How to cut a video to the beat of a song
Cuts that land on the beat make a video feel alive. Here's how to get that without marking a single beat by hand.
1 min read. Updated .
1. Gather your clips and song
- Download videoFn, open it and click Connect next to your AI assistant.
- Put your clips and the song in one folder, so they're easy to point to.
Use music you have the rights to use. That matters when you post the video.
2. Ask for a beat-synced edit
Cut the clips in Movies/summer to song.mp3. Change shot on every second beat, and save the best clip for the drop.
finding the beats and the drop in the song
cutting the clips on every second beat
placing the best clip on the drop
done
videoFn listens to the whole track, so it knows where the song builds and where it drops, not just where the beats are.
3. Adjust the pace
Watch the preview and change the rhythm in plain words:
- “Cut faster in the chorus.”
- “Hold the opening shot for four beats.”
- “Add a title that appears on the drop.”
4. Export
Say “export it”. The video renders on your Mac with the song mixed in.
Tips
- Cutting on every beat is often too fast. Every second or fourth beat usually feels better.
- Save your strongest shot for the biggest moment in the song.
- Short clips with movement work best. Give a few more clips than you think you need.
Questions
- Can I use photos instead of video clips?
- Yes. See turn your music into a video for an example made from three photos.
- What if the song changes tempo?
- videoFn follows the beats it finds across the whole song, so the cuts follow the changes too.
- Can text move with the music too?
- Yes. Ask for titles or lyrics that appear on the beat. See lyric videos.