Frame the picture
Select the clip's video controls or open the focused Crop tool. Adjust the visible area, orientation, and project framing, then check that faces, captions, slides, and action remain in view.
GiliSoft Video Editor Pro User Guide
Follow the Windows workflow from creating a project to checking the exported video. Learn where to use the timeline, when a separate cutter or joiner is more direct, and how to add text, sound, and effects.
Make your first video
Open Video Studio, choose an aspect ratio, and create a project. Import your media, place clips on the timeline, trim and arrange the scenes, add the text and sound you need, then Export. Save the project separately so you can continue editing later.
Choose the workspace for your task
| Your task | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Build a complete video | Video Studio for scenes, picture-in-picture, text, music, narration, and effects on separate tracks. |
| Keep short sections of footage | Easy Cutter for clip extraction, or Batch Cutter when several files need cutting. |
| Combine files in sequence | Joiner for a focused merge, or Video Studio when the sequence also needs layered editing. |
| Make one focused change | Crop or speed tools, Add/Remove Audio, or Add/Remove Watermark, according to the job. |
| Prepare captions or AI-assisted media | AI Tools for the relevant task, then review the result before using it in a project. |
1Create or reopen a project
Open Video Studio in GiliSoft Video Editor Pro, choose the project aspect ratio, and select New. Use Load project to continue saved work, and keep the source media available while you edit.
Use the official Windows installer from the download button, follow setup, and open the app. In Video Studio, choose the frame shape for the intended video before building the sequence.
Save the project early and keep the original clips, images, and audio available. Organize source folders before editing so you do not have to move or rename media halfway through the project.
2Import media and arrange the timeline
Use Import to add video, images, and audio, then place them on the appropriate Video, PIP, Text, Audio, or Voiceover track. Arrange the scenes in order and preview the combined picture and sound.
- Import the sources
Use Import for local media. The workspace also shows Record Screen and Record for creating source material.
- Place clips on the tracks
Arrange the main scenes on Video, use PIP for a second picture layer, and place text, music, and narration on the relevant tracks. Check the start time of each item.
- Inspect the complete arrangement
Play through scene changes and sections with several layers. Check for gaps, unintended overlaps, hidden text, and sound that starts too early or late.
3Cut clips and add finishing layers
Trim unwanted footage, add the titles or subtitles you need, and balance music and narration against the original audio. Apply transitions, color changes, or effects where the project needs them, then preview the edited sections.
Start with the scene order and cut points, then add finishing layers. Use the sections below for text and subtitles, music and narration, or effects and keyframes. Save the project as you work and check changes in motion, not only on a single frame.
Cut, trim, split, and join clips
For a timeline project, arrange the clips in sequence, trim unwanted material, and preview both sides of each edit. The Video workspace also provides separate tools for focused jobs.
- Easy Cutter
- Extract ranges from a source using the start and end controls, create the cut clips, and choose the export mode.
- Batch Cutter
- Prepare several files for cutting in one task. Review the ranges and outputs before processing the full set.
- Advanced Cutter
- Use a focused clip workflow when cutting also needs picture, subtitle, watermark, or output adjustments.
- Split
- Divide a long source into smaller clips and check the generated files in the destination folder.
Cut without re-encoding in Easy Cutter
- Add the source and create the cut clips
Set the start and end points for each section to keep, preview the boundaries, and use Cut to add the section to the clip list.
- Open Export
Choose the output folder and select Cut video files without re-encoding for a compatible source when you only need a direct cut.
- Start and check the saved clip
Review the opening, ending, and audio sync. Direct-cut boundaries can depend on keyframes; this mode is not a promise of arbitrary frame-accurate cuts.
Use a normal rendered export when the video needs timeline effects, new subtitles, a crop, or a different output format. See the MP4 fast-cut guide for the direct-cut workflow.
Join files in the required order
Open Joiner and use Add Files. Arrange the sources with Up and Down, review any clip ranges and Transition Effect, then open Export. Play the saved result around every connection.
A direct join without re-encoding needs compatible source streams; use rendered output when the sources or required changes do not fit that workflow. See the MP4 merge guide for the compatibility checks.
Crop, rotate, and change playback speed
Review motion and timing
Use the speed controls or the separate Adjust Speed/Frame Interpolation task as appropriate. Check the resulting duration, voice, music, and subtitle timing rather than assuming they remain unchanged.
For detail, see cropping a video while preserving useful detail or converting and trimming in one workflow.
Add titles, subtitles, and branding
- Add text or a subtitle source
Open Text and choose a title style, use Add Subtitles, or choose Import subtitle for an existing subtitle file.
- Edit appearance and duration
Set the words, font, size, color, placement, and time on screen. Preview against the actual picture so text remains readable.
- Check the exported result
Inspect subtitle wording and timing near the beginning, middle, and end. Verify the converted text is readable on the screen size where the video will be watched.
For branding, use the Add/Remove Watermark tool for the appropriate text or media layer. Keep it clear of subtitles and the main subject.
Focused tutorials: add subtitles to video, add a watermark, and edit with text and music.
Add music and voiceover, or replace a soundtrack
Import music or narration, place it on the Audio or Voiceover track, and align it with the scene. Listen to it with the original clip audio, then adjust the balance so speech remains clear.
- Set timing
Trim the audio to the required section and check its start and end against the picture.
- Adjust level and fades
Select the clip's Audio controls. Review Volume, Fade In, and Fade Out, then play through the transitions.
- Use a focused task when needed
Add/Remove Audio handles soundtrack changes; the separate Silence Remove task handles speech material with quiet sections. Review the result before using it in the final sequence.
See the add music to video guide for a focused single-task workflow.
Use transitions, effects, color, and keyframes
Choose the change the scene needs and preview the affected section in motion. Keep titles and sound in mind when placing a transition or visual layer.
Connect scenes with transitions
Open Transitions, choose a style, and apply it at the intended scene change. Review its duration and check that the connection does not hide an important word, action, or title.
Effects and split-screen layouts
Open Effects for the required style or layout, apply it to the intended section, and review the whole scene.
Filters and overlays
Explore Filters or Overlays for the look you need. Check detail, skin tones, and text after applying a preset.
Color adjustments
Select the clip and open Color. Make a small change to Contrast, Saturation, Brightness, or Tone, then compare it with the original.
Keyframe animation
In KeyFrame, use Add KeyFrame at the needed positions and adjust the available properties, such as rotation, transparency, or scale. Preview the movement between points.
For examples, see transitions and effects or editing tutorial videos.
Choose an AI-assisted task
The AI Tools workspace includes Auto Captions, Text to Video, Background Changer, Subtitle Extraction, Matting/Video Beauty, Shot Split, Silence Remove, Text to Audio, AI Video Watermark Removal, and AI Video Face Swap.
- Choose the task and source
Open the relevant tool, load the media, and review the language, source, and output options it provides.
- Inspect the result
Check generated words and timing, cutout edges, scene boundaries, or other processed sections. Correct anything the project needs before continuing.
- Use it in the project
Bring the resulting media into Video Studio when it needs further arrangement, text, sound, or finishing. Check the combined timeline before export.
4Export and check the finished video
Preview the complete timeline, select Export, and choose the output format and destination. Review the available resolution, frame rate, quality, and audio settings, export, and play the saved file outside the editor.
Save the editable project
Keep the project for later revisions and retain the source media it uses. Reopen it with Load project when continuing work.
Export the video to play or share
Use Export for the finished file, choose a destination format such as MP4, and check the settings offered by that export screen. A saved project is not a substitute for this video file.
- Picture
- Check resolution, aspect ratio, frame rate, and quality against the source and intended destination. Enlarging a low-resolution source does not recover missing detail.
- Sound and text
- Check music, narration, original audio, subtitle readability, and the time each item appears.
- Destination
- Use a clear output name and folder with enough free space. Keep the source and project until the result is verified.
- Playback
- Open the exported file outside the editor. Review the beginning, important edit points, the loudest passage, and the ending frame.
For a smaller delivery copy, use the available conversion or compression tools and compare a sample. Avoid repeating unnecessary conversions while the project is still changing.
Troubleshoot import, timeline, and export problems
A file does not import or preview correctly
Check that the source is complete and plays outside the editor. If its format needs a working copy, convert that copy while preserving the original, then test it before replacing media in a large project.
A VOB source is difficult to cut
Check the source files and their DVD structure rather than assuming a single VOB contains the full video. Verify playback on the computer, then test a working copy if direct cutting is unreliable.
The picture has black bars or the wrong framing
Compare the project aspect ratio with the source orientation. Decide whether the result should fit inside the frame or use a crop; check faces, titles, and important details before exporting.
Audio drifts or an export looks different
Inspect speed changes, trimmed sound, transitions, and output settings around the first problem point. Test a short section and compare it with the timeline before rendering the full project again.
Video Editor Pro questions and answers
Should I use Video Studio or a separate cutter or joiner?
Use Video Studio for a project with layered video, picture-in-picture, text, music, and narration. Use Easy Cutter, Batch Cutter, Advanced Cutter, Joiner, or Split for a focused clip task. Choose the workspace according to the result you need rather than assuming every job requires a timeline project.
Is a saved project the same as an exported video?
No. A project keeps editing work so you can continue later. Export creates the video file to play or share. Keep the project and source media until the finished output has been checked, and use Load project when returning to saved work.
Can I cut video without re-encoding?
Easy Cutter's Export dialog includes Cut video files without re-encoding. Use it for compatible sources when the task is a direct cut. Cut boundaries can depend on keyframes, so inspect the beginning and ending of the saved clip. Use a rendered export for timeline effects, crops, subtitles, or a new output format.
How do I join several clips into one video?
For a timeline project, place the clips in the intended order on the Video track and review each connection. For a focused merge, open Joiner, add the files, arrange them with Up and Down, check any transition and output choices, and export. Play the saved result around every join.
Can I import subtitles or create automatic captions?
Yes. The timeline Text workspace includes Add Subtitles and Import subtitle. Auto Captions is a separate tool in the tools workspace. Review the words, timing, appearance, and position, then check the subtitles in the exported video.
Why is Export disabled when I have imported a video?
Check that you have placed media on the timeline rather than only loading it into the media library. Confirm that the intended content is present and the project previews correctly, then review the Export control again.
Why is source media missing when I reopen a project?
Check whether the source files were moved, renamed, removed, or stored on a disconnected drive. Restore access to the original media locations where possible and reopen the project. Keep the project and its source folders organized together while work is in progress.
Why does the exported video look softer or sound out of sync?
Compare the output resolution, quality, frame rate, and audio settings with the source and intended destination. Check speed changes, trimmed audio, and transitions around the problem point. Keep the original, test a short section, and avoid unnecessary repeated conversions.
Is this the guide for Video Editor Pro on Mac?
No. This guide covers GiliSoft Video Editor Pro for Windows. GiliSoft provides a separate macOS product and user guide with its own interface and download.
