Microsoft Defender Preview is a standalone app that serves as a central hub for the Windows Security system. Some new features have been added to Windows 11, the most notable of which is Clipchamp. Clipchamp is the new video editing app for Windows 11 that Microsoft says has a focus on “making video creation easy, fast, and fun.” It comes equipped with a lot of the basic tools a video editor requires like trimming and splitting. It also has professional-level features like transitions and animated text. Clipchamp also has a webcam and screen recording functionality. The app also comes with a video timeline, which is new to Windows video editors and functionality usually reserved for professional-grade editing apps. Clipchamp has access to a massive stock library filled with over a million assets. These assets include royalty-free videos, audio files, and images. The app has a text-to-speech generator powered by Microsoft Azure and supports over 70 different languages. Clipchamp also integrates with several Windows apps and connects to OneDrive for easy file transport. Needless to say, Clipchamp is packed to the brim with features and has a lot going for it. The company behind Clipchamp was acquired by Microsoft in September 2021, and it looks like the app will be the replacement for the iconic Windows Movie Maker program from years past.
What does Microsoft intend to do with Clipchamp?
For almost 20 years, Windows Movie Maker was the premiere video editing tool for Windows computers up until 2017 when Microsoft officially discontinued it. It was a pretty simple and easy-to-use software that any amateur filmmaker could pick up. But like a lot of native apps on Windows, it is criticized for oversimplification and lack of any meaningful features. It was just too bare-bones and eventually, Microsoft moved on. Since then, Microsoft has been working on the next generation of its native apps. Typically, the apps that came on Windows computers were criticized and even mocked for how poor they were in comparison to third-party apps. People in the past made the joke that Internet Explorer was only good for downloading a better web browser. From this, Microsoft listened to what people were saying and made major changes to its native apps. Native apps like Calendar and Email got a much-needed revamp with new features and redesign aligned with Windows 11. Movie Maker had a spiritual successor in the form of a Video Editor feature in the Photos app. However, the Video Editor is still basic and barebones. It doesn’t have a timeline, but instead a Storyboard, which you can split up and add text. It’s fine, but you wouldn’t consider it to be a great video editor. And so, this brings everything back to Clipchamp, a web-based video editor that Microsoft is turning into a proper app on Windows 11. Here is how you can download and use Clipchamp.
What are some noteworthy features for Clipchamp?
What’s unique about Clipchamp is that it uses a PC’s GPU to process video. It does this to free up your CPU of processing power, an important resource for programs to use. ➡ Low impact on your CPU A computer’s CPU only can support a certain amount of tasks and apps. When resources get strained, that causes performance issues and your computer starts to slow down immensely. As you can see in the image of the Task Manager, Clipchamp is taking up very little of the CPU, but a large portion of the RAM which is directly from the GPU usage. If your Windows 11 computer has a good enough GPU, the Clipchamp will save you a lot of CPU resources. But if your GPU isn’t up to snuff, then rendering videos will take a long time to complete. That said, moving resource management to the GPU is a great solution to resource hogs like Google Chrome. While you render your video, you can surf the internet or whatever else is on your itinerary. ➡ Large stock content library The stock library available is pretty extensive. The company did not cheap out in this regard. You have a wide selection of choices from base backgrounds to neon lights for stock video. There are tons of free stock images from various LGBT pride flags and outer space, although more specific stocks images are locked behind a paywall. You’ll know which ones you’ll have to buy if they have an orange diamond in the corner. Music options run the gamut from lo-fi chill music to hip hop to acoustic guitars. Sound effects stuff like fake police radio transmissions to creepy ghost/zombie sounds for Halloween videos. If you select the Graphics tab, you will see the entire GIPHY library at your disposal, meaning you add your favorite internet onto your video for no extra charge. The amount of GIFs you have at your disposal is very impressive. , and stickers from GIPHY are part of that package. Speaking of free content, all of the text and transition options are free on Clipchamp. ➡ Paid plans and what they offer Clipchamp also has several paid plans that you can choose from that add on features and capabilities. The more expensive the plan, the higher the quality videos you can create. The base plan limits you to videos at 480p, which is a little disappointing to see. This option offers a fairly low-quality resolution and would have liked to see 720p set as the standard. Honestly, 720p doesn’t look that good anymore. SPONSORED Video resolution has made leaps and bounds in the last several years that devices and platforms can now output video at 4K resolution, and in some cases, even more. Having the 1080p option as the maximum is also disappointing to see. And certain parts of the stock library are locked behind a particular level. The Business Platinum level gives you access to absolutely everything while the creator limits you to music and sound effects. It would have been better if the paid plans offered more than what they’re giving its customers. Below is a demonstration of how you can create a video with Clipchamp using the Basic plan.
How can I create a video on Clipchamp?
For this example, the instructions will create a video based on what is available on the Basic plan. The process is the same for every plan. But with higher-paid plans, you’ll have more tools at your disposal, and thus the results could be better. That being said, to be able to set up and use Clipchamp with ease, you will need to follow some steps. Below you can observe the entire process.
1. Join the Windows Insider Program
2. Download the latest Windows Insider preview build
3. Configure Clipchamp
4. Record video
5. Edit the video
6. Add stock video, music, and graphics
This is was a brief rundown of what Clipchamp is capable of. The purpose was to show how easy and simple it is to record videos on Clipchamp and how easy it is to edit them. Editing can be a complex procedure that takes a long time, but this app cuts the process down. The amount of time saved using this app cannot be overstated.
Is Clipchamp a good video editing app?
Clipchamp is a pretty good video editor, although there are some weak points in the software. First, it’s incredibly easy to use that even someone who’s never edited a video before can use. It is so beginner-friendly that anyone looking to venture out into the world of video editing should try out Clipchamp first. The app gives you so many tools to start with. You can create pretty decent videos with it. Not shown in the step-by-step guide were hints and the tutorial that Clipchamp runs you through to teach you what you have at your disposal. The user interface is clean and marked. Nothing is hidden. Everything is just a few clicks away. Templates support various types of videos like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ads, TikTok, holidays, sales videos, and more. The support for GIPHY is amazing with an almost limitless amount of GIFs at your hands. The stock library alone feels like more should be behind a paywall, but a large portion is free. It is such a great beginner’s tool, but don’t get it confused with better apps. Clipchamp pales in comparison to software like Vegas Pro or Adobe Premiere which are industry-level video editors. Third-party apps like that are much more powerful in terms of features, capabilities, and tools. Those set the standard, but Clipchamp is meant for people who are starting, not professionals. That said, it’s disappointing to see no 4K or even Quad HD resolution as a part of Clipchamp and this is something that pertains to the web browser version as well. The web browser version and app are identical in every way and are only available on Chrome and Edge. Because of this, Clipchamp on web browser uses CPU resources instead of the GPU which can lead to performance issues. Just a side note, but important to point out. Also, not supporting 4K resolution is a weird decision since so many websites like YouTube and Twitch allow people to upload videos and stream at that high quality. People who want to upload to those sites probably won’t be using Clipchamp since it restricts people to such a low resolution. Regardless of what it can’t do, Clipchamp is still a great app.
What else can I look forward to in the latest Insider Preview build?
One of the big new additions is a Microsoft Defender app. It’s only available as a preview for users in the United States, but it’s a security app that brings a Windows 11 security standard to mobile devices and a hub for all your machines. There’s also Microsoft Family which is a parental control app that establishes barriers of what children can and can’t access. It’ll make sure that children can only access family-friendly websites and keep them safe. And if you ever run into any issues concerning this latest update, it’s recommended that you uninstall it. You can also try disabling your antivirus software which has been known to clash with Windows in the past.
Final Verdict: 4/5
While the low resolution for videos made from Clipchamp is disappointing, the app is pretty good. You have to look at what the purpose of the app is and who is it for? Not for the filmmaker or the tech-savvy person. Clipchamp is meant for the common layperson who doesn’t want the most high-quality videos or amazing editing tricks. It’s also meant for small businesses who want a simple video editor with some neat tools. It has succeeded in being Movie Maker 2.0, in that it’s a video editing app that is easy to use, fun, and teaches you how to make videos along the way. That said, it’s disappointing to see to see the video resolution cap off at 1080p when so many video streaming sites that can do 4K videos. And this isn’t something that Clipchamp is incapable of. It’s baffling to see this feature not transfer over to the Windows 11 app version, especially when it focuses so heavily on gaming. Clipchamp has a lot of tools and templates with a focus on YouTube gaming videos and Twitch streams. This is a community that demands high-quality videos and gaming. Low-resolution videos that won’t allow a game’s quality to shine through are a confusing move on the behalf of Microsoft. Hopefully, Clipchamp adds Full HD and 4K support soon. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions on other Windows 11 apps. Also, leave comments about reviews that you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features.
SPONSORED
Name *
Email *
Commenting as . Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
