Cut a video before sharing it
Published · Updated 2 min read
Cutting a video is for keeping only the right passage: removing an introduction that is too long, keeping an answer in an interview, extracting a moment to share. The tool asks for a start and a length, two simple pieces of information that are not written the same way.
What the tool asks for
You need to give the start of the extract in hours, minutes, seconds format (HH:MM:SS), and the length you want in seconds. The tool does not ask for an end time. With a 20-second video, a start at 00:00:05 and a length of 6 give an extract of exactly 6 seconds, from the fifth to the eleventh second.
What becomes of the file
The extract is not simply cut out: it is re-encoded in H.264 for the picture and in AAC for the sound, two formats read by every device. That explains why the weight and the bitrate change. On a 6-second extract taken from a 14.7 MB video, you get a file of about 1.8 MB, with a video bitrate going from about 6 to 2.4 Mb/s. The result is lighter and a little less detailed than the source, which suits sharing, less so an edit where you want to keep the full quality.
Getting several extracts
Each run of the tool produces a single extract. To get several, run the tool again with another start. If the requested length goes past the end of the video, the extract stops at the end: with a start at 00:00:15 and a length of 10 seconds on a 20-second video, the extract lasts 5 seconds. A start typed without colons, such as 5, is understood as 5 seconds.
What it is used for
Removing a long introduction, keeping an answer in an interview, extracting a moment to share in a messaging app, or preparing a short extract before turning it into a GIF.
Check the result
- Watch the first and the last second of the extract.
- Compare its length with the one you wanted.
- Keep the original video, which stays intact.
To lighten the resulting file further, see Lighten a video before sending it.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you give the start of the extract?
- In hours, minutes, seconds format, for example 00:00:05, and the length in seconds. The tool does not ask for an end time.
- Why is the resulting file lighter?
- The extract is re-encoded in H.264 and AAC, two formats read by every device. The weight drops, with a little less detail than the original.
- Can you get several extracts from the same video?
- Yes, by running the tool again with another start for each extract.
- What happens if the length goes past the end of the video?
- The extract stops at the end of the video.