Shotcut

Shotcut is a free cross-platform utility to offers support for a multitude of image, audio, and video formats. It is integrated with the installed codecs of your system, and manages the editing and loading process more reliably. The simplicity of the program makes it one of the best choices, even for new learners.

It is a free and open-source utility packed with a huge collection of editing material, including video effects, filters, and a lot of other advanced capabilities. The customizable interface supports input and preview monitoring capabilities and enables users to control the features according to their requirements.

What is Shotcut?

Shotcut, developed by Meltytech on MLT Multimedia Framework, and was released in 2004, is a free, open-source, and cross-platform software. It makes your video editing process quick and smooth while allowing you to import videos, cut and splice, add transitions, titles, effects, and other awesome assets for your ease in creating a masterpiece.

The community-driven program enables users to interact with others and enhance their creativity, no matter what type of devices they are using.

Shotcut Features

Customizable Interface

The customizable and modular interface to manage your workflow while undocking, rearranging, hiding panels, and so on. It is a little bit complicated and requires a steep learning curve, specifically for new learners. However, it is equipped with all essential tools. The installation process is simple, as it offers portable as well as traditional installers, and moves to the main interface that is divided into three main sections, including timeline, review window, and toolbar. Click the + option to open a new project, and import media using the “Open File” button. Start editing while dragging clips to your timeline, and use the “Export panel” to share with others.

Edit Seamlessly

The app offers an awesome editing process within a wide collection of features, such as Quick Access: you can access to Quick Start Guide using the preview window that offers multiple keys to control the video playback, direction, speed, input, and so on. View menu: it helps to control on-screen features, such as you can clear a lot of space on the timeline while closing the Filters, Properties, and Encoder panels.

Support HD Quality

The software with direct timeline editing offers all basic editing features, including cutting, trimming, rotating, adding audio, and filters. It also supports high-definition and 4K media formats to enable users to edit eye-catching professional-level videos.

Filters & Effects

The comprehensive collection of awesome filters and effects for both audio and video is supported such as 3-way color correction including shadows, mids, and highlights. An eye-dropper tool for adjusting white balance and applying video wipe transitions, such as bar, barn door, and clock, is also possible. It is also capable of audio balancing, complex effects along with chroma key, and transitions. You can finely tune your favorite effects within customizable filters, and also a wide range of audio filters, and detaching audio from video clips offers precise editing. 

Multi-format Support

The software is integrated with FFmpeg, so it supports a wide range of formats, including BMP, JPG, GIF, SVG, TGA, WebP, and TIFF. It also manages the entire functionality from the standard MP4s to high-res 4K footage. It imports media from SDI, HDMI, webcam, JACK & Pulse audio, IP stream, X11 screen, and Windows DirectShow devices, and even animations in Lottie and RAWR, and you are capable of native editing for your media files within multi-format support, and also gives information about resolutions and framerates related to your projects. If you are editing an image, you will also find PNG, JPG, WEBP, and a lot of other image-supported formats.

Versatile & Flexible

Similar to other video editing platforms, you will also find an improved editing functionality, enabling you to trim clips on the source or timeline with a ripple option, and a lot of other tasks, including cutting, copying, and pasting. In addition, appending, inserting, overwriting, lifting, and ripple deleting on the timeline are also possible. It also offers cross-platform conversion between audio and video types. 

Safe & Secure

The app is completely safe and secure, and you can browse more reliably without any addition of online threats, or any other bugs. An efficient community of developers offers regular upgrades to fix any type offers new features.

Raw Material Management

Unlike other editing apps, the software helps to polish raw material and share it with others as well. You can use transitions, overlay text, and audio tracks to manage your pleasant moments more reliably. You can add slow-motion effects and trim unwanted parts of videos to save your videos for watching later. It is the best choice to create vlogs, tutorials, and gaming highlight reels as well.

Pros

• Free, open-source, and lightweight
• Support all types of formats
• Integrated with keyframing and 4K 
• Import media using drag -&-drop option
• Customizable and straightforward interface

Cons

• Requires steep learning curves
• The interface is a little bit outdated compared to premium apps
• Real-time collaboration is limited
• Premade templates are not available