- FilmCraft live blends video editing into one workspace: timeline, color, audio, and export.
- Five core workspaces (Editing, Assembly, Color, Effects, Audio) cover the full post-production path.
- Native codec support includes H.264, HEVC, ProRes, VP9, AAC, and Opus for import and export.
- Premiere-style shortcuts plus Final Cut Pro and Avid layouts ease migration for professionals.
- Free and open source, cross-platform on macOS, Windows, and Linux, built in Rust.
How FilmCraft Blends the Editing Pipeline
FilmCraft is a free open-source professional non-linear video editor built in Rust by the ArtCraft team. Instead of splitting cutting, color, audio, and delivery into separate applications, FilmCraft live blends video editing into connected workspaces within a single project, so media flows from import to export without round-tripping between tools.
| Workspace | Purpose | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Timeline cutting, trimming, clip arrangement | Core story assembly |
| Assembly | Media organization and sequence setup | Bins, source review, sequence creation |
| Color | Color correction and look development | Curves, wheels, LUTs, consistency passes |
| Effects | Visual effects and layered compositing | GPU compositing, transitions, titles |
| Audio | Track editing, levels, and mixing | Dialogue, music, and sound balance |
Because all five workspaces share one project model, an edit change in the timeline immediately reflects in color, audio, and export previews. This removes the export-import loops common in fragmented post workflows.
Feature Groups That Power the Blend
Multitrack Timeline
- Multiple video and audio tracks
- Clip sync and layering
- Insert/overwrite style edits
Color Grading
- Curves and color wheels
- LUT and Log-style workflows
- Scopes for visual consistency
Effects & Compositing
- Keyframes and transitions
- Layered compositing
- GPU-assisted processing
Audio Processing
- Multitrack mixing
- Fades and level control
- Waveform-aware editing
Captions & Subtitles
- Caption creation tools
- Subtitle workflows
- Accessibility text support
AI Agent Control
- Task-oriented interaction
- Assisted operations
- Workflow automation support
FilmCraft's source is public on GitHub under open licenses, so power users can inspect codec handling, report issues, and follow the roadmap. Note that the FilmCraft logo and brand assets are not covered by the code license.
Step-by-Step: Your First Live Edit
Follow this sequence to move from raw media to a finished export inside FilmCraft's blended workspace.
Import and organize media
Bring video, audio, and image assets into the project. Review clips in the media area and keep sources organized before editing.
Create a sequence and build the timeline
Create a sequence matching your source, then place clips on video and audio tracks and arrange the story order.
Trim and refine the cut
Use selection and razor tools, in/out points (I/O), and J/K/L playback to cut unwanted sections and tighten timing.
Blend in audio and finishing
Add dialogue and music on separate tracks, balance levels, then apply titles, captions, effects, and color corrections.
Export the result
Review the full sequence, choose output settings for your destination, and render the final file.
Match the project frame rate to your source footage whenever possible. Mixing frame rates in one sequence can cause judder and sync drift that no amount of finishing will fully fix.
Shortcuts and Format Reference
Efficient editing in FilmCraft leans on its keyboard system, which supports FilmCraft, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid layouts through the built-in shortcut editor.
| Category | Action | Default Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Select tool | V |
| Editing | Razor / cut tool | C |
| Editing | Undo | Ctrl/Cmd + Z |
| Timeline | Move playhead one frame | Left / Right Arrow |
| Timeline | Zoom | + / - |
| Trimming | Set in / out point | I / O |
| Playback | Play / pause | Space |
| Playback | Shuttle backward / stop / forward | J / K / L |
| Marking | Add marker | M |
| Project | Save project | Ctrl/Cmd + S |
Codec and container support shapes what you can blend into a project:
| Type | Format | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Video codec | H.264 / AVC | Broad compatibility for web and platform delivery |
| Video codec | HEVC / H.265 | Smaller files for high-resolution delivery |
| Video codec | Apple ProRes | High-quality intermediates and handoffs |
| Video codec | VP9 | Web-oriented delivery encoding |
| Audio codec | AAC / Opus | Compressed delivery audio for video |
| Container | MP4 | Web publishing and general sharing |
| Container | MOV | Professional and Apple-oriented workflows |
If you migrate from Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, switch the keyboard layout in settings first. Muscle memory transfers faster when the keys match your old editor.
Export Presets and Release Checklist
| Scenario | Resolution | Codec | Container | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube / web | 1920 x 1080 | H.264 + AAC | MP4 | Broad playback compatibility |
| Vertical social | 1080 x 1920 | H.264 + AAC | MP4 | Confirm portrait orientation |
| 4K delivery | 3840 x 2160 | H.264 or HEVC | MP4 / MOV | HEVC when size matters |
| Local master | Match project | ProRes + PCM | MOV | Large files, quality first |
Before You Export:
- Review the full sequence from start to finish
- Confirm frame rate matches the source footage
- Balance audio levels across all tracks
- Verify captions and titles render correctly
- Check destination drive space and permissions
If a clip will not import or exports fail, test with a known-good MP4 (H.264 + AAC) in a fresh project. This single check separates codec and file issues from application defects before you search the issue tracker.
FAQ
Q: How does FilmCraft live blends video editing compare to using separate tools?
FilmCraft keeps cutting, color, effects, audio, and export in one connected project across five workspaces. Changes on the timeline are reflected everywhere without exporting intermediate files between applications.
Q: Is FilmCraft free, and which platforms does it support?
FilmCraft is free and open source, with builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The project is under active development, so expect rapid changes between releases.
Q: Can I use my Premiere Pro keyboard shortcuts?
Yes. FilmCraft includes a shortcut editor with layouts for FilmCraft, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid, so you can match the key layout you already know.
Q: What export settings should I use for YouTube?
A practical baseline is 1920 x 1080, H.264 video, AAC audio, in an MP4 container, with the frame rate matched to your project. Reserve ProRes in MOV for local masters and editing handoffs.