How to split a clip in a video on a Mac
Cut a clip in two at the playhead in one keypress — press S (or the scissors button) in the Crisp timeline editor, then trim, delete, reorder or re-time each half. 100% offline on your Mac, no watermark.
Splitting a clip in two
Splitting (or blading) a clip means cutting it into two pieces at a chosen point so you can trim, delete, reorder, or re-time each part separately. It is the most basic move in any timeline editor — remove a boring middle, drop a photo between two halves, or speed up just one section. Crisp does it in one keypress, offline.
Step by step
Open Crisp and add your clip
Download the free Crisp app for Mac and open it — it starts in the timeline editor. Import your video and click Add to timeline.
Move the playhead to the cut point
Click or drag on the timeline ruler to move the playhead to exactly where you want to cut. The preview shows the frame you are on.
Split — press S (or the scissors button)
Press S, or click the scissors in the transport bar. The clip splits into two independent clips at the playhead.
Edit each half on its own
The two halves are separate clips now — trim either edge, delete one, reorder them, or give each its own look and speed. Repeat to cut a clip into as many pieces as you want.
Export
Click Export video and Crisp renders your edit to a clean MP4 on your Mac — no watermark, no upload.
The two halves are fully independent
After a split, each half is its own clip: trim it, delete it, reorder it, or give it a different look or speed. Split again to chop a clip into as many pieces as you like.
Split vs trim
- Split cuts one clip into two at the playhead — both stay on the timeline. That is this guide.
- Trim shortens a clip from its start or end without cutting it in two. See trim a video.
Split and edit clips on your Mac — offline
Free to try. A real timeline editor: split with S, trim, reorder, grade — no account, no upload.
Download Crisp for MacApple Silicon · macOS 12+ · Notarized
FAQ
How do I split a clip in Crisp?
Put the playhead where you want the cut and press S (or click the scissors button). The clip splits into two independent clips at that point.
Can I split a clip into more than two pieces?
Yes — move the playhead and split again. Each split adds a cut.
Does splitting lose quality?
No — the split is just a cut on the timeline; nothing is re-encoded until you export.
Related guides
Trim a video · Change video speed · Make a photo slideshow · Upscale a finished edit to 4K
Cut on motion, not on silence
The instinct is to cut where the audio stops. Cuts usually feel more natural placed mid-movement — as a hand starts to rise, as someone turns — because the eye is already tracking the motion and rides through the edit. A cut on a dead frame draws attention to itself.
Splitting is not destructive
Splitting a clip on the timeline never touches the file on disk. You're setting in and out points on a reference, so you can split the same source a dozen times and the original stays exactly as it was. That also means an accidental split costs you nothing — undo it, or delete the piece and drag the remaining edge back out.