Trimming keeps one section of a video and drops the rest: the bit of a meeting recording where the decision was made, the goal from a full match, the useful minute of a long screen recording.
Does trimming reduce quality?
No. The trim copies the original video and audio streams directly into the new file, without decoding and encoding them again. The clip is bit-for-bit the same quality as the source, and trimming is fast even for long videos, because nothing is re-encoded.
Why does my clip start slightly earlier than I asked?
Video is compressed in groups of frames that depend on a keyframe at the start of each group. Without re-encoding, a cut can only begin cleanly at a keyframe. The trim therefore starts at the nearest keyframe, which can be up to a few seconds before the time you entered, depending on how the video was recorded. Phone recordings tend to have keyframes close together, so the difference is usually small. If you need frame-exact cuts, use a video editor.
How do I enter the times?
Enter the start and the length in seconds; decimals such as 12.5 work. To start at 1 minute 35, enter 95. A start of 95 and a length of 30 keeps the thirty seconds from 1:35 to 2:05. The default is the first 10 seconds.
Where are my files processed?
Trimming runs on our server. Your video is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed in Germany and deleted automatically within two hours.
Is it free?
Up to a point. Video is a heavy tool, so the free tier includes 3 videos per day without an account and 5 with a free account, up to 50 MB each. Pro takes files up to 500 MB with no daily cap; a credit covers a single big job. Because trimming does not re-encode, it is also the quickest way to cut a file down under an upload limit. For cutting the same intro off a whole series of recordings, the pipeline builder applies one trim to every file in a folder; you can try it on up to 3 files for free.
How to trim a video
- Drop your video onto the drop zone.
- Enter the start time in seconds.
- Enter how many seconds the clip should last.
- Click Trim and download the clip.
FAQ
Can I cut out several sections at once?
One section per run. Trim each part separately.
Can I remove a section from the middle?
Trim the part before it and the part after it separately. Joining them needs a video editor.
Why is the first second frozen or black in some players?
The clip starts at a keyframe before your chosen time, and some players handle that start differently. Trimming a second later usually helps.
What formats can I trim?
MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP and MPEG. The clip keeps the original format.