Record and add clips to a video

Clips are separately recorded takes that play one after another in a single video. Record several in a row in the recorder’s multiple clips mode, or click Add clip in the editor to record another take, upload a file, reuse a clip from another video, or restore a removed one.

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What are clips?

Clips are separately recorded segments that play in sequence in one video. Record in smaller takes when you want to redo one part without starting over.

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Why should I use clips?

There are several reasons to use clips in Tella:

• Easier to record: Recording short sections is often easier than recording a long video in one take. You can focus on perfecting each part, minimizing the risk of mistakes.
• Less editing required: With clips, you only need to re-record small sections if something goes wrong, rather than redoing the entire video.
• Flexibility: You can mix different types of content (such as camera-only, screen-only, or both) within the same video, creating a dynamic presentation without starting over from scratch.

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When should I use clips?

If recording in smaller chunks makes the process easier for you, using clips is the best approach. Some people prefer recording everything in one go, but for most users, breaking the content down into multiple clips is more comfortable and efficient. Recording in clips works well for tutorials, presentations, product demos, or any video that requires you to focus on different elements at different times. If you make a mistake during a recording, you only need to redo that one clip, not the entire video.

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Create an empty video and add clips later

You can create a video before recording or adding any clips:

1. While editing a video, click the arrow next to the Tella logo in the top-left corner.
2. Click New video.
3. In the No clips yet screen, choose Record a clip or Upload. To reuse a clip from another video instead, click Add clip at the bottom of the timeline and choose Select from existing.

Tella opens the empty video as Untitled video. Editing tools and downloads become available after you add the first clip.

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Record several clips in a row

Recording clips in Tella is simple and flexible. Here’s how to get started: 1. Start the recording process:

• Open the Tella web recorder (the same process applies to the Tella Mac app or Chrome extension).
• Make sure your camera and microphone are set up and ready.

2. Record the first clip:

• Click the red recording button to start recording your first clip.
• Record the segment of the video you want, whether it’s a camera recording, screen recording, or a combination of both.

3. Stop the recording:

• When you’re finished with the first clip, press Stop. You’ll see the clip added to the clip bar at the bottom of the screen.

4. Record the next clip:

• To add more clips, click the record button again. Each new clip appears in your clip bar.
• For example, after recording your first clip (camera-only), you can change the type of recording for your second clip. You might switch to screen and camera recording to show a demo on your screen.

5. Mix clip types:

• You can record different types of clips within the same video. For example, start with a camera-only clip, then add a screen and camera clip, and finish with a screen-only clip to keep the video varied and engaging.

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Preview and edit your clips

Once you’ve recorded all your clips, Tella makes it easy to review and edit them:

• Preview: Click the Preview button at the bottom of the screen to watch all your clips in sequence.
• Edit clips individually: To edit a specific clip, click it in the clip bar to open up the editor. From there, you can make various adjustments, including trimming, adding text, or changing layouts.

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How do I add a clip to an existing video?

Click Add clip at the bottom of the editor timeline to record, upload, or select a clip from another video:

• Record new clip: Opens the recorder so you can capture a new clip directly.
• Upload a clip: Opens a dialog where you can drag and drop or select a video file from your computer.
• Select from existing: Opens the Library sidebar. Browse or search for a video, then pick a clip from it. Only my videos is on by default; turn it off to see other videos you can access. You can also use this option when the current video has no clips yet.
• Restore removed clip: Bring back a clip you previously removed from this video. This option only appears when the video has at least one removed clip. It opens a grid of removed clips so you can preview and restore any of them back into the timeline.

To combine two separate recordings into one video or place a clip in the middle, see Can I combine two separate recordings into one video?.

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Remove or restore a clip

To remove a clip, click the three dots (…) next to it in the clip bar and choose Delete. A Clip removed toast appears with an Undo button. Click it to put the clip straight back. You can also delete the last clip in a video. Tella then shows the No clips yet screen, where you can choose Record a clip or Upload. Until you add a clip, viewers see that the video has no clips yet, and you cannot download it. If you’ve already moved on or reloaded the editor, you can still recover a removed clip: open the Add clip dropdown and choose Restore removed clip to browse and restore it into the timeline.