Shotcut – Free Cross-Platform Video Editor

Introduction to Shotcut

Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor that provides a wide array of audio and video formats through FFmpeg. Unlike many free video editors, Shotcut does not watermark exports and provides professional features without requiring payment or account registration. The software supports native editing of various video formats without requiring format conversion, saving time and preserving quality.

Shotcut features a modern, intuitive interface with dockable panels and customizable layouts. It supports multi-track timeline editing, video compositing, audio mixing, and a growing library of filters and effects. The software’s commitment to open-source principles and cross-platform compatibility makes it accessible to users on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Key Features and Capabilities

Shotcut provides comprehensive video editing features including multi-track timeline, unlimited undo/redo, GPU-accelerated processing, and support for 4K resolutions and beyond. The software includes over 400 audio and video filters, keyframe animation, color grading tools, and audio visualization. Native format support through FFmpeg means wide compatibility without transcoding overhead.

Installation on Linux

# Via Flatpak (recommended)
flatpak install flathub org.shotcut.Shotcut

# Via Snap
sudo snap install shotcut --classic

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S shotcut

# AppImage from shotcut.org
chmod +x Shotcut-*.AppImage
./Shotcut-*.AppImage

Installation on Windows

# Download from shotcut.org
# Run shotcut-xxx.exe installer

# Via Winget
winget install Meltytech.Shotcut

# Via Chocolatey
choco install shotcut

# Portable version available

Installation on macOS

# Via Homebrew
brew install --cask shotcut

# Or download DMG from shotcut.org

Interface Overview

# Main panels:
# - Source: Preview clips
# - Timeline: Editing area
# - Playlist: Collect clips
# - Filters: Effects panel
# - Properties: Clip settings
# - Keyframes: Animation

# Customize layout:
View > Layout > [Choose preset]
# Or drag panels to customize

Basic Workflow

# 1. Open media
File > Open File
# Or drag to Playlist

# 2. Add to timeline
# Drag from Playlist/Source to Timeline
# Or use buttons: Append, Insert

# 3. Edit clips
# Trim, split, move, delete

# 4. Apply filters
# Select clip > Filters panel

# 5. Export
Export > From Timeline

Timeline Editing

# Track operations:
# - V1, V2... Video tracks
# - A1, A2... Audio tracks
# - Add/remove tracks via menu

# Clip operations:
# - Drag edges to trim
# - S to split at playhead
# - X to ripple delete
# - C to copy, V to paste

# Snapping:
# Toggle with magnet icon
# Snaps to playhead, clips, markers

Filters and Effects

# Video filters:
# - Color Grading
# - Blur, Sharpen
# - Crop, Rotate, Scale
# - Stabilize
# - Chromakey (Green screen)
# - Text overlays

# Audio filters:
# - Gain, Normalize
# - Equalizer
# - Compressor, Limiter
# - Reverb, Echo
# - Noise Gate

# Applying filters:
1. Select clip
2. Click Filters panel
3. Click + to add filter
4. Adjust parameters

Keyframes

# Enable keyframes:
# Click stopwatch icon on parameter

# Add keyframes:
# - Move playhead
# - Adjust parameter value
# - Keyframe auto-created

# Keyframe panel:
# View > Keyframes
# - Adjust timing
# - Change interpolation

Transitions

# Add transition:
# - Overlap two clips on same track
# - Or use Properties > Video Fade

# Built-in transitions:
# - Dissolve (default)
# - Barn Door
# - Box
# - Clock
# - Iris
# - Matrix
# - Custom (mask-based)

# Adjust duration:
# Drag transition edges

Keyboard Shortcuts

# Playback
Space           Play/Pause
J               Rewind (press multiple)
K               Stop
L               Forward (press multiple)
Home            Go to start
End             Go to end

# Timeline
S               Split at playhead
X               Ripple delete
Z               Zoom in
Alt+Z           Zoom out
Ctrl+Z          Undo

# Clips
Ctrl+C          Copy
Ctrl+V          Paste
Delete          Remove clip
A               Select all clips

Export Settings

# Quick export:
Export > From Timeline > Export File

# Presets:
# - YouTube
# - Vimeo
# - H.264 High Quality
# - WebM VP9
# - GIF Animation
# - Audio only

# Custom settings:
# Format, codec, resolution
# Quality, bitrate, frame rate

# Hardware encoding:
# Enable if supported:
# - NVENC (NVIDIA)
# - VAAPI (Linux)
# - VideoToolbox (macOS)

Proxy Editing

# Enable proxy:
Settings > Proxy > Use Proxy

# Generate proxy:
# Right-click clip > Make Proxy

# Benefits:
# - Smoother timeline
# - Lower CPU usage
# - Full quality on export

Audio Mixing

# Audio track features:
# - Per-track volume
# - Mute/Solo buttons
# - Audio meters

# Audio filters:
# - Balance
# - Gain
# - Fade In/Out
# - Compressor
# - Equalizer

# Audio visualization:
View > Scopes > Audio Waveform

Text and Titles

# Add text:
Open Other > Text
# Or Filters > Text: Simple / Text: Rich

# Text options:
# - Font, size, color
# - Background
# - Outline
# - Position
# - Animation via keyframes

# Save as preset:
# Configure > Save preset

Color Correction

# Color tools:
Filters > Color Grading
Filters > White Balance
Filters > Brightness
Filters > Saturation

# Scopes:
View > Scopes > Video Waveform
View > Scopes > Histogram
View > Scopes > RGB Parade

# LUT support:
Filters > LUT (3D)
# Apply .cube LUT files

Troubleshooting

# Slow performance:
# - Enable proxy editing
# - Lower preview quality
# - Close unused panels

# Export issues:
# - Check codec availability
# - Try different format
# - Reset export settings

# Preview problems:
# Settings > Preview Scaling
# Set to lower resolution

Conclusion

Shotcut provides a capable, free video editing solution that punches above its weight class. Its native format support, extensive filter library, and cross-platform availability make it an excellent choice for content creators who need professional features without subscription costs. Whether creating YouTube videos, short films, or quick edits, Shotcut offers the tools needed for quality video production.