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Omniclip

lastmod 2026-06-01created 2024-05-202 edits

Open-source web video editor

Features

  • Can trim and split videos
  • Edit clips in the preview - rotate, resize, style text
  • Supports text, audio, video (MP4), and images
  • Undo/Redo
  • Renders at various resolutions up to 4K
  • Planned
    • Project manager
    • Transitions
    • Effects : filters, color adjustment, special effects
    • Support for timebases other than 25fps

About development

  • Built it myself because there are not many open-source web-based video editors
  • The project started as a portfolio project, but I treated it like a startup idea and developed it hoping people would actually use it
  • Free and open source (MIT license)
  • Uses the Webcodecs API for fast rendering
  • Runs client-side in the browser and stores no personal data

Caveats

  • A simple editor, but my main project that I keep improving
  • Currently only videos at 25fps or higher work; lower ones do not
  • Only 4 tracks - could be improved quickly but I forgot
  • Bugs here and there (e.g. the filmstrip does not render until you scroll the timeline)
  • Does not work on phones yet (drag and drop API issue)

GN⁺ opinion

  • Not perfect yet, but it looks to have high potential through continuous improvement and feedback. Positioning it for general users rather than professionals might differentiate it more
  • Running in the browser using the Webcodecs API is appealing. However, it may not be 100% compatible with all browsers, so a fallback seems necessary
  • There are already widely used open-source desktop video editors such as Shotcut and Kdenlive. Clearly showing how it differs from them would help attract users
  • It seems necessary to understand its pros and cons compared with free online editing tools such as Clipchamp or Kapwing
  • Differentiating features worth considering include online collaborative editing, automatic subtitle generation, and AI-based editing suggestions

Hacker News opinions

  • Show HN: Open-Source Video Editor Web App | Hacker News
  • The community needs to invest in developing web-based open-source video editors. Gave a talk appealing for this last year.
  • Often closes tabs by accident, and there is no confirmation dialog when closing the tab or navigating away while working on an unsaved project. Asks whether this feature could be added.
  • Would like to hear more about the big issues faced during development and how they were solved. For example, you said you used the WebCodecs API for fast rendering; curious what that means and what the slower alternative is. Also asks when FFmpeg vs. the WebCodecs API was chosen and what the differences are.
  • The black screen is because you have to wait until about 50-80MB is loaded. Explains that they completely forgot about this issue because the project was already cached.
  • Praises it as good enough to use Omniclip for a recent project that needed a video embedded in a slideshow. As feedback, suggests an undo system would be a good next feature. Expresses thanks for it being open source.
  • Expresses regret, saying they wish they had seen it 5 hours earlier.
  • Wonders how the 4GB maximum memory limit for Chrome tabs was handled.
  • Expresses amazement, saying they had thought about building something similar but after researching it felt they could never do it in a lifetime. Thanks them for making it open source.
  • Says the rotate feature is great; iMovie lacks it, so they had worked around it by importing and exporting through Keynote. Would be nice to do this in a dedicated tool.
  • Likes that it is 100% client-side. Tried to import PNG files by drag and drop, but it did not work.

See also

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