “Create” to save or share your videos in different ways:
- Export as standard or high-quality MP4 format or MOV, AVI and more formats.
- Premiere your video on iPhone, iPad, Galaxy, HTC and more mobile devices.
- Burn to DVD to preserve or share, super fast.
- Directly upload your video to Facebook and YouTube.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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Free Video Steadycam Software for Windows and Mac: Compare and Choose
Are you having issues regarding your video quality and looking for a video stabilizer to improve it? Guess what? You can create high-quality videos through free video stabilization software, either for your professional or personal use.
It helps to remove the shakiness you get on videos recorded on handheld devices such as mobile phones. It makes your clips and home movies look more stable and standard. Why upload the same boring and shady videos all the time when you can stabilize them and look more professional? This article takes you through some of the best video stabilization software to stabilize your videos and stand out.
Top 10 Best Free Video Stabilization Software for Windows and Mac
1. iMovie
iMovie is a video editing software available exclusively for iOS and macOS users. It is a complete video editing software that enables users to make professional cinematic movies. Additionally, it allows you to smooth out the shaky footage and create high-quality videos. You also get access to a handful of themes and templates that you can use to customize your videos.
iMovie’s user-friendly interface does not require you to be tech-savvy to operate it. It allows any ordinary user to stabilize videos and yield elegant videos.
Key features:
- It enables easy sharing of movies across mobile devices.
- You can freely adjust the levels of your audio clip.
- Easy green-screen control
- It essentializes professional movie creation
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on iMovie
Step 1: Import the video you want to stabilize into the iMovie application on Mac computer;
Step 2: In the adjustment tab, click on the Stabilization button and turn on Stabilize Shaky Video tool.
Step 3: To adjust the amount of stabilization, click and drag the stabilize shaky video slider.
2. Windows movie maker
Windows Movie Maker is another video stabilizer available exclusively for Windows users. It allows you to make personalized movies and incorporate video, still images, background music, and narration. It is also beneficial for stabilizing videos, adding titles and transactions.
Key features:
- It enables you to add special effects to your videos.
- Options for extensive audio track selection.
- Timeline narration options.
If you are using Windows 7, you are lucky to use Windows Movie Maker to stabilize the shaky videos easily. Watch the video tutorial to find out how.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on Windows Movie Maker
Step 1: Open the app and click on the Add videos and photos icon, and select the video clip you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the portion of the clip that you want to stabilize. You can do this by selecting the shaky video selection option on the right side of the software’s windows.
Step 3: Click on the Edit tab to access the Video stabilization feature.
Step 4: Under the video stabilization feature, you will see three options, namely Anti-shake, Anti-shake and wobble correction- low, Anti-shake and wobble correction- high. Select the most suitable option.
3. HitFilm express
The HitFilm Express is one of the best video stabilization software. It is available for both macOS and Windows. It is an all-in-one video editing software that allows you to import clips and add visual effects and audio to the videos. You can also import your 3D model and create themes like star wars or other animation themes.
Key features:-
- Advance tracking
- Lighting effects
- Muzzle flash effects
- Masking and layering technique
- Screen simulation
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on HitFilm Express
Step 1: Import the clip you want to stabilize and navigate to the control panel.
Step 2: Under the control panel menu, select the track option, and locate your tracking points.
Step 3: It will provide you with two options under the type menu, Single-point position only and double-point position scale/rotation. Select the most appropriate option.
Step 4: Under the purpose-tab, select stabilize options and hit apply.
4. FilmForth
FilmForth is a new name in the video editing industry but it allows you to create videos easily with powerful features. If you are looking for free video stabilization software, FilmForth might be one of them for you. It is compact with powerful and easy-to-apply features.
You can edit video, add filters and transitions, titles, record voiceover, or add background music to video. What’s more, it allows you to save the video without watermark.
Key features:-
- Slideshow maker with photos, videos, music, and effects;
- Change the video background or make the logo transparent;
Steps to stabilize videos using FilmForth
Step 1: Select the stabilize video option under the quick tool menu.
Step 2: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Manually fill the video resolution, video quality, and frame rate settings.
Step 4: Give the file an output name, and choose the video to save the video file.
5. Video DeShake
Video DeShake is solely developed for video stabilization. You can easily download it from av2video.com. It is an effective solution for video stabilization. However, it does not provide you with fancy video editing features, but if you are looking for an instant solution for video stabilization, it is one of the best options.
Steps to stabilize videos using video Deshake:
Step 1: Download and install video Deshake software from av2video.com.
Step 2: Select the plus icon from the left-aligned menu bar.
Step 3: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 4: Select your preferred format for the output video, and click on the stabilize option present at the bottom of the interface.
6. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free video stabilizer. You don’t need to sign up or log in to begin. There is no sales funnel waiting for you once you get addicted to using it. Another reason for its popularity is beginner-focused design. It is easy to learn and use. However, it lacks advanced editing features like iMovie or HitFilm Express.
Key features:-
- It can load videos recorded in high resolution or above 60 fps.
- Single frame image extraction options.
- Video stabilization feature
- Blurring effect
Steps to stabilize videos using Shotcut:-
Step 1: Drag the video file you want to stabilize into the software interface. Select the timeline feature to select the portion of the video clip that you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the filter tab and follow by selecting the plus button. Under the plus icon, select the monitor option and find the stabilize option under the menu.
Step 3: Customize the stabilizations options according to your specific needs and click on analyze to monitor the stabilization. After stabilization is complete, select the file option and click on save to save the video.
7. Blender
The Blender is free and one of the best video editing software for professionals . Besides video editing, it provides you with 3D modeling, rigging animation, simulation, and motion tracking features . It allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing and complex tasks like video masking or color grading.
Key features:-
- Live preview, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays.
- Scrubbing and waveform visualization.
- Audion mixing and syncing.
- Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, and keyframe options.
Steps to stabilize videos using Blender
Step 1: Begin by going to the motion tracking workspace.
Step 2: Click on open and select the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the tracking option from the toolbar and click on the movie to set tracking points.
Step 4: Set the tracking point size and press the right arrow to start tracking.
Step 5: Select the file menu and navigate the save option to save the stabilized video.
8. AVS video stabilizer
AVS video editor is suitable for both beginners and professionals. It enables you to create videos of any resolution and length. It allows you to cut, trim, join, and rotate videos. It also amazes you with the freedom of using over 300 effects. With AVS video editor, you can edit VHS videos and convert them into digital format.
Key features:-
- Audio capture
- Brand overlay
- Customizable templates
- Easy to use interface with drag and drop features
- Multimedia format support
Steps to stabilize videos using AVS video editor:
Step 1: Click on the import option under the media library tab and import the video you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Press the video stabilization button present over the timeline.
Step 3: Under the stabilization video, drag the compensation bar to adjust the degree of stabilization.
Step 4: Click on the ok button at the bottom of the stabilization menu to save the changes.
9. VSDC
VSDC is a free video stabilizer that allows you to stabilize and edit videos of any complexity. It is compact with advanced features to cut and merge video files and apply visual and audio effects to make a slideshow and add appropriate soundtracks. It also facilitates easy video conversion for playback on specific media devices.
Key features:-
- Side by side and split-screen videos
- Videos in the text effects
- Green screen removal
- Double exposure
Steps to stabilize videos using VSDC
Step 1: Open the VSDC video editor, and navigate to the video stabilization feature from the Tools tab.
Step2: Select the open file option and export the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: In the stabilization, tab adjust the settings that best suit your specific requirements.
Step 4: Complete the process by clicking on the export project to view the outcome.
10. Openshot
OpenShot video editor is an easy-to-use video stabilization and edition software. It is helping professionals around the world with its excellent video editing features. Another factor that makes it different from other software is its compatibility with multiple operating software. It goes with Mac, Linux and Windows and is easily downloadable from its website.
Key features:-
- Compatible with multiple operating systems (Linux, Mac, and Windows)
- It supports a handful of video audio and image formats.
- Video transition along with the real-time preview.
- Options for creating title and sub-title creation
- Titles formation with 3D animation
Steps to stabilize videos using Openshot
Step 1: Open the video you want to stabilize using the project file tab.
Step 2: Drag the video timeline tab and locate the shaky part of the video you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the effects tab and navigate the stabilizer feature from the menu.
Step 4: Drag the stabilizer feature to your video clip in the timeline.
Step 5: You will see the stabilizer: initialize effect window. Select the degree of percentage as per your specific requirements.
Step 6: Select the process effects option.
Bonus: Stabilize shaky videos using Filmora video editor
Filmora video editor is a powerful video stabilizing software filled with powerful editing features. Unlike other editing software, Filmora is compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Some of the above video stabilizers are complex and require expertise. On the other hand, Wondershare Filmora video editor provides you with an easy-to-use interface and easy navigation options.
Key features:
- Modern and intuitive interface.
- Video stabilization in one click.
- Powerful edition features.
- Rich effects and templates.
Steps to stabilize videos using Wondershare Filmora video editor
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Drag shaky videos into the Filmora video editor timeline.
Step 2: Click on the edit option in the toolbar to access the editing panel.
Step 3: Select the stabilization option from the editing panel.
Step 4: Click the play button to preview the stabilized video clip. It also allows you to stabilize the smooth level to obtain better results.
Conclusion
Videos are the most popular types of content. They instantly convey the message and engage the consumers. However, the quality of your video is crucial from your business perspective. Video stabilizing software provides stability to videos and makes them look professional and smooth.
Even if you don’t use video stabilizers for stabilizing videos for your business purposes, they can still come in handy while stabilizing your private videos.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on iMovie
Step 1: Import the video you want to stabilize into the iMovie application on Mac computer;
Step 2: In the adjustment tab, click on the Stabilization button and turn on Stabilize Shaky Video tool.
Step 3: To adjust the amount of stabilization, click and drag the stabilize shaky video slider.
2. Windows movie maker
Windows Movie Maker is another video stabilizer available exclusively for Windows users. It allows you to make personalized movies and incorporate video, still images, background music, and narration. It is also beneficial for stabilizing videos, adding titles and transactions.
Key features:
- It enables you to add special effects to your videos.
- Options for extensive audio track selection.
- Timeline narration options.
If you are using Windows 7, you are lucky to use Windows Movie Maker to stabilize the shaky videos easily. Watch the video tutorial to find out how.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on Windows Movie Maker
Step 1: Open the app and click on the Add videos and photos icon, and select the video clip you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the portion of the clip that you want to stabilize. You can do this by selecting the shaky video selection option on the right side of the software’s windows.
Step 3: Click on the Edit tab to access the Video stabilization feature.
Step 4: Under the video stabilization feature, you will see three options, namely Anti-shake, Anti-shake and wobble correction- low, Anti-shake and wobble correction- high. Select the most suitable option.
3. HitFilm express
The HitFilm Express is one of the best video stabilization software. It is available for both macOS and Windows. It is an all-in-one video editing software that allows you to import clips and add visual effects and audio to the videos. You can also import your 3D model and create themes like star wars or other animation themes.
Key features:-
- Advance tracking
- Lighting effects
- Muzzle flash effects
- Masking and layering technique
- Screen simulation
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on HitFilm Express
Step 1: Import the clip you want to stabilize and navigate to the control panel.
Step 2: Under the control panel menu, select the track option, and locate your tracking points.
Step 3: It will provide you with two options under the type menu, Single-point position only and double-point position scale/rotation. Select the most appropriate option.
Step 4: Under the purpose-tab, select stabilize options and hit apply.
4. FilmForth
FilmForth is a new name in the video editing industry but it allows you to create videos easily with powerful features. If you are looking for free video stabilization software, FilmForth might be one of them for you. It is compact with powerful and easy-to-apply features.
You can edit video, add filters and transitions, titles, record voiceover, or add background music to video. What’s more, it allows you to save the video without watermark.
Key features:-
- Slideshow maker with photos, videos, music, and effects;
- Change the video background or make the logo transparent;
Steps to stabilize videos using FilmForth
Step 1: Select the stabilize video option under the quick tool menu.
Step 2: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Manually fill the video resolution, video quality, and frame rate settings.
Step 4: Give the file an output name, and choose the video to save the video file.
5. Video DeShake
Video DeShake is solely developed for video stabilization. You can easily download it from av2video.com. It is an effective solution for video stabilization. However, it does not provide you with fancy video editing features, but if you are looking for an instant solution for video stabilization, it is one of the best options.
Steps to stabilize videos using video Deshake:
Step 1: Download and install video Deshake software from av2video.com.
Step 2: Select the plus icon from the left-aligned menu bar.
Step 3: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 4: Select your preferred format for the output video, and click on the stabilize option present at the bottom of the interface.
6. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free video stabilizer. You don’t need to sign up or log in to begin. There is no sales funnel waiting for you once you get addicted to using it. Another reason for its popularity is beginner-focused design. It is easy to learn and use. However, it lacks advanced editing features like iMovie or HitFilm Express.
Key features:-
- It can load videos recorded in high resolution or above 60 fps.
- Single frame image extraction options.
- Video stabilization feature
- Blurring effect
Steps to stabilize videos using Shotcut:-
Step 1: Drag the video file you want to stabilize into the software interface. Select the timeline feature to select the portion of the video clip that you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the filter tab and follow by selecting the plus button. Under the plus icon, select the monitor option and find the stabilize option under the menu.
Step 3: Customize the stabilizations options according to your specific needs and click on analyze to monitor the stabilization. After stabilization is complete, select the file option and click on save to save the video.
7. Blender
The Blender is free and one of the best video editing software for professionals . Besides video editing, it provides you with 3D modeling, rigging animation, simulation, and motion tracking features . It allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing and complex tasks like video masking or color grading.
Key features:-
- Live preview, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays.
- Scrubbing and waveform visualization.
- Audion mixing and syncing.
- Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, and keyframe options.
Steps to stabilize videos using Blender
Step 1: Begin by going to the motion tracking workspace.
Step 2: Click on open and select the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the tracking option from the toolbar and click on the movie to set tracking points.
Step 4: Set the tracking point size and press the right arrow to start tracking.
Step 5: Select the file menu and navigate the save option to save the stabilized video.
8. AVS video stabilizer
AVS video editor is suitable for both beginners and professionals. It enables you to create videos of any resolution and length. It allows you to cut, trim, join, and rotate videos. It also amazes you with the freedom of using over 300 effects. With AVS video editor, you can edit VHS videos and convert them into digital format.
Key features:-
- Audio capture
- Brand overlay
- Customizable templates
- Easy to use interface with drag and drop features
- Multimedia format support
Steps to stabilize videos using AVS video editor:
Step 1: Click on the import option under the media library tab and import the video you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Press the video stabilization button present over the timeline.
Step 3: Under the stabilization video, drag the compensation bar to adjust the degree of stabilization.
Step 4: Click on the ok button at the bottom of the stabilization menu to save the changes.
9. VSDC
VSDC is a free video stabilizer that allows you to stabilize and edit videos of any complexity. It is compact with advanced features to cut and merge video files and apply visual and audio effects to make a slideshow and add appropriate soundtracks. It also facilitates easy video conversion for playback on specific media devices.
Key features:-
- Side by side and split-screen videos
- Videos in the text effects
- Green screen removal
- Double exposure
Steps to stabilize videos using VSDC
Step 1: Open the VSDC video editor, and navigate to the video stabilization feature from the Tools tab.
Step2: Select the open file option and export the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: In the stabilization, tab adjust the settings that best suit your specific requirements.
Step 4: Complete the process by clicking on the export project to view the outcome.
10. Openshot
OpenShot video editor is an easy-to-use video stabilization and edition software. It is helping professionals around the world with its excellent video editing features. Another factor that makes it different from other software is its compatibility with multiple operating software. It goes with Mac, Linux and Windows and is easily downloadable from its website.
Key features:-
- Compatible with multiple operating systems (Linux, Mac, and Windows)
- It supports a handful of video audio and image formats.
- Video transition along with the real-time preview.
- Options for creating title and sub-title creation
- Titles formation with 3D animation
Steps to stabilize videos using Openshot
Step 1: Open the video you want to stabilize using the project file tab.
Step 2: Drag the video timeline tab and locate the shaky part of the video you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the effects tab and navigate the stabilizer feature from the menu.
Step 4: Drag the stabilizer feature to your video clip in the timeline.
Step 5: You will see the stabilizer: initialize effect window. Select the degree of percentage as per your specific requirements.
Step 6: Select the process effects option.
Bonus: Stabilize shaky videos using Filmora video editor
Filmora video editor is a powerful video stabilizing software filled with powerful editing features. Unlike other editing software, Filmora is compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Some of the above video stabilizers are complex and require expertise. On the other hand, Wondershare Filmora video editor provides you with an easy-to-use interface and easy navigation options.
Key features:
- Modern and intuitive interface.
- Video stabilization in one click.
- Powerful edition features.
- Rich effects and templates.
Steps to stabilize videos using Wondershare Filmora video editor
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Drag shaky videos into the Filmora video editor timeline.
Step 2: Click on the edit option in the toolbar to access the editing panel.
Step 3: Select the stabilization option from the editing panel.
Step 4: Click the play button to preview the stabilized video clip. It also allows you to stabilize the smooth level to obtain better results.
Conclusion
Videos are the most popular types of content. They instantly convey the message and engage the consumers. However, the quality of your video is crucial from your business perspective. Video stabilizing software provides stability to videos and makes them look professional and smooth.
Even if you don’t use video stabilizers for stabilizing videos for your business purposes, they can still come in handy while stabilizing your private videos.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on iMovie
Step 1: Import the video you want to stabilize into the iMovie application on Mac computer;
Step 2: In the adjustment tab, click on the Stabilization button and turn on Stabilize Shaky Video tool.
Step 3: To adjust the amount of stabilization, click and drag the stabilize shaky video slider.
2. Windows movie maker
Windows Movie Maker is another video stabilizer available exclusively for Windows users. It allows you to make personalized movies and incorporate video, still images, background music, and narration. It is also beneficial for stabilizing videos, adding titles and transactions.
Key features:
- It enables you to add special effects to your videos.
- Options for extensive audio track selection.
- Timeline narration options.
If you are using Windows 7, you are lucky to use Windows Movie Maker to stabilize the shaky videos easily. Watch the video tutorial to find out how.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on Windows Movie Maker
Step 1: Open the app and click on the Add videos and photos icon, and select the video clip you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the portion of the clip that you want to stabilize. You can do this by selecting the shaky video selection option on the right side of the software’s windows.
Step 3: Click on the Edit tab to access the Video stabilization feature.
Step 4: Under the video stabilization feature, you will see three options, namely Anti-shake, Anti-shake and wobble correction- low, Anti-shake and wobble correction- high. Select the most suitable option.
3. HitFilm express
The HitFilm Express is one of the best video stabilization software. It is available for both macOS and Windows. It is an all-in-one video editing software that allows you to import clips and add visual effects and audio to the videos. You can also import your 3D model and create themes like star wars or other animation themes.
Key features:-
- Advance tracking
- Lighting effects
- Muzzle flash effects
- Masking and layering technique
- Screen simulation
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on HitFilm Express
Step 1: Import the clip you want to stabilize and navigate to the control panel.
Step 2: Under the control panel menu, select the track option, and locate your tracking points.
Step 3: It will provide you with two options under the type menu, Single-point position only and double-point position scale/rotation. Select the most appropriate option.
Step 4: Under the purpose-tab, select stabilize options and hit apply.
4. FilmForth
FilmForth is a new name in the video editing industry but it allows you to create videos easily with powerful features. If you are looking for free video stabilization software, FilmForth might be one of them for you. It is compact with powerful and easy-to-apply features.
You can edit video, add filters and transitions, titles, record voiceover, or add background music to video. What’s more, it allows you to save the video without watermark.
Key features:-
- Slideshow maker with photos, videos, music, and effects;
- Change the video background or make the logo transparent;
Steps to stabilize videos using FilmForth
Step 1: Select the stabilize video option under the quick tool menu.
Step 2: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Manually fill the video resolution, video quality, and frame rate settings.
Step 4: Give the file an output name, and choose the video to save the video file.
5. Video DeShake
Video DeShake is solely developed for video stabilization. You can easily download it from av2video.com. It is an effective solution for video stabilization. However, it does not provide you with fancy video editing features, but if you are looking for an instant solution for video stabilization, it is one of the best options.
Steps to stabilize videos using video Deshake:
Step 1: Download and install video Deshake software from av2video.com.
Step 2: Select the plus icon from the left-aligned menu bar.
Step 3: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 4: Select your preferred format for the output video, and click on the stabilize option present at the bottom of the interface.
6. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free video stabilizer. You don’t need to sign up or log in to begin. There is no sales funnel waiting for you once you get addicted to using it. Another reason for its popularity is beginner-focused design. It is easy to learn and use. However, it lacks advanced editing features like iMovie or HitFilm Express.
Key features:-
- It can load videos recorded in high resolution or above 60 fps.
- Single frame image extraction options.
- Video stabilization feature
- Blurring effect
Steps to stabilize videos using Shotcut:-
Step 1: Drag the video file you want to stabilize into the software interface. Select the timeline feature to select the portion of the video clip that you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the filter tab and follow by selecting the plus button. Under the plus icon, select the monitor option and find the stabilize option under the menu.
Step 3: Customize the stabilizations options according to your specific needs and click on analyze to monitor the stabilization. After stabilization is complete, select the file option and click on save to save the video.
7. Blender
The Blender is free and one of the best video editing software for professionals . Besides video editing, it provides you with 3D modeling, rigging animation, simulation, and motion tracking features . It allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing and complex tasks like video masking or color grading.
Key features:-
- Live preview, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays.
- Scrubbing and waveform visualization.
- Audion mixing and syncing.
- Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, and keyframe options.
Steps to stabilize videos using Blender
Step 1: Begin by going to the motion tracking workspace.
Step 2: Click on open and select the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the tracking option from the toolbar and click on the movie to set tracking points.
Step 4: Set the tracking point size and press the right arrow to start tracking.
Step 5: Select the file menu and navigate the save option to save the stabilized video.
8. AVS video stabilizer
AVS video editor is suitable for both beginners and professionals. It enables you to create videos of any resolution and length. It allows you to cut, trim, join, and rotate videos. It also amazes you with the freedom of using over 300 effects. With AVS video editor, you can edit VHS videos and convert them into digital format.
Key features:-
- Audio capture
- Brand overlay
- Customizable templates
- Easy to use interface with drag and drop features
- Multimedia format support
Steps to stabilize videos using AVS video editor:
Step 1: Click on the import option under the media library tab and import the video you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Press the video stabilization button present over the timeline.
Step 3: Under the stabilization video, drag the compensation bar to adjust the degree of stabilization.
Step 4: Click on the ok button at the bottom of the stabilization menu to save the changes.
9. VSDC
VSDC is a free video stabilizer that allows you to stabilize and edit videos of any complexity. It is compact with advanced features to cut and merge video files and apply visual and audio effects to make a slideshow and add appropriate soundtracks. It also facilitates easy video conversion for playback on specific media devices.
Key features:-
- Side by side and split-screen videos
- Videos in the text effects
- Green screen removal
- Double exposure
Steps to stabilize videos using VSDC
Step 1: Open the VSDC video editor, and navigate to the video stabilization feature from the Tools tab.
Step2: Select the open file option and export the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: In the stabilization, tab adjust the settings that best suit your specific requirements.
Step 4: Complete the process by clicking on the export project to view the outcome.
10. Openshot
OpenShot video editor is an easy-to-use video stabilization and edition software. It is helping professionals around the world with its excellent video editing features. Another factor that makes it different from other software is its compatibility with multiple operating software. It goes with Mac, Linux and Windows and is easily downloadable from its website.
Key features:-
- Compatible with multiple operating systems (Linux, Mac, and Windows)
- It supports a handful of video audio and image formats.
- Video transition along with the real-time preview.
- Options for creating title and sub-title creation
- Titles formation with 3D animation
Steps to stabilize videos using Openshot
Step 1: Open the video you want to stabilize using the project file tab.
Step 2: Drag the video timeline tab and locate the shaky part of the video you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the effects tab and navigate the stabilizer feature from the menu.
Step 4: Drag the stabilizer feature to your video clip in the timeline.
Step 5: You will see the stabilizer: initialize effect window. Select the degree of percentage as per your specific requirements.
Step 6: Select the process effects option.
Bonus: Stabilize shaky videos using Filmora video editor
Filmora video editor is a powerful video stabilizing software filled with powerful editing features. Unlike other editing software, Filmora is compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Some of the above video stabilizers are complex and require expertise. On the other hand, Wondershare Filmora video editor provides you with an easy-to-use interface and easy navigation options.
Key features:
- Modern and intuitive interface.
- Video stabilization in one click.
- Powerful edition features.
- Rich effects and templates.
Steps to stabilize videos using Wondershare Filmora video editor
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Drag shaky videos into the Filmora video editor timeline.
Step 2: Click on the edit option in the toolbar to access the editing panel.
Step 3: Select the stabilization option from the editing panel.
Step 4: Click the play button to preview the stabilized video clip. It also allows you to stabilize the smooth level to obtain better results.
Conclusion
Videos are the most popular types of content. They instantly convey the message and engage the consumers. However, the quality of your video is crucial from your business perspective. Video stabilizing software provides stability to videos and makes them look professional and smooth.
Even if you don’t use video stabilizers for stabilizing videos for your business purposes, they can still come in handy while stabilizing your private videos.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on iMovie
Step 1: Import the video you want to stabilize into the iMovie application on Mac computer;
Step 2: In the adjustment tab, click on the Stabilization button and turn on Stabilize Shaky Video tool.
Step 3: To adjust the amount of stabilization, click and drag the stabilize shaky video slider.
2. Windows movie maker
Windows Movie Maker is another video stabilizer available exclusively for Windows users. It allows you to make personalized movies and incorporate video, still images, background music, and narration. It is also beneficial for stabilizing videos, adding titles and transactions.
Key features:
- It enables you to add special effects to your videos.
- Options for extensive audio track selection.
- Timeline narration options.
If you are using Windows 7, you are lucky to use Windows Movie Maker to stabilize the shaky videos easily. Watch the video tutorial to find out how.
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on Windows Movie Maker
Step 1: Open the app and click on the Add videos and photos icon, and select the video clip you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the portion of the clip that you want to stabilize. You can do this by selecting the shaky video selection option on the right side of the software’s windows.
Step 3: Click on the Edit tab to access the Video stabilization feature.
Step 4: Under the video stabilization feature, you will see three options, namely Anti-shake, Anti-shake and wobble correction- low, Anti-shake and wobble correction- high. Select the most suitable option.
3. HitFilm express
The HitFilm Express is one of the best video stabilization software. It is available for both macOS and Windows. It is an all-in-one video editing software that allows you to import clips and add visual effects and audio to the videos. You can also import your 3D model and create themes like star wars or other animation themes.
Key features:-
- Advance tracking
- Lighting effects
- Muzzle flash effects
- Masking and layering technique
- Screen simulation
Steps to stabilize shaky clips on HitFilm Express
Step 1: Import the clip you want to stabilize and navigate to the control panel.
Step 2: Under the control panel menu, select the track option, and locate your tracking points.
Step 3: It will provide you with two options under the type menu, Single-point position only and double-point position scale/rotation. Select the most appropriate option.
Step 4: Under the purpose-tab, select stabilize options and hit apply.
4. FilmForth
FilmForth is a new name in the video editing industry but it allows you to create videos easily with powerful features. If you are looking for free video stabilization software, FilmForth might be one of them for you. It is compact with powerful and easy-to-apply features.
You can edit video, add filters and transitions, titles, record voiceover, or add background music to video. What’s more, it allows you to save the video without watermark.
Key features:-
- Slideshow maker with photos, videos, music, and effects;
- Change the video background or make the logo transparent;
Steps to stabilize videos using FilmForth
Step 1: Select the stabilize video option under the quick tool menu.
Step 2: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Manually fill the video resolution, video quality, and frame rate settings.
Step 4: Give the file an output name, and choose the video to save the video file.
5. Video DeShake
Video DeShake is solely developed for video stabilization. You can easily download it from av2video.com. It is an effective solution for video stabilization. However, it does not provide you with fancy video editing features, but if you are looking for an instant solution for video stabilization, it is one of the best options.
Steps to stabilize videos using video Deshake:
Step 1: Download and install video Deshake software from av2video.com.
Step 2: Select the plus icon from the left-aligned menu bar.
Step 3: Select the video file that you want to stabilize.
Step 4: Select your preferred format for the output video, and click on the stabilize option present at the bottom of the interface.
6. Shotcut
Shotcut is a free video stabilizer. You don’t need to sign up or log in to begin. There is no sales funnel waiting for you once you get addicted to using it. Another reason for its popularity is beginner-focused design. It is easy to learn and use. However, it lacks advanced editing features like iMovie or HitFilm Express.
Key features:-
- It can load videos recorded in high resolution or above 60 fps.
- Single frame image extraction options.
- Video stabilization feature
- Blurring effect
Steps to stabilize videos using Shotcut:-
Step 1: Drag the video file you want to stabilize into the software interface. Select the timeline feature to select the portion of the video clip that you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Select the filter tab and follow by selecting the plus button. Under the plus icon, select the monitor option and find the stabilize option under the menu.
Step 3: Customize the stabilizations options according to your specific needs and click on analyze to monitor the stabilization. After stabilization is complete, select the file option and click on save to save the video.
7. Blender
The Blender is free and one of the best video editing software for professionals . Besides video editing, it provides you with 3D modeling, rigging animation, simulation, and motion tracking features . It allows you to perform basic actions like video cuts and splicing and complex tasks like video masking or color grading.
Key features:-
- Live preview, chroma vectorscope, and histogram displays.
- Scrubbing and waveform visualization.
- Audion mixing and syncing.
- Speed control, adjustment layers, transitions, and keyframe options.
Steps to stabilize videos using Blender
Step 1: Begin by going to the motion tracking workspace.
Step 2: Click on open and select the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the tracking option from the toolbar and click on the movie to set tracking points.
Step 4: Set the tracking point size and press the right arrow to start tracking.
Step 5: Select the file menu and navigate the save option to save the stabilized video.
8. AVS video stabilizer
AVS video editor is suitable for both beginners and professionals. It enables you to create videos of any resolution and length. It allows you to cut, trim, join, and rotate videos. It also amazes you with the freedom of using over 300 effects. With AVS video editor, you can edit VHS videos and convert them into digital format.
Key features:-
- Audio capture
- Brand overlay
- Customizable templates
- Easy to use interface with drag and drop features
- Multimedia format support
Steps to stabilize videos using AVS video editor:
Step 1: Click on the import option under the media library tab and import the video you want to stabilize.
Step 2: Press the video stabilization button present over the timeline.
Step 3: Under the stabilization video, drag the compensation bar to adjust the degree of stabilization.
Step 4: Click on the ok button at the bottom of the stabilization menu to save the changes.
9. VSDC
VSDC is a free video stabilizer that allows you to stabilize and edit videos of any complexity. It is compact with advanced features to cut and merge video files and apply visual and audio effects to make a slideshow and add appropriate soundtracks. It also facilitates easy video conversion for playback on specific media devices.
Key features:-
- Side by side and split-screen videos
- Videos in the text effects
- Green screen removal
- Double exposure
Steps to stabilize videos using VSDC
Step 1: Open the VSDC video editor, and navigate to the video stabilization feature from the Tools tab.
Step2: Select the open file option and export the video file you want to stabilize.
Step 3: In the stabilization, tab adjust the settings that best suit your specific requirements.
Step 4: Complete the process by clicking on the export project to view the outcome.
10. Openshot
OpenShot video editor is an easy-to-use video stabilization and edition software. It is helping professionals around the world with its excellent video editing features. Another factor that makes it different from other software is its compatibility with multiple operating software. It goes with Mac, Linux and Windows and is easily downloadable from its website.
Key features:-
- Compatible with multiple operating systems (Linux, Mac, and Windows)
- It supports a handful of video audio and image formats.
- Video transition along with the real-time preview.
- Options for creating title and sub-title creation
- Titles formation with 3D animation
Steps to stabilize videos using Openshot
Step 1: Open the video you want to stabilize using the project file tab.
Step 2: Drag the video timeline tab and locate the shaky part of the video you want to stabilize.
Step 3: Select the effects tab and navigate the stabilizer feature from the menu.
Step 4: Drag the stabilizer feature to your video clip in the timeline.
Step 5: You will see the stabilizer: initialize effect window. Select the degree of percentage as per your specific requirements.
Step 6: Select the process effects option.
Bonus: Stabilize shaky videos using Filmora video editor
Filmora video editor is a powerful video stabilizing software filled with powerful editing features. Unlike other editing software, Filmora is compatible with both Windows and Mac.
Some of the above video stabilizers are complex and require expertise. On the other hand, Wondershare Filmora video editor provides you with an easy-to-use interface and easy navigation options.
Key features:
- Modern and intuitive interface.
- Video stabilization in one click.
- Powerful edition features.
- Rich effects and templates.
Steps to stabilize videos using Wondershare Filmora video editor
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Step 1: Drag shaky videos into the Filmora video editor timeline.
Step 2: Click on the edit option in the toolbar to access the editing panel.
Step 3: Select the stabilization option from the editing panel.
Step 4: Click the play button to preview the stabilized video clip. It also allows you to stabilize the smooth level to obtain better results.
Conclusion
Videos are the most popular types of content. They instantly convey the message and engage the consumers. However, the quality of your video is crucial from your business perspective. Video stabilizing software provides stability to videos and makes them look professional and smooth.
Even if you don’t use video stabilizers for stabilizing videos for your business purposes, they can still come in handy while stabilizing your private videos.
FCPX Pr
Final Cut Pro X: Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.
This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.
For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.
Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X
1. STILL FRAMES
A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)
In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.
This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.
Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.
In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.
Very cool, except….
Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.
So, here’s another way to do this.
Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.
This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.
Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.
As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.
I use both these techniques in many different projects.
2. HOLD FRAME
A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.
Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).
This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.
Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.
Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.
To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.
NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!
3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION
We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.
WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.
Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).
Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)
Three things happen at once:
- The duration of the clip changes
- The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
- The speed of the clip changes
To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).
There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.
The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.
Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.
This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:
- Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
- Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
- Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
- Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.
You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.
4. EXTRA CREDIT
There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)
Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.
- Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
- Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
- Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.
Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.
Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
SUMMARY
Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.
This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.
For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.
Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X
1. STILL FRAMES
A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)
In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.
This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.
Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.
In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.
Very cool, except….
Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.
So, here’s another way to do this.
Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.
This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.
Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.
As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.
I use both these techniques in many different projects.
2. HOLD FRAME
A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.
Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).
This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.
Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.
Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.
To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.
NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!
3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION
We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.
WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.
Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).
Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)
Three things happen at once:
- The duration of the clip changes
- The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
- The speed of the clip changes
To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).
There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.
The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.
Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.
This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:
- Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
- Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
- Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
- Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.
You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.
4. EXTRA CREDIT
There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)
Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.
- Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
- Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
- Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.
Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.
Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
SUMMARY
Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.
This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.
For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.
Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X
1. STILL FRAMES
A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)
In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.
This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.
Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.
In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.
Very cool, except….
Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.
So, here’s another way to do this.
Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.
This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.
Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.
As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.
I use both these techniques in many different projects.
2. HOLD FRAME
A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.
Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).
This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.
Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.
Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.
To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.
NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!
3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION
We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.
WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.
Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).
Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)
Three things happen at once:
- The duration of the clip changes
- The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
- The speed of the clip changes
To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).
There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.
The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.
Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.
This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:
- Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
- Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
- Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
- Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.
You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.
4. EXTRA CREDIT
There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)
Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.
- Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
- Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
- Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.
Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.
Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
SUMMARY
Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.
This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.
For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.
Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X
1. STILL FRAMES
A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)
In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.
This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.
Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.
In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.
Very cool, except….
Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.
So, here’s another way to do this.
Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.
This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.
Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.
As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.
I use both these techniques in many different projects.
2. HOLD FRAME
A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.
Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).
This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.
Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.
Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.
To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.
NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!
3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION
We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.
WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.
Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).
Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)
Three things happen at once:
- The duration of the clip changes
- The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
- The speed of the clip changes
To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).
There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.
The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.
Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.
This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:
- Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
- Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
- Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
- Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.
You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.
4. EXTRA CREDIT
There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)
Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.
- Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
- Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
- Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.
Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.
Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
SUMMARY
Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
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- Title: Updated Free MP4 Video Editing Software Top 10 Picks for 2024
- Author: Emma
- Created at : 2024-04-29 02:22:54
- Updated at : 2024-04-30 02:22:54
- Link: https://video-ai-editor.techidaily.com/updated-free-mp4-video-editing-software-top-10-picks-for-2024/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.