VideoDraft Editor
A video editor on your Mac that you and your agents work in together.
On this page
One editor, two ways to work#
VideoDraft Editor is a Mac app that comes with ADE. It runs on your Mac, not in the cloud. You and your agents edit the same project, with the same undo and the same export.
- Agents can edit with the window closed. Click Open in Editor, or use Command Center, to watch or edit by hand.
- Changes an agent makes show up in the open window as they happen.
- Closing the window does not stop an agent’s edit.
- Projects are .vdproject packages and open without ADE.
What you need
An Apple silicon Mac with macOS 15 or later.
Start or link a project#
- 1In ADE’s right panel, open the Editor tab.
- 2Click Create project now, or Link existing project… to use a .vdproject you already have. You can also ask the agent to make one.
- 3Click Open in Editor to see the window.
- 4Import files with File > Import Media… (Cmd + I), or ask the agent to place them.
- 5Edit by hand, ask the agent, or both.
- 6Export with File > Export… (Cmd + E), or ask the agent.
By hand or with an agent#
Most editing works both ways. Some jobs need an agent for now.
| Job | By hand | With an agent |
|---|---|---|
| Cut, trim and arrange clips | Yes | Yes |
| Speed changes and ramps | Yes, in the Inspector or Modify > Retime | Yes |
| Transitions | Yes, from Transitions in the Library, or Cmd + T | Yes |
| Remove dead air | One quiet stretch at a time: right-click it on the audio clip and choose Remove Dead Air | All at once |
| Cut by words, remove filler words | Not yet | Yes |
| Make captions | Restyle them in Inspector > Text | Yes |
| Match color between shots | Adjust in Inspector > Color | Yes. The agent measures the shots and matches them. |
| Split screen and picture-in-picture | For multicam clips: right-click and choose Layout | For any clips |
Captions#
Agents make captions from the speech on the timeline, transcribed on your Mac. When you ask, say how many words per caption and where they should sit. Restyle them anytime in Inspector > Text.
Color, audio and effects#
These stay editable, so you or an agent can change them later without making new media.
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Color | Exposure, contrast, curves, color wheels, hue controls and LUTs (ready-made color looks). |
| Audio | Volume, volume keyframes (Cmd + click an audio clip), fades, dead air removal and Preserve pitch on sped-up clips. |
| Effects | Blur, grain, glow, vignette, chroma key (green screen removal), video noise reduction, masks and blend modes. |
| Transitions | Cross Dissolve, Dip to Black, Dip to White, Blur Dissolve, Push, Linear Wipe, Whip Pan and Cross Zoom. |
| Multicam | Sync several camera angles, switch between them and show them side by side. |
Export and hand off#
Choose File > Export… (Cmd + E), then pick an output.
| Output | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Video | H.264, H.265, HEVC 10-bit HDR or ProRes, at 720p, 1080p, 2K, 4K or Match Timeline. |
| Timeline: XMEML | Sending the edit to Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve through its XML import. |
| Timeline: FCPXML | Sending the edit to Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve. Includes titles. |
| Project package | A self-contained copy of the .vdproject and its media. |
Timeline exports carry the cut, not the look
XMEML and FCPXML carry cuts, speed changes, audio, position, crop, opacity and keyframes, but not color or effects. XMEML also turns a speed ramp into one average speed; FCPXML keeps the ramp. Export a finished video when the look must survive.