AI Clips & Advanced editor · Pro · Windows

Frame-by-frame video editor

VidFabs' Advanced editor is a project timeline built for precise cuts. Step through your footage one frame at a time, mark In and Out, split exactly where you want, then add transitions, text, music and layers — all rendered on your own PC.

VidFabs Advanced editor: media bin, preview, frame-accurate timeline and inspector

How to edit a video frame by frame

  1. Import and lay out clips

    Import your files into the Media Bin and drag them onto the timeline. Clips snap to each other and to the playhead.

  2. Find the exact frame

    Press , and . (or ← and →) to move one frame at a time. The timecode shows frames, so you always know where you are.

  3. Mark and split

    Set In and Out with I and O, or split the clip at the playhead. Loop the range with Shift+L to check the cut.

  4. Ripple-trim and export

    With Ripple on, trimming or deleting closes the gap automatically. When it looks right, export locally.

Zoomed-in timeline: the playhead between two clips with frame-level timecode

Keyboard shortcuts for frame-accurate editing

KeyAction
SpaceK Play / pause
,← Previous frame
.→ Next frame
HomeEnd Jump to start / end
I Mark In
O Mark Out
Shift+L Loop
Ctrl+ZCtrl+Shift+Z Undo / redo
M Add marker

After the cut

The same timeline handles the rest of the edit.

Inspector showing transition and transform settings for a selected clip
  • 12 transitions

    Fade, dissolve zoom, wipes, circle reveal, glitch, pixelate, blur and more — with adjustable duration.

  • Speed 0.25–4×

    Slow a clip right down or speed it up, clip by clip.

  • Transform & color

    Position, scale, rotation and opacity, plus brightness, saturation and hue.

  • Text, music & sound effects

    Dedicated lanes for titles, background music and SFX — each block with its own volume and fade.

  • Picture-in-picture layers

    Picture in picture, split screen or overlay, with four blend modes.

  • Effects & Preset Library

    Nine project-wide effects, plus gaming-clip presets such as Instant Replay, Slow-Mo and Freeze Kill.

Export on your own hardware

Export MP4, MOV or MKV (H.264 video, AAC audio) up to 4K at 60 fps: use the 1080p 30/60 or 720p30 presets, or set a custom size and frame rate. Pick CRF quality and an encoder: Auto (hardware when available, otherwise CPU), CPU only, or NVIDIA NVENC, AMD AMF, Intel QSV or Windows Media Foundation. If the chosen hardware encoder isn't available, the export falls back to the CPU and tells you when it finishes. You can also normalize loudness, and the dialog estimates file size before you start.

Advanced editor export dialog with format, preset, encoder and size estimate

Quick editor or Advanced editor?

Quick editor Advanced editor
Plan Free Pro
Platform Windows (macOS coming soon) Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Editing One video, up to seven stacked effects Project timeline, frame stepping, split, ripple trim, undo
Layers & audio Subtitles and text or logo watermarks Text, music, sound effects, picture-in-picture layers, transitions
Export MP4 / MKV / MOV (H.264) or WEBM (VP9) · 1080p free · 4K and H.265 with Pro MP4 / MOV / MKV · H.264 · up to 4K 60 fps (1080p 30/60, 720p30 or custom) · hardware encoding

System requirements

  • Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit
  • No dedicated GPU required; if GPU effects are unavailable you can still export with them degraded
  • A Pro plan (monthly, yearly or lifetime)

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit frame by frame for free?
The free Quick editor's player can step frame by frame to find a position, but frame-accurate cutting on a project timeline is part of the Advanced editor, which needs Pro.
Does the Advanced editor work on Mac?
Not yet. The Advanced editor runs on Windows 10/11 (64-bit). The upcoming macOS version starts with the Quick editor.
Is my footage uploaded?
No. Editing, preview and export all run on your PC; your files never leave it.
What can the Advanced editor export?
MP4, MOV or MKV with H.264 video and AAC audio, up to 4K (3840×2160) at 60 fps — use the 1080p 30/60 or 720p30 presets, or set a custom size and frame rate. H.265 is available in the Quick editor's Pro export.

Try it on your next edit

Download VidFabs free, then upgrade to Pro to unlock the Advanced editor.

Download for Windows See Pro plans
Read the full Advanced editor guide →