You have a long recording, and you only need to trim the start, drop an ad break and save it as MP4. Avidemux handles that kind of job on Windows without a subscription. Version 2.8.1 is 38.1 MB, costs nothing and is released under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Who a cut-and-encode tool fits
Avidemux is aimed at simple cutting, filtering and encoding, not at layered timeline editing. It suits people who want to trim clips, convert between formats or run the same job on many files. The developer describes it as a simple editor that also runs on Linux and Mac OS X.
If you need multi-track titles, transitions or effects stacks, alternatives such as Kdenlive, Shotcut and OpenShot Video Editor are more conventional editors.
Formats, filters and the 32-track audio setup
The program reads AVI, DVD-compatible MPEG, MP4 and ASF files, using a variety of codecs. Version 2.8.1 adds filters for 3D LUT, Decimate and Arbitrary Rotate, and a quick shortcut, CTRL+F, for adding partial filters.
The audio side has a 3-band equalizer, a configurable compressor, per-channel gain and delay, and channel remapping. Audio tracks can be configured up to 32. Windows users also get hardware decoding of 8-bit VP9 through DXVA2 on supported graphics cards.
Automation
Repeated work can be handled with projects, a job queue and scripting. That makes it practical for batches.
This is a Windows release, so it has no Google Play rating. The last update was on September 21, 2022.
What's new in 2.8.1
Version 2.8.1 adds a HiDPI-compatible button set, light and dark themes in the View menu, and the new 3D LUT, Decimate and Arbitrary Rotate filters. HDR tonemapping also gets performance and quality improvements.
Avidemux pros and cons
Pros
- Free, with GPL-2.0 licensing
- Small download at 38.1 MB
- Job queue, projects and scripting for repeated tasks
- Detailed audio controls, including a 3-band equalizer and up to 32 tracks
- Light and dark themes plus HiDPI button set
Cons
- Built for simple cutting and encoding, not full timeline editing
- Not aimed at multi-track editing
- Last update recorded is September 21, 2022
Is Avidemux safe?
Avidemux is open source under GPL-2.0, and its code and project page sit at avidemux.sourceforge.net, so anyone can inspect how it is built. The Windows build is version 2.8.1, released 2022-09-21 and about 38.1 MB. Scan the installer with your usual security tool before running it.
How to install Avidemux
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Avidemux from the Start menu.
