Guide to Trim Video using VLC and Its Best Alternative

Is there anything VLC Media Player cannot do? Not only can it play your music and movies, but can also cut and trim video in VLC. We'll teach you how to cut your videos using this handy tool. The process is so simple and familiar that it's almost like playing videos on VLC. However, you should know that VLC has limitations, which makes sense because it wasn't built for video editing. So, we'll give you bonus tips on overcoming its limitations and trimming your videos like a professional in seconds. Let's get started.

Part 1: How to Cut and Trim Video using VLC Media Player

Beginners are often intimidated by the complicated features and unfamiliar user interface of a full-fledged video editor. That's not the case with VLC. Almost all of us have used VLC, or at least a similar media player, at some point in our lives. So, you'll take to video editing with VLC like a duck takes to water. Check out the tutorial below:

Step 1: Enable Video Editing Tools

Open the video to be edited in VLC Media Player >> Click "View" >> Click "Advanced Controls"

A new toolbar with a red button appears above the playback control options at the bottom of the VLC window.

Step 2: Cut Video

Play the video or move the playback slider to the starting point of your cut >> Hit the "Record" (Red) button >> Continue playing the video >> When you reach the end point of your cut, hit the "Record" (Red) button again to stop recording

Step 3: Locate Video

On Windows, the VLC cut videos are stored in the "Videos" folder.

On Mac, the cut videos are automatically stored in the Movies folder.

Part 2: The Benefits and Drawbacks of VLC Trim Video

Now that you know how to trim videos using VLC, let's take a step back and determine whether it's the right one for you. Here are VLC's strengths and drawbacks:

Pros

Free and open-source

VLC is not only free but will be free forever. It's open-source and continues to upgrade itself with new features based on community feedback

High familiarity and ease of use

Using VLC Media Player for video editing is like using any other media player for playback. Even the buttons for cutting video are similar. There's absolutely no learning curve, and you can edit your first video in seconds. It's that easy.

Quite a few Editing Options

Although VLC is not designed for video editing, that doesn't mean it lacks editing options. Crop, cut, convert, sync sound, grade color, screen record, screengrabs - it has all the basic editing tools you need to get the job done.

Cons

No Advanced Editing Options

Well, obviously. Editing options are merely sprinkled on top of what is essentially a really powerful media player. VLC is good for basic cut, split, and other small editing jobs. If you need advanced features, VLC is not the right fit.

Suitable for Short Clips Only

While you can move the playback slider to the starting point of the video cut before the editing begins, you cannot move it to the cut's endpoint. Once you begin the recording, you must wait for the playback to reach the cut endpoint. When cutting a 30-minute clip, that means waiting 30 minutes.

Mistakes Cost Dearly in Time

You cannot correct cutting errors mid-record. Mistakes during recording mean starting afresh.

No Multi-segment Editing

Once you cut a video segment from a video, you need to close the VLC window and re-open the original file to cut another segment from the same video. This is not only frustrating but also time-consuming.

As you can infer from the pros and cons, VLC Media Player is best suited for editing short clips from a few seconds to a few minutes in length. Editing longer videos with VLC can be a frustrating experience.

Part 3: Best Alternative to VLC Cut and Trim Videos

While VLC Media Player offers basic video trimming features, it lacks advanced editing capabilities. HitPaw Univd emerges as a powerful alternative, providing an easy-to-use video editor with a wide range of tools. This software allows users to cut, trim, merge, and customize videos effortlessly. With intuitive controls and support for various formats, it offers much more flexibility and precision than VLC for video editing tasks, making it an ideal choice for anyone looking to enhance their video content.

Guide on How to Cut Videos with HitPaw Editor

If you thought cutting videos with VLC was easy, you would be in for a treat with HitPaw Univd. Here's how easy it is to cut videos using HitPaw Editor:

Step 1: Import Video

Launch HitPaw Univd. Navigate to "Editor" tab >> Click "Cut" >> Drag and drop the video into the box.

Step 2: Cut Video

Preview the imported video and decide the start and end points of the cut >> Drag the playhead to the starting point of the cut >> Click the "Scissors" icon to split the video. Repeat the process at the endpoint of the cut.

Step 3: Finalize

Check out the list of clips on the right. These are the cut and split clips from your original video. Delete the clips you don't need. Then, check the "Merge into one file" box to merge all the remaining clips >> Click "Confirm".

Step 4: Export

On the main interface, preview the edited video and click "Export" or "Export All".

FAQs about Trim Video with VLC

Q1. Does VLC have a trim function?

A1. Yes. VLC Media Player does have a basic trim function, but it's somewhat limited compared to dedicated video editing software. You'll have to enable "Advanced Controls" from the "View" section to access it. However, this method doesn't allow for precise trimming, and VLC cannot export the video directly without recording, making it less efficient for more detailed or professional editing.

Q2. Can I cut a video with VLC?

A2. Yes, you can. VLC is a handy and easy tool for cutting short clips. For cutting videos longer than a handful of minutes, VLC is not the right choice.

Conclusion

VLC Media Player is a versatile tool that can play almost anything. Now, you know how you can use it to cut your short clips too. Since it's not a full-fledged video editor, it's not suitable for editing long videos. For that, you can rely on HitPaw Univd. HitPaw is loaded with features, incredibly easy to use, and fast. You can even perform multi-segment editing on it. In fact, you'll find a variety of AI-powered features on HitPaw that you won't find on VLC or most other video editors. Download the HitPaw Univd today!

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