We just released our new in-app editor, an easy-to-use feature that combines five editing essentials into one powerful tool. But no matter how easy someone makes it, new tools and processes can be hard to understand. Add to that the complexities and general overwhelm of editing, and of course, this new feature is a little confusing.
But don’t worry; we’re sharing our expertise with you. Every week, we’ll take a deep dive into our new editing tools, from crop to voiceover and literally everything in between. We’ll tell you how to use a feature, why you should, and even give you examples of fun ways to work it into your content.
In our third installment, we’re breaking down the most important tool yet. Split.
What is the Split Tool? ✂️
Split is the most essential of all our editing tools. In fact, it might be the number one editing tool you need.
With split, you can literally cut one clip in two. If you find a part of your video you want to edit out, scroll to the moment, hit split, and then let it play. Find the end of the clip you want to cut, hit split, and delete that whole section.
Its uses are very straightforward, and luckily, it’s just as easy to use.
How to Use the Split Tool 🧠
Overlay may look complicated, but it’s pretty straightforward. If you know how to edit a video clip and resize a picture, you’re ready to work with overlay.
- Open the Clapper app and tap the button in the middle of the menu along the bottom.
- Select “video”; either record up to 10 minutes of video in the app, or upload your clips.
- Finished recording? Tap the orange “Next” button in the right corner.
- Tap the “Adjust” button on the right side of your screen.
- If you want to edit a clip, scroll to it and tap it.
- Using the slider along the bottom, scroll to the moment you want to split.
- Make sure you’re at the right moment and tap “Split” (the scissors).
- Treat this new clip like any other! You can cut it down even more using the same process.
- When you’re happy, tap the check to the right and finish your edits. Then tap “Save” and “Next”.
- Add a description, hashtags, and some final touches, then post.
Reading that, you might think it’s more confusing. Which is fair! It’s hard to wrap your head around when it’s just a description.
An Example 🤓
To help illustrate our point, here’s a tutorial.
All you have to do is tap, slide, and split. Just be patient and make sure you’re cutting the clip at the right moment.
Mess it up? Tap the back arrow at the top right of the editing menu. It’ll undo the last edit you made, so you can try splitting the clip again.
Why You’d Use the Split Tool 🌟
The most popular use for the split tool is for basic editing, so it’s hard to show you how to use it. If you’ve ever seen a video with perfectly timed cuts and quick transitions, they probably used split to get it.
But there’s one fun way people use split to add a little extra something to their videos.
Loops 🔄
One of the best ways to use split is to create loops. This means that the beginning and the end of your video are the same clip. So if someone is watching your video, the end flows right back into the start. Like this (super subtle) one!
Loops work for every niche and community. You’ll see them most in tutorial and educational videos, but it’s an easy way to increase watch time. Why? If it’s seamless enough, viewers won’t realize your video restarted right away. That and it just looks cool!
Here’s a true loop, plus a deep dive into how to loop.
Using the most essential editing tool is way easier than you think. If you’re having doubts, head to the Clapper app and try it for yourself. It only takes one try for you to become an expert.
In our next article, we’re pressing pause on another versatile feature: speed.
Learn more about our new and improved (and easy-to-use) editor in this article. Revisit cropping a video in this article and get an intro to adding an overlay in this article. And, for those of you feeling brave, explore some exciting editing techniques with this article.
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by your new editing options, we’ve got you covered. Follow @ClapperAcademy for editing tutorials. And come back to the blog each Wednesday! We’ll be deep diving into each feature, covering how to use it, why you should test it out, and how to use it in your content.
