Turn raw footage into a finished edit without opening an editor.
Thirty prompts for cutting, reframing, captioning and finishing video, run through Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app. Every one exports a new file, so your original is never touched.
Free. No email required, nothing to download.
These prompts do the editing, not just describe it. That needs Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app, because it is the part that can open a folder on your machine and write a file back out.
The browser version cannot reach your files, so this one step is not optional.
Top-left menu.
Point it at the folder rather than a single clip if you want it to work across several files.
Any of the thirty below. Paste it as written.
Every prompt here already ends with a named export, but say it out loud as well the first few times.
Tell it five things up front and you will spend far less time re-exporting: your target platform, the aspect ratio, the target length, the editing style, whether it is allowed to remove content, and the filename you want back. You can also upload a reference video and ask it to analyse the editing style before it starts.
Getting rid of what should not be there. Start here before anything else, because every later prompt works better on footage that has already been tidied.
/cleancut Edit this raw video into a clean, natural version. Remove: - long pauses - obvious mistakes - false starts - repeated sentences - sections where I restart the same point - unnecessary silence at the beginning and end Keep natural breathing room so the edit does not feel overly chopped. Do not remove useful information just to shorten the video. Preserve the original video and export the edited version as a new file called clean-cut.mp4.
/removefiller Clean up the spoken delivery in this video. Remove unnecessary: - ums - ahs - repeated words - abandoned sentence starts - awkward long pauses - verbal filler that does not add meaning Do not remove filler when cutting it would make the speech sound unnatural. Keep the speaker's natural personality and cadence. Use smooth cuts and export a new version called no-fillers.mp4.
/tightencut Make this video feel approximately 20-30% tighter without losing any important information. Shorten pauses, remove repetition and cut sentences or sections that make the same point twice. Prioritise: 1. clarity 2. pace 3. useful information 4. natural speech Do not speed up the actual voice. Export the tighter version as tight-edit.mp4.
/jumptype Turn this raw talking-head recording into a clean modern jump-cut edit. Remove mistakes, silence and repeated takes. Make cuts primarily between complete thoughts rather than randomly inside sentences. Avoid excessive cuts that make the speaker look unnatural. Keep the edit fast enough for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Export as jump-cut.mp4.
/besttake Review this raw recording and identify places where I repeated the same sentence or idea multiple times. For each repeated section, keep only the strongest take based on: - clearest delivery - confidence - least hesitation - cleanest audio - most natural expression Remove the rejected takes and assemble the strongest possible version. Export as best-takes.mp4.
Stopping a static talking head from looking like a static talking head.
/broll Edit this talking-head video and identify moments where relevant B-roll would improve understanding or retention. Add or create appropriate cutaway visuals over those sections. B-roll should directly support what is being said rather than being decorative. Prioritise: - products being mentioned - websites or apps being discussed - examples - locations - processes - objects - statistics or concepts that benefit from visual explanation Do not cover important facial reactions unnecessarily. Keep transitions simple and modern. Export as broll-edit.mp4.
/punchins Add subtle punch-ins and reframes throughout this talking-head video. Use them selectively: - when a new point begins - on important statements - around transitions - when the visual has remained static for too long Alternate naturally between the original framing and approximately 105-115% crops. Avoid constant random zooming. The result should feel like a professionally edited social video, not an aggressive meme edit. Export as punch-ins.mp4.
/reframe Convert this video into a 9:16 vertical version for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Keep the main speaker or subject correctly framed throughout. If the subject moves, adjust the crop dynamically to keep them visible. Avoid cutting off: - faces - hands when relevant - important products - on-screen text Use 1080x1920 output where possible. Export as vertical-version.mp4.
/multicamfeel Turn this single-camera talking-head recording into an edit that feels like it was filmed with multiple camera angles. Create 3 framing options from the source: - wide - medium - close-up Switch between them at natural moments such as new ideas, emphasis and transitions. Do not change framing every sentence. Keep the speaker's eye line consistent and avoid crops that reduce image quality too aggressively. Export as multicam-edit.mp4.
/patterninterrupts Add tasteful visual pattern interrupts throughout this video to prevent the edit from feeling static. Use a mix of: - punch-ins - brief B-roll - simple text callouts - crop changes - screenshots - relevant visual overlays Only add a pattern interrupt when it supports the content or when the visual has been unchanged for too long. Avoid over-editing. Export as retention-edit.mp4.
Pulling one or more social videos out of a longer recording.
/shortform Turn this raw recording into one strong 30-45 second short-form video for TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts. Find the strongest central idea and remove everything that does not support it. Structure the edit as: 1. immediate hook 2. quick setup 3. useful payoff 4. concise ending Start with the strongest line rather than automatically using the first sentence recorded. Keep the pace tight without making the speech unnatural. Output 9:16 vertical. Export as short-form.mp4.
/hookcut Analyse the full recording and find the strongest 5-10 second section that could work as the opening hook. Prioritise: - surprising claims - clear benefits - strong opinions - visually interesting moments - curiosity - statements that make someone want the explanation Move or adapt that section to the beginning. Then restructure the following footage so the video still makes logical sense. Do not invent a hook that was never recorded. Export as hook-cut.mp4.
/60second Turn this recording into the strongest possible video under 60 seconds. Preserve the most important information while removing: - repetition - unnecessary context - long examples - tangents - slow transitions Make sure the finished edit still has a clear beginning, middle and payoff. Do not simply increase playback speed to hit the target. Export as 60-second-edit.mp4.
/microcontent Find one self-contained idea in this recording that can work as a 15-25 second social video. The clip must make sense without needing the rest of the recording. Prioritise a section with: - a strong opening sentence - one useful idea - a clear payoff Remove unnecessary setup. Format vertically at 9:16 and export as micro-content.mp4.
/threeclips Review this entire recording and identify the three strongest standalone short-form clips. Each clip should cover a different useful idea. Aim for approximately 20-60 seconds per clip. For each: - start with the strongest possible line - remove unnecessary setup - tighten pauses - make the idea understandable without the original video - format for 9:16 social video Export them as: clip-01.mp4 clip-02.mp4 clip-03.mp4
Most social video is watched on mute, so this is not decoration.
/dynamiccaptions Add clean animated captions throughout this video. Captions should: - appear in short readable phrases - stay synchronised with speech - emphasise important words - remain inside mobile-safe areas - use large high-contrast text - avoid covering the speaker's face Highlight only genuinely important words rather than randomly colouring every sentence. Use consistent styling throughout. Export as captioned-video.mp4.
/minimalcaptions Add simple professional subtitles to this video. Use no more than 1-2 lines at once. Keep the typography clean and understated. Place subtitles consistently near the lower centre of the frame while respecting mobile safe zones. Correct obvious transcription errors based on context. Do not add unnecessary animation. Export as clean-captions.mp4.
/keywordcallouts Identify the 5-10 most important words, statistics, tools or concepts mentioned in this video. Add brief text callouts when they are spoken. Do not duplicate every caption. The callouts should visually reinforce important moments such as: - numbers - product names - commands - steps - key takeaways Keep the style consistent and minimal. Export as callouts.mp4.
/stepedit Turn this tutorial footage into a clear step-by-step edit. Identify each major step and display a simple label such as: STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 Remove unnecessary waiting between actions. Keep enough footage for viewers to understand what is happening. Where useful, zoom or crop toward the part of the screen or object being discussed. Export as step-by-step.mp4.
/titlecards Identify the major sections in this video and add short title cards or on-screen section headings when the topic changes. Keep titles concise, ideally 2-6 words. Use them to make the video easier to follow rather than simply adding decoration. Keep the styling consistent with a modern creator or educational video. Export as titled-edit.mp4.
The part people notice only when it is wrong. Bad audio loses more viewers than bad video.
/audiocleanup Clean and balance the audio in this video. Improve: - speech clarity - overall volume consistency - distracting background noise - low-level hum where possible - harsh volume spikes Do not aggressively process the voice until it sounds artificial. Keep natural room tone when removing it entirely would make cuts obvious. Normalise the final audio to a sensible level for social media. Export as audio-clean.mp4.
/levelvoice Analyse the spoken audio and even out inconsistent volume throughout the recording. Raise sections that are too quiet and reduce sections that are noticeably too loud. Preserve natural emphasis in the speaker's voice. Avoid audible pumping or sudden volume shifts. Do not change the video edit unless required for audio continuity. Export as levelled-audio.mp4.
/musicbed Add a subtle background music bed that supports the pace and mood of this video. Keep music clearly underneath the voice. Reduce music further whenever the speaker is talking and allow it to rise slightly during pauses or visual-only moments. Avoid dramatic music changes that distract from the content. If suitable licensed or user-provided music is not available, tell me rather than using copyrighted material without permission. Export as music-edit.mp4.
/sounddesign Add subtle sound design to reinforce important visual moments in this video. Possible uses include: - light whooshes on transitions - subtle clicks for UI actions - soft impacts on major text reveals - gentle swipes for visual changes Do not add a sound effect to every cut. Keep the sound design understated and professional. The voice should always remain the priority. Export as sound-designed.mp4.
Whole-edit prompts. The last one hands over the entire job.
/viralpace Edit this talking-head video for stronger short-form retention. Focus on: - immediate opening - removing slow setup - shortening pauses - cutting repetition - changing visuals when appropriate - maintaining momentum between ideas Do not turn the video into chaotic hyper-editing. The goal is clear, fast communication rather than maximum cuts. Export as viral-pace.mp4.
/podcastclip Find the strongest standalone moment from this podcast or interview recording and create a short social clip. Prioritise a section containing: - an interesting opinion - useful advice - surprising story - strong disagreement - clear lesson Remove unnecessary lead-in. Keep enough context that the viewer understands the point. Reframe vertically if appropriate and add readable captions. Export as podcast-clip.mp4.
/tutorialshort Turn this tutorial recording into a concise short-form walkthrough. Keep only the essential actions required to achieve the result. Remove: - waiting - loading time - mistakes - repeated navigation - unnecessary explanation Zoom toward important buttons, menus or fields when needed. Add numbered steps and concise captions. The final video should make the process easy to replicate. Export as tutorial-short.mp4.
/beforeafter Re-edit this footage around a clear before-and-after structure. Open with a short glimpse of the finished result. Then show: 1. the starting point 2. the key transformation steps 3. the final result Make the visual contrast between before and after immediately obvious. Do not fabricate or exaggerate results beyond what exists in the footage. Export as before-after.mp4.
/referenceedit I have provided: 1. my raw video 2. a reference video whose editing style I like First analyse the reference for: - average cut frequency - caption style - punch-ins - B-roll frequency - pacing - transitions - text usage - framing - sound design Then edit my raw footage using those general editing principles. Do not copy copyrighted creative elements exactly. Adapt the style to my footage while keeping the result natural. Export as reference-style-edit.mp4.
/fulledit Turn this raw recording into a polished short-form video ready for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. First review all of the footage and identify the strongest story. Then: 1. choose the strongest opening hook 2. remove mistakes, pauses and repetition 3. tighten the pacing 4. add relevant B-roll where useful 5. add subtle punch-ins and reframes 6. add readable dynamic captions 7. highlight important keywords 8. clean and balance the audio 9. reframe to 9:16 if necessary 10. finish with a clean natural ending Do not over-edit or add effects simply for the sake of it. Prioritise clarity, retention and natural delivery. Keep the original footage untouched. Export the final version at 1080x1920 as final-social-edit.mp4.
Most finished videos are three or four of these in sequence rather than one. A normal run is cleanup, then reframe, then captions, then audio.
Feed each export into the next prompt rather than starting again from the raw file, and keep the intermediate files until you are happy. If you would rather not think about the order at all, /fulledit runs the whole chain in one go.
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