Creating engaging video content often requires precise editing to ensure only the best fragments make the final cut. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, VSDC Free Video Editor offers a user-friendly platform to accomplish this task and numbers of others and does not require the latest hardware allowing for creating quality content without experiencing lag or crashes and not compromising on functionality. In this article, we'll walk you through three different methods to cut out specific fragments of a video using VSDC Free Video Editor.

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Method 1: Cut out Fragment Tool

This method allows you to delete a part of the file directly in the timeline area.

1. Launch VSDC Free Video Editor. Click on the Blank project icon on the start screen to create your own project. Adjust project’s settings in the pop-up window (if necessary) and click Finish. Then choose a file in the file explorer, drag it to the scene and drop the mouse button. If it's your first time opening VSDC, we recommend you to watch our quick start guide to familiarize yourself with the editor.
2. First, set the Work area. The Work area is located on the timeline just above your footage and consists of two gray rectangles. To set it, put the mouse cursor on the right rectangle and, once the cursor becomes a bidirectional arrow, move it to the right holding the left mouse button down. When the end of the fragment is achieved, release the mouse button. Do the same with the left rectangle to mark the beginning of the fragment to be deleted. For this purpose, you can also use the corresponding buttons on the Timeline toolbar. In addition, by pressing the mouse button, you can move the area left and right along the footage. This area will correspond to the unwanted fragment you want to cut out.
3. Once the Work area is set, click the Cut out fragment button which looks like scissors.There are several ways to reach it:
   • Go to the Editor tab. The tool you need is located just above the scene in the Tools section;
   • The same tool is also conveniently located on the Timeline toolbar;
   • You may also use the hotkey combination Ctrl + Del.
   Before applying this tool, make sure you have selected the file you want to cut on the timeline or on the scene. This is highly important; otherwise the effect will be disabled.
4. When you click directly on the icon or use the hotkey, the Cut out fragment option is used by default. Apart from that, other cutting options are available in the dropdown menu. Here’s what you can apply:
   • Cut out fragment. This option cuts out the selected area and splits the file into parts afterwards. The cut out part will be indicated by a red marker. If you need to recover the deleted frames, move a splitted part of your footage to another timeline layer by pressing the mouse and dragging it downwards. Then hold the Shift key, grab the marker of the footage layer on the timeline, and drag it outwards.
   • Cut out content. This option cuts out the selected area without splitting the file. The cut out part will be indicated by a dark-red marker. To recover the removed part, simply double-click on the marker. Cut out content option doesn’t provide a hotkey, but you can set it to your convenience in a way described in our video guide How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts.
   This menu also provides additional options to trim your footage with Trim start/end (the hotkey combinations are Ctrl + Shift + [ / Ctrl + Shift + ] respectively). They simply cut the beginning or end of the video without changing the file’s placement on the timeline or removing blank space and do not refer to the Work area. To do the trimming, place the playhead on the timeline where you want to trim part and select the Trim start/end option. To restore the trimmed frames, press the Shift key and drag the edge of the footage outwards.

5. Once you've cut out all the unwanted fragments, click on the Export project tab at the top of the screen. Choose the output format for your video. VSDC supports a wide range of video formats such as AVI, DVD, VCD/SVCD, MPEG, MP4, M4V, MOV, 3GP/3G2, WMV, MKV, RM/RMVB, FLV, SWF, AMV, MTV, WebM and more. Then adjust the settings for the output video (if necessary), and click on the Export Project button.

It’s also possible to cut out parts of several videos at once. Select them all with a left mouse button and choose the option you need.

Method 2: Cutting by Using Cutting and Splitting Window

1. Start with creating a new project as described above. Then you need to reach the Cutting and Splitting window. It can be done in one of the following ways:
   • The Cutting and Splitting option is located in the Tools section above the scene on the Editor tab. Click on it for the corresponding window to appear;
   • Select your video file on the timeline and navigate to the Properties window on the right of the scene. Then click on the green Cutting and splitting button;
   • Right-click on the video file on the timeline. Then select the Cutting and splitting option from the list.

2. In the Cutting and splitting window you'll observe a timeline. To select a fragment, put the blue playhead to the beginning of the fragment you want to delete. When the mouse cursor becomes a bidirectional arrow, hold the left mouse button down to stretch the area of deleting. Once the end of the unnecessary fragment is highlighted, release the mouse button. You can always adjust the boundaries of this fragment moving the red lines to the left or to the right.
3. Click the Cut region button to delete the selected fragment. The same way you can delete all the unnecessary segments of the video. You can also restore the deleted fragment by clicking the Restore region button or using the Remove Area of Deleting/Remove All Areas of Deleting buttons on the Cut Areas tab next to the preview window.
4. Hit the Apply changes button for all the editing operations to take effect.

On the main timeline you’ll notice that the piece has been removed from the footage, and you’ll see dark-red markers indicating the cut out parts. You can double-click on it to restore the deleted part or open the Cutting and splitting window and restore the part from there.

Method 3: Cutting on the Export Stage

Sometimes you may need to cut out a fragment, save the video file on your PC and continue working with the file unchanged. In this case, we recommend to do the following:

1. After you add a video file to the scene and perform all the editing you were planning to, go to the Export project tab on the ribbon command bar and find the Set markers button in the Video conversion section above the video preview.
2. Then Cutting and splitting window will appear. Cut out the unwanted fragment as described in Method 2 and confirm. All changes will be applied to the resulting file after the conversion.
3. Then adjust the settings of the output file in the tab below (if necessary) and click the Export project button on the ribbon command bar. As a result, you’ll get a video without unwanted fragments saved to your PC and the initial video for you to continue editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I set a marker with frame-accurate precision when cutting a fragment?

To set a marker with frame-accurate precision, first zoom in on the timeline as much as possible using the "+" icon located on the left side of the panel above it. Then, switch the time display format to frame mode (hh:mm:ss.frame) in the Options (upper right corner) >> Editor Options >> Timeline time format. It will allow you to move the cursor forward or backward exactly one frame at a time using the arrow keys (→ and ←) and place the marker at the exact desired position.

2. How do you cut a fragment out of the middle without creating two separate files?

It's very simple! Use the work area on the timeline: there are two gray sliders under the second ruler for this purpose. By spreading them apart, you create a gray segment. Position them so that this segment exactly covers the part of the video you want to remove. Then, make sure your clip is selected on the timeline, click the arrow next to the "Cut out fragment" option (the scissors icon above the timeline) and choose "Cut out content" from the dropdown menu. The fragment of the selected video on the timeline that falls within this range will be removed, and the remaining parts will automatically join together. The main advantage of this method is that the video is not split into two separate objects, but instead immediately merges back into one whole piece.

3. Is it possible to delete multiple fragments at once?

Certainly. To do this, select the video on the timeline from which you need to remove fragments and open the “Cutting and splitting” tool. Place the cursor at the beginning of the fragment to be deleted and click “Start selection”. Then, move the timeline cursor to the end of the fragment and click “End selection”. The fragment to be removed will be highlighted and you simply need to click “Cut region”.
Repeat this for all the fragments you need to delete, and don’t forget to click “Apply changes” when you finish working in the tool.

4. How to cut out the same time segment from multiple videos at once?

In this case, you will also need the work area. First, arrange all video clips sequentially on different layers of the timeline, making sure that their main content does not overlap and that the fragments to be removed are placed one after another. Then, using the work area sliders, precisely highlight the time range on the timeline that needs to be removed from all objects. After that, click on the "Cut out fragment" tool (the scissors icon above the timeline). All fragments within the highlighted area on all layers will be cut out in one action. If necessary, you can immediately shift the remaining parts to eliminate the resulting gaps and obtain a continuous sequence of clips.

Wrapping Up

Cutting out fragments of a video in VSDC Free Video Editor is a convenient process that can greatly enhance the quality of your video content. By following the steps outlined above, you can tailor your videos to include only the best footage, thereby improving the viewer’s experience. With practice, these steps will become second nature, and you'll be able to perform them quickly and efficiently, taking your video projects to the next level.

Finally, cutting tools come closely together with splitting options. To learn how to deal with them, we advise you to take a glimpse at our tutorial on splitting or watch a video guide providing you with a brief outlook on both cutting and splitting tools. To learn more editing tricks for creating amazing video projects, subscribe to our YouTube channel and feel free to message us on Facebook. And if you have questions, our support team is here for you at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Here are 3 more tutorials you may be interested in:

• How to crop borders of a video
• How to add text to your video
• How to create a picture-in-picture video effect in a couple of seconds

Once you have finished the work on your project, you will need to save it in one of standard file formats. Open the “Export project” tab on the ribbon command bar to choose one of the available formats and configure necessary parameters.

Here you can choose a device on which you plan to play the video, and a format supported by the chosen device.

Click the arrow specified on the image above to see the whole list of supported devices.

After you have chosen a video format, you need to choose a profile which sets the quality of resulting video. Click the arrow next to the Profile field and select one of the available profiles from the drop-down list.

You can configure your own profile by clicking the "Edit profile…" button and setting properties of video and audio codecs. Use the “Apply profile” button to save changes.

You can also indicate the path to the resulting video on your computer.

Finally, click the “Convert files” button to start the exporting process.

After the conversion is completed, you’ll get a video file of the chosen format and you’ll be able to save it on CD or DVD. Open the “Tools” tab and click the “Disc burner” button. A new window will be open allowing you to burn data to a compact-disc, make multisession discs, edit their content and make DVD video (for this purpose you need to export your video in DVD format).

Searching for an intuitive method to split your video seamlessly? VSDC's advanced split tool is here to assist. This option allows you to apply effects to particular fragments of your video, restructure them, cut out unwanted footage together with the Cut out fragment tool, export fragments of your video separately in any format you like (since VSDC provides various options) and tailor the perfect clip.

Depending on your goals, the task of splitting can be performed differently. Do you need extra high precision because you’re trying to catch a particular moment on the footage? Are you planning to export the fragments as separate files? Or are you splitting the footage to just apply different effects to its parts? In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to split a video for any purpose using VSDC Free Editor. Continue reading to master the art of video and audio splitting with VSDC!

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Method 1: Split a video file into 2 parts in one click

Here is the simplest way that will suit you if you aren’t looking for high precision.

1. To begin, launch VSDC Free Video Editor and create a new project. VSDC provides different options of how to do this. For example, you can use the Import content icon on the start screen when you launch the program. This is an optimal way because VSDC will automatically detect all the parameters of your video and adjust the project parameters accordingly. So, click on the Import content icon, choose a file on your PC and adjust parameters in the pop up window appearing automatically (if necessary). Once ready, hit Finish. If you are new to VSDC and want to learn more about how to get started, we advise you to watch our comprehensive video guide.
2. Select the file you want to split by clicking on it either on the timeline or on the scene. This is highly important; otherwise the effect will be disabled.
3. Place the playhead to the point on the timeline where the first fragment should end, and the second should begin. Then click the Split into parts razor-like looking button. There are several ways to find it:
   • Go to the Editor tab. The tool you need is located just above the scene in the Tools section;
   • The same tool is also conveniently located just above the timeline;
   • You may also use the hotkey combination Ctrl + K.

After that you’ll instantly see how your video file turns into two separate fragments placed one after another on the timeline.

Method 2: Splitting by Using Cutting and Splitting Window

1. Start with creating a new project as described above. Then you need to reach the Cutting and Splitting window. It can be done in one of the following ways:
   • The Cutting and Splitting option is located in the Tools section above the scene on the Editor tab. Click on it for the corresponding window to appear.
   • Select your video file on the timeline and navigate to the Properties window on the right of the scene. Then click on the green Cutting and splitting button.
   • Right-click on the video file on the timeline. Then select the Cutting and splitting option from the list.

   

2. In the Cutting and splitting window you'll observe a timeline. Click to the point on the timeline where you need to split fragments and use the Add marker button. This way you can set as many markers as you need at the points where you want the file to be split.
3. Select Apply changes when ready.

On the main timeline you will notice separate fragments placed one after another divided by red markers.

Method 3: Splitting by Segmentation Markers

Sometimes you may need to split a video into multiple parts after all the effects have been applied to the entire file to get separate video clips. In this case, we recommend using segmentation markers right before exporting.

1. After you add a video file to the scene and perform all the editing you were planning to, you need to set segmentation markers. To apply segmentation markers, place the playhead where you want to split the project on the timeline. Then click on the Create maker icon located just above the timeline to set a mark where the project should be splitted while exporting.

2. In the pop-up window select Segmentation marker in the Marker type field and click OK to confirm.
3. Go to the Export project tab on the ribbon command bar, find the Additional settings tab (bottom menu) and check the Split file(s) By markers box.
4. Then adjust the settings of the output file in the same tab (if necessary) and click the Export project button on the ribbon command bar. As a result, you’ll get as many video fragments saved to your PC as you’ve created using markers.

The way this method works is also briefly presented in our Youtube video (section “Segmentation markers”)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between the "Split into parts" tool and the "Cutting and splitting" tool? Which method is better?

The choice of tool depends on the task you need to perform. "Split into parts" is designed for quickly and easily dividing an object into two parts at the point where the cursor is placed on the timeline. If you need to cut a video into three or more parts or remove several unwanted fragments at once, then use the "Cutting and splitting" tool.

2. What to do if I made a mistake and cut the wrong fragment?

Use the Undo button (the green arrow icon located at the top of the interface). Click it until you return to the desired editing stage.

3. Is it possible to cut multiple fragments from one video?

Yes, this can be easily done using the "Cutting and splitting" tool:
- Select the desired video file on the timeline.
- Open the "Cutting and splitting" tool located on the top panel.
- Place the cursor at the beginning of the fragment you want to remove and click "Start selection".
- Move the cursor to the end of this fragment and click "End selection". The area will be highlighted.
- To delete the selected fragment, click "Cut region".
Repeat this for all fragments that need to be cut out. Once editing is complete, press "Apply changes".

4. How to save a project to return to editing later?

To save your project, go to the "Projects" tab and select "Save project" or "Save as project...". We recommend choosing the second option, as it allows you to specify the desired folder and assign a name to the project. The file will be saved with the .vproj extension.

Tip: A standard project save only remembers the location of the source files. If you move or rename media files on your computer, the program may not be able to find them. To save the project with all its files, use the "Pack Project" option.

Wrapping Up

That’s it! Now you have an idea of how to split a video in VSDC Free Video Editor. With employing the video splitter, you are free to enrich your content and make it catching and professional-like. VSDC offers smooth transitions ensuring flawless movement between frames, numerous visual effects, options for creating dynamic animations, injecting voice-overs, thrilling sound filters and even synchronizing video effects with the beat of your audio. To learn more editing tricks for creating amazing video projects, subscribe to our YouTube channel and feel free to message us on Facebook. And if you have questions, our support team is here for you at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Here are 3 more tutorials you may be interested in:

• How to crop borders of a video
• How to add text to your video
• How to create a picture-in-picture video effect in a couple of seconds

Add an image or video to the scene.

To add an effect you should double click the image on the timeline. A new tab with object name will appear.

Now open the “Editor” tab on the ribbon command bar and click the “Video effects” (or “Audio effects”) button to see the list of the available effects.

Let’s choose as an example a blur effect "Filters->Blur". A new window is open allowing you to set the object position in time. You can chose the point where the effect should start, its duration and dynamics depending on the parent object duration. The selected effect will appear on the timeline.

The effect will be immediately applied to the image.

You can configure other effect parameters in the properties window. Click the effect on the timeline and open the “Properties window” tab at the right of the scene area. For the Blur effect, the available parameters are the following: blur intensity, original and final blur levels which enable to make effect of stepless object blur or increasing of stepless contrasting effect.