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Are there any lightweight linux video editors? (lemdro.id)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by Im28xwa@lemdro.id to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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All the ones that keep getting recommended have a UI like a cockpit of a Boeing 747 (kdenlive, shotcut, openshot, DaVinci resolve) which is so overwhelming, all I want is just make some cuts, blur a face, or something on the screen, and maybe add some subtitles.

I just want something simple, I am not gonna make the next Avatar movie.

I have a feeling there is nothing like this on linux but hey maybe one of you actually knows of one.

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[-] gila@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

DaVinci resolve is on a completely different level to shotcut or kdenlive. None of them are totally intuitive, but the required learning on something like Shotcut essentially boils down to understanding that pretty much everything is a video filter, or basic track operation hotkeys (e.g S to split video segment at selected frame, X to delete selected segment).

For your use cases I'd suggest taking another look at either of those and ignoring "advanced" settings wherever possible, it's really not that bad and you're unlikely to find anything on either Linux or windows that is both lightweight & does all that

[-] danielquinn@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 days ago

This might be useful: https://ffmpeg.app/

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 2 points 2 days ago

This is so cool, thanks

[-] utopiah@lemmy.ml 13 points 2 days ago

Others mentioned it but I'll insist on kdenlive.

Yes it's intimidating, so much so I initially started it, closed it and went back to ffmpeg, so the CLI.

What I was lacking wasn't a good UI or UX but rather the principle of video editing. Once you actually learn the basics :

  • cuts (each file become a track, each file can be sliced in smaller piece and re-arranged)
  • timeline (cuts next to each other or on top of each other, including audio, videos, cards, etc)
  • effects (fade in, fade out, etc)
  • project management (organizing files, designing cards for titles, etc)

then regardless of which software you use it's nearly the same.

So I would actually invest just an hour to try a tutorial, edit a 1min video, get feedback on it from friends then try again. Honestly video as a medium is not going away anytime soon, in fact arguably platform like TikTok (sadly) made it even more popular. Consequently investing a bit of time today would benefit you for decades to come.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 4 points 2 days ago

Now this was an interesting read, thanks (I will probably invest an hour or so in some video tutorials)

[-] utopiah@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 days ago

Glad to hear! I'm also no expert but if you have more specific questions, please do ask. I'd be happy to try to help.

[-] Dilligentincubus@piefed.ca 27 points 3 days ago

Kdenlive is a bit intimidating at first but if you take the time to watch a tutorial or 2 and figure out what you can remove from the standard layout it can be quite easy to use and works very well. I don't use 90% of the features but I like that they are available if I ever need them.

[-] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 days ago

I havn't done much of anything in kdenlive but I already use premier pro and I thought maybe i'd try kdenlive it can't be too different right? I'm sure it's not too bad but I was completely stuck without using any tutorials.

[-] Dilligentincubus@piefed.ca 3 points 2 days ago

I was using Davinci Resolve before and I found the transition to be quite easy.

[-] pineapple@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 day ago

I'm sure it is, I will get to actually learning it one day. Or maybe I will just continue with davanci resolve and just pirate even though it's free to avoid any privacy issues.

[-] mactan@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 days ago

everything is an ffmpeg GUI, lightest is just ffmpeg commands and mpv to test :D

[-] eugenia@lemmy.ml 26 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Ok, so, here it is: If you just want to cut stuff, without much fanfare, then these four are your best bet:

  1. LosslessCut: https://github.com/mifi/lossless-cut possibly what you're looking for for most things, download the .appimage for x86
  2. Shutter Encoder It just cuts and exports. https://www.shutterencoder.com/
  3. Video Trimmer, get it on flathub. This one is newer.
  4. https://avidemux.sourceforge.net/ (the old guard)

If you want to do a tiny bit more stuff, like subtitles and blurring, you MUST use a full video editor, like Shotcut and Kdenlive. These features aren't simple to implement so they're part of a full editing experience.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 1 points 2 days ago

i will try avidemux, thanks.

[-] lime@feddit.nu 28 points 3 days ago

ffmpeg? no ui at all there.

[-] ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago

How do you edit video without a UI?

[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 39 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) 
# CUT (fast, keyframe-aligned, no re-encode)
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -to 00:02:10 -i input.mp4 -c copy cut.mp4

# CUT (accurate, re-encode)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:30 -to 00:02:10 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac cut.mp4


# MERGE / CONCATENATE (same codecs, no re-encode)
printf "file 'a.mp4'\nfile 'b.mp4'\n" > list.txt
ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i list.txt -c copy merged.mp4


# MERGE (different formats, re-encode)
ffmpeg -i a.mp4 -i b.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:v][0:a][1:v][1:a]concat=n=2:v=1:a=1[v][a]" \
-map "[v]" -map "[a]" merged.mp4


# TRANSITION (video crossfade, keep audio from first clip)
ffmpeg -i a.mp4 -i b.mp4 -filter_complex \
"[0:v][1:v]xfade=transition=fade:duration=1:offset=4[v]" \
-map "[v]" -map 0:a transition.mp4


# ADD TEXT (overlay)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf \
"drawtext=text='Hello world':x=20:y=20:fontsize=32:fontcolor=white" \
-c:a copy text.mp4


# ADD AUDIO TRACK (replace existing audio)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i music.mp3 \
-map 0:v -map 1:a -c:v copy -shortest out.mp4


# ADD AUDIO TRACK (mix with existing audio)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i music.mp3 -filter_complex \
"[0:a][1:a]amix=inputs=2:duration=shortest[a]" \
-map 0:v -map "[a]" out.mp4


# CHANGE SPEED (2x video, drop audio)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "setpts=0.5*PTS" -an fast.mp4


# SCALE / RESIZE
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 resized.mp4


# SUBTITLES (burn in)
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf subtitles=subs.srt out.mp4

Check out the docs for more https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-doc.html

[-] ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works 16 points 3 days ago

Very interesting, but seems way more complicated than just using a UI. 😂

[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 10 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I super agree. I try to do as much as possible on Linux via GUI because I can remember where a button is, but I can't remember all the flags and parameter quirks of each command.

I just enjoy looking shit up for strangers on the internet and being a smartass ...

[-] ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works 7 points 3 days ago

I have no problem using the terminal, its very useful, but trying to edit a video like that seems like an exercise in masochism.

[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 2 points 3 days ago

for me even typing "sudo pacman -Syu" is masochism compared to just pressing the "Update" button in the gui package manager.

[-] lime@feddit.nu 5 points 3 days ago

for one video, absolutely. for fifty? it's a lifesaver.

[-] mrbn@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 days ago

Nice, I'll be adding some if these to my recipes.

[-] jpicture@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago

For jobs where you just want to make cuts check out 'Lossless Cut'. It's extremely simple and extremely fast.

[-] ZkhqrD5o@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Writing your mlt script in nano. Doesn't get lighter than this. ;)

[-] Liketearsinrain@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 days ago

This is unnecessary bloat, write a script using ffmpeg and ed.

[-] nasi_goreng@lemmy.zip 7 points 3 days ago

Do you have any reference app that has easy to use interface in your liking?

I believe even OpenShot is the most basic version of video editing. Windows Movie Maker, Clipchamp, Capcut, all are have same basic interfaces.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 1 points 2 days ago

Capcut Desktop KineMaster

[-] emotional_soup_88@programming.dev 6 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Are you not making the next Avatar movie? I came here to help because I thought... I believed... Oh, well.

[-] buckykat@hexbear.net 6 points 3 days ago

Avidemux is very simple, but maybe too simple to track an object idk. All I've used it for is basic cutting.

[-] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 3 days ago

It's good for basic things like cutting, merging and transitions. It can be used to blur something as long as it's not moving.

[-] db2@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

avidemux used to be pretty good.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 2 points 2 days ago

Hmm will take a look at it, thanks.

[-] solrize@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

For simple cutting I just use ffmpeg. It can do a few other effects too.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 1 points 2 days ago

Well I gotta find a way to save amd organize all the commands that I will need from time to time

[-] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 days ago

They appear daunting, but the simple edits you're talking about aren't very difficult to do. I've used kdenlive for simple things and it's pretty easy to learn. Your may just take a little Google for the first run through.

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 2 points 2 days ago

I will probably give up and watch a couple of tutorials for kdenlive

[-] Xolipher@lemmy.ca 3 points 3 days ago

Blender has a video editor as part of its suite. If you are not familiar with video editing software there are a lot of tutorials on YouTube to get you started. Otherwise the building blocks are there and you can build off of your previous knowledge and likely get the results you are looking for.

[-] Grizzlywer@feddit.org 2 points 2 days ago

Blender is the one software that I wouldn't consider simple at all

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 3 days ago

LosslessCut for simple cutting and concatenating

[-] Im28xwa@lemdro.id 1 points 2 days ago

Lossless cut is phenomenal for simple cutting and concatenating but unfortunately and at least for the time being it doesn't do anything beyond that that is useful for me, but well it is called lossless cut after all, so...

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 4 points 2 days ago

You did say simple...

this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2026
67 points (97.2% liked)

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