Attention spans are getting shorter. And so are the videos that gain massive traction on social media. Cutting down a long video to a short video can help you gather millions of views on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
But manually editing a long video can take forever. Wondershare Filmora is a solution, to instantly create short, engaging clips for social media with Filmora’s AI-driven Smart Short Clips feature.
How to Choose the Right Sections for Repurposing Long Videos
One of the most challenging parts of converting long videos is finding the right segments to highlight. People want clips that are appealing and to the point. If your video fails to resonate, it won’t drive the desired interactions.
So, how do you effectively repurpose a long video? Wondershare Filmora can make this process fast and simple with AI-based scene detection of its Smart Short Clips feature. With its content-aware algorithms, it automatically detects the most important parts of the video and deletes any distracting elements.
Pros of Turning Long Videos to Short Videos With Filmora
- Easy, One-Click Solution: Filmora highlights key moments and removes unwanted sections automatically with a single click
- Smart AI Scene Detection: AI identifies engaging moments, selecting impactful sections effortlessly for seamless short clips
- Customisable Settings: Adjust aspect ratio, duration, theme, and captions to create share-ready, tailored video clips
- Diverse Preset Templates: Choose from 50+ themed templates, with AI adapting them to match your video’s style
- Social Media Optimisation: Automatically adjusts aspect ratios (9:16, 1:1, 4:3) for YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok
How to Automatically Convert Long Videos to Short Videos with Filmora: A Step-by-Step Guide
Filmora simplifies creating multiple short clips from lengthy videos. Whether you’re editing a pre-recorded file or trimming an already published YouTube video, Filmora makes it easy and accessible to everyone. Best of all, no technical video editing skills are required, making it perfect for both professionals and hobbyists alike.
Step 1. Access Smart Short Clips
Download and install Wondershare Filmora 14. Launch it and select “Smart Short Clips” from the main screen.
You can also click “Toolbox” from the left panel. Then select “Smart Short Clips” from the various options.
Step 2. Import Your Video
A window will pop up on your screen. From here,
- Click the upload button to import your video or drag it to the interface
- Paste your YouTube video URL in the link box to upload the video
- Click the “Filmora Cloud” button and select your desired video
Step 3. Adjust Video Settings
Once you’ve imported your video, you can customise its settings. To do this,
- Click the “Language” dropdown and select the language of your video
- Select the short clip’s “Duration.” You can select from Auto, 0-30s, or 30-60s options
- Choose the “Theme” of your video, whether it’s a podcast or something about gaming, marketing, etc.
Step 4. More Advanced Customisation
Click the “Advanced” option. You can select the aspect ratio from here and enable Smart BG Generation. You can also add keywords to generate relevant animations.
Step 5. Choose a Preset Template
Move to the “Templates” section. Select the preset that matches your video. Then, click “Generate” and wait for your video to process.
Step 6. Export Your Short Clip
The AI will analyse your video and give you multiple clips, each with a specific theme. Select the one you like. You can also turn on “AI Speech enhancement” to improve the audio quality. Then, click “Export” or “Edit” as needed.
Step 7. Optimise for Social Media
A window with export options will open. Select your desired platform from here, such as YouTube, Vimeo, or TikTok. Then, choose the video’s title, description, category, resolution, etc., and click “Export.”
Additional Editing Tools to Enhance Your Short Videos
Despite the smart AI-generated results, you may wish to change something about your short clips. If so, you can select the “Edit” option to edit your videos further once the videos are generated.
Here are some powerful options to upgrade your videos.
Add or Delete the Captions
Once in the editing panel, you can select or hide the specific captions. Select the “Duration filter mode” from the Select Mode dropdown for more detailed edits.
Customise Font Style
Select the “Text” menu from the top right in the editing panel. Choose the font style you like from the various preset options. You can also select the “Basic” tab for more editing options.
Apply Filters and Effects
Click the video in the preview to open the “Video” editing options. Add a split screen, scale the video, and adjust colors and tone.
Professional Editing Tools
Select the “AI tools” tab under the “Video” menu. This will give you more advanced AI-driven editing tools, such as planner motion tracking.
Adjust Colour and Tone
Select the “Colour” menu from the editing panel. Choose from the various preset filters. You can also perfect “HSL” adjustments if needed.
Enhance the Audio
Want to enhance the video’s audio quality? Select the “Audio” tab for basic adjustments. For more advanced edits, switch to the “Voice Changer” tab.
Pro Tips for Creating Viral Short Clips for Social Media
Now that you know how to convert a long video to a short video clip, here are some tips for creating videos that gather the maximum views.
- Highlight Emotion or Action: Choose segments that are exciting, intense, or induce laughter. If tutorials or action-based videos are used, cut to the critical moment to grab attention quickly
- One Key Point per Clip: Most short clips are within 15-30 seconds. Don’t try to stuff too much information into this short duration. Focus on a single and clear idea to make the clip more digestible
- Keep it Focused: Focus on segments with clear and straightforward language. Avoid parts with off-topic discussions, as they can distract from the main idea of the clip
- Avoid Long Setups: Skip parts with lengthy explanations and go straight to the meat of the video. This way, the viewers can get the video’s message from the beginning
- Choose Call to Actions: End the clips with a segment that naturally calls to action. This could be as simple as “follow for more tips” or “like the video if you find it helpful”
- Use Click-Worthy Thumbnails: Use a catchy thumbnail that shows the most exciting part of the video. Alternatively, create custom thumbnails to increase the clip’s click-through rate
- Add Captions and Titles: Most people watch shorts on the go. Add captions and relevant titles to optimise your videos for public viewing. This can also enhance the content’s understanding and drive viewers to like or share the video
That’s all about how to convert long videos to short videos that boost your visibility on online platforms. Filmora’s Smart Short Clips feature can streamline your video editing process, whether you are a content creator or a professional video editor. It’s not just about speedy video edits but also helps highlight the most impactful moments with intelligent AI algorithms.
What’s the ideal length for short videos on popular social media platforms?
A 15 to 60-second clip is best for Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. However, keep the clips around 15 to 30 seconds for Facebook and X. It’s best to stay updated on the platform-specific guidelines as they change over time.
What is the best long video-to-short video converter?
Filmora’s Smart Short Clips tool is the best AI-driven long-to-short video converter. It automatically highlights the best moments and gives you multiple short clips in minutes. You can choose from various templates and optimise clips from different online platforms.
How can I convert a YouTube video to a short clip?
Fillmora’s Smart Short Clips feature lets you create multiple short clips directly from a YouTube URL. Then, you can customise the video’s aspect ratio, duration, and theme or choose from preset templates. You can also post directly to YouTube or create a content schedule.