About the Video Trimmer

The Video Trimmer cuts a video to a start and end time you specify. It plays the selected segment through the MediaRecorder API and exports the clip as a WebM file. Trimming happens in real time, so the export takes as long as the clip length.

This tool runs entirely in your browser using the MediaRecorder and Canvas APIs. Your video never leaves your device, and the result is exported as a WebM file. Best results are in Chrome or Edge, which offer the widest codec support.

How to use the Video Trimmer

1. 1Open the Video Trimmer and select a video.
2. 2Set the start and end times in seconds.
3. 3Click Trim and download the WebM clip.

How the Video Trimmer works

For the Video Trimmer specifically, it cuts a video to a start and end time you specify. Video tools combine the MediaRecorder and Canvas APIs. A video element decodes the source file; each frame is drawn to a canvas (optionally with a CSS filter, rotation, watermark, or speed transform applied), and canvas.captureStream() feeds those frames — plus any captured audio track — to MediaRecorder, which encodes them to WebM in real time. Because encoding happens as the video plays, export time matches clip length: trimming a 30-second segment takes roughly 30 seconds to export. Most browsers cannot encode MP4 via MediaRecorder, so output is WebM; Chrome and Edge offer the widest codec support, while Firefox and Safari may be limited. True video compression requires re-encoding with a codec like H.264 or HEVC via FFmpeg, which runs server-side and is not available in a browser tab — the Video Compressor explains this limitation and points to HandBrake, a free desktop alternative, rather than pretending to compress. The Subtitle Extractor reads embedded text-based subtitle tracks and writes them as SRT with timestamps; binary subtitle streams in MKV/ASS containers cannot be decoded by the browser and need FFmpeg or MKVToolNix. The Video to GIF tool captures individual frames as PNGs at a chosen FPS and width — full animated GIF encoding needs a server-side encoder and is not performed. The Reverse tool captures every frame into memory before replaying them in reverse, which is why it works best on short clips under 30 seconds.

How this tool handles your data. This tool runs entirely in your browser using the MediaRecorder and Canvas APIs. Your video is processed locally and the result is exported as a WebM file that downloads to your device. Best results are in Chrome or Edge, which offer the widest codec support; Firefox and Safari may have limited codec support.

Supported formats & limitations. Video tools export WebM via the MediaRecorder API. Most operations run in real time, so export time matches the clip length. MP4 encoding is not reliably available in browsers. The Video Compressor is not available in-browser because true compression requires FFmpeg; that tool explains the limitation and points to a free desktop alternative.

Practical workflow. In practice, you work through a short sequence: 1. Open the Video Trimmer and select a video 2. Set the start and end times in seconds 3. Click Trim and download the WebM clip. It is well suited to cutting a clip to the relevant section; removing unwanted start or end footage; preparing a short segment for social media.

Best practice. Trim your clip before applying effects — working on a shorter segment is faster and uses less memory — and keep clips short when reversing.

Tips & common pitfalls. With the Video Trimmer in particular, cutting a clip to the relevant section. Trim your clip before applying effects — working on a shorter segment is faster and uses less memory — and keep clips short when reversing, since the reverse tool captures every frame into memory. Export time matches clip length because encoding happens in real time. Use Chrome or Edge for the widest codec support; Firefox and Safari may have limited support. For true compression, use a desktop tool like HandBrake, since browser-based re-encoding cannot meaningfully shrink most videos.

Troubleshooting

The first thing to know about the Video Trimmer: tool records the segment in real time using MediaRecorder, so export time matches the clip duration. If a tool reports a MediaRecorder error, switch to Chrome or Edge, which offer the widest codec support; Firefox and Safari may be limited. If export is slow, that is expected — encoding happens in real time, so export time matches clip length; trim first to shorten it. If the Reverse tool crashes on a long clip, keep clips under 30 seconds because it captures every frame into memory. If MP4 output is unavailable, most browsers cannot encode MP4 via MediaRecorder, so output is WebM. If subtitles are not found, the track may be a binary MKV/ASS stream the browser cannot read — use MKVToolNix. For true compression, use a desktop tool like HandBrake.

Common use cases

• Cutting a clip to the relevant section.
• Removing unwanted start or end footage.
• Preparing a short segment for social media.

Frequently asked questions

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