Introduction to CapCut Desktop
CapCut Desktop is a versatile video editing software developed by Bytedance, the company behind TikTok. It is designed to provide users with powerful editing tools to create stunning videos. There are over 200 million users across the world and their desktop version provides pro-level video features in an accessible format for beginners. This guide will walk you through the basics of getting started with CapCut Desktop and help you unleash your creativity.
Getting Started with CapCut Desktop
Here's the links to check system requirements - If you have a computer that is more than $400 that you purchased in the last 8 years, it should work.
Installation
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Download CapCut Desktop: Visit the official CapCut website or app store on your computer and download the CapCut Desktop application.
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Install: Run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions to install CapCut on your computer.
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Launch CapCut: Once installed, launch the application. You may need to sign in or create an account if prompted.
How to Use the Interface
CapCut Desktop has a user-friendly interface that makes video editing accessible to everyone. Here's an overview of the main elements:
Welcome Screen
When you first launch CapCut Desktop, you're greeted with a welcoming screen. Here, you can choose to start a new project. It's straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to get started.
Timeline
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The timeline is the backbone of the CapCut interface. It's where you assemble your video by adding clips, audio tracks, and effects. The timeline is intuitively designed, allowing for easy drag-and-drop of elements and straightforward trimming and splitting of clips.
Import Window and Media Library
To get your footage into the project, you need to either drag it in or click the import button and select the assets you want to include in your project.
Once you have your assets in here, it is your media library. This well-organized library allows you to drag your media onto the timeline easily. You can right-click (or ctrl+click on Mac) to add footage to a folder which is a good idea when working with more than 10 assets.
Preview Window
Once you select footage, you can see it in the preview window. Mine is sideways because I filmed it on a cinema camera in a vertical orientation.
This is where you can view your video as you edit it will intuitively switch based on whatever you have selected or to whatever the playhead is on in the timeline. The playback controls beneath the preview window are simple to use, providing play, pause, and scrubbing functionalities to review your work. Before you develop habits that slow you down, you're better off using the keyboard shortcuts-
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Space - Play/Pause
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J - Reverse
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K - Pause
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L - Play/Forward
Toolbars and Menus
Once you drag footage in your timeline, the tools start becoming more useful.
Across the top and sides of the interface, you’ll find various toolbars and menus. CapCut comes loaded with media, library, fonts, stickers, effects, transitions, filters, and pro features. Think of your timeline as your saucepan. This panel here is your spice rack. Yo
When you have a piece of footage selected, the panel on the right shows what controls you have over that selected footage.
There are also a few timeline tools that you can use at the top of the timeline. I could explain what each of these do, but it's better for you to just use the ctrl/cmd+Z button and to try to figure these out yourself.
Personally, I only use the last one as it helps with editing long-form audio and the rest I do with keyboard shortcuts.
I'm going to change the aspect ratio of my video and rotate my footage for the next bit.
Color Grading and Adjustment Tools
I shoot my footage on a cinema camera so I've got more room to make everything look better with my end footage. I may start by applying a LUT and then tweaking the settings to make the footage "pop".
If you notice that your computer struggles to play footage on your timeline and it is slowing down the creative process, you can take a load off your machine by adding an adjustment layer above your timeline, adding the effects to the adjustment layer, and switching it off while you are not doing color-related aspects of your project.
Anything under your adjustment layer will be 'adjusted'
Audio Controls
With your footage selected in the timeline, you can do some global adjustments of your audio.
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Volume - changes the volume 🤷🏽♂️
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Fade in/Out will taper the volume at either end of the clip. It's a good idea to do this when you are working with multiple clips and make it as short as possible.
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Loudness normalization will get your audio to the right level to match multiple clips. Definitely check this.
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Enhance voice is a great for clips where you are talking.
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Noise reduction is great for removing room tones, A/Cs, fans, fridges and more.
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Vocal isolation is great to remove background sound as well.
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Channels - if the sound you want to use is from the left or right side you can designate that in Channels.
You don't have to do too much here if you start off with really good audio from the beginning. You may be stuck with the sounds of your environment, but knowing what it takes to make your audio sound great in a space you constantly will save you time in post.
Export and Share
Once your project is complete, the export and share options are readily accessible.
CapCut will export your project files into a folder named after your project title.
Don't worry too much about these settings. Personally what I like to choose is
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4k (yes, even if your project is 1080p)
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Higher or 40,000 Kbps (CBR if it's a talking head video, VBR if it's a lot of locations)
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Codec - H.264
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Format - MP4 (MOV is fine for Mac Users)
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Framerate - project frame rate (I keep my settings at 25fps because it's the best of both worlds)
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Audio Format - AAC
Customizable Layout
You can customize your layout in CapCut by dragging and dropping your windows or clicking the icon at the top next to shortcut.
The only use case I appreciate this in is when I have a dual screen setup. Since there are only 4 panels at any given time, there's not much to juggle around.
Shortcuts and Accessibility
This is a gamechanger for everyone, even if you're only editing 1 video. Go to the shortcuts tab and map the keyboard shortcuts to make it easy for you to do the things you do most on CapCut. These are the keyboard shortcuts I use most often.
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Split
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Zoom in/Zoom out
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Delete Left/Delete Right
Map these keys so you can remember and reach them and you'll be editing like a pro in no time
Basic Editing
The best way to start your first CapCut project is with footage you shot in one day. Throw all the footage into the timeline in the order you want it in and just get straight into editing it.
Here are some basic editing functions:
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Trimming: To cut or trim a video clip, select it in the timeline, and then drag the edges to the desired duration.
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Splitting: Place the playhead where you want to split a clip and click the "Split" button on the toolbar.
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Adding Transitions: Drag and drop transitions between video clips on the timeline to create smooth transitions.
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Adding Text: Click the "Text" button in the toolbar to add text overlays to your video.
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Adding Filters: Use the "Filter" button to apply filters and color correction to your clips.
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Adding Music: Drag audio files from the Media Library to the timeline to add background music.
Advanced Editing
CapCut Desktop also offers advanced editing features:
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Keyframes: Create smooth animations by adding keyframes to properties like position, scale, and opacity. After you've made one key frame can right click/ctrl+click a clip and show the keyframe animation graph for a clip to have better easing
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Green Screen: Remove background using the chroma key feature for creative effects.
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Speed Control: Adjust the speed of your video clips for slow-motion or fast-motion effects.
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Layering: Overlay multiple video and audio tracks for complex editing. Create a compound clip to keep your timeline clean.
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Masking: Apply masks to hide or reveal specific parts of a video.
Conclusion
CapCut Desktop is an incredible software piece that makes it easy to do a lot. It's the perfect tool for web-based content for about 95% of use cases. If you want to grow on YouTube or TikTok or Instagram, understanding the features mentioned in this article will make your content more engaging and professional. Try to make each video a little bit better and by the time you're on your 10th video, you'll feel like a pro.
Let us know in the comments if you have any specific features you wish to know more about in CapCut.
