The program suddenly freezes or crashes, please send us a bug report

Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and tell what email address you used so that our developers can examine it.

I get the “Settings are invalid” error message when I try to use Screen Capture or Video Capture

Please install the MPEG4 codec for your OS manually and try again. You can find the codec here.

I fail to open an existing project

Please have a look at our tutorial how to open a backup copy of a project.

I experience lagging during the preview

Sometimes a preview window may lag. Lagging is resulted from the fact that the editor is processing all changes made. It doesn’t affect the resulted video. Please, watch our tutorial how you can change the preview quality - ‘How to change preview settings in VSDC Free Video Editor’. You can preview a video on the timeline using arrow keys.

I came across ‘Can’t transmit data’ error or after accepting the key the program is still free version

Please disable your firewall, run the program as administrator and try to insert your activation key again.

I face an error trying to import a GoPro video

Please, download codec CineForm for your system and try again.

My file doesn’t seem to be supported

Please try to add a file using the ‘Import Content’ option in the main menu.

If you select a hardware accelerated profile and get an error

Please, make sure that your graphics card is powerful enough for export with hardware acceleration, it should be at least Nvidia GeForce GTX 950.

I can’t add ‘Audio abstraction' because the option is disabled.

Please, download the file - support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4019990/update-for-the-d3dcompiler-47-dll-component-on-windows.

I need instructions on how to get started

Find a lot of tutorials on our YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/FlashIntegro/videos

If you prefer text instruction, please have a look at our how-to section.

My problem wasn’t mentioned

Please, drop us a letter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Let's take one popular video effect frequently used in cinematography and music clips: placing videos side by side. As a rule, we talk about a screen divided into two even parts, where videos are played simultaneously. Usually, it's the same video played in both parts of the screen, however, you can place two different videos side by side as well. The latter is called "split screen effect" and technically it's performed the same way - we have a separate tutorial about "split screen effect" here (https://youtu.be/fS1rKoqN9-s)

Let's briefly review the idea and see how to implement it in your movie at zero cost using VSDC Video Editor.

Why would you place two videos side by side?

For many reasons! This effect has been used in movies since the middle of previous century in such classic movies as Pillow Talk (1959) and Dressed to Kill (1980). So let your imagination fly. Here is a couple of ideas to borrow. You can show something happening at the same time in different places - as it was done in "Kill Bill vol.1". You can play with "Expectations and Reality" theme, as in "500 Days of Summer". You might want to show different perspectives by placing two shootings of the same object from two angles. Or you can just combine two theme-based videos to capture the viewer's attention.

Whether it's for comparative, visual, or creative reasons, placing videos side by side is quite an easy task, even though it might look complicated. In fact, it shouldn't take you longer than several minutes. This instruction will explain how to do it in a couple of steps with VSDC Free Video Editor.

Placing two videos side by side. Tutorial

Add the first video to the timeline and drag it to fit the left part of the scene.

Halve the frame width using “Coordinates”. In this case, 1920/2=960. “Coordinates” are located in the “Properties Window” on the right of the scene.

Stretch your video if necessary. If you are using two different videos, before starting, you might want to make sure they have equal or at least similar size and quality.

If you want the same video to be placed twice on the screen, in the right click menu select “Duplicate”. In case, you want to use different videos, import the second video to the editor and place it exactly under the first one on the timeline.

Drag the duplicated ot the second video to the right until they are evenly spread on the working area, depending on your needs.

Your side by side video is ready now!

As mentioned above, apart from combining the same videos, you can also create a split screen video using two or four or any other even number of different footage pieces. It's a great solution for a promo clip or a comparison presentation.

Hopefully, you enjoy using VSDC Free Video Editor. Join us on Facebook and let us know how it helps you implement your ideas!

To download VSDC Free Video Editor, please, proceed here - www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor/download

Find more awesome tutorials on our YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/FlashIntegro/videos

Ever wanted to clone yourself in a video? In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to do it using VSDC Pro - a lightweight video editor for Windows PC.

The clone effect is quite popular among Hollywood movie makers and creative YouTubers. The key feature required for performing this trick is video masking. The problem is, most video editors with a decent masking feature will cost you an arm and a leg, while VSDC Pro is the most affordable and accessible option out there. Its entire feature set is available for just $19.99 per year, and it works even if you have 2GB of RAM on your PC.

Check out the tutorial below to see how easy it is to clone someone in a video, even if you’re not a professional editor.

Ready to replicate the effect? Before getting started, download VSDC to your PC.

Tips for shooting your first clone video

The idea behind cloning someone in a video is really simple. First, you make several shots of the same person in different positions using the same shooting angle. Then you overlap these shots using video masking. As a result, the person appears in multiple positions simultaneously.

For this illusion to work well, it’s crucial to record your footage using the same shooting angle. This means that the camera should remain in the same spot until you finish shooting. In fact, you can follow our example from the video above and record a video in one take so that you don’t even have to touch the camera.

It’s also necessary to keep some distance between the “clones” when they appear simultaneously in the video. Ideally, you want to find some kind of a space separator and keep it in mind while planning where each “clone” will be located. For our example, we used the door as a separator. Notice that when both clones appear in the video, they don’t cross that imaginary border - they stand either to the right or to the left.

If you follow these shooting tips, the montage will be fast and straightforward even if you’re a video editing newbie.

How to clone yourself in a video: step-by-step tutorial

Launch VSDC and upload your footage using the Import content button on the start screen. In our case, it’s a one-shot video, so we’ll need to cut the unwanted pieces first.

Step 1. Locate the footage on the timeline

The first step is to place the footage on the timeline correctly. We’ll be working with three pieces, but you may have as many as you want. The idea is simple: you need to overlay videos with clones on the timeline.

Notice that each subsequent piece of video containing another clone appearance should be placed one layer below and start before the previous one ends. To get a quick preview of what the result will look like when both clones appear in the video, use the Opacity control at the top.

Step 2. Separate the area with a clone

To make both clones appear in the video, you’ll need to apply an inverted mask to one of them. The easiest way to do that is to mask out the entire area with a clone in it and make it visible through another video. In our case, that’s the area to the left from the door. Remember we told you it’s convenient to have a visual separator in the video? That’s exactly where it comes in handy.

Before you start applying the mask, make a cut right where the videos first overlap because you only want to create a mask for the overlapping piece.

Once you cut out the required piece, make a double click on it. Select the Free shape tool from the menu on the left-hand side and outline the area to the left from the door.

Step 3. Apply video masking

Once you finish, paint the outlined area black and open the Blending mode menu. Select Inverted mask from the list. Then go back to the main timeline tab and for the video fragment you’ve been working on, select the option called Use layer's properties - in the Properties window on the right-hand side.

Use the preview mode to see the result. Then, move on to the second piece of footage located on the same layer. Since the area hasn’t changed, just duplicate the mask you created a minute ago using Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V. Remember to paint the free shape black, apply Inverted mask to it and then select the Use layer's properties option for the masked video.

Repeat your actions as many times as needed.

Cloning yourself in a video is easier than it seems

We recommend starting with just two clones in a video for you to get a grasp on the masking technique. Once you understand the concept of it, you’ll be able to clone yourself in a video as many times as you want.

Bonus tip. If you are absolutely not ready to shell out $19.99 for the Pro version of VSDC, you can clone yourself in a video using the free background remover available in VSDC. Record yourself in front of a green background, then remove the background using Chroma Key, cut the footage into pieces where you’re in different locations in the scene, and overlay them. This approach will take a bit more time and effort from you, but it’s a great zero-budget option.

Ready to continue learning? Check out this free frame clone effect tutorial:

Download VSDC 8.2 now

When you sit down to edit your video – even if it’s just a short vacation clip from your smartphone – we bet deep inside there is a spark of a real filmmaker ambition. And you probably want to make your video look like a film too! We absolutely get it. In fact, we hope nobody ever opens a video editing software thinking “Okay, let me just quickly throw together a few scenes without bothering if this whole movie will be a pleasure to watch”.

And while we probably aren’t authorized to advice you on the directing part, we can definitely add two cents and show you how to apply a film look to a video using simple editing techniques. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to achieve this Hollywood-style look by adding black bars, using RGB filters and Gradient.

The best part, you won’t spend much time on this, and you don’t really need experience or special knowledge – we’ll walk you through every step.

Step #1: Add black bars to a video to make it look cinematic

First, let’s see how to easily create black bars – or widescreen bars, or letterbox bars – whatever you call this “frame” instantly making any video look more cinematic as it was shot for movie theaters.

Using VSDC Free Video Editor (download it here if you haven’t done it yet), add a rectangle shape to the scene. Paint it black and stretch it to the width of the scene – you can do it manually or using the Coordinates in the Properties window on the right. You can also resize your black bar adjusting its height to your needs. Finally, place the rectangle at the bottom of the scene, right mouse click on it and Duplicate. Now you have two identical black bars – on for the top and one for the bottom.

Here is a 70-second video instruction for you to illustrate everything we’ve just talked about.

Feeling a bit more artsy already?

Step #2. Make your video look like film using color enhancement techniques

Now let’s work with color enhancement using available filters.

First, add the RGB filter to the scene. To find this filter, go to “Video effects”, select “Adjustments” and click on “Red/Green/Blue”. You’ll notice a new layer on the timeline, called RGB 1. On the right, you’ll also notice the Properties window for adjusting the color brightness levels. As you click on the arrows increasing or decreasing the number, you’ll see the immediate result in the Preview window. Keep adjusting until you’re happy with the result.

After working with the RGB filter, go back to “Video effects” – “Adjustments” – “Hue/Saturation/Value” and play with the levels as well.

Step #3 Use color gradient to make your video look like film

Finally, let’s step up your editing game and work with a more advanced tool used by professionals for achieving cinematic video look. We’ll show you how to use the Gradient tool.

The same way you added the black bars earlier, add another rectangle to the scene and set it to be the same size as the input file (Properties windows, option “Set the same size as parent has”). This rectangle will cover your entire video.

Now, open the gradient settings (illustration below). To do that, in the Properties window, scroll down to the “Brush” and use the Fill background dropdown menu. In the Gradient settings, choose “Photographic Toning” template (you can choose any other template if you like it more, this is just the example used for the tutorial) and Sepia Midtones Preset (again, this one has been used for this example). Click OK.

On the timeline, open the Blend menu and choose the blending mode called “Screen”. You’ll see that the video now has an additional layer a color gradient has been applied to. Notice that you can drag the arrow to indicate the gradient vector. If you want, you can always go back to the gradient settings and change the preset or adjust the color intensiveness to achieve the desired result.

Watch a video tutorial below if you need a more detailed illustration of everything we’ve just talked about. And feel free to message us on Facebook!

Fancy more free editing tricks to make a video look like a film and achieve cinematic effects? Check out our tutorials on creating a “Video in text” mask, applying “Blending modes”, and using the “Picture in Picture” video effect.