How to Trim and Cut Video with FFMPEG

The video editing applications may be extremely useful, allowing you to trim videos while on the move using your phone or tablet. Whether you're a professional video editor, YouTuber, or simply want to edit personal videos to publish on social media, this might be a highly convenient and cost-effective solution.

And after spending countless hours experimenting with the finest video editing apps, we can promise you that many of them are often easier to use than desktop software due to their simplified interfaces and fewer capabilities. While it does imply that they have some limits, it also means that they are ideal for short tweaks or for novices and casual users who don't want to spend a lot of time learning more complicated applications. Therefore, we will introduce you a great video editing software to trim video, which is called FFmpeg.

Part 1: What is FFmpeg?

FFmpeg is an abbreviation for Fast Forward Moving Picture Experts Group. It is a free and open-source software project that provides a variety of video and audio processing features. It's intended to be operated via a command-line interface, and it includes a plethora of libraries and tools for manipulating and handling video files. One of the reasons FFMPEG is so popular is that it includes codecs for encoding and/or decoding most audio and video file formats, allowing it to be used for transcoding many types of media files into a single standard format.

Part 2: How to Use FFMPEG to Cut Video

2.1 How to Use FFMPEG to Cut Video by Time

It is quite simple to use FFmpeg to cut video. The video clip can be shortened once the start and end points are determined. To trim a video, FFmpeg provides relatively easy command-line options. Please follow the steps about how to cut video with FFmpeg below.

You must enter the following command:

FFmpeg I input.mp4 –ss 00:01:50 –to 00:03:16 –c copy output.mp4

-i: It is an abbreviation for the input video file. Here's the input.mp4 file that goes with it.
input.mp4: This is the name of the input video file, which you can call and name however you choose.
-ss: This specifies the beginning of the section to be trimmed.
This concrete point (start time) can be found in the input file at 00:01:40.
-to: You wish to cut the end of the section.
00:03:16: This particular point (finish time) can be found in the input file.
-c copy: This option means cutting video by stream copy, which is quick and does not require re-encoding.
output.mp4: This is the name of your output file, which you can customize.

Note: "-t" can also be seen in what someone else displays. It refers to the length of the part to be trimmed, rather than the end time.

2.2 Using FFmpeg To Cut Video By Time Without Re-Encoding

Using FFmpeg to trim video without re-encoding, you can utilize the "Copy and Input seeking" option. It's worth noting that when you use the search function, you'll notice a frame jump. As a result, it may not precisely terminate inside the time limit that you previously desired. It will locate the nearest "i-frame" to begin the copy process. Use the command line shown below.

FFmpeg -ss 00:00:02 - i inputVideo.mp4 -to 00:00:05 -c : v copy -c : a copy trim_ipseek_copy.mp4

You just told FFmpeg to trim 3 seconds from the second second and end the session at the fifth second of the video "inputVideo.mp4".

Part 3. FFmpeg Alternative to Trim Video Losslessly - TunesKit Video Cutter

TunesKit Video Cutter is an all-in-one HD video trimming solution that can cut HD videos into short segments and convert the video clips to other popular formats such as MP4, MPEG, AVI, FLV, M4R, and others.

Aside from being a simple video cutter, it can also be used as a smart video joiner, joining many clips from the same source into a single file while retaining 100% of the original quality.

The best feature of this editor is how easy it is to use. All you need to do is follow the procedures outlined below to learn how to cut video.

Key Features of TunesKit Video Cutter

• Merge video clips from the same source
• Cut and trim Videos with no quality loss
• Clear interface and easy to operate
• Convert video clips to multiple formats such as MP4, MPEG, AVI and others.

Try It Free 600,000+ Downloads

Try It Free 600,000+ Downloads

How to Trim Video

Step 1 Import Video Files in TunesKit Video Cutter

When TunesKit Video Cutter is launched, click "Open" or drag the media file into the cutter. It can only upload one video at a time.

Step 2 Choose the Segment to be Trimmed

As soon as the video file is imported, it begins to play in the preview. Then you have two options for determining the length of the segment you want to cut. The simplest method is to choose the segment using the slider bar. The other, more exact option is to manually set the start and end times.

Step 3 Trim and Edit Video

TunesKit Video Cutter includes a video editor that allows you to edit video clips before cutting them. To alter the video, click the "edit" symbol in each segment. The editing platform allows you to trim, change the aspect ratio, and brightness, and add watermarks, subtitles, and other effects to your movie. Then click OK.

Step 4 Select an Output Format

You can select the output format and device by clicking "Format". Lots of output types and mobile devices are currently supported. Just click on the format you want and tap OK.

Step 5 Save Video File

Finally, click the "Start" button, and TunesKit Video Cutter will begin exporting the video into the destination folder. After that, you can open the target folder to check the trimmed video.

Part 4. Conclusion

Although it is feasible to let FFmpeg trim video, it is tough for new users to understand and handle this program individually. As a result, finding a more viable option is critical. That is why we have Tuneskit Video Cutter, which is easier to use and produces excellent results.