Shotcut

• Native Timeline Editing. Shotcut does not require an import process, so media files can be dragged directly onto the timeline for immediate editing. This approach preserves the original file quality and speeds up the initial workflow. Projects can mix different resolutions and frame rates within a single timeline, which prevents conversion steps and keeps editing flexible.
• Wide Format Support. Through FFmpeg integration, Shotcut reads and writes hundreds of audio and video codecs, including professional formats like ProRes and DNxHD. Image sequences, AVIF, WebP, and SVG files are also supported. The editor can export to MP4, MOV, MKV, and many other containers, making it suitable for web, broadcast, and archival purposes.
• Multitrack Timeline. The timeline allows unlimited video and audio tracks with thumbnails and waveforms visible for each clip. Users can hide, mute, or lock individual tracks to organize complex projects. Clips can be grouped, split, rejoined, and nudged frame by frame. Ripple delete and lift operations adjust the timeline automatically to prevent gaps.
• Audio Mixing and Filters. Shotcut includes audio scopes such as loudness meter, waveform, spectrum analyzer, and vector scope. Filters include equalizers, compressors, noise gates, reverb, delay, and pitch shift. Audio can be configured for stereo, mono, 5.1 surround, and Ambisonic spatial formats. VST2 and LV2 plugin support extends the built-in processing options.
• Video Compositing and Blending. Multiple video tracks can be combined using blend modes like Overlay, Screen, Multiply, Hard Light, and Difference. Each track supports opacity control and keyframed animations. Video clips can be composited with alpha channels, which enables transparent overlays, logos, and graphic elements without additional rendering steps.
• Color Correction Tools. The editor provides three-way color wheels for shadows, midtones, and highlights, along with an eyedropper tool for white balance. Filters such as Levels, Contrast, Saturation, Hue/Lightness/Saturation, and 3D LUT allow precise adjustments. HDR10 and HLG tone mapping are available for high dynamic range content, with conversion to SDR when needed.
• Video Filters and Effects. Over 100 filters are available, including Chroma Key, Blur, Sharpen, Glow, Vignette, Old Film, and Stabilize. A motion tracker filter can follow objects in the frame for attaching text or graphics. Speed ramping, reverse playback, and freeze frame functions modify clip timing. 360-degree video filters handle equirectangular projection and transformation.
• Subtitles and Text Tools. Shotcut imports SRT, VTT, ASS, and SSA subtitle formats for display and editing. Users can create new subtitles directly in the timeline, adjust timing, and export them as embedded tracks or separate files. Text filters include Rich Text and Simple Text options with custom fonts, colors, and background boxes. Text-to-speech conversion supports voiceover generation from subtitle text.
• Hardware Acceleration. Encoding and decoding can use GPU acceleration through hardware-specific APIs, which reduces processing time for H.264 and HEVC video. OpenGL-based image processing works with 16-bit floating point linear color per channel. Multi-core CPUs are utilized for parallel filtering and rendering. Multiple GPUs can be selected for dedicated processing tasks.
• Capture and Monitoring. The software records from webcams, microphones, system audio, and screens. Blackmagic Design SDI and HDMI cards provide external monitoring on broadcast monitors. Network streams using HTTP, HLS, RTMP, RTSP, and UDP protocols can be played directly. JACK transport sync enables connection with professional audio workstations.
• Batch Processing and Export. A jobs queue manages multiple encoding tasks in sequence or parallel. Batch conversion applies the same export settings to many files at once. Users can export a single frame as an image or an entire video as an image sequence. EDL export in CMX3600 format allows project exchange with other editing systems.
• Playlist and Media Management. The playlist functions as a media bin with thumbnail or detail views. Custom folders and smart bins organize assets by type, name, or date. Search filters reduce large collections to relevant items. Multi-select operations work across the playlist and timeline for moving, copying, or deleting multiple clips simultaneously.

Shotcut development began in 2011 by Dan Dennedy, who created the application using C++ and the Qt framework. The project started as a simple player for MLT XML files but evolved into a full non-linear editor. The first public release appeared in 2012 with basic timeline editing. Over subsequent years, features such as multitrack compositing, audio filters, and hardware acceleration were added through regular updates. The software is maintained by a small team of contributors, with Dennedy remaining the lead developer. Shotcut uses the MLT multimedia framework for its core engine and FFmpeg for codec support.