Recently we shared the process for installing Movie Maker on Windows 11 (which also works on Windows 10) and restoring the classic video editor that Microsoft abandoned without much explanation. However, Redmond decided to fill the gap with the acquisition of Clipchamp in September 2021, shortly before the official launch of its new operating system. What exactly does this editor offer?
TikToks, Stories, Shorts… video creation on the web has exploded. More and more users are joining the trend of sharing short clips from their mobile devices without major modifications, but in some cases the need arises to make adjustments, and along with it, the obligation to cross swords with a video editor.
At the time, Microsoft offered Movie Maker. It changed its name, then decreed its retirement, and ended up replacing it on Windows 10 with the editor in the Microsoft Photos app (which no one uses). For the launch of Windows 11, Redmond decided to alter its strategy and acquired Clipchamp in September 2021. Today, Clipchamp is part of every new Windows 11 installation, but Windows 10 users can find it in the Microsoft Store if they want to try it. And speaking of trial, what can we expect from Clipchamp? Does it have what it takes to replace Movie Maker?
Getting to Know Clipchamp, Windows 11's Video Editor
With just the first click on its icon, we notice that Clipchamp is not a completely local application, but rather a wrapper for online editing. This is compounded by the registration request... even for those users who log into Windows and the store with their Microsoft credentials. As if that were not enough, Clipchamp will ask to link both accounts if we are old users. The process is easier if there's already a Microsoft account present, but everything feels redundant.
Leaving that aside, Clipchamp seeks to compensate for its striking lack of tutorials with a set of templates (for example, 'YouTube' or 'TikTok') so new users can start creating videos without too many surprises. Another option is to start a recording, and this is where things get more interesting, since it allows us to record with the webcam, record what we do on screen, and record both at the same time, an ideal process for sharing instructions or guides. A plus worth mentioning is text-to-speech, with support for 70 languages, and an even greater number of voices.
Importing media into Clipchamp requires no more than a click on the '+' button (just below the logo), and it supports both dragging local files, uploading via cloud services (Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, etc.), and transferring files from a smartphone. If you don't want to use your own content at this stage, there's nothing stopping you from taking advantage of the stock videos, music, and sounds that Clipchamp offers for free. The timeline appears at the bottom of the interface, and the aspect ratio change has its own button in the top-right corner.
To conclude this overview, Clipchamp adopts a freemium profile: its free mode enables unlimited export of videos at a maximum resolution of 1080p (previously it was 480p, a horror), while more advanced plans start with a monthly payment of $9. In summary, Clipchamp has sufficiently up-to-date and intuitive features to replace Movie Maker, but it needs to become a more offline experience, and not insist so much on "video editing as a service."
(Editor's note: Looking for a tutorial? If English isn't a problem, Kevin Stratvert did an excellent job in his presentation)
Clipchamp in the Microsoft Store: Click here
