Clipchamp, edit videos easily and quickly in Windows

With the arrival of Clipchamp for Windows, Microsoft’s operating system once again has a video editor that hopes to win the heart of the average user and try to reach a professional level. In it we can find all kinds of basic video editing tools , along with the possibility of making screen and webcam recordings. It is worth mentioning that this is not a new application, but that, since the company acquired the platform, they have been polishing it to incorporate it into their most recent operating system.

Beyond the simple features of the old Movie Maker, Clipchamp is a modern video editor designed for all types of users, since we can even find tools similar to those of the popular Premiere Pro. And it is that it presents us with a wide library of templates, filters and transitions that will allow us to quickly edit, modify and transform our videos, giving them a more professional look, although it is surely far from being one of the best options on the market.

Once we have created our videos we can share them on social networks and other online transmission services. Likewise, a text-to-speech generator with Azure technology has been included with which it is possible to create voice-overs in more than 70 languages. In addition, its integration with OneDrive should be highlighted, which will allow us to quickly import and save files and videos in our cloud storage.

However, far from what might be expected, this new video editor is not completely free, but rather has a free but limited version and price plans so high that they may put more than one user off.

All its features

Next, we are going to see all the features and functions that this new Microsoft program incorporates with which we can record and edit videos without complications.

• Video editing at a basic level : with this program we will be able to cut, cut and divide parts of a video in a simple way since they are accessible with a single click.
• Edit from the timeline : it offers us the possibility of adjusting the details of the video that we are editing, giving the sensation that we are dealing with a state-of-the-art professional editor.
• Video Recording – Either full screen or a specific region of it along with system audio.
• Recording from the webcam : ideal for making tutorials or for content creators, since it adds a small popup in the corner of the screen to record us.
• Text to speech : it has a tool to generate text to speech powered by Azure, being able to generate speech in more than 70 languages.
• Video templates : includes a wide range of video templates that we can access from its main interface. Once selected we can continue with the creation of the video. These templates have a watermark in their free version.
• Archive library : the application has an extensive library in which we can find thousands of free videos, audio tracks, etc.
• Integration with OneDrive: through this function it allows us to quickly import files from the cloud, as well as save videos securely.
• Stock Audio and SFX: the program offers the possibility of adding free audio tracks to our videos.
• BrandKit: This function allows us to maintain and manage our brand assets, in case we have a business, although it is only available in its paid versions.

On paper, Clipchamp has a set of features that promise to be interesting if we are able to take full advantage of them, although to do so, we may have to checkout and pay more than expected.

How to use Clipchamp to record and edit videos

Once we run the application, a main menu appears with a white background from where we can access different sections of basic options to be able to start from a template or start a recording from the camera, the screen or screen and camera.

Connect Microsoft and Clipchamp accounts

Since Clipchamp is now a Microsoft company, it will soon be mandatory to sign in with a Microsoft account, to create a more seamless experience alongside other Microsoft offerings like OneDrive. To connect both accounts we must Connect now , which we find at the top within a banner with a blue background.

On the next screen our profile appears where we can enter our name and surname, as well as change the email address if we wish. Then click on the Connect Microsoft account button.

This will cause a floating window to appear where they will ask us for permission to access our information, so that they maintain access to the data to which they have been granted access, being able to see our basic profile and see the email address. Click on Yes to confirm.

create a video

To start creating a video from scratch, just press the Create a video button that we find at the top of the screen.

This will take us to a new screen where the editor is located with your timeline and your basic tools in a sidebar on the left. Here, we find options to access the stock of images and videos, templates, music and sound effects, as well as the option to Record and create. At the bottom by clicking on the “More” button, we have access to other tools such as text, graphics, transitions and brand kit. In each of these options we will find both free elements and others that are only available in their payment plans.

When inserting the video , just drag and drop it on your timeline or if we prefer, click on the button with a plus symbol inside a white circle that we find in its upper left part. This opens a floating window that when you click on explore files, it will open a Windows Explorer window to select the video. It also offers the possibility to connect with cloud services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Zoom, Boox, Google Photos or add from the mobile phone.

Once the video is uploaded, simply add it to the timeline to start working with it. In the timeline just below the video we have the option to add audio , while above the video we have the option to add text . We also see some tools to split the video, delete, duplicate or undo any action performed.

At the top we see a preview of the video where we can check any changes we are making. And right at the top, we find a series of toolbars like Arrangement, Transform, Filters, Adjust Colors, Fade, Speed, and Audio. In this way we can make the changes we consider appropriate to it, checking at any time from the preview panel how any changes we make are instantly translated.

Export the final result

Once we have finished with the tasks of creating and editing the video, it is time to export the final result. To do this, simply click on the Export button that we find in the upper right. This will make it display a menu where it will inform us that our video will be exported as an MP4 file and if we have the free version we can only choose 480p as quality, which the program itself qualifies for drafts.

In case we subscribe to one of its paid versions, we can obtain access to the recommended 720p quality for social networks and 1080p for video streaming and presentations. Also, we can export it as a GIF file of about 15 seconds.

Once we select the desired video quality, a new screen will appear where the final result will begin to load, indicating its duration and size. Simply click on Save on your computer to be able to download it to your hard drive. It also allows us to create a link to the video to be able to share it by messaging. In addition, we can save to Google Drive, upload to Y-Tube, send to Tik-Tok, save to OneDrive, save to Dropbox, pin on Pinterest, Save to Box and share on LinkedIn.

Start with a recording

In the same way that we can create and edit our video, we can also choose to start a recording, an option that we can access directly from the bottom of the main menu board. We can choose to record only the screen and also include the webcam.

This will take us back to your editor where we will see four available options on the left:

• Screen and camera: as its name suggests, this function allows us to record both the camera and the screen simultaneously. We simply have to configure both the microphone and the camera before clicking on its record button.
• Camera recording : allows us to make a camera recording
• Screen recording: we can record only what happens on the screen of our computer.
• Text to speech : we can create a multimedia file where to save a text to speech file. We simply have to choose the language, the voice of the speaker and the speed of the voice (slow, medium, fast). Now we only have to write the text, and once finished click on Save multimedia.

Screen recordings, in the free version, are limited to a maximum of 30 minutes per video . Once we have finished, we can choose to repeat the recording or save and edit the video.

Download Clipchamp and Price Plans

Windows 10 and Windows 11 users can now download Clipchamp for free from Microsoft’s own app store . Its size is certainly small, just 1.8 MB download, so it is done quickly in a matter of seconds. Not in vain, we are really dealing with a web application and not as a UWP application .

If we want to use it without paying, we will have its free plan available , which despite the fact that it does not incorporate a watermark (unless we use templates) it does have limited functions . It is possible to make a screen recording for 30 minutes and export videos, but at a quality of only 480p in MP4 format, far from other options on the market. Along with this, we can make use of editing tools and functions such as templates, transitions, and animated text.

Clipchamp has the following pricing plans:

• Basic : it is free and allows you to export video in 480p quality.
• Creator : allows you to export videos in 720p quality, unlimited cloud storage and unlimited audio stock. Its price is 9 dollars per month , through monthly payment or 6 dollars per month with annual pricing (72 dollars per year).
• Business – This plan adds 1080p video exports and branding kit to apply preferred colors, fonts, and graphics to the Creator plan features. It is priced at $19/month , or $13/month with annual billing ($156/year).
• Business Platinum : the most complete plan adds to the features of the Business version, unlimited video and image stock. It is priced at $39/month or $27/month with annual billing ($324).

As we can see, the prices offered by the new Microsoft video editing tool are quite high as a subscription. Beyond the limitations of the free version that only serve to test it, it stands out in a negative way as the first payment plan only offers 720p quality for export, having to resort to the Business to reach 1080p. It is still striking that for the 324 dollars a year for its top version it does not allow export to 4K.

Is it worth paying to use Clipchamp?

Clipchamp is Microsoft’s big bet to provide its operating system with a video editor that wants to be professional for all its users, however, we can say that, for now, it has been left halfway. And it is that Clipchamp is a decent web-based video editing tool for an average user, with interesting features and functions, accompanied by an attractive interface.

However, it has a very important problem, and that is that its prices are not, far from it, well structured . Both for its quality and for the set of options that make it up, it is an absurdly expensive tool, since its features are far from the best professional options in the sector. In addition, sometimes the application shows unexpected crashes when moving through the menus of its interface, which indicates a certain lack of optimization.

Who in their right mind is going to pay $19 a month to export videos at 1080p? It is something so ridiculous that it can even be offensive . Who will pay $9 a month to export videos at 720p? It’s hard to believe, but imagine that Microsoft will be convinced of it and that we will be naive enough to pay for features that were previously free from the Photos application.

Perhaps its future will go through its integration into the Microsoft 365 office suite . It would be a good way to move forward, given the basics of the service and how expensive the application is right now and the number of tools that we can choose from, not only paid, but also much more recommended free.

Alternatives to edit video

If we need to use a video editor and we don’t want to pay the abusive prices of the new Microsoft tool, we can use free applications with better features than Clipchamp, like the ones we can see below.

Shotcut

This free video editor has little to envy to more professional options. It is compatible with a multitude of audio, video and even image formats. It offers the possibility of mixing fragments between files, speeding up or slowing down playback speed, as well as a wide variety of tools and compatibility options. And it is that we can correct details such as white balance, add filters and effects. In addition, it allows the export of videos in all formats in Full HD quality and up to 60 fps. We can download Shotcut for free from its website.

open shot

This free editor will allow us to modify our files with resolutions of up to 5K, being compatible with a wide range of video, audio and image formats. Among its functions we can cut files, introduce effects, transitions, 3D animations, as well as add subtitles and animated titles. In addition, we can export the final result as an output file or create a DVD or Blu-Ray, being able to select the final resolution. We can download it from their website .

DaVinci Resolve

It is a non-linear video editing program aimed at expert users, with which it is possible to correct color, edit, finish and distribute, all from the same application. It has features like smart marquee, adding custom effects, titles, and transitions, as well as more basic tasks like copying, cutting, trimming, etc. In addition, it has two time lines to make the most of our productivity. It has a basic version that we can download for free from its official website .