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evmux Knowledge Base

How to Trim a Video

This guide shows you how to trim video and audio layers to play only a specific portion of the media.

Quick Steps

  1. Select a video or audio layer in the scene
  2. Click the Trim icon in the layer toolbar
  3. Drag the start and end handles to select the portion to keep
  4. Click Done to apply

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Select the Media Layer

  1. Click on a video or audio layer in the scene
  2. The layer toolbar appears

Step 2: Open Video Trimmer

  1. Click the Trim icon (scissors) in the layer toolbar
  2. The “Video trimmer” dialog opens

Step 3: Preview the Video

The trimmer shows:

  • Video preview - Full video with playback controls
  • Timeline rail - Visual strip with frame thumbnails
  • Start/End handles - Blue draggable markers
  • Progress indicator - White vertical line showing current position

Step 4: Set Trim Points

Using Handles:

  1. Drag the left handle to set the start point
  2. Drag the right handle to set the end point
  3. The selected range shows with a blue border
  4. Unselected areas appear dimmed

Using Time Inputs:

  • Two time steppers show start and end times
  • Format: H:MM:SS.D (hours:minutes:seconds.deciseconds)
  • Use up/down arrows to adjust values
  • Click input fields and type directly
  • Arrow keys: Up/Down to change values, Left/Right to move between fields

Using the Timeline:

  • Click outside the selected range to extend it
  • Drag the entire selected range to move both points together

Step 5: Preview Your Trim

  1. Click the Play/Pause button (blue button with play icon)
  2. Video plays only within the trimmed range
  3. Playback loops back to start point automatically

Step 6: Apply or Cancel

  • Click Done to save the trim settings
  • Click Cancel to discard changes
  • Press Escape to close without saving

Time Input Controls

InputAdjustment
Hours (H)Arrow Up/Down: ±1 hour
Minutes (MM)Arrow Up/Down: ±1 minute
Seconds (SS)Arrow Up/Down: ±1 second
Deciseconds (D)Arrow Up/Down: ±0.1 second

Tips

Precise Trimming

  • Use time steppers for frame-accurate cuts
  • Hold mouse down on stepper arrows for continuous adjustment
  • The deciseconds field allows 0.1-second precision

Quick Navigation

  • Click anywhere on the timeline rail to jump to that position
  • Use the trimmed range indicator to see selected duration

Audio Files

  • Audio layers show a placeholder image instead of video frames
  • All trimming controls work identically

Troubleshooting

Can’t see video frames in timeline?

  • Wait for frames to load (spinning indicators)
  • Large videos may take longer to generate thumbnails

Trim handles won’t move?

  • Ensure you’re dragging the handles, not the timeline
  • Start handle cannot go past end handle

Changes not saved?

  • Must click Done to apply changes
  • Clicking outside or Cancel discards edits