How to Edit a Video With Clipchamp (Browser-Based NLE)

Tips & Tricks

How to Edit a Video With Clipchamp (Browser-Based NLE)

Tuts+Photography

Getting your start in video editing has never been simpler, thanks to browser-based NLE software like Clipchamp.

Long gone are the days of needing to purchase expensive software and build out power computers to handle the files, not to mention the know-how. With Clipchamp, all you need to get started is an internet connection. In fact, you don't even need a computer, thanks to their iOS app (Android should be coming soon).

In this tutorial, we'll walk you through everything you need to know so that you can jump in and start editing.

Getting Started With Clipchamp

Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

Before we get into the basics of the NLE, you'll need to sign up and possibly download a new browser, depending on what you use. Clipchamp currently only operates using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

To get started easily, open up a new tab, head over to Clipchamp, and click Try for free. If you don't currently have the supported browser, the site will give you the option to choose your preference. If this is a no for you, that's OK. Try checking out Kapwing as a great alternative. Now assuming you've gone ahead and are using the needed browser, sign up for a free account.

Homepage

The homepage gives you a quick view of all the options that Clipchamp offers you. You'll be able to see both what is and isn't available from the free account. Here's a quick rundown.

Clipchamp pricing table — Account Options

The Editor

From your homepage, you'll want to navigate to the editor by selecting Create a video. Everything from the homepage will be available here. Let's take a look and go over how to use all the tool options to get you started.

The way this editor works is very intuitive and is designed to be used by someone who has never edited video before. In fact, it's so user-friendly that you don't even need your own media! Clipchamp comes loaded with templates, stock video, images, music, and sound effects.

The program works with a drag-and-drop layout. That just means that in order to place anything on the timeline, you simply select, hold, and place it wherever you want. Once it's on the timeline, moving the media around works the same way.

But let's say you don't want to use the stock footage. That's great! Uploading your media is a few clicks away. Along the left-hand side of the screen is a column with the first option to do just that. Clipchamp offers you the ability to upload from your device plus a ton of other cloud-based systems like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Zoom. Once you've uploaded your media, you'll find it under Your Media in the same column.

Editing and Workflow in the Timeline

I think the best way to explain how to edit in Clipchamp is by explaining the workflow. That's just because the process is the same for all media, whether it's text, audio, video, or an image. Once you bring your media onto the timeline, you can click on it, and along the top of the page will be your editing options for the selection.

editing options in the timeline — Editing Options

Note: These all work by either clicking on a preview or using a slider.

For images and video, you can edit the layout (picture in picture) and transform your image by flipping, rotating, and adjusting the opacity. You can also choose a filter, adjust your colour, create a fade in/out, and play with the clip's speed.

For audio, you can adjust the overall volume and create a fade in or fade out.

Selecting Your Aspect Ratio

On the right-hand side of the screen, you can pick from a number of aspect ratios that best suit your project. I think this might be my favourite option based on how clean and helpful the preview is. You can toggle back and forth from the options, and Clipchamp will automatically make the adjustment so that you can see the change in real time.