The advanced features have some learning curve to them, but the Shotcut YouTube channel offers a collection of video tutorials to help. There is also a strong selection of video/audio transitions and stackable filters, from stabilization to chroma key (green-screen effects). The timeline has a full range of editing capabilities including adding tracks, splitting and trimming clips, and shortcut keys for these functions.

But you can still open and preview files in Shotcut just like in other editors, create a “playlist” of the media you’re using for the project, and drag clips into your timeline. You won’t see an “Import” button, though the software boasts “native timeline editing” with no import required.

Shotcut can work with a wide range of video and image formats, including 4K-resolution content. Each panel can be un-docked, moved around, and re-docked or left floating, giving you nice control over how to arrange your workspace across one or more monitors.

But once you start adding more modules depending on the functions you want to use, Shotcut starts to show its depth.

The free cross-platform program-available on Windows, Mac, and Linux-opens up to a clean, minimal interface, ideal for new or casual editors who want to keep things simple. It might not look overly impressive at a first glance, but Shotcut is a robust non-linear video editor with enough tools to satisfy most levels of video editing skill. Fewer audio and transition options than some other servicesĬan be difficult to learn time viewing tutorials is necessary for many users

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