Microsoft has a large library of apps and services that are relatively unknown to the average user, and there’s a good chance that you’re already using the apps we’re going to talk about today. Clip Champ.
The Video Editing app is the default video editor in Windows 11 and is also available on the web. I recently used it to create a highlight reel for my American football team and several people asked me what I used to create the video. At first glance, it may seem like I learned how to create my own graphics, but in fact I just used Clipchamp’s templates and some basic filters to customize the look.
What is Clipchamp?
Clipchamp is a free video editor available for Windows 11 and the web. Clipchamp is a web-based video editor, so listing them separately would get a bit technical, whether you use the Microsoft app or Clipchamp online. Clipchamp also has an iOS version, but I use an Android phone so I can’t speak to how good the app is.
Compared to video editing apps like Adobe Premiere Pro or Da Vinci Resolve, Clipchamp is much more basic. It feels more like a feature-rich video editor for your smartphone or tablet, scaled up for the big screen, rather than a full-fledged competitor to professional apps. However, this is by design – Clipchamp’s aim is to make it easy to create videos, with a low learning curve.
“Create videos in just a few clicks with Clipchamp, Microsoft’s easy video editor.” Microsoft Store app description“This video maker has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for beginners to use, yet it also has advanced video editing features that let you cut, crop and resize videos, record your screen and webcam, edit green screen videos and even add AI voice-overs. With Clipchamp you can create compelling videos for social media, promotional videos, in-depth tutorials and more.”
Clipchamp is easy to use, but has a lot more to offer than you might expect. With templates, filters, effects and a multi-layered timeline, you can use the app for more complex edits too.
Clipchamp also has a library of royalty-free assets that you can use to make your video stand out. Simply add some moving graphics to make your video look even better.
I don’t pay Clip Champ PremiumSo the tools I used to create the video below are free: If you want more features, you can pay $9.99 per month to export in 4K, access premium assets, and get a few other perks.
Microsoft is not keeping Clipchamp a secret, as the headline suggests, but in reality, very few people seem to know about it. When I told friends I use Clipchamp, they told me they had no idea the app was already installed. Windows 11 computer.
Make a video with Clipchamp
After I posted the video above, several people asked me how to make videos. Graphics seem to be the biggest hit. Clipchamp has quite a few templates, but only a few for sports teams and highlights. The template I used originally had blue accents and a theme, but you could customize it with filters.
I’m not a professional video editor, but I studied broadcast journalism and have used Adobe Premiere Pro and Da Vinci Resolve for years. I would classify myself as at a “prosumer” level, meaning that with a little time and experience, most anyone could make a similar video. What I like about Clipchamp is that it has a simple enough interface that anyone can drag and drop a few clips, while still allowing experienced creators to make their own videos.
Room for improvement
I love Clipchamp, but I think a few small additions would go a long way. I’d love the option to select a specific segment of a clip to replace some of the content on the timeline. Currently, when you drag a video to replace an item on your project’s timeline, the clip you dragged will start from the beginning.
When using a template, you naturally want the best part of a clip to fit into a specific time frame, but that doesn’t necessarily match the exact length of the source video. You also want the ability to add a transition to the beginning or end of a clip that isn’t right next to another item on the timeline. In that case, I think of it as more of an effect than a transition, but I still think it’s useful.
Overall, Clipchamp has improved since coming under Microsoft’s umbrella (Microsoft acquired Clipchamp in 2021), and we’d like to see the tech giant continue to invest in the video editor.
