Top 5 Short-Form Video Editors to Jumpstart Your Creativity

Why are short-form videos more popular

Short-form videos have recently gained popularity with an increase in digital consumption. Whether it is for their quick viewing or highly engaging nature, short videos are ideal to enhance your viewer engagement since they are found on digital platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. If you're wondering why these videos are so popular, here are some reasons:

• Higher engagement

Short-form videos, in the form of reels or YouTube shorts, are more engaging since they can be consumed quickly. By using features like comments, likes, shares, challenges, etc., the chances of creating engaging content are greater when compared to longer videos.

• Ability to go viral

Social media algorithms generally recommend these videos as they are consumed and shared more often. Because of this, they have the potential to go viral and interact with a broader audience.

• Diverse content

Short videos are enjoyed more because they can cover different types of topics in a user-friendly format. From dances, comedy skits, and tutorials to vlogs and stories, their content is spread across diverse creative genres.

• Trends

People from all over the globe prefer shorter videos since they provide the quickest way to learn about new trends in fashion, design, memes, and content creation.

5 Best short-form video editors on PC to quickstart your video editing

If you're looking for the best tool for seamless video editing of short-form clips, here's a list of the top 5 video editors that are ideal for creating stunning short videos that ensure greater engagement with your content. Keep reading and pick the one that fulfills your needs.

CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor is an all-in-one video editing software program through which you can generate aesthetic videos to make your online profile stand out. CapCut offers two easy methods to help you create short-form videos. The first is the "Long video to shorts" feature, which you can find on the CapCut PC homepage. The second one includes regular editing tools, such as trimming, cropping, splitting scenes, and transcript-based editing. To learn more about CapCut PC, download it today and create gorgeous content!

Key features

• Long video to shorts

The "long video to shorts" is the perfect feature to split your video into shorter clips in just a few clicks. Simply import the video to CapCut's interface, and after adjusting the timeframe of each clip, click on "Get shorts". Through this feature, you can easily pick the clip that you wish to upload to your social media profile and edit it accordingly using CapCut's editing features.

• Script to video easily

CapCut comes with a powerful AI engine that allows you to create catchy videos by generating scripts through the "Script to video" feature. All you need to do is add your own script or command AI to generate one for you for automatic video generation. In this way, creating stunning videos to engage with your audience will become a fun and easy experience for you.

• Auto reframe

CapCut offers a powerful video resizer that allows you to change the ratio of your video frame. Simply upload the video into CapCut's interface and select the aspect ratio(such as 9:15, 3:2) that works best for you.

• Split scenes with one click

CapCut comes with an advanced split scene feature that intelligently identifies various clips in your videos and allows you to split and edit them separately. You can then rearrange the clips and add transitions while enhancing the storytelling of your video.

• A ton of professional video editing features

CapCut offers several video editing features for smooth streaming. These include editing features such as trimming, cutting, mirroring, etc., and advanced editing features like keyframes, split scenes, masking, and transcript-based editing.

• A rich collection of media resources

CapCut has a vast media library of rich media resources that you can use to create catchy content. Its large media library includes video templates, stock music, sound effects, transitions, filters, animations, etc.

• Quick video sharing

You can instantly share your short videos on multiple social media platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. CapCut also allows you to download your content onto your device and then upload it wherever you want.

Simple steps for video editing short-form clips on the CapCut desktop video editor

By downloading the CapCut desktop editor, you can easily transform your long videos into short clips. Click on the link below to download and install CapCut:

Using CapCut's long video to shorts

CapCut's "Long video to short" tool uses AI to automatically detect highlights and split longer videos into short, engaging segments. It helps you select the best parts based on scene changes, facial expressions, or dialogue. You can further adjust the clip length, style, and aspect ratio for different platforms like TikTok or YouTube Shorts.

Follow the steps below to learn how to use this feature:

STEP 1
1. Access the "Long video to shorts"

Launch CapCut on your PC. On the main dashboard, locate and click on the "Long video to shorts" feature. This will take you to the tool's workspace to begin editing your content.

STEP 2
1. Upload your videos

To upload your video, simply drag and drop it into the editor. You also have the option to add it from Dropbox, Google Drive, or Space. As soon as your video is uploaded, it will appear on the screen, ready for conversion.

STEP 3
1. Convert long videos into shorts

Choose from the available caption templates to match your video style. Set the length for each short segment. Once you are satisfied with the settings, click "Convert" to start processing the video into shorts.

CapCut will automatically generate short clips with captions and relevant hashtags based on your content. You can preview the output. Use the "Edit" button if you need to make any further adjustments. Otherwise, move on to export.

STEP 4
1. Export and share

If you want to post your creation directly, use the "TikTok" or "YouTube" buttons. For other platforms or file-saving needs, click "Export". You'll have the option to adjust key settings like resolution, frame rate, video codec, and file format before saving.

Using CapCut's "Script to video" tool

If you want to quickly create short clips that turn written ideas into engaging videos, CapCut's "Script to video" feature simplifies the process with the help of artificial intelligence.

STEP 1
1. Access the "Script to video" tool

Launch CapCut and select the "Script to video" feature from the homepage. This opens the AI script generator.

Pick a video category that matches your project, like a product ad, vlog, or tutorial, and provide a brief description of your topic. Choose the duration and click "Generate", and CapCut will create three different script options for you. Review the results and either edit your chosen script or click "Regenerate" to get new ones. Once you're happy with the final version, you can choose a voice and instantly click "Smart generation">"Generate video" to start creating your video based on the script.

STEP 2
1. Edit the video

Edit the automatically generated video by changing clips, adjusting text, adding music, transitions, and AI voiceovers to better fit your brand or style.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Once editing is complete, click "Export” to export your video in your preferred resolution and share it directly on your social platforms or save it for later use.

Using CapCut's regular editing tools

The second method allows you to create clips using simple timeline-based editing features like trimming, splitting, and cropping. You can also reorganize the split clips or remove any unwanted ones. CapCut also allows you to perform transcript-based editing and increase the playback speed of the video to make it shorter through the speed curve feature.

STEP 1
1. Import video

To import media from your device, click on "Menu" and select "File" from the drop-down list. Hit "Import" and choose the file to upload. This function allows you to add media from your device to CapCut. Alternatively, if you want to add stock videos to your project, click on "Library".

STEP 2
1. Edit video

As soon as you have uploaded your video, drag it to the editing timeline to edit your longer video and change it into shorts. To trim your video, drag the edges of the video and bring them to determine the start and end of your short clip.

Moreover, you can also drag the Playhead to the point from where you want to split the video. Click on the split icon on the timeline bar or press Ctrl+B.

If you are struggling to keep the highlights while splitting the video, try CapCut's "Split scene" feature. Simply right-click the video on the timeline, and select "Split scene." Your video will be split into different clips in seconds.

After creating different shorts, you can resize the video either by clicking on the resize icon in the toolbar or by adjusting the ratio depending on the framerate you want to achieve. To generate vertical videos for TikTok or Instagram reels, select the ratio 9:15 onwards. For horizontal videos, go from 15:19 onwards.

Alternatively, you can freeze, rotate, mirror, or reverse it by hitting the specific icon on the editing toolbar. If you wish to add voiceovers to your video, click on the voiceover icon and record audio for your short clip.

You can also make your video shorter by removing unnecessary silences, pauses, repeats and filler words. Click the "Remove filler words" icon as illustrated below.

The transcript will appear on the left panel. Now, you can remove filler words or any other words that don't go well with your video. Moreover, by searching for a keyword in the transcript, you can highlight and add it to your video. Simply, click on "Text template," and get multiple text template options to make your video engaging for your viewers.

STEP 3
1. Export and share

Finally, click on "Export" and save your video to your device. You can also adjust the resolution, bit rate, codec, and format of your video.

CapCut desktop video editor is a professional video editor with several free premium editing tools. You can access its more advanced features through its paid version. However, if you wish to explore other video editors, they are listed below.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express is an all-in-one AI editor that lets you edit images, designs, and videos. You can make your online content, YouTube shorts, Instagram reels or stories, and TikTok videos stunning and creative with the help of this editing tool. It allows you to cut, crop, trim, or adjust the speed of your longer video to make it shorter.

Key features

• Adobe Express comes with built-in features to split, trim, rotate, flip, and make perspective corrections to adjust the orientation of your short videos.
• You can enhance your video through filters, color correction, and effects to make it more appealing.
• You can also remove any background noise from your video to enhance its quality.
• It allows you to adjust the speed of your video by increasing it or slowing it down, depending on your preferences.

Canva

Canva is an online graphic designing tool that provides several free features, creating short videos being one of them. You can easily do this by trimming and splitting your longer video or changing the duration of the video. Canva's user-friendly interface makes it one of the most commonly used editors to generate engaging content for your profile.

Key features

• It offers a video background remover through which you can remove the background and add one from its vast library.
• You can resize the ratio of your video and adjust the frame.
• Canva provides basic editing features like enhancing video quality, adding text and animation, trimming, cropping, or flipping the video.
• It allows you to adjust the opacity of your videos to make them more appealing.

Animoto

It is a free video editor that you can use to easily create, edit, and share your videos on multiple social media platforms. You can add images and smaller video clips to your content to make it more engaging for your audience. To change a longer video into short-form clips, you can crop, trim, and cut your video without much effort.

Key features

• Animoto allows you to trim your videos into shorter clips by adjusting the length of each clip.
• It supports the creation of high-quality videos of 720 pixels.
• It allows you to customize your video by adjusting the color, ratio, fonts, and music.
• It provides a vast media library of rich video templates that allow you to effortlessly create stunning short videos.

Filmora

Filmora is an AI-based video editing software offering you features to edit and personalize your videos easily. After downloading it on your PC, you can adjust the speed and duration while changing your long video into stunning short-form clips. It also offers features that enable you to customize your video by adding text, filters, and music to your video.

Key features

• It offers several AI features, such as text-based editing, music generation, auto-reframe, etc.
• You can use its compound clip feature to merge and edit different clips.
• Its vast video resources allow you to use gorgeous video templates to create aesthetic content.
• You can also adjust the speed of your video to make it shorter with the help of Filmora.

Bonus tip: Create AI videos for your phone with the CapCut mobile app

The CapCut mobile app lets you create short, stylish videos on the go using AI-powered tools. Its AutoCut feature smartly combines your best moments by analyzing visuals and sounds. You can easily merge clips, sync them to music, and apply templates with just a few taps. It’s perfect for quickly making reels, stories, or short videos from your phone.

How to edit YouTube videos with the CapCut mobile app

Follow the steps below to quickly edit your Shorts using the "Auto Cut" tool in the CapCut mobile app.

STEP 1
1. Access the auto cut tool

Launch the CapCut app on your phone and sign in. On the main screen, tap "Auto Cut" to begin your editing project.

STEP 2
1. Upload video clips

Pick the videos or photos you want to use from your phone gallery. Once selected, tap "Next" at the bottom to move forward.

STEP 3
1. Edit the video

Tap "Allow" to let CapCut instantly create a video using ready-made styles. You can change the music and try different looks. If you prefer, you can also trim clips, add filters, and make other adjustments manually.

STEP 4
1. Export and share

When you are done, tap the "Export" button at the top-right. Save the video to your phone or post it straight to TikTok, Instagram, or other platforms.

Key features

Here are some of the standout features of the CapCut mobile app:

• Smart clip merging for faster edits

CapCut automatically detects and joins related clips, helping you create a smooth sequence with minimal manual effort.

• AI templates to match your style

Choose from intelligent templates that adapt to your content type, giving your videos a personalised and stylish finish quickly.

• Built-in music syncing tools

The app matches music beats to your video cuts in real time, making your edits feel natural and perfectly timed to the soundtrack.

• Cinematic effects and transitions

Add drama and polish with high-quality transitions and visual effects designed to give your mobile videos a film-like touch.

• Streamlined export and share options

Export your videos in different formats and resolutions, then instantly share them to social platforms like TikTok or Instagram.

Conclusion

The era of long videos is gone, and it's time to embrace the engagement that short clips bring to your profile. To master the skill of such fine video editing, first, you need to find the best video editor. It is quite understandable that video editing can get overwhelming if you are unsure where to locate the best video editor. So, to make your search easy, we have discussed the 5 best short-form video editors that will polish the quality of your content and bring you higher engagement. For quick desktop editing, try CapCut's Long video to shorts feature, and if you want to edit video using your phone, use the AutoCut tool in the CapCut mobile app.

FAQs

1
1. What is the best short-form video editor?

You can find countless video editors online, but the ones that are best known for their user-friendly features for creating short-form videos are CapCut desktop video editor, Adobe Express, Canva, Animoto, and Filmora. Among these, the CapCut desktop video editor has a unique place since it ensures seamless and error-free video production. Simply click on the "long video to shorts" feature in CapCut and upload your video. After determining the duration of each clip, hit "get shorts" and convert your long video into stunning short-form clips. Download and install CapCut today to learn more about this rich feature. For mobile users, the AutoCut tool in the CapCut app offers an instant way to turn clips into stylish short videos with music and templates.

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1. Can I add music when making a video edit short-form commercial?

Yes, absolutely! You can add music to your short-form commercials through the CapCut desktop video editor. To perform this function, click on "Audio" after uploading your video into CapCut's interface. From there, select "Music" and choose the music that suits the video best. Finally, drag the music file into the editing timeline and enhance your video commercial. Alternatively, if you want to add audio from an external file, press "Extract audio" and upload the audio file into the video. To understand this feature better, download and install the CapCut desktop video editor now. For effortless music syncing and smart edits from your phone, the CapCut mobile app is a worth exploring.

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1. How to create short-form video content for YouTube shorts, TikTok, and Reels?

To create short-form video content for YouTube shorts, TikTok videos, and Reels, upload your media into the CapCut desktop editor. You can generate short clips by using simple editing features like cropping, trimming, and splitting. Another way is to select the "long video to shorts" feature and upload your video. After adjusting the duration of each clip, press "Get shorts" at the bottom of the interface. In this way, you'll be able to create quick short-form videos with just a few clicks. You can also modify the framerate of your video to be shared across different platforms. All you need to do now is download the CapCut desktop video editor and enjoy the easy process of creating short-form videos. For creators who prefer mobile editing, the CapCut mobile app's AutoCut tool simplifies short-form content creation with just a few taps.