The Video Trim Editor lets you cut unwanted footage from the start or end of a clip, or split a long file into segments.
Opening the Trim Editor
Right-click a video in the Video List and choose Trim Video, or select a video and go to Tools → Trim Video.
Setting Trim Points
- The trim editor opens with the video loaded.
- Use the in-point marker (left handle on the trim timeline) to set where the clip starts.
- Use the out-point marker (right handle) to set where it ends.
- Play the preview to verify the trim.
Tip: Use the keyboard (Left/Right arrows, E for frame step) to position trim points precisely.
Smart-Cut vs Re-encode
LapInsight offers two trim modes:
| Mode | Speed | Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart-cut | Fast | Lossless | Trims at keyframe boundaries only. The actual cut may be a few frames off your exact in/out point. |
| Re-encode | Slow | Slight loss | Encodes the whole clip from scratch. Exact frame-accurate trimming but takes time. |
For most purposes, smart-cut is the right choice. Use re-encode only if the keyframe offset is unacceptable.
When a re-encode is required, the trim editor closes immediately and the job continues in the background. Progress is shown in the status bar at the bottom of the main window. You can keep using LapInsight while the re-encode runs. Double-click the status bar indicator to see all running jobs, or right-click to cancel.
Output
The trimmed clip replaces the original in the Video List (the original is kept with a .bak suffix by default, until you manually delete it).
Tip: To be safe, always keep originals until you've confirmed the trim is correct.
Joining Clips
To join multiple clips into one file, select them in the Video List (Ctrl+Click), right-click, and choose Join Selected Videos. A dialog opens showing all selected clips — drag the rows to set the join order before confirming. Join progress is shown in the dialog and completes in the foreground.