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.

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).

Video editor enables to work with different objects, namely: "Sprite", "Duplicate", "Line", "Rectangle", "Ellipse", "Tooltip", "Image", "Sound", "Video", "Movement" and also with a large quantity of video and audio effects.

You can add these objects using the same methods which are divided into three stages: choice of object, setting up its position in time and on the scene. For more information about the first and the third stages see example of adding video and image to the scene in section "How to open video file or image for editing".  In the present section we shall explain how to set object when it is added to the scene.

When you add object to the scene or when you apply effect to object you see the following window which sets object/effect position in time:

In this window you may set time of object appearance to the scene (effect start time), duration of display (effect duration), as well as its dynamics upon change of parent object duration. Let’s review in details each parameter:

• By work area – sets time of appearance and duration as per the marked working area on timeline (duration of video and audio objects is set not according to working area duration, but in accordance with duration of video and audio material in a file).
  

  

• From cursor position - sets time of appearance starting from cursor position on timeline and automatically sets duration to the end of the scene (duration of video and audio objects is set not to the end of the scene but according to video and audio material in a file).
• To cursor position  – sets time of appearance starting from beginning of parent object (scene or sprite) to cursor position on timeline (duration of video and audio objects is set not to cursor position but according to video and audio material in a file).
• Whole parent duration - sets time of object appearance and its duration equal to parent object duration. Connection of object duration with parent object duration is also set ("Lock end position").
• From scene begin - sets time of appearance starting from parent object. Object duration is manually set (except for video and audio objects which have duration set according to duration of material).
• To scene end - sets time of object disappearance equal to time of parent object disappearance. Duration is manually set. Connection of object appearance time and its duration with parent object duration are also set ("Lock start position  and "Lock end position").
• From manual position – time of object appearance and its duration are manually set.
• To manual position – time of object disappearance and its duration are manually set.
• Lock start position  - sets connection of object appearance time with parent object duration, i.e. if parent object duration is changed object appearance time will be automatically recalculated.
• Lock end position -  sets connection of object duration with parent object duration, i.e. if parent object duration is changed object duration will be automatically recalculated.

We recommend to choose "Whole parent duration" option for filters and other effects covering the whole duration of parent object, because in this case "Lock end position" option is set and when object duration is changed, effect duration will be automatically changed.

At the same time for transition effects we recommend to choose "From scene begin" or "To scene end". In such case options "Lock start position" and "Lock end position" are set the way that when object duration is changed, duration of effect will not be changed, and effect finish time will always coincide with time of object disappearance if you choose option "To scene end".

Frequently Asked Questions

1. If VSDC automatically places objects on the timeline when I add them, why do I need additional settings for their position?

Automatic placement is convenient, but it works according to default settings, often placing an object at the beginning of the timeline or at the current cursor position. For simply joining clips, it may be enough. However, as soon as a task requires greater precision, for example, to make a title appear exactly on a musical beat, for complex graphics to start moving at a specific moment or for several elements to display an effect simultaneously, manual settings become essential for good result.

2. Are the parameters for placing an object on the timeline related to the keyframe function in VSDC?

No, these are different functions, but they complement each other. Placement settings determine when an object appears and disappears on the timeline, while keyframes control how the object changes (moves, scales, fades) while it is visible. First, you set the time segment, and then you create the animation within it.

3. What is a parent object?

It is an object to which the display time and duration time of another object are attached. When you apply transformations (movement, rotation, scale) to the parent, all its "child" objects automatically repeat these changes.
You can run an experiment: add a video to the scene, then double-click on it on the timeline. You will be taken to its internal track. Place an object there, for example, a circle shape. Now return to the main scene ("Scene 0"). Try moving or scaling the video in the preview window. You will see that the circle you added moves and scales along with it, as a single unit. In this example, the video is the parent object and the circle is the child, bound to its properties.