:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/man-attaching-action-camera-to-chest-664655587-5c8c2559c9e77c0001ac184b.jpg)
New 2024 Approved Discover the Secret to Effortless Writing Top Mac Speech-to-Text Apps You Need to Try Free & No Hassle
Discover the Secret to Effortless Writing: Top Mac Speech-to-Text Apps You Need to Try [Free & No Hassle]
Do you struggle to meet deadlines for your text assignments? If you do, then you are in luck. Speech recognition technology is the best way to beat this challenge. Whether you are a student or a corporate professional, several speech-to-text apps can be used to guarantee that you meet your deadlines. For example, Mac owners can use dragon for Mac to complete typing assignments in half the time.
Below are the best speech-to-text apps on Mac you might have missed since the beginning of 2022. Some of the apps in the list are in-built into your device, while others may require you to download additional software. Regardless, all of those listed below are free to use on your Mac device. Keep reading to find out more.
Part1: Top 1 Built-in Mac Dictation Feature
Did you know your Mac device comes with a built-in speech-to-text feature? So whether you use a laptop or desktop, you can generate text from your voice through your device’s microphone. Officially known as Dictation, the app allows you to transcribe text anywhere you can type it. So, for example, you can use Apple Dictation for your messaging and word processing apps.
The feature has been available since macOS Sierra as a free built-in feature. Earlier versions of Apple Dictation relied on its voice recognition software. However, it now relies on Siri for users of macOS Catalina onwards.
Typically, the app allows you to transcribe thirty seconds and below of audio. However, you can enable Enhanced dictation for longer transcription times. According to most users, the app is suitable for getting the first draft of your assignment, which you can manually edit later.
Follow these steps to enable Apple Dictation on your Mac:
- Tap the Apple logo on the top-left toolbar of your screen and select System Preferences from the resulting menu.
- Click on the Keyboard option from the system preferences screen.
- Once there, click on the Dictation option located at the top of the menu.
- Select On to activate the app in its default mode. In addition, you can check the Use Enhanced Dictation box to enable additional functions such as offline use and text commands like bold and italics.
- Finally, select your language from the dropdown menu and choose a shortcut key.
Please note that you need to speak your punctuation loudly when using Apple Dictation. Otherwise, the app will consider them as regular words.
Part2: Top 2 Microsoft Word [Free & No Download]
Another option to consider is speech-to-text Microsoft Word Mac. The app is free to use and relies on Microsoft Azure Speech Services to transcribe text. Below are the requirements to use speech-to-text word mac.
- An external microphone for your Mac desktop, or you can use your built-in microphone for your MacBook. This is because speech-to-text on Microsoft word mac only allows input with a microphone rather than an audio file upload.
- An active Office 365 subscription. Please note you need to log in to your account for the app to function.
- Insider builds 16.32 (19120802) and above.
- An active internet connection.
Once you have everything set up, follow these steps to use speech-to-text on Word.
- Launch Microsoft Word from your desktop.
- Click on the Dictate button from the top menu of your Word document, and wait for the red dot to appear. The button features a microphone for easy identification.
- Once the dot appears, start speaking to transcribe your text. Ensure you are in a quiet environment for the best results. In addition, speak louder when transcribing punctuations.
- Click on the Dictate button to finish the transcription.
Part3: Top 3 Google docs
Google Docs is arguably the market’s most accurate free speech-to-text service. In addition, it allows you to transcribe your voice to text and format documents with your voice. However, you can only use the service through the Chrome browser.
Follow these steps to activate Google Docs voice typing on your Mac device:
- Launch the Chrome browser on your macOS and select Docs from the app menu. Please note you will need an active Google account to use the service.
- Open a new document and click on the Tools tab from the top menu.
- Select Voice Typing from the menu to access speech-to-text on Google Docs.
- Tap the microphone to start transcribing, and tap it again to finish.
Google Docs speech-to-text is available in 71 languages. In addition, it supports simple commands such as ‘create a bulleted list,’ which are unavailable on other speech-to-text apps. As such, it is one of the market’s most popular voice typing apps.
Part4: Top 4 Filmora
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Adding subtitles to your videos can be incredibly time-consuming if you do not have the right tools. However, with Filmora’s speech-to-text function, you can add subtitles to your video with a single click. In addition, it automatically recognizes audio in your videos and transcribes it to text with incredible accuracy. The plugin uses state-of-the-art algorithms to ensure the video industry’s most accurate speech technology.
Furthermore, you can import external files to your video’s timeline and edit them as you please. For example, you can import a video from your thumb drive and use the Filmora speech-to-text plugin to transcribe to text. Currently, the plugin can transcribe the text in 26 languages. As such, it is a favorite for vloggers, teachers, and film editors, who all have to deliver their content with great efficiency.
Please note that you must have Filmora installed on your Mac device to access the Speech to Text plugin. In addition, check if your Filmora version is compatible with the plugin before downloading. Once you confirm that you meet all the requirements, here is how to use the service:
- Launch the Filmora app on your Mac and open a new video workspace.
- Click on the microphone symbol at the bottom right corner of the page to start recording. Tap it once again to finish the recording.
- Tap the Tools tab on your main menu and select Speech to Text. Then, confirm your preferences and wait for the transcription.
Part5: Top 5 Dragon for Mac
Dragon Dictate is arguably the best dictation software currently on the market. According to most users, its accuracy and feature sets are next to none. For example, the Smart Format Rules learn how you represent dates, numbers, and abbreviations, resulting in less editing work for you. The Dragon Dictate app is free to download from the Apple Store.
Dragon for Mac users reports a dictation accuracy of nearly 99%, which is excellent in the speech-to-text software category. All of Nuance’s Dragon products use deep learning technology to capture your accent and cadence. As such, the app gets better at transcribing your text as you continue using it. In addition, dragon for Mac professional allows you to transcribe audio clips from uploaded files. For example, you can import audio from your iPhone to your Dragon Dictate workspace and transcribe it hassle-free.
Unfortunately, you cannot get a stand-alone dragon app for Mac. This is because Nuance discontinued its development in 2018. In addition, Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2021 proves that the decision is permanent. However, you can still use the Windows version of Dragon through Parallels, which allows you to run macOS and Windows simultaneously. In addition, this method also works for M1 Macs.
Part6: FAQs
Is there a difference between voice recognition and speech-to-text?
Voice recognition software allows your device to capture your accent and tone and then stores that data for different functions, such as user logins and speech-to-text functionality. For example, Siri will ask you to repeat a sentence several times as one of the setup steps.
Which is the best external device for the speech-to-text service?
Most users report better speech-to-text accuracy when using headsets compared to using an external microphone. This is because the microphone is much closer to your mouth, so your voice is less affected by external noise.
Can speech-to-text apps automatically translate a transcribed text?
Yes, they can. Apps such as Google’s Speech to Text include a translation feature in their functionality. However, you will need the Google Chrome browser to access Speech to text. This is because the service is only available to active google account holders.
How much faster is speech to text faster than typing?
A 2017 Stanford study states that speech to text is aboutthree times faster than typing . In addition, it found that speech-to-text apps can transcribe over 150 words per minute, while professional transcriptionists range between 50 to 80 words per minute.
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Adding subtitles to your videos can be incredibly time-consuming if you do not have the right tools. However, with Filmora’s speech-to-text function, you can add subtitles to your video with a single click. In addition, it automatically recognizes audio in your videos and transcribes it to text with incredible accuracy. The plugin uses state-of-the-art algorithms to ensure the video industry’s most accurate speech technology.
Furthermore, you can import external files to your video’s timeline and edit them as you please. For example, you can import a video from your thumb drive and use the Filmora speech-to-text plugin to transcribe to text. Currently, the plugin can transcribe the text in 26 languages. As such, it is a favorite for vloggers, teachers, and film editors, who all have to deliver their content with great efficiency.
Please note that you must have Filmora installed on your Mac device to access the Speech to Text plugin. In addition, check if your Filmora version is compatible with the plugin before downloading. Once you confirm that you meet all the requirements, here is how to use the service:
- Launch the Filmora app on your Mac and open a new video workspace.
- Click on the microphone symbol at the bottom right corner of the page to start recording. Tap it once again to finish the recording.
- Tap the Tools tab on your main menu and select Speech to Text. Then, confirm your preferences and wait for the transcription.
Part5: Top 5 Dragon for Mac
Dragon Dictate is arguably the best dictation software currently on the market. According to most users, its accuracy and feature sets are next to none. For example, the Smart Format Rules learn how you represent dates, numbers, and abbreviations, resulting in less editing work for you. The Dragon Dictate app is free to download from the Apple Store.
Dragon for Mac users reports a dictation accuracy of nearly 99%, which is excellent in the speech-to-text software category. All of Nuance’s Dragon products use deep learning technology to capture your accent and cadence. As such, the app gets better at transcribing your text as you continue using it. In addition, dragon for Mac professional allows you to transcribe audio clips from uploaded files. For example, you can import audio from your iPhone to your Dragon Dictate workspace and transcribe it hassle-free.
Unfortunately, you cannot get a stand-alone dragon app for Mac. This is because Nuance discontinued its development in 2018. In addition, Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2021 proves that the decision is permanent. However, you can still use the Windows version of Dragon through Parallels, which allows you to run macOS and Windows simultaneously. In addition, this method also works for M1 Macs.
Part6: FAQs
Is there a difference between voice recognition and speech-to-text?
Voice recognition software allows your device to capture your accent and tone and then stores that data for different functions, such as user logins and speech-to-text functionality. For example, Siri will ask you to repeat a sentence several times as one of the setup steps.
Which is the best external device for the speech-to-text service?
Most users report better speech-to-text accuracy when using headsets compared to using an external microphone. This is because the microphone is much closer to your mouth, so your voice is less affected by external noise.
Can speech-to-text apps automatically translate a transcribed text?
Yes, they can. Apps such as Google’s Speech to Text include a translation feature in their functionality. However, you will need the Google Chrome browser to access Speech to text. This is because the service is only available to active google account holders.
How much faster is speech to text faster than typing?
A 2017 Stanford study states that speech to text is aboutthree times faster than typing . In addition, it found that speech-to-text apps can transcribe over 150 words per minute, while professional transcriptionists range between 50 to 80 words per minute.
Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)
Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later
Filmora Scrn Tutorial: Recording Your Desktop Made Easy
How to Record Your Desktop with Filmora Scrn
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Desktop recording or recording the screen activity on the PC can be fun and sometimes it gives guidance to many people. All sorts of videos are shaped with the help of a desktop recorder. If you are just starting off to learn those video skills, it can be a difficult task for you. Considering this fact, we have brought this post that contains a simple guide on how to record desktop easily and quickly via an ideal desktop capturing tool. Scroll down a little to get the name of that tool revealed.
How to record desktop with Filmora Scrn
Step 1 – Get the Program on Your PC
Initially, Download it and install it. After completing all installation formalities, launch Filmora Scrn on your computer.
Step 2 – Go for the Appropriate Option
Now, the main interface will provide you three options which are “Get Started”, “Quick Capture” and “Video Editor”.
Get Started – If you wish to hit on this tab, you will be brought up to a new interface where you can customize the recording parameters according to your preferences.
For instance, customizing audio settings or adjusting the recording area, frame rate, or also to set recording source as webcam (if you need) along with recording your desktop screen.
Quick Capture – If you prefer to record your desktop with the default settings, you should then hit on this tab to immediately launch the capturing console.
Video Editor – This tab is specifically for the video lovers who wish to edit and enhance their videos by adding annotation effects, cursor effects or by doing some basic video editing (crop, split, resize, rotate and more).
Hit the one that suits you, in this case, hit on “Get Started”.
Step 3 – Customizing Record Settings
Right after pushing the “Get Started” tab, the “Setup” interface will load up. You will now have 4 different categories to customize the Record Settings.
Screen – Customize capturing area on your desktop (full screen, target window or a specific region), set the preferred frame rate (up to 120 FPS) for your video. Or select, “Game” if you wish to record gameplay.
Audio – Under this section, specify the preferred audio source for your video, either from Computer or Microphone or both. By default, it is set on both.
Camera – If you have a webcam installed, you can record video via your webcam along with capturing your screen. Get into this section and select your camera, preferred resolution and frame rate.
Advanced – Here in this section, you can set the path for your recorded video, enable or disable GPU acceleration and setup hot keys for your convenience.
Once finished with customization, hit on “Capture” to launch the recording console.
Step 4 – Ready to Capture
Now, the recording console will pop up on your screen and you are just a click away to record your desktop. Hit on the big “Record” button at the top of the console or hit “F10” on your keyboard. A countdown will begin and right after that your recording starts.
If you wish to pause the video, hit “F9” on your keyboard and similarly, hit the same “F9” to resume the recording again. Or, if you wish to stop the video, just have to hit on “F10” key on your keyboard.
Step 5 – Edit Video, Add Effects and Export
Finally, in this last step your video will be loaded in the built-in video editor for the final touch up to enhance your video before it is exported to your local storage. You can add annotation effects, cursor effects to your video. Or, do some video editing like crop, split, resize, rotate and more.
When you’re done, export the final file to your local storage and enjoy.
Filmora Scrn – Best Desktop Recorder
Here is what we were talking about a moment ago – Filmora Scrn. This is remarkable desktop capturing software that is designed to work with both Windows and Mac computers. Along with being a high-quality desktop recorder, Filmora Scrn makes sure to elevate the captured video quality by offering numerous powerful editing features. Its modern and intuitive design helps the users to effortlessly record their desktop screen ultimately removing their concern of how to record desktop without any barrier or hitch. Filmora Scrn is a risk-free and quick tool to record the desktop which makes the users to make their projects faster making it a good option for the people who are in hurry and want no inconvenience while recording.
Key Features of Filmora Scrn
- This screen recorder comes with the ability to record 15-120 FPS.
- This desktop recorder also allows users to import over 50 file formats.
- You can record Webcam as well as screen at the same time via this software.
- You can also export your file to multiple formats with Filmora Scrn.
Conclusion
This was all about how to record desktop using an exceptionally easy desktop recorder. We have given you the best way through which you can record your desktop with no trouble. And more than that, Filmora Scrn is not just desktop capture software, but offers many video enhancing tools and a wide range of possibility to give the recorded video a little more finishing. We hope you found what you want and got the results you expected with this software. Your given time is really appreciated and many thanks to read this post. It will be a content feeling if you could share your experience or feedback with us by dropping a comment below.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Desktop recording or recording the screen activity on the PC can be fun and sometimes it gives guidance to many people. All sorts of videos are shaped with the help of a desktop recorder. If you are just starting off to learn those video skills, it can be a difficult task for you. Considering this fact, we have brought this post that contains a simple guide on how to record desktop easily and quickly via an ideal desktop capturing tool. Scroll down a little to get the name of that tool revealed.
How to record desktop with Filmora Scrn
Step 1 – Get the Program on Your PC
Initially, Download it and install it. After completing all installation formalities, launch Filmora Scrn on your computer.
Step 2 – Go for the Appropriate Option
Now, the main interface will provide you three options which are “Get Started”, “Quick Capture” and “Video Editor”.
Get Started – If you wish to hit on this tab, you will be brought up to a new interface where you can customize the recording parameters according to your preferences.
For instance, customizing audio settings or adjusting the recording area, frame rate, or also to set recording source as webcam (if you need) along with recording your desktop screen.
Quick Capture – If you prefer to record your desktop with the default settings, you should then hit on this tab to immediately launch the capturing console.
Video Editor – This tab is specifically for the video lovers who wish to edit and enhance their videos by adding annotation effects, cursor effects or by doing some basic video editing (crop, split, resize, rotate and more).
Hit the one that suits you, in this case, hit on “Get Started”.
Step 3 – Customizing Record Settings
Right after pushing the “Get Started” tab, the “Setup” interface will load up. You will now have 4 different categories to customize the Record Settings.
Screen – Customize capturing area on your desktop (full screen, target window or a specific region), set the preferred frame rate (up to 120 FPS) for your video. Or select, “Game” if you wish to record gameplay.
Audio – Under this section, specify the preferred audio source for your video, either from Computer or Microphone or both. By default, it is set on both.
Camera – If you have a webcam installed, you can record video via your webcam along with capturing your screen. Get into this section and select your camera, preferred resolution and frame rate.
Advanced – Here in this section, you can set the path for your recorded video, enable or disable GPU acceleration and setup hot keys for your convenience.
Once finished with customization, hit on “Capture” to launch the recording console.
Step 4 – Ready to Capture
Now, the recording console will pop up on your screen and you are just a click away to record your desktop. Hit on the big “Record” button at the top of the console or hit “F10” on your keyboard. A countdown will begin and right after that your recording starts.
If you wish to pause the video, hit “F9” on your keyboard and similarly, hit the same “F9” to resume the recording again. Or, if you wish to stop the video, just have to hit on “F10” key on your keyboard.
Step 5 – Edit Video, Add Effects and Export
Finally, in this last step your video will be loaded in the built-in video editor for the final touch up to enhance your video before it is exported to your local storage. You can add annotation effects, cursor effects to your video. Or, do some video editing like crop, split, resize, rotate and more.
When you’re done, export the final file to your local storage and enjoy.
Filmora Scrn – Best Desktop Recorder
Here is what we were talking about a moment ago – Filmora Scrn. This is remarkable desktop capturing software that is designed to work with both Windows and Mac computers. Along with being a high-quality desktop recorder, Filmora Scrn makes sure to elevate the captured video quality by offering numerous powerful editing features. Its modern and intuitive design helps the users to effortlessly record their desktop screen ultimately removing their concern of how to record desktop without any barrier or hitch. Filmora Scrn is a risk-free and quick tool to record the desktop which makes the users to make their projects faster making it a good option for the people who are in hurry and want no inconvenience while recording.
Key Features of Filmora Scrn
- This screen recorder comes with the ability to record 15-120 FPS.
- This desktop recorder also allows users to import over 50 file formats.
- You can record Webcam as well as screen at the same time via this software.
- You can also export your file to multiple formats with Filmora Scrn.
Conclusion
This was all about how to record desktop using an exceptionally easy desktop recorder. We have given you the best way through which you can record your desktop with no trouble. And more than that, Filmora Scrn is not just desktop capture software, but offers many video enhancing tools and a wide range of possibility to give the recorded video a little more finishing. We hope you found what you want and got the results you expected with this software. Your given time is really appreciated and many thanks to read this post. It will be a content feeling if you could share your experience or feedback with us by dropping a comment below.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Desktop recording or recording the screen activity on the PC can be fun and sometimes it gives guidance to many people. All sorts of videos are shaped with the help of a desktop recorder. If you are just starting off to learn those video skills, it can be a difficult task for you. Considering this fact, we have brought this post that contains a simple guide on how to record desktop easily and quickly via an ideal desktop capturing tool. Scroll down a little to get the name of that tool revealed.
How to record desktop with Filmora Scrn
Step 1 – Get the Program on Your PC
Initially, Download it and install it. After completing all installation formalities, launch Filmora Scrn on your computer.
Step 2 – Go for the Appropriate Option
Now, the main interface will provide you three options which are “Get Started”, “Quick Capture” and “Video Editor”.
Get Started – If you wish to hit on this tab, you will be brought up to a new interface where you can customize the recording parameters according to your preferences.
For instance, customizing audio settings or adjusting the recording area, frame rate, or also to set recording source as webcam (if you need) along with recording your desktop screen.
Quick Capture – If you prefer to record your desktop with the default settings, you should then hit on this tab to immediately launch the capturing console.
Video Editor – This tab is specifically for the video lovers who wish to edit and enhance their videos by adding annotation effects, cursor effects or by doing some basic video editing (crop, split, resize, rotate and more).
Hit the one that suits you, in this case, hit on “Get Started”.
Step 3 – Customizing Record Settings
Right after pushing the “Get Started” tab, the “Setup” interface will load up. You will now have 4 different categories to customize the Record Settings.
Screen – Customize capturing area on your desktop (full screen, target window or a specific region), set the preferred frame rate (up to 120 FPS) for your video. Or select, “Game” if you wish to record gameplay.
Audio – Under this section, specify the preferred audio source for your video, either from Computer or Microphone or both. By default, it is set on both.
Camera – If you have a webcam installed, you can record video via your webcam along with capturing your screen. Get into this section and select your camera, preferred resolution and frame rate.
Advanced – Here in this section, you can set the path for your recorded video, enable or disable GPU acceleration and setup hot keys for your convenience.
Once finished with customization, hit on “Capture” to launch the recording console.
Step 4 – Ready to Capture
Now, the recording console will pop up on your screen and you are just a click away to record your desktop. Hit on the big “Record” button at the top of the console or hit “F10” on your keyboard. A countdown will begin and right after that your recording starts.
If you wish to pause the video, hit “F9” on your keyboard and similarly, hit the same “F9” to resume the recording again. Or, if you wish to stop the video, just have to hit on “F10” key on your keyboard.
Step 5 – Edit Video, Add Effects and Export
Finally, in this last step your video will be loaded in the built-in video editor for the final touch up to enhance your video before it is exported to your local storage. You can add annotation effects, cursor effects to your video. Or, do some video editing like crop, split, resize, rotate and more.
When you’re done, export the final file to your local storage and enjoy.
Filmora Scrn – Best Desktop Recorder
Here is what we were talking about a moment ago – Filmora Scrn. This is remarkable desktop capturing software that is designed to work with both Windows and Mac computers. Along with being a high-quality desktop recorder, Filmora Scrn makes sure to elevate the captured video quality by offering numerous powerful editing features. Its modern and intuitive design helps the users to effortlessly record their desktop screen ultimately removing their concern of how to record desktop without any barrier or hitch. Filmora Scrn is a risk-free and quick tool to record the desktop which makes the users to make their projects faster making it a good option for the people who are in hurry and want no inconvenience while recording.
Key Features of Filmora Scrn
- This screen recorder comes with the ability to record 15-120 FPS.
- This desktop recorder also allows users to import over 50 file formats.
- You can record Webcam as well as screen at the same time via this software.
- You can also export your file to multiple formats with Filmora Scrn.
Conclusion
This was all about how to record desktop using an exceptionally easy desktop recorder. We have given you the best way through which you can record your desktop with no trouble. And more than that, Filmora Scrn is not just desktop capture software, but offers many video enhancing tools and a wide range of possibility to give the recorded video a little more finishing. We hope you found what you want and got the results you expected with this software. Your given time is really appreciated and many thanks to read this post. It will be a content feeling if you could share your experience or feedback with us by dropping a comment below.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The All-in-One Screen Recorder & Video Editor
- Record desktop screen, voiceover, and webcam simultaneously
- Edit recorded clips quickly with a wide range of professional tools
- Built-in plentiful templates and effects
- Export to MP4, MOV, MKV, GIF and multiple formats
For Win 7 or later (64-bit)
For macOS 10.12 or later
Secure Download
Desktop recording or recording the screen activity on the PC can be fun and sometimes it gives guidance to many people. All sorts of videos are shaped with the help of a desktop recorder. If you are just starting off to learn those video skills, it can be a difficult task for you. Considering this fact, we have brought this post that contains a simple guide on how to record desktop easily and quickly via an ideal desktop capturing tool. Scroll down a little to get the name of that tool revealed.
How to record desktop with Filmora Scrn
Step 1 – Get the Program on Your PC
Initially, Download it and install it. After completing all installation formalities, launch Filmora Scrn on your computer.
Step 2 – Go for the Appropriate Option
Now, the main interface will provide you three options which are “Get Started”, “Quick Capture” and “Video Editor”.
Get Started – If you wish to hit on this tab, you will be brought up to a new interface where you can customize the recording parameters according to your preferences.
For instance, customizing audio settings or adjusting the recording area, frame rate, or also to set recording source as webcam (if you need) along with recording your desktop screen.
Quick Capture – If you prefer to record your desktop with the default settings, you should then hit on this tab to immediately launch the capturing console.
Video Editor – This tab is specifically for the video lovers who wish to edit and enhance their videos by adding annotation effects, cursor effects or by doing some basic video editing (crop, split, resize, rotate and more).
Hit the one that suits you, in this case, hit on “Get Started”.
Step 3 – Customizing Record Settings
Right after pushing the “Get Started” tab, the “Setup” interface will load up. You will now have 4 different categories to customize the Record Settings.
Screen – Customize capturing area on your desktop (full screen, target window or a specific region), set the preferred frame rate (up to 120 FPS) for your video. Or select, “Game” if you wish to record gameplay.
Audio – Under this section, specify the preferred audio source for your video, either from Computer or Microphone or both. By default, it is set on both.
Camera – If you have a webcam installed, you can record video via your webcam along with capturing your screen. Get into this section and select your camera, preferred resolution and frame rate.
Advanced – Here in this section, you can set the path for your recorded video, enable or disable GPU acceleration and setup hot keys for your convenience.
Once finished with customization, hit on “Capture” to launch the recording console.
Step 4 – Ready to Capture
Now, the recording console will pop up on your screen and you are just a click away to record your desktop. Hit on the big “Record” button at the top of the console or hit “F10” on your keyboard. A countdown will begin and right after that your recording starts.
If you wish to pause the video, hit “F9” on your keyboard and similarly, hit the same “F9” to resume the recording again. Or, if you wish to stop the video, just have to hit on “F10” key on your keyboard.
Step 5 – Edit Video, Add Effects and Export
Finally, in this last step your video will be loaded in the built-in video editor for the final touch up to enhance your video before it is exported to your local storage. You can add annotation effects, cursor effects to your video. Or, do some video editing like crop, split, resize, rotate and more.
When you’re done, export the final file to your local storage and enjoy.
Filmora Scrn – Best Desktop Recorder
Here is what we were talking about a moment ago – Filmora Scrn. This is remarkable desktop capturing software that is designed to work with both Windows and Mac computers. Along with being a high-quality desktop recorder, Filmora Scrn makes sure to elevate the captured video quality by offering numerous powerful editing features. Its modern and intuitive design helps the users to effortlessly record their desktop screen ultimately removing their concern of how to record desktop without any barrier or hitch. Filmora Scrn is a risk-free and quick tool to record the desktop which makes the users to make their projects faster making it a good option for the people who are in hurry and want no inconvenience while recording.
Key Features of Filmora Scrn
- This screen recorder comes with the ability to record 15-120 FPS.
- This desktop recorder also allows users to import over 50 file formats.
- You can record Webcam as well as screen at the same time via this software.
- You can also export your file to multiple formats with Filmora Scrn.
Conclusion
This was all about how to record desktop using an exceptionally easy desktop recorder. We have given you the best way through which you can record your desktop with no trouble. And more than that, Filmora Scrn is not just desktop capture software, but offers many video enhancing tools and a wide range of possibility to give the recorded video a little more finishing. We hope you found what you want and got the results you expected with this software. Your given time is really appreciated and many thanks to read this post. It will be a content feeling if you could share your experience or feedback with us by dropping a comment below.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Create Split-Screen Videos for Free: Online and Offline Editors
Best Split Screen Video Editor [Online & Offline]
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The effect that comes up after adding two or more screens in a single frame is called split screen, and the tool that enables the users to do this is a split screen video editor. These split screens have significant importance in post-production tasks. That said, the following sections discuss about the tools that enable you to create split screen videos, and explain the process of doing so.
As mentioned above, the split screen effect lets you add two or more screens in a single frame. When multiple activities occur at the same time but at different locations, they all can be shown on one screen by placing their corresponding footages side-by-side or in any other arrangement that the split screen video maker allows.
Best Split Screen Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac [Free & Paid]
After understanding what split screen is, it becomes both obvious and mandatory to know about some of the most used split screen video editor applications, and how they help you in adding the effect to your movies. Following is a list of a couple of such programs:
1. iMovie
A proprietary of Apple, iMovie is available for both iOS and macOS, and is absolutely free of cost. Even though the tool lacks some advanced options for fine editing, it still offers a good platform to those planning their career in post-production industry. With simple UI, it is easy to learn iMovie.
The step-by-step instructions given below explain how to use iMovie to add split screen effect to your videos:
Step 1: Add Footages to iMovie
After importing the footages to the Media Bin in iMovie, drag the first one to the Timeline, and then drag the second one above the first layer.
Step 2: Select the Split Screen Effect
Select the top video layer in the Timeline, and choose Split Screen from the screen type drop-down list at the top.
Step 3: Select Split Screen Preset
Choose a position for the selected layer from the Position drop-down list at the top, and use the Slide slider to adjust the speed of the appearance of the footage.
Pros
- iMovie is free to download and use
- The program is available for both macOS and iOS
Cons
- Allows only up to two videos to be used in split screen
You can get iMovie from here: https://www.apple.com/in/imovie/
2. Wondershare Filmora Editor
One of the most robust apps that is compared with post-production applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, Wondershare Filmora is also a video editor that helps split screen easily. The software is available for Windows and Mac computers, and provides prompt technical support to its consumers. Although Filmora that packed with more advanced tools is also available, most of the times Filmora serves the purpose pretty well.
You can learn how to add split screen effect in Wondershare Filmora by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Import Footages to Filmora
Launch Wondershare Filmora, click anywhere inside the Media window in the upper-left section, and import all the videos you want to use to create the split screen effect.
Step 2: Choose a Split Screen Preset
Click Split Screen from the standard toolbar at the top, click and drag your preferred preset to the Timeline, and then extend the duration of the effect in the Timeline by dragging its handle.
Step 3: Add Videos to Split Screen
Click ADVANCED from the bottom-right area of the Media pane, on the Advanced Split Screen Edit box, drag the first video from the left pane, and drop it on your preferred section in the right. Repeat the process to add all the other videos to their corresponding sections. Adjust their time of appearance by dragging their thumbnail in the Timeline of the box, and click OK.
Pros
- Wondershare Filmora is lightweight and is less resource intensive
- Allows as many as 6 videos to be added to create split screen effect
- Has 30+ split screen presets
Cons
- A couple of windows are required to be opened while working with split screen
3 . VSDC
VSDC is a free and efficient split screen video maker. In fact, the program is a full-fledged post-production application that can be used to edit the videos to prepare industry-standard clips for presentations, broadcasting, and commercial and private distribution. The best thing about VSDC is, it is absolutely free of cost, and doesn’t add any watermarks to the output files.
The instructions given below explain how to use the split screen feature in VSDC:
Step 1: Add Video Footages
Click Add object from the standard toolbar at the top, click Video, and select and add the first footage to the preview window. Repeat the process to add more video(s) as needed.
Step 2: Add Split Screen Effect
Grab any of the side handles of the video you added last, and drag it inward to reduce its size proportionally. Repeat the process to reduce the size of the other video(s) that is/are now revealed from beneath the one you just adjusted in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Absolutely free to use
- Allows practically unlimited number of footages to be added to create the split screen videos
Cons
- No presets for automatic video positioning are available for split screen effect
You can get VSDC free video editor from here: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
4. Shotcut
A free and opensource editing tool, Shotcut can also be used as a split screen video maker to produce industry-standard movies and documentaries. Shotcut is available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS, and comes in both x64 and x86 variants. Being a free program, Shotcut doesn’t require any activation or registration.
The procedure that follows explains how to use Shortcut as a free split screen video editor:
Step 1: Add Clips to the Timeline
Import the footages to the Shotcut’s media bin, drag one of the clips from the bin to the Timeline at the bottom, and then press Ctrl + I on your keyboard to add more video tracks. You can press this shortcut key for another couple of times depending on the number films you want to use for the split screen effect. Next, drag each film from the bin to their corresponding tracks. Note: Make sure NOT to place all the clips on the same track, and that each of them is on a different, its own, video layer.
Step 2: Adjust the First Video
Select the last video you added to the Timeline (it should be the topmost track), click Filters from above the Timeline, click the + button from the upper-left corner, click Size and Position from the list that appears next, and select the clip’s position from the Preset drop-down list.
Step 3: Adjust Other Videos
Select the second video in the Timeline and repeat the process to set its position, and do the same for all other footages that you added in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms
- If using presets, as many as 4 videos can be added for split screen effect
Cons
- Working with split screen manually may require practice and some calculations to position the clips on the screen correctly
You can get Shotcut from here: https://shotcut.org/
5. Lightworks
Used by the professionals to edit and prepare movies like Pulp Fiction, The Cure, L.A. Confidential, Bruce Almighty, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc., Lightworks is, in true means, a complete and full-fledged post-production application to create industry-standard outputs. The main reason for the app’s wide userbase is that it is a cross-platform software that is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
To use Lightworks as split screen video maker, you can follow the instructions given below:
Step 1: Add Tracks in Timeline
After importing the clips to Lightworks, leave them in the Media Bin for now, right-click anywhere in the Timeline at the bottom, go to Tracks, click Add multiple, and from the Number to add drop-down list, choose the number of tracks you want to add to the Timeline. Click Add to confirm the changes.
Step 2: Disable Auto Sync
Right-click anywhere in the Timeline, and click to deselect Auto track sync.
Step 3: Add Clips to Timeline
Drag the clips from the Media Bin to the Timeline. Make sure to place each footage on a different track, and that all the tracks are on top of each other. Optionally, right-click the audio that was added along with the clips, and click Remove from the context menu. Use this method to remove all the audios or leave the one you want to have. Note: Removing the audio tracks ensures that they do not overlap during the playback.
Step 4: Enable Split Screen
Click VFX from above the preview window, click the + (Add new effects) icon from the top of the left pane, select the DVE category from the upper-right corner of the left pane, scroll down the left pane to the Split-screen Presets section, and double-click your preferred split screen preset to add the effect to the participating clips.
Pros
- Even the free variant has split screen feature
- A complete post-production tool that doesn’t require any other program for finalizing the things
Cons
- Not many split screen presets are available
Download Lightworks free version from here: https://www.lwks.com/
6. Adobe Premiere Pro
One of the most appreciated and widely used post-production applications for Windows and Mac computers, Adobe Premiere Pro has been professionals’ first choice when it comes to video editing, irrespective of the fact that it has a steep learning curve, and is also a resource intensive software to work with.
The steps below explain how to use Adobe Premiere Pro as a split screen video maker:
Step 1: Add Videos to Timeline
After importing the clips to the Project window, drag each of them to the Timeline, and place them in their separate tracks one above the other.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the topmost video track in the Timeline, go to Effect Controls panel from the top of the upper-left pane, and use the Position slider to position the video to your preferred area of the screen. Repeat this process for all the clips in the Timeline you want to add to split screen.
Step 3: Crop the Clips
Search for the Crop effect in the Effects pane present at the lower-left corner, drag and drop the effect on each of the clips in the timeline, and use the Crop slider in the Effect Controls pane to crop the videos as needed. Optionally use the keyframes to add sliding animations to give more professional look to the split screen effect.
Pros
- Most robust and efficient video editing tool
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Requires subscription that needs to be renewed regularly
For more details about making split screen with Pr, check How to create a split screen in Premiere Pro
7. Final Cut Pro X
Available only for Mac computers at the time of this writing, Final Cut Pro X or FCPX gives tough competition to Adobe Premiere Pro. Since Apple devices are famous for their speedy processing, professionals any day prefer FCPX over Adobe Premiere Pro if they own a Mac PC running macOS.
You can use FCPX as split screen video maker by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Place Footages in the Timeline
As mentioned earlier, add the clips on top of each other on separate tracks in the Timeline of FCPX.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the first clip in the Timeline, from the Transform section of the Video Inspector pane in the right, use the Position slider to move the clip to your preferred side of the screen, and use the sliders from the Crop section to crop the footage to adjust the portion of interest. Repeat the process for the other video tracks as well to get your desired split screen effect in Final Cut Pro X.
Pros
- Offers quick and easy way to add split screen effect
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Doesn’t have any particular preset for split screen effect
You may also like: How to create a PIP video with Final Cut Pro X
Best Free Online Split Screen Video Editors
Apart from the desktop programs discussed above, there are a couple of web tools that can be used as split screen video maker online free. Two of the most used ones are introduced below:
1. Kapwing Collage Maker
Although Kapwing offers several other online tools like video resizer, meme generator, slideshow maker, etc., the solution that can be considered split screen video editor is Kapwing Collage Maker. This web app allows you to select a template to get started, and the rest of the process is simple.
The following steps explain how to create a split screen video with Kapwing:
Step 1: Add Clips to Preset
Go to the https://www.kapwing.com/collage link, click to select your preferred split screen preset, click REPLACE on one of the segments of the split screen on the next page, and select and upload the first video. Next, click REPLACE on the other segment(s), and select and upload the other videos as well.
Step 2: Reposition and Publish
Click and drag each of the added clips to reposition them on the screen, use the other tools to crop and adjust the videos as needed, and click Publish from the top-right corner. Note: Optionally you can click Timeline from the top of the preview window, adjust the timings and other settings as needed on the next page, and click Done. After this, you can go ahead and hit Publish to create the split screen effect out of the uploaded videos.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows as many as 4 videos to create split screen effect
Cons
- Requires you to register and sign in to remove the watermark from the output file
2. WeVideo
Yet another split screen video maker online free solution, WeVideo offers almost desktop program-like experience while creating split screen effects. Even though all the subscription plans that the vendor offers are chargeable, the Education plan can be tried for 30 days for free, post which the teachers are required to pay to continue using the web tool.
The following steps explain how to get split screen effect with WeVideo:
Step 1: Import Videos
Visit https://www.wevideo.com and on the main window, click Video from under the Create a new section at the top, select a layout on the Let’s get started box, and click START EDITING from the bottom right corner. Next, click ADD in the My media window in the upper-left section, click BROWSE TO SELECT on the Import media box, and add the videos you want to use in the split screen effect.
Step 2: Add Clips to Timeline
As explained earlier, drag the videos from the My media pane and drop them in the Timeline. Make sure to place every video in its separate layer, and that all the layers are on top of each other.
Step 3: Create Split Screen Effect
Select any clip in the Timeline, and click the Open clip editor icon from the upper-left area of the track. On the next page, use the Scale slider to reduce the size of the selected clip, and from the preview window in the right, drag to reposition the video to your preferred location on the screen. Click SAVE CHANGES from the bottom of the left pane to confirm the settings. Repeat the process for the second clip in the Timeline to resize and reposition it on the screen. Click FINISH from the upper-right corner, on the next box, enter a name for the video in the available field, click SET, choose your preferred settings on the next page, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner to produce the split screen video.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows multiple videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Paid subscription is needed to remove watermark from the outputs
FAQs About Split Screen Video Editors
Why you should use split screen effect in video?
There are a couple of reasons you may want to use split screen effect in your video. Some of the most common uses include:
- Showing multiple actions by the same or different characters at the same time, without changing the screen
- Comparing multiple objects or picture quality. This can be done only when the entities in question are placed side-by-side
- Making your video look more professional
- Showing different effects on the same screen
Can I create a split screen video with Windows Movie Maker or Windows 10 Photos app?
No, you cannot. Although these tools enable you to resize the videos, since they don’t allow multi-tracked Timelines, no video clips can be placed one above the other which is an essential part for any split screen video maker to create the effect. However, as discussed above, there are several post-production tools, offline and online, that allow you to make split screen videos easily and without any cost.
Conclusion
Split screen video editor tools are both paid and free. Regardless of the program you use to create the effect, the output files always look more professional and informative. Furthermore, things become way simpler if the split screen video maker has simple UI, is less resource intensive, and is easy to use as it is the case with Wondershare Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The effect that comes up after adding two or more screens in a single frame is called split screen, and the tool that enables the users to do this is a split screen video editor. These split screens have significant importance in post-production tasks. That said, the following sections discuss about the tools that enable you to create split screen videos, and explain the process of doing so.
As mentioned above, the split screen effect lets you add two or more screens in a single frame. When multiple activities occur at the same time but at different locations, they all can be shown on one screen by placing their corresponding footages side-by-side or in any other arrangement that the split screen video maker allows.
Best Split Screen Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac [Free & Paid]
After understanding what split screen is, it becomes both obvious and mandatory to know about some of the most used split screen video editor applications, and how they help you in adding the effect to your movies. Following is a list of a couple of such programs:
1. iMovie
A proprietary of Apple, iMovie is available for both iOS and macOS, and is absolutely free of cost. Even though the tool lacks some advanced options for fine editing, it still offers a good platform to those planning their career in post-production industry. With simple UI, it is easy to learn iMovie.
The step-by-step instructions given below explain how to use iMovie to add split screen effect to your videos:
Step 1: Add Footages to iMovie
After importing the footages to the Media Bin in iMovie, drag the first one to the Timeline, and then drag the second one above the first layer.
Step 2: Select the Split Screen Effect
Select the top video layer in the Timeline, and choose Split Screen from the screen type drop-down list at the top.
Step 3: Select Split Screen Preset
Choose a position for the selected layer from the Position drop-down list at the top, and use the Slide slider to adjust the speed of the appearance of the footage.
Pros
- iMovie is free to download and use
- The program is available for both macOS and iOS
Cons
- Allows only up to two videos to be used in split screen
You can get iMovie from here: https://www.apple.com/in/imovie/
2. Wondershare Filmora Editor
One of the most robust apps that is compared with post-production applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, Wondershare Filmora is also a video editor that helps split screen easily. The software is available for Windows and Mac computers, and provides prompt technical support to its consumers. Although Filmora that packed with more advanced tools is also available, most of the times Filmora serves the purpose pretty well.
You can learn how to add split screen effect in Wondershare Filmora by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Import Footages to Filmora
Launch Wondershare Filmora, click anywhere inside the Media window in the upper-left section, and import all the videos you want to use to create the split screen effect.
Step 2: Choose a Split Screen Preset
Click Split Screen from the standard toolbar at the top, click and drag your preferred preset to the Timeline, and then extend the duration of the effect in the Timeline by dragging its handle.
Step 3: Add Videos to Split Screen
Click ADVANCED from the bottom-right area of the Media pane, on the Advanced Split Screen Edit box, drag the first video from the left pane, and drop it on your preferred section in the right. Repeat the process to add all the other videos to their corresponding sections. Adjust their time of appearance by dragging their thumbnail in the Timeline of the box, and click OK.
Pros
- Wondershare Filmora is lightweight and is less resource intensive
- Allows as many as 6 videos to be added to create split screen effect
- Has 30+ split screen presets
Cons
- A couple of windows are required to be opened while working with split screen
3 . VSDC
VSDC is a free and efficient split screen video maker. In fact, the program is a full-fledged post-production application that can be used to edit the videos to prepare industry-standard clips for presentations, broadcasting, and commercial and private distribution. The best thing about VSDC is, it is absolutely free of cost, and doesn’t add any watermarks to the output files.
The instructions given below explain how to use the split screen feature in VSDC:
Step 1: Add Video Footages
Click Add object from the standard toolbar at the top, click Video, and select and add the first footage to the preview window. Repeat the process to add more video(s) as needed.
Step 2: Add Split Screen Effect
Grab any of the side handles of the video you added last, and drag it inward to reduce its size proportionally. Repeat the process to reduce the size of the other video(s) that is/are now revealed from beneath the one you just adjusted in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Absolutely free to use
- Allows practically unlimited number of footages to be added to create the split screen videos
Cons
- No presets for automatic video positioning are available for split screen effect
You can get VSDC free video editor from here: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
4. Shotcut
A free and opensource editing tool, Shotcut can also be used as a split screen video maker to produce industry-standard movies and documentaries. Shotcut is available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS, and comes in both x64 and x86 variants. Being a free program, Shotcut doesn’t require any activation or registration.
The procedure that follows explains how to use Shortcut as a free split screen video editor:
Step 1: Add Clips to the Timeline
Import the footages to the Shotcut’s media bin, drag one of the clips from the bin to the Timeline at the bottom, and then press Ctrl + I on your keyboard to add more video tracks. You can press this shortcut key for another couple of times depending on the number films you want to use for the split screen effect. Next, drag each film from the bin to their corresponding tracks. Note: Make sure NOT to place all the clips on the same track, and that each of them is on a different, its own, video layer.
Step 2: Adjust the First Video
Select the last video you added to the Timeline (it should be the topmost track), click Filters from above the Timeline, click the + button from the upper-left corner, click Size and Position from the list that appears next, and select the clip’s position from the Preset drop-down list.
Step 3: Adjust Other Videos
Select the second video in the Timeline and repeat the process to set its position, and do the same for all other footages that you added in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms
- If using presets, as many as 4 videos can be added for split screen effect
Cons
- Working with split screen manually may require practice and some calculations to position the clips on the screen correctly
You can get Shotcut from here: https://shotcut.org/
5. Lightworks
Used by the professionals to edit and prepare movies like Pulp Fiction, The Cure, L.A. Confidential, Bruce Almighty, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc., Lightworks is, in true means, a complete and full-fledged post-production application to create industry-standard outputs. The main reason for the app’s wide userbase is that it is a cross-platform software that is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
To use Lightworks as split screen video maker, you can follow the instructions given below:
Step 1: Add Tracks in Timeline
After importing the clips to Lightworks, leave them in the Media Bin for now, right-click anywhere in the Timeline at the bottom, go to Tracks, click Add multiple, and from the Number to add drop-down list, choose the number of tracks you want to add to the Timeline. Click Add to confirm the changes.
Step 2: Disable Auto Sync
Right-click anywhere in the Timeline, and click to deselect Auto track sync.
Step 3: Add Clips to Timeline
Drag the clips from the Media Bin to the Timeline. Make sure to place each footage on a different track, and that all the tracks are on top of each other. Optionally, right-click the audio that was added along with the clips, and click Remove from the context menu. Use this method to remove all the audios or leave the one you want to have. Note: Removing the audio tracks ensures that they do not overlap during the playback.
Step 4: Enable Split Screen
Click VFX from above the preview window, click the + (Add new effects) icon from the top of the left pane, select the DVE category from the upper-right corner of the left pane, scroll down the left pane to the Split-screen Presets section, and double-click your preferred split screen preset to add the effect to the participating clips.
Pros
- Even the free variant has split screen feature
- A complete post-production tool that doesn’t require any other program for finalizing the things
Cons
- Not many split screen presets are available
Download Lightworks free version from here: https://www.lwks.com/
6. Adobe Premiere Pro
One of the most appreciated and widely used post-production applications for Windows and Mac computers, Adobe Premiere Pro has been professionals’ first choice when it comes to video editing, irrespective of the fact that it has a steep learning curve, and is also a resource intensive software to work with.
The steps below explain how to use Adobe Premiere Pro as a split screen video maker:
Step 1: Add Videos to Timeline
After importing the clips to the Project window, drag each of them to the Timeline, and place them in their separate tracks one above the other.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the topmost video track in the Timeline, go to Effect Controls panel from the top of the upper-left pane, and use the Position slider to position the video to your preferred area of the screen. Repeat this process for all the clips in the Timeline you want to add to split screen.
Step 3: Crop the Clips
Search for the Crop effect in the Effects pane present at the lower-left corner, drag and drop the effect on each of the clips in the timeline, and use the Crop slider in the Effect Controls pane to crop the videos as needed. Optionally use the keyframes to add sliding animations to give more professional look to the split screen effect.
Pros
- Most robust and efficient video editing tool
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Requires subscription that needs to be renewed regularly
For more details about making split screen with Pr, check How to create a split screen in Premiere Pro
7. Final Cut Pro X
Available only for Mac computers at the time of this writing, Final Cut Pro X or FCPX gives tough competition to Adobe Premiere Pro. Since Apple devices are famous for their speedy processing, professionals any day prefer FCPX over Adobe Premiere Pro if they own a Mac PC running macOS.
You can use FCPX as split screen video maker by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Place Footages in the Timeline
As mentioned earlier, add the clips on top of each other on separate tracks in the Timeline of FCPX.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the first clip in the Timeline, from the Transform section of the Video Inspector pane in the right, use the Position slider to move the clip to your preferred side of the screen, and use the sliders from the Crop section to crop the footage to adjust the portion of interest. Repeat the process for the other video tracks as well to get your desired split screen effect in Final Cut Pro X.
Pros
- Offers quick and easy way to add split screen effect
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Doesn’t have any particular preset for split screen effect
You may also like: How to create a PIP video with Final Cut Pro X
Best Free Online Split Screen Video Editors
Apart from the desktop programs discussed above, there are a couple of web tools that can be used as split screen video maker online free. Two of the most used ones are introduced below:
1. Kapwing Collage Maker
Although Kapwing offers several other online tools like video resizer, meme generator, slideshow maker, etc., the solution that can be considered split screen video editor is Kapwing Collage Maker. This web app allows you to select a template to get started, and the rest of the process is simple.
The following steps explain how to create a split screen video with Kapwing:
Step 1: Add Clips to Preset
Go to the https://www.kapwing.com/collage link, click to select your preferred split screen preset, click REPLACE on one of the segments of the split screen on the next page, and select and upload the first video. Next, click REPLACE on the other segment(s), and select and upload the other videos as well.
Step 2: Reposition and Publish
Click and drag each of the added clips to reposition them on the screen, use the other tools to crop and adjust the videos as needed, and click Publish from the top-right corner. Note: Optionally you can click Timeline from the top of the preview window, adjust the timings and other settings as needed on the next page, and click Done. After this, you can go ahead and hit Publish to create the split screen effect out of the uploaded videos.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows as many as 4 videos to create split screen effect
Cons
- Requires you to register and sign in to remove the watermark from the output file
2. WeVideo
Yet another split screen video maker online free solution, WeVideo offers almost desktop program-like experience while creating split screen effects. Even though all the subscription plans that the vendor offers are chargeable, the Education plan can be tried for 30 days for free, post which the teachers are required to pay to continue using the web tool.
The following steps explain how to get split screen effect with WeVideo:
Step 1: Import Videos
Visit https://www.wevideo.com and on the main window, click Video from under the Create a new section at the top, select a layout on the Let’s get started box, and click START EDITING from the bottom right corner. Next, click ADD in the My media window in the upper-left section, click BROWSE TO SELECT on the Import media box, and add the videos you want to use in the split screen effect.
Step 2: Add Clips to Timeline
As explained earlier, drag the videos from the My media pane and drop them in the Timeline. Make sure to place every video in its separate layer, and that all the layers are on top of each other.
Step 3: Create Split Screen Effect
Select any clip in the Timeline, and click the Open clip editor icon from the upper-left area of the track. On the next page, use the Scale slider to reduce the size of the selected clip, and from the preview window in the right, drag to reposition the video to your preferred location on the screen. Click SAVE CHANGES from the bottom of the left pane to confirm the settings. Repeat the process for the second clip in the Timeline to resize and reposition it on the screen. Click FINISH from the upper-right corner, on the next box, enter a name for the video in the available field, click SET, choose your preferred settings on the next page, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner to produce the split screen video.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows multiple videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Paid subscription is needed to remove watermark from the outputs
FAQs About Split Screen Video Editors
Why you should use split screen effect in video?
There are a couple of reasons you may want to use split screen effect in your video. Some of the most common uses include:
- Showing multiple actions by the same or different characters at the same time, without changing the screen
- Comparing multiple objects or picture quality. This can be done only when the entities in question are placed side-by-side
- Making your video look more professional
- Showing different effects on the same screen
Can I create a split screen video with Windows Movie Maker or Windows 10 Photos app?
No, you cannot. Although these tools enable you to resize the videos, since they don’t allow multi-tracked Timelines, no video clips can be placed one above the other which is an essential part for any split screen video maker to create the effect. However, as discussed above, there are several post-production tools, offline and online, that allow you to make split screen videos easily and without any cost.
Conclusion
Split screen video editor tools are both paid and free. Regardless of the program you use to create the effect, the output files always look more professional and informative. Furthermore, things become way simpler if the split screen video maker has simple UI, is less resource intensive, and is easy to use as it is the case with Wondershare Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The effect that comes up after adding two or more screens in a single frame is called split screen, and the tool that enables the users to do this is a split screen video editor. These split screens have significant importance in post-production tasks. That said, the following sections discuss about the tools that enable you to create split screen videos, and explain the process of doing so.
As mentioned above, the split screen effect lets you add two or more screens in a single frame. When multiple activities occur at the same time but at different locations, they all can be shown on one screen by placing their corresponding footages side-by-side or in any other arrangement that the split screen video maker allows.
Best Split Screen Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac [Free & Paid]
After understanding what split screen is, it becomes both obvious and mandatory to know about some of the most used split screen video editor applications, and how they help you in adding the effect to your movies. Following is a list of a couple of such programs:
1. iMovie
A proprietary of Apple, iMovie is available for both iOS and macOS, and is absolutely free of cost. Even though the tool lacks some advanced options for fine editing, it still offers a good platform to those planning their career in post-production industry. With simple UI, it is easy to learn iMovie.
The step-by-step instructions given below explain how to use iMovie to add split screen effect to your videos:
Step 1: Add Footages to iMovie
After importing the footages to the Media Bin in iMovie, drag the first one to the Timeline, and then drag the second one above the first layer.
Step 2: Select the Split Screen Effect
Select the top video layer in the Timeline, and choose Split Screen from the screen type drop-down list at the top.
Step 3: Select Split Screen Preset
Choose a position for the selected layer from the Position drop-down list at the top, and use the Slide slider to adjust the speed of the appearance of the footage.
Pros
- iMovie is free to download and use
- The program is available for both macOS and iOS
Cons
- Allows only up to two videos to be used in split screen
You can get iMovie from here: https://www.apple.com/in/imovie/
2. Wondershare Filmora Editor
One of the most robust apps that is compared with post-production applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, Wondershare Filmora is also a video editor that helps split screen easily. The software is available for Windows and Mac computers, and provides prompt technical support to its consumers. Although Filmora that packed with more advanced tools is also available, most of the times Filmora serves the purpose pretty well.
You can learn how to add split screen effect in Wondershare Filmora by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Import Footages to Filmora
Launch Wondershare Filmora, click anywhere inside the Media window in the upper-left section, and import all the videos you want to use to create the split screen effect.
Step 2: Choose a Split Screen Preset
Click Split Screen from the standard toolbar at the top, click and drag your preferred preset to the Timeline, and then extend the duration of the effect in the Timeline by dragging its handle.
Step 3: Add Videos to Split Screen
Click ADVANCED from the bottom-right area of the Media pane, on the Advanced Split Screen Edit box, drag the first video from the left pane, and drop it on your preferred section in the right. Repeat the process to add all the other videos to their corresponding sections. Adjust their time of appearance by dragging their thumbnail in the Timeline of the box, and click OK.
Pros
- Wondershare Filmora is lightweight and is less resource intensive
- Allows as many as 6 videos to be added to create split screen effect
- Has 30+ split screen presets
Cons
- A couple of windows are required to be opened while working with split screen
3 . VSDC
VSDC is a free and efficient split screen video maker. In fact, the program is a full-fledged post-production application that can be used to edit the videos to prepare industry-standard clips for presentations, broadcasting, and commercial and private distribution. The best thing about VSDC is, it is absolutely free of cost, and doesn’t add any watermarks to the output files.
The instructions given below explain how to use the split screen feature in VSDC:
Step 1: Add Video Footages
Click Add object from the standard toolbar at the top, click Video, and select and add the first footage to the preview window. Repeat the process to add more video(s) as needed.
Step 2: Add Split Screen Effect
Grab any of the side handles of the video you added last, and drag it inward to reduce its size proportionally. Repeat the process to reduce the size of the other video(s) that is/are now revealed from beneath the one you just adjusted in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Absolutely free to use
- Allows practically unlimited number of footages to be added to create the split screen videos
Cons
- No presets for automatic video positioning are available for split screen effect
You can get VSDC free video editor from here: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
4. Shotcut
A free and opensource editing tool, Shotcut can also be used as a split screen video maker to produce industry-standard movies and documentaries. Shotcut is available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS, and comes in both x64 and x86 variants. Being a free program, Shotcut doesn’t require any activation or registration.
The procedure that follows explains how to use Shortcut as a free split screen video editor:
Step 1: Add Clips to the Timeline
Import the footages to the Shotcut’s media bin, drag one of the clips from the bin to the Timeline at the bottom, and then press Ctrl + I on your keyboard to add more video tracks. You can press this shortcut key for another couple of times depending on the number films you want to use for the split screen effect. Next, drag each film from the bin to their corresponding tracks. Note: Make sure NOT to place all the clips on the same track, and that each of them is on a different, its own, video layer.
Step 2: Adjust the First Video
Select the last video you added to the Timeline (it should be the topmost track), click Filters from above the Timeline, click the + button from the upper-left corner, click Size and Position from the list that appears next, and select the clip’s position from the Preset drop-down list.
Step 3: Adjust Other Videos
Select the second video in the Timeline and repeat the process to set its position, and do the same for all other footages that you added in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms
- If using presets, as many as 4 videos can be added for split screen effect
Cons
- Working with split screen manually may require practice and some calculations to position the clips on the screen correctly
You can get Shotcut from here: https://shotcut.org/
5. Lightworks
Used by the professionals to edit and prepare movies like Pulp Fiction, The Cure, L.A. Confidential, Bruce Almighty, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc., Lightworks is, in true means, a complete and full-fledged post-production application to create industry-standard outputs. The main reason for the app’s wide userbase is that it is a cross-platform software that is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
To use Lightworks as split screen video maker, you can follow the instructions given below:
Step 1: Add Tracks in Timeline
After importing the clips to Lightworks, leave them in the Media Bin for now, right-click anywhere in the Timeline at the bottom, go to Tracks, click Add multiple, and from the Number to add drop-down list, choose the number of tracks you want to add to the Timeline. Click Add to confirm the changes.
Step 2: Disable Auto Sync
Right-click anywhere in the Timeline, and click to deselect Auto track sync.
Step 3: Add Clips to Timeline
Drag the clips from the Media Bin to the Timeline. Make sure to place each footage on a different track, and that all the tracks are on top of each other. Optionally, right-click the audio that was added along with the clips, and click Remove from the context menu. Use this method to remove all the audios or leave the one you want to have. Note: Removing the audio tracks ensures that they do not overlap during the playback.
Step 4: Enable Split Screen
Click VFX from above the preview window, click the + (Add new effects) icon from the top of the left pane, select the DVE category from the upper-right corner of the left pane, scroll down the left pane to the Split-screen Presets section, and double-click your preferred split screen preset to add the effect to the participating clips.
Pros
- Even the free variant has split screen feature
- A complete post-production tool that doesn’t require any other program for finalizing the things
Cons
- Not many split screen presets are available
Download Lightworks free version from here: https://www.lwks.com/
6. Adobe Premiere Pro
One of the most appreciated and widely used post-production applications for Windows and Mac computers, Adobe Premiere Pro has been professionals’ first choice when it comes to video editing, irrespective of the fact that it has a steep learning curve, and is also a resource intensive software to work with.
The steps below explain how to use Adobe Premiere Pro as a split screen video maker:
Step 1: Add Videos to Timeline
After importing the clips to the Project window, drag each of them to the Timeline, and place them in their separate tracks one above the other.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the topmost video track in the Timeline, go to Effect Controls panel from the top of the upper-left pane, and use the Position slider to position the video to your preferred area of the screen. Repeat this process for all the clips in the Timeline you want to add to split screen.
Step 3: Crop the Clips
Search for the Crop effect in the Effects pane present at the lower-left corner, drag and drop the effect on each of the clips in the timeline, and use the Crop slider in the Effect Controls pane to crop the videos as needed. Optionally use the keyframes to add sliding animations to give more professional look to the split screen effect.
Pros
- Most robust and efficient video editing tool
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Requires subscription that needs to be renewed regularly
For more details about making split screen with Pr, check How to create a split screen in Premiere Pro
7. Final Cut Pro X
Available only for Mac computers at the time of this writing, Final Cut Pro X or FCPX gives tough competition to Adobe Premiere Pro. Since Apple devices are famous for their speedy processing, professionals any day prefer FCPX over Adobe Premiere Pro if they own a Mac PC running macOS.
You can use FCPX as split screen video maker by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Place Footages in the Timeline
As mentioned earlier, add the clips on top of each other on separate tracks in the Timeline of FCPX.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the first clip in the Timeline, from the Transform section of the Video Inspector pane in the right, use the Position slider to move the clip to your preferred side of the screen, and use the sliders from the Crop section to crop the footage to adjust the portion of interest. Repeat the process for the other video tracks as well to get your desired split screen effect in Final Cut Pro X.
Pros
- Offers quick and easy way to add split screen effect
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Doesn’t have any particular preset for split screen effect
You may also like: How to create a PIP video with Final Cut Pro X
Best Free Online Split Screen Video Editors
Apart from the desktop programs discussed above, there are a couple of web tools that can be used as split screen video maker online free. Two of the most used ones are introduced below:
1. Kapwing Collage Maker
Although Kapwing offers several other online tools like video resizer, meme generator, slideshow maker, etc., the solution that can be considered split screen video editor is Kapwing Collage Maker. This web app allows you to select a template to get started, and the rest of the process is simple.
The following steps explain how to create a split screen video with Kapwing:
Step 1: Add Clips to Preset
Go to the https://www.kapwing.com/collage link, click to select your preferred split screen preset, click REPLACE on one of the segments of the split screen on the next page, and select and upload the first video. Next, click REPLACE on the other segment(s), and select and upload the other videos as well.
Step 2: Reposition and Publish
Click and drag each of the added clips to reposition them on the screen, use the other tools to crop and adjust the videos as needed, and click Publish from the top-right corner. Note: Optionally you can click Timeline from the top of the preview window, adjust the timings and other settings as needed on the next page, and click Done. After this, you can go ahead and hit Publish to create the split screen effect out of the uploaded videos.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows as many as 4 videos to create split screen effect
Cons
- Requires you to register and sign in to remove the watermark from the output file
2. WeVideo
Yet another split screen video maker online free solution, WeVideo offers almost desktop program-like experience while creating split screen effects. Even though all the subscription plans that the vendor offers are chargeable, the Education plan can be tried for 30 days for free, post which the teachers are required to pay to continue using the web tool.
The following steps explain how to get split screen effect with WeVideo:
Step 1: Import Videos
Visit https://www.wevideo.com and on the main window, click Video from under the Create a new section at the top, select a layout on the Let’s get started box, and click START EDITING from the bottom right corner. Next, click ADD in the My media window in the upper-left section, click BROWSE TO SELECT on the Import media box, and add the videos you want to use in the split screen effect.
Step 2: Add Clips to Timeline
As explained earlier, drag the videos from the My media pane and drop them in the Timeline. Make sure to place every video in its separate layer, and that all the layers are on top of each other.
Step 3: Create Split Screen Effect
Select any clip in the Timeline, and click the Open clip editor icon from the upper-left area of the track. On the next page, use the Scale slider to reduce the size of the selected clip, and from the preview window in the right, drag to reposition the video to your preferred location on the screen. Click SAVE CHANGES from the bottom of the left pane to confirm the settings. Repeat the process for the second clip in the Timeline to resize and reposition it on the screen. Click FINISH from the upper-right corner, on the next box, enter a name for the video in the available field, click SET, choose your preferred settings on the next page, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner to produce the split screen video.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows multiple videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Paid subscription is needed to remove watermark from the outputs
FAQs About Split Screen Video Editors
Why you should use split screen effect in video?
There are a couple of reasons you may want to use split screen effect in your video. Some of the most common uses include:
- Showing multiple actions by the same or different characters at the same time, without changing the screen
- Comparing multiple objects or picture quality. This can be done only when the entities in question are placed side-by-side
- Making your video look more professional
- Showing different effects on the same screen
Can I create a split screen video with Windows Movie Maker or Windows 10 Photos app?
No, you cannot. Although these tools enable you to resize the videos, since they don’t allow multi-tracked Timelines, no video clips can be placed one above the other which is an essential part for any split screen video maker to create the effect. However, as discussed above, there are several post-production tools, offline and online, that allow you to make split screen videos easily and without any cost.
Conclusion
Split screen video editor tools are both paid and free. Regardless of the program you use to create the effect, the output files always look more professional and informative. Furthermore, things become way simpler if the split screen video maker has simple UI, is less resource intensive, and is easy to use as it is the case with Wondershare Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
The effect that comes up after adding two or more screens in a single frame is called split screen, and the tool that enables the users to do this is a split screen video editor. These split screens have significant importance in post-production tasks. That said, the following sections discuss about the tools that enable you to create split screen videos, and explain the process of doing so.
As mentioned above, the split screen effect lets you add two or more screens in a single frame. When multiple activities occur at the same time but at different locations, they all can be shown on one screen by placing their corresponding footages side-by-side or in any other arrangement that the split screen video maker allows.
Best Split Screen Video Editing Software for Windows and Mac [Free & Paid]
After understanding what split screen is, it becomes both obvious and mandatory to know about some of the most used split screen video editor applications, and how they help you in adding the effect to your movies. Following is a list of a couple of such programs:
1. iMovie
A proprietary of Apple, iMovie is available for both iOS and macOS, and is absolutely free of cost. Even though the tool lacks some advanced options for fine editing, it still offers a good platform to those planning their career in post-production industry. With simple UI, it is easy to learn iMovie.
The step-by-step instructions given below explain how to use iMovie to add split screen effect to your videos:
Step 1: Add Footages to iMovie
After importing the footages to the Media Bin in iMovie, drag the first one to the Timeline, and then drag the second one above the first layer.
Step 2: Select the Split Screen Effect
Select the top video layer in the Timeline, and choose Split Screen from the screen type drop-down list at the top.
Step 3: Select Split Screen Preset
Choose a position for the selected layer from the Position drop-down list at the top, and use the Slide slider to adjust the speed of the appearance of the footage.
Pros
- iMovie is free to download and use
- The program is available for both macOS and iOS
Cons
- Allows only up to two videos to be used in split screen
You can get iMovie from here: https://www.apple.com/in/imovie/
2. Wondershare Filmora Editor
One of the most robust apps that is compared with post-production applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X, Wondershare Filmora is also a video editor that helps split screen easily. The software is available for Windows and Mac computers, and provides prompt technical support to its consumers. Although Filmora that packed with more advanced tools is also available, most of the times Filmora serves the purpose pretty well.
You can learn how to add split screen effect in Wondershare Filmora by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Import Footages to Filmora
Launch Wondershare Filmora, click anywhere inside the Media window in the upper-left section, and import all the videos you want to use to create the split screen effect.
Step 2: Choose a Split Screen Preset
Click Split Screen from the standard toolbar at the top, click and drag your preferred preset to the Timeline, and then extend the duration of the effect in the Timeline by dragging its handle.
Step 3: Add Videos to Split Screen
Click ADVANCED from the bottom-right area of the Media pane, on the Advanced Split Screen Edit box, drag the first video from the left pane, and drop it on your preferred section in the right. Repeat the process to add all the other videos to their corresponding sections. Adjust their time of appearance by dragging their thumbnail in the Timeline of the box, and click OK.
Pros
- Wondershare Filmora is lightweight and is less resource intensive
- Allows as many as 6 videos to be added to create split screen effect
- Has 30+ split screen presets
Cons
- A couple of windows are required to be opened while working with split screen
3 . VSDC
VSDC is a free and efficient split screen video maker. In fact, the program is a full-fledged post-production application that can be used to edit the videos to prepare industry-standard clips for presentations, broadcasting, and commercial and private distribution. The best thing about VSDC is, it is absolutely free of cost, and doesn’t add any watermarks to the output files.
The instructions given below explain how to use the split screen feature in VSDC:
Step 1: Add Video Footages
Click Add object from the standard toolbar at the top, click Video, and select and add the first footage to the preview window. Repeat the process to add more video(s) as needed.
Step 2: Add Split Screen Effect
Grab any of the side handles of the video you added last, and drag it inward to reduce its size proportionally. Repeat the process to reduce the size of the other video(s) that is/are now revealed from beneath the one you just adjusted in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Absolutely free to use
- Allows practically unlimited number of footages to be added to create the split screen videos
Cons
- No presets for automatic video positioning are available for split screen effect
You can get VSDC free video editor from here: http://www.videosoftdev.com/
4. Shotcut
A free and opensource editing tool, Shotcut can also be used as a split screen video maker to produce industry-standard movies and documentaries. Shotcut is available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS, and comes in both x64 and x86 variants. Being a free program, Shotcut doesn’t require any activation or registration.
The procedure that follows explains how to use Shortcut as a free split screen video editor:
Step 1: Add Clips to the Timeline
Import the footages to the Shotcut’s media bin, drag one of the clips from the bin to the Timeline at the bottom, and then press Ctrl + I on your keyboard to add more video tracks. You can press this shortcut key for another couple of times depending on the number films you want to use for the split screen effect. Next, drag each film from the bin to their corresponding tracks. Note: Make sure NOT to place all the clips on the same track, and that each of them is on a different, its own, video layer.
Step 2: Adjust the First Video
Select the last video you added to the Timeline (it should be the topmost track), click Filters from above the Timeline, click the + button from the upper-left corner, click Size and Position from the list that appears next, and select the clip’s position from the Preset drop-down list.
Step 3: Adjust Other Videos
Select the second video in the Timeline and repeat the process to set its position, and do the same for all other footages that you added in order to create the split screen effect.
Pros
- Available for FreeBSD, Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms
- If using presets, as many as 4 videos can be added for split screen effect
Cons
- Working with split screen manually may require practice and some calculations to position the clips on the screen correctly
You can get Shotcut from here: https://shotcut.org/
5. Lightworks
Used by the professionals to edit and prepare movies like Pulp Fiction, The Cure, L.A. Confidential, Bruce Almighty, The Wolf of Wall Street, etc., Lightworks is, in true means, a complete and full-fledged post-production application to create industry-standard outputs. The main reason for the app’s wide userbase is that it is a cross-platform software that is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
To use Lightworks as split screen video maker, you can follow the instructions given below:
Step 1: Add Tracks in Timeline
After importing the clips to Lightworks, leave them in the Media Bin for now, right-click anywhere in the Timeline at the bottom, go to Tracks, click Add multiple, and from the Number to add drop-down list, choose the number of tracks you want to add to the Timeline. Click Add to confirm the changes.
Step 2: Disable Auto Sync
Right-click anywhere in the Timeline, and click to deselect Auto track sync.
Step 3: Add Clips to Timeline
Drag the clips from the Media Bin to the Timeline. Make sure to place each footage on a different track, and that all the tracks are on top of each other. Optionally, right-click the audio that was added along with the clips, and click Remove from the context menu. Use this method to remove all the audios or leave the one you want to have. Note: Removing the audio tracks ensures that they do not overlap during the playback.
Step 4: Enable Split Screen
Click VFX from above the preview window, click the + (Add new effects) icon from the top of the left pane, select the DVE category from the upper-right corner of the left pane, scroll down the left pane to the Split-screen Presets section, and double-click your preferred split screen preset to add the effect to the participating clips.
Pros
- Even the free variant has split screen feature
- A complete post-production tool that doesn’t require any other program for finalizing the things
Cons
- Not many split screen presets are available
Download Lightworks free version from here: https://www.lwks.com/
6. Adobe Premiere Pro
One of the most appreciated and widely used post-production applications for Windows and Mac computers, Adobe Premiere Pro has been professionals’ first choice when it comes to video editing, irrespective of the fact that it has a steep learning curve, and is also a resource intensive software to work with.
The steps below explain how to use Adobe Premiere Pro as a split screen video maker:
Step 1: Add Videos to Timeline
After importing the clips to the Project window, drag each of them to the Timeline, and place them in their separate tracks one above the other.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the topmost video track in the Timeline, go to Effect Controls panel from the top of the upper-left pane, and use the Position slider to position the video to your preferred area of the screen. Repeat this process for all the clips in the Timeline you want to add to split screen.
Step 3: Crop the Clips
Search for the Crop effect in the Effects pane present at the lower-left corner, drag and drop the effect on each of the clips in the timeline, and use the Crop slider in the Effect Controls pane to crop the videos as needed. Optionally use the keyframes to add sliding animations to give more professional look to the split screen effect.
Pros
- Most robust and efficient video editing tool
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Requires subscription that needs to be renewed regularly
For more details about making split screen with Pr, check How to create a split screen in Premiere Pro
7. Final Cut Pro X
Available only for Mac computers at the time of this writing, Final Cut Pro X or FCPX gives tough competition to Adobe Premiere Pro. Since Apple devices are famous for their speedy processing, professionals any day prefer FCPX over Adobe Premiere Pro if they own a Mac PC running macOS.
You can use FCPX as split screen video maker by following the steps given below:
Step 1: Place Footages in the Timeline
As mentioned earlier, add the clips on top of each other on separate tracks in the Timeline of FCPX.
Step 2: Position and Crop
Select the first clip in the Timeline, from the Transform section of the Video Inspector pane in the right, use the Position slider to move the clip to your preferred side of the screen, and use the sliders from the Crop section to crop the footage to adjust the portion of interest. Repeat the process for the other video tracks as well to get your desired split screen effect in Final Cut Pro X.
Pros
- Offers quick and easy way to add split screen effect
- Allows practically unlimited number of videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Doesn’t have any particular preset for split screen effect
You may also like: How to create a PIP video with Final Cut Pro X
Best Free Online Split Screen Video Editors
Apart from the desktop programs discussed above, there are a couple of web tools that can be used as split screen video maker online free. Two of the most used ones are introduced below:
1. Kapwing Collage Maker
Although Kapwing offers several other online tools like video resizer, meme generator, slideshow maker, etc., the solution that can be considered split screen video editor is Kapwing Collage Maker. This web app allows you to select a template to get started, and the rest of the process is simple.
The following steps explain how to create a split screen video with Kapwing:
Step 1: Add Clips to Preset
Go to the https://www.kapwing.com/collage link, click to select your preferred split screen preset, click REPLACE on one of the segments of the split screen on the next page, and select and upload the first video. Next, click REPLACE on the other segment(s), and select and upload the other videos as well.
Step 2: Reposition and Publish
Click and drag each of the added clips to reposition them on the screen, use the other tools to crop and adjust the videos as needed, and click Publish from the top-right corner. Note: Optionally you can click Timeline from the top of the preview window, adjust the timings and other settings as needed on the next page, and click Done. After this, you can go ahead and hit Publish to create the split screen effect out of the uploaded videos.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows as many as 4 videos to create split screen effect
Cons
- Requires you to register and sign in to remove the watermark from the output file
2. WeVideo
Yet another split screen video maker online free solution, WeVideo offers almost desktop program-like experience while creating split screen effects. Even though all the subscription plans that the vendor offers are chargeable, the Education plan can be tried for 30 days for free, post which the teachers are required to pay to continue using the web tool.
The following steps explain how to get split screen effect with WeVideo:
Step 1: Import Videos
Visit https://www.wevideo.com and on the main window, click Video from under the Create a new section at the top, select a layout on the Let’s get started box, and click START EDITING from the bottom right corner. Next, click ADD in the My media window in the upper-left section, click BROWSE TO SELECT on the Import media box, and add the videos you want to use in the split screen effect.
Step 2: Add Clips to Timeline
As explained earlier, drag the videos from the My media pane and drop them in the Timeline. Make sure to place every video in its separate layer, and that all the layers are on top of each other.
Step 3: Create Split Screen Effect
Select any clip in the Timeline, and click the Open clip editor icon from the upper-left area of the track. On the next page, use the Scale slider to reduce the size of the selected clip, and from the preview window in the right, drag to reposition the video to your preferred location on the screen. Click SAVE CHANGES from the bottom of the left pane to confirm the settings. Repeat the process for the second clip in the Timeline to resize and reposition it on the screen. Click FINISH from the upper-right corner, on the next box, enter a name for the video in the available field, click SET, choose your preferred settings on the next page, and click EXPORT from the bottom-right corner to produce the split screen video.
Pros
- Free to use
- Allows multiple videos to be used for split screen
Cons
- Paid subscription is needed to remove watermark from the outputs
FAQs About Split Screen Video Editors
Why you should use split screen effect in video?
There are a couple of reasons you may want to use split screen effect in your video. Some of the most common uses include:
- Showing multiple actions by the same or different characters at the same time, without changing the screen
- Comparing multiple objects or picture quality. This can be done only when the entities in question are placed side-by-side
- Making your video look more professional
- Showing different effects on the same screen
Can I create a split screen video with Windows Movie Maker or Windows 10 Photos app?
No, you cannot. Although these tools enable you to resize the videos, since they don’t allow multi-tracked Timelines, no video clips can be placed one above the other which is an essential part for any split screen video maker to create the effect. However, as discussed above, there are several post-production tools, offline and online, that allow you to make split screen videos easily and without any cost.
Conclusion
Split screen video editor tools are both paid and free. Regardless of the program you use to create the effect, the output files always look more professional and informative. Furthermore, things become way simpler if the split screen video maker has simple UI, is less resource intensive, and is easy to use as it is the case with Wondershare Filmora.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
The Ultimate DVR Face-Off: TiVo vs Comcast Xfinity
TiVo vs Comcast, Who Wins the DVR Battle?
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.
First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.
A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.
Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.
1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own
With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.
A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.
2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available
With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.
The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.
The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.
Comcast interface
TiVo interface
TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.
Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.
3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network
TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.
Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.
The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:
A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.
Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.
4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity
The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!
TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.
The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.
5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface
The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.
The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.
The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.
Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.
With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.
TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.
Summary
What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.
First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.
A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.
Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.
1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own
With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.
A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.
2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available
With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.
The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.
The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.
Comcast interface
TiVo interface
TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.
Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.
3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network
TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.
Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.
The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:
A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.
Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.
4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity
The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!
TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.
The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.
5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface
The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.
The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.
The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.
Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.
With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.
TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.
Summary
What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.
First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.
A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.
Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.
1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own
With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.
A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.
2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available
With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.
The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.
The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.
Comcast interface
TiVo interface
TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.
Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.
3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network
TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.
Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.
The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:
A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.
Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.
4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity
The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!
TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.
The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.
5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface
The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.
The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.
The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.
Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.
With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.
TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.
Summary
What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.
First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.
A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.
Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.
1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own
With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.
A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.
2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available
With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.
The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.
The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.
Comcast interface
TiVo interface
TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.
Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.
3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network
TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.
Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.
The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:
A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.
Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.
4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity
The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!
TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.
The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.
5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface
The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.
The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.
The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.
Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.
With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.
TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.
Summary
What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Also read:
- Updated Uncovered Top Mac Speech-to-Text Apps You Never Knew Existed Free & No Installation for 2024
- In 2024, Say Goodbye to Shaky Videos Top Free Android Stabilizers
- New Determining Screen Resolution A Step-by-Step Guide for 2024
- Updated 2024 Approved Speech to Text Made Easy Conversion Methods Revealed
- New In 2024, Video Editing Essentials How to Crop Videos Using Avidemux
- Updated 2024 Approved Bring Your Videos to Life Top 5 iPhone Video Editing Apps
- In 2024, Simplify Your Workflow GoPro Quik Video Editing Made Easy on MacBook
- Updated Smooth Out the Shakes 8 Free Online Video Stabilizers to Try
- New Create Stunning Invitations 10 Free Video Maker Options for 2024
- New In 2024, Rapid Video Resizing Techniques for Professionals
- New VHS Chic Best Mobile Apps for Achieving a Retro Aesthetic in Your Videos
- New 2024 Approved Speed Up Your Video Workflow QuickTime Player Tips for Windows and Mac Users
- Updated In 2024, Get the Job Done Top MP3 Conversion Software for Mac
- Updated In 2024, Ways to Help Your Find Best Flac Converter
- New 2024 Approved Get Ready for Lightning-Fast Video Editing with 64-Bit Technology
- New In 2024, Want to Join Video Content Creators Who Already Produce Stop Motion Videos on Instagram? In This Article We Are Going to Show You How to Make a Stop Motion Video on Instagram with and without the Bui
- The Best of the Best Top 10 Intro Creators for PC Online & Offline for 2024
- New 2024 Approved Resize Videos in Minutes A Beginners Tutorial
- Updated 2024 Approved Configure Your Computer for Seamless Premiere Pro Performance
- In 2024, Mastering Motion Blur A Step-by-Step FCP Tutorial
- In 2024, Streamline Your Videos 5 Best Free Compression Apps for iOS Devices
- New The Most Efficient Video Editing Software
- 2024 Approved Say Goodbye to Grainy Videos Top Resolution Enhancement Tools
- The Art of Cartooning Top Apps to Turn Yourself Into a Cartoon for 2024
- New Open-Source Video Editing Excellence Top Picks
- Updated The Science of Screen Size Calculating Pixels and Ratios for 2024
- Updated 2024 Approved Background Blur Made Easy The Best Free Online Solutions
- New In 2024, Animate Like a Pro The Best Free and Paid 3D Software for Beginners and Experts
- New Old School Cool Best Apps for Adding Vintage VHS Effects to Your Videos for 2024
- Updated 2024 Approved Professional Gaming Intro Designers You Can Trust
- Updated Lossless Audio at Your Fingertips Top-Rated FLAC Conversion Solutions for 2024
- New 2024 Approved Best Free Video Editing Software IMovie Alternatives
- New 2024 Approved From Scratch to Screen A Beginners Guide to Stop Motion Animation
- New In 2024, Top 10 Free Video Stabilization Tools Online for Smooth Footage
- New 2024 Approved Top 10 Free Android Video Editors with No Watermark
- Ways to stop parent tracking your Xiaomi Redmi A2+ | Dr.fone
- Vivo V27e Not Receiving Texts? 10 Hassle-Free Solutions Here | Dr.fone
- Troubleshooting Guide How to Fix an Unresponsive Gionee F3 Pro Screen | Dr.fone
- All Must-Knows to Use Fake GPS GO Location Spoofer On Poco M6 Pro 5G | Dr.fone
- How do I reset my Samsung Galaxy A34 5G Phone without technical knowledge? | Dr.fone
- New How to Create Intro Video with KineMaster for 2024
- In 2024, 5 Solutions For Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Unlock Without Password
- How to Fix the Soft Bricked Samsung Galaxy M14 5G? | Dr.fone
- In 2024, How To Stream Anything From Tecno Spark 20 Pro to Apple TV | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Does Samsung Galaxy A15 5G Have Find My Friends? | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Things You Should Know When Unlocking Total Wireless Of iPhone 8 Plus | Dr.fone
- Updated The Article Is a Guide About the Split of the Videos in VLC. There Is Also a Particular Description of Its Alternative Wondershare Filmora. It Is Suitable as Well as Reasonable
- Life360 Circle Everything You Need to Know On Tecno Pop 7 Pro | Dr.fone
- How to Unlock Xiaomi 14 Pattern Lock if Forgotten? 6 Ways
- Title: New 2024 Approved Discover the Secret to Effortless Writing Top Mac Speech-to-Text Apps You Need to Try Free & No Hassle
- Author: Isabella
- Created at : 2024-05-19 13:04:20
- Updated at : 2024-05-20 13:04:20
- Link: https://video-creation-software.techidaily.com/new-2024-approved-discover-the-secret-to-effortless-writing-top-mac-speech-to-text-apps-you-need-to-try-free-and-no-hassle/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
