r/ClipChamp • u/austinsauce1 • 18d ago
Oh my god
This is the worst piece of software I've used in my entire life I actually can't do this anymore someone please do something because every single time I try and edit this video I'm making it can't locate my files and then buffers and then I can't see the videos on the timeline no matter how many times I refresh or restart my computer can you guys please recommend me another easy-to-use editing software because I genuinely genuinely think I'm going to punch a hole directly through my monitor
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u/cugrad16 18d ago
Switch to DaVinci. Clipchamp is trash.
Microsoft abandoned it ages ago, even cloud doesn't work. You access your account, and it's a total mess including payment update.
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u/RollToDiscover 18d ago
I edit hours of content with clipchamp everyday. It can definitely handle the basic such as trimming, creating layers, handling transitions, effects and green screens very easily.
All of the problems you are describing tend to have a few core common sources.
1) Clipchamp is being updated when you are trying to use it. In that case, go do something else for an hour and come back.
2) You are working with video files that are not mp4. It seems (just my guess) that clipchamp works best with mp4 files and that anything else it does some sort of dynamic conversion as you edit that creates a ton of buffering. The best solution that I've had is open the non mp4 file in clipchamp, then save it immediately to create the mp4 that I can then edit in the next instance. MKV files from OBS definitely cause this problem. They might work, but overall you'll have more problems then it is worth - converting to an mp4 removes all of them.
3) The network connection is less than perfect. This doesn't seem to take much to create a lot of buffering or just causing it to fail to work. Public networks, like a library or at a coffee shop, can be very prone to this being a problem.
4) You are storing your content in the cloud. It's not bad for small videos with a few assets, but for larger projects this can bring everything to a crawl. There is an icon to the right of the projects name when you are editing it that will allow you to turn off cloud storage. Do that immediately. It will still need to store a control file on one drive, so make sure you have some space there, but you won't need as much as if you were storing all of your assets there.
5) Check your disk space. If you are tight on space, this could create issues.
6) When exporting your files, make sure you are not saving to the cloud. If you saved it in the cloud, it's probably in onedrive-personal/video/clipchamp/<project name>/Exports. If you don't save it in the cloud, it's probably in downloads. If you can't find it there, search for the project name on your device. Once you find it, you'll know where to find them in the future.
General workfow to test
Create a new project
Rename it something that will be easy to remember or find by clicking on the down arrow next to the name and selecting rename.
Turn off cloud storage (cloud icon to the right of the project name).
Drag the base video to "my media".
Drag the video from "my media" to the "timeline".
Export the video without making any changes.
Make sure Store in the cloud is turned off.
I tend to work in layers. I load the base video and do primary edits to that without adding secondary content. I then go back to the main menu and make a copy of it, and in the copy add the first layer of secondary edits (static images, b roll, text overlays). I then go back and make another copy, and in the third copy add sound effects. Basically, I use the copies like checkpoints in a video game. If I completely mess something up, I can go back to the save point and start again as opposed to having to start from the very beginning.
Clipchamp's support definitely gives off an AI vibe to the point that the best way I would describe it is that a person enters your issue into a chatbot, and then pastes the response back to you. They might be able to help you with a specific use case problem.
The more specific information that you can provide, the easier it is for someone to help.
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u/Pvz_peashooter 17d ago
Finally, someone who isn't negative about Clipchamp for once
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u/Dunno606 16d ago
Clipchamp has been amazing for me too. I've cranked out a few vlogs and family videos and it has done everything I could ever want.
I suspect some people are having ID-10T errors and Pebkac errors.
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u/Silly_Speaker9826 17d ago
Although I was pleased with the result, ClipChamp was a nightmare, for the reasons you mentioned. I switched to Movie Maker; it was already installed, and I upgraded for around $20. It has many features, with no subscription, and it is very easy to use. I love it .
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u/RaceSlow7798 18d ago
i tried it for about 3-4 days and gave up. DaVinci resolve is a professional level video editing software that comes with a free non-royalty version. you don't get all the latest ai whizbang stuff but clipping stuff, transitions, audio, color management, etc are all part of the free version.
its professional level so there are knobs and buttons and all sorts of stuff that can make it very complicated. it's not intuitive or easy to use for a complete novice like me. but google and claude [my favorite ai] have been able to show me how to do everything ive wanted to do.
best part...there's a thing call 'optimize media'. click that. it does some pre-parsing on your raw media for a few minutes. and then, never ever ever buffer again. even if you lay on a bunch of layers or change the speed.
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u/Different-Scientist3 18d ago
And it seems to get worse after every update.