Cutting videos

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Cutting videos

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First insert one or more videos into your project as  described in the Insert videos chapter . You now have various options for shortening or cutting your videos. The original file is never edited or changed. The editing is always calculated live in your project without changing the original video.

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For video editing, we recommend the program setting Extras / Program settings / Timeline / Behaviour - Playhead does not change when objects are selected.
At this point, you can also choose whether the thumbnails are displayed in full for video objects or whether they are only displayed at the beginning and end of the object.

1 Cut videos in the Timeline

Live preview activated for cutting the video

Live preview for cutting the video activated

Activate the Live preview in the layout designer to cut a video .
 
In the Timeline window, select the video object you want to edit. Now move the Playhead over the video object with the mouse to find the desired interface.

There are two icons for cutting a video, which are located to the right and left of the Playhead in the Timeline.

Playhead in the timeline

Playhead in the timeline

1.1 Cut using the Scissors icon

At the left of the Playhead you will see a Scissors icon. With this you can cut the selected video at the point where the Playhead is located.

After the cut, you will have two video objects. You can now select an unnecessary video part and remove it with the  DEL  key on your keyboard or by right-clicking.

Playhead with tweezers Icon

Playhead with tweezers Icon

1.2 Remove a part of the video

With the Tweezer icon you can specify a starting point and an end point. The section between the two points is removed from the video by clicking the Cut symbol (an X between two arrows).
Clicking on the front or rear Scissors symbol of the split Playhead, will cut at the respectively appropriate point. If you want to return to the simple Playhead, click the encircled Close icon.

Cutting a piece out from the middle

Cutting a piece out from the middle

The section between the two Playheads is removed from the video when you click on the cut symbol (an X between two arrows). Please note that the video object to be cut must be selected in the Timeline.

If you click on the front or rear Scissor symbol on the split Playhead, the cut is made at the corresponding point.

If you want to return to the simple playhead, click on the Close symbol (cross in the circle).

Info

Do you want to see every frame of your video so that you can accurately cut it?
Right click on the Timeline and select the command Zoom to frame level.

2 Cut videos in the properties window

Shortening the beginning and end of the video

Shortening the beginning and end of the video

You can shorten the beginning and end of a video directly via the time entry in the Properties window.

Enter the desired length of the video in the Duration field if you wish to shorten the end of the video.

Via Start time enter the time value at which the video should start. (This is the time by which the beginning of the video is reduced.)

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In our video "Videos schneiden (Erste Schritte)" you will learn step by step how to edit videos.

3 How do I find the right cutting position?

There are several ways to find or mark the point where you want to cut.

Above all, the Live preview helps you when cutting your video material. Select your video in the Timeline and activate the Live preview in the Layout designer. Now move the Playhead over your video object and release it at the position where you want to make a cut. Click on the Scissors symbol at the top left of the Playhead to split the video.

In AquaSoft Stages you will also see a video thumbnail with additional information from the current position as you move the Playhead over your video. Furthermore, the keyframe track can be opened with the waveform for the video sound, which can provide additional orientation for editing.

Set the Playhead to the stop position of the player: Play your video in the Layout designer. Pause or stop the preview at the point where you want to cut.

Now click on the Btn_Navigation_Playhead button at the bottom of Timeline. This places the Playhead at the position where you paused or stopped the player. Select the object to be cut and then click on the Scissors symbol on the left of the Playhead to split the video here.

Marker lines: Play your video in the Layout designer. Press the  Enter  button at the point where you want to cut. A red marker line appears in the Timeline. Stop the preview. Now move the Playhead to the marked position and click on the Scissors symbol to cut.

Single frames: Do you want to see every single frame of your video in the Timeline in order to cut it precisely? To do this, right-click on the video in the Timeline and select the Zoom to frame level command. Click with the mouse in the time scale of Timeline to move the Playhead to the desired position. Use the left/right cursor keys to move the Playhead in the Timeline in frame steps (60 fps).
To leave the frame level again, click on the magnifying glass with the cross at the bottom right of the program window. This resets the Timeline zoom to the default value.

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Tips for transitions between videos or videos and photos can be found in "Videos überblenden (Erste Schritte)".