As a video editor who relies on automation to speed up my workflow, I'm requesting a feature that enables recording and replaying a sequence of actions, similar to "Actions" in Adobe Photoshop. While effect presets and copying attributes are useful for single clips, a macro-style recording tool would be far more efficient for complex, multi-step operations.
Problem: Many repetitive editing tasks involve more than just applying effects. For example, a motion graphic might require creating new tracks, moving keyframes, adjusting positions, and applying multiple non-preset-friendly actions. Applying these manually to dozens of clips is a massive time sink.
A perfect example of this is the common workflow for adapting vertical (phone) video material for inclusion in a horizontal (broadcast or web) video clip:
Import the vertical clip.
Duplicate it and place one clip directly above the other on the timeline.
Select the top clip and scale it down to fit within the horizontal frame.
Crop the top clip as needed.
Select the bottom clip and scale it up to fill the entire horizontal frame.
Apply a fast blur to the bottom clip to create a blurry, parallax background.
Select both clips and nest them into a new sequence.
Currently, replicating this sequence requires navigating multiple menus and panels for each individual clip, which is highly inefficient and prone to human error when adjusting settings.
Proposed solution: Implement an "Actions" panel similar to Photoshop's, where users can:
Record: Press a "Record" button and perform a series of edits.
Stop: End the recording and save the sequence of actions as a named macro.
Replay: Run the saved macro on any selected clip or sequence.
This would allow editors to automate multi-layered and multi-panel operations that go beyond simple effect presets.
Why this would help:
Massive time-saver: Automates complex, repetitive tasks like the vertical-to-horizontal conversion that are currently very manual.
Increased consistency: Ensures every clip receives the exact same set of changes, eliminating human error.
Empowers users: Opens up a new level of customization and automation for professional editors with complex workflows.
Thank you for considering this request. An action-recording feature would be a game-changer for many of us.
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