How to Edit a Zoom Recording (Quick & Easy) - Riverside.fm

You’ve recorded everything perfectly, but your Zoom video isn’t quite final yet. So how do you edit your Zoom recording?

Zoom doesn’t have a wide caliber of editing tools. All in all, Zoom’s editing features include tools for trimming your content and adding basic captions. That’s about it. So what editing software should you use? What edits should you make?

We’ll walk you through all you need to know on how to edit Zoom recordings effectively. In this article, we share our best software picks for editing Zoom videos on PCs and mobile devices, plus show you what steps to follow for editing. We also share an alternative that gives you the flexibility to edit and record videos on one platform.

Why Edit Zoom Recordings?

Zoom recordings have a variety of uses in professional settings and the entertainment industry. They can record everything from a Webinar to a podcast. When you're creating these projects, you’ll want to edit parts of your recording you don’t need and add effects to create something unique. We’ll explain some of the ways professionals and content creators use Zoom recordings. 

Communication

Zoom can record a message you want to send out to your company or organization. Since many organizations already use Zoom for business or education, the share link you can send via email enables people to access your recording easily. Before sending your communication out, you should edit sections that aren’t relevant and clean up the audio and video to make sure they can see and hear you. 

Meeting Minutes

Zoom helps conduct video meetings. You can use video editing software to make meeting notes directly on your video, convenient for business professionals who need to stay organized. Recording in Zoom and then adding text using a video editor allows you to keep all of your information on meeting attendees and meeting discussions in one place. 

Online Video Content

Many people use Zoom to create content for YouTube and other streaming services because it’s free. You’ll need to edit your Zoom recordings for this type of content to add features like intros, outros, and soundtracks. Video editing software features will add a level of professionalism to your Zoom recordings you won’t get just uploading raw Zoom video files. 

Where to Find Zoom Recordings

Paid Zoom users can record locally or to the cloud, while free Zoom users can only record locally. Local Zoom recordings are saved on your computer in the Documents folder titled Zoom. Each recording is labeled with the date and time of the recording. This is the same for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. 

Follow these instructions to locate a Zoom recording stored in the cloud: 

1. Log in to your Zoom portal. 
2. Select Recordings from the navigation menu. 
3. A list of recordings stored in your cloud will appear under the Cloud Recordings tab.
4. Search by date, host, meeting ID, keyword, or topic to locate your recording. 

Can You Edit a Zoom Local Recording?

You can cut video content from the beginning and end of your local Zoom recording directly on your device. More advanced edits to local recordings can be completed with a specialized video editor program. 

In addition to saving your recording as an MP4 file, Zoom also records and stores audio and video separately. This means you have more control over your audio and video if you record with Zoom and then use editing software to clean up your audio and video files. 

How to edit Zoom video length using Zoom’s trimming feature: 

Step 1: Sign in to your Zoom portal. 

Step 2: Choose Recordings from the left navigation menu. 

Step 3: Locate and select the recording you’d like to edit. Then Click Open to go to where your file is located on your desktop.

Step 4: Import your file into your editing software of choice and then you're free to edit.

We'll go into more detail on this later, based on the device you're going to perform your zoom editing on.

Can You Edit a Zoom Recording in the Cloud?

Zoom calls stored in the cloud can be edited directly through Zoom. This means you can make cuts from the beginning and end of a Zoom video file using the program’s trimming feature, but you’ll need a video editing program to make any other type of edit. To trim the length of a video clip in Zoom, use the step-by-step instructions below. 

How to edit Zoom video length using Zoom’s trimming feature: 

Step 1: Sign in to your Zoom portal. 

Step 2: Choose Recordings from the left navigation menu. 

Step 3: Go to Cloud Recordings and select the recording you’d like to edit. 

Step 4: Click Play on your recording’s thumbnail. 

Step 5: The video viewer and editor will open.

Step 6: Click on the scissors icon in the lower right corner of the viewing screen.

Step 7: Drag the arrows on the progress bar to where you’d like your recording to begin and end.

Step 8: Click Save. 

Ways to Edit a Zoom Recording

We mentioned earlier that you could use Zoom to trim down your meetings and other recordings, but you can use many kinds of edits to customize your content for YouTube and other social sharing platforms. Below, we’ll explain different ways you can edit a Zoom recording to improve it. 

Cut and Trim Video

Any experienced content creator knows you usually film a lot more material than what ends up in your final cut. Whether your co-host goes off on a tangent or your guest tells a long-winded story, you almost always have to cut and trim video to keep it focused. Trimming off irreverent bits ensures that your video content tells a clear story.  

Clean Up Audio & Video

No matter how hard you try to control your recording environment, you’re going to end up with background noise in your audio. Video editing programs provide audio editing features for removing pops, hisses, and other background noise. Editing programs will also allow you to make more advanced edits to your video beyond just trimming the beginning and end times. 

Add an Intro and Outro

You’re going to want to add an intro and outro to your Zoom recording when creating a podcast or another type of streamable video content. While Zoom won’t let you add this type of effect, almost all video editing programs give you the ability to add a customizable intro and outro to your video file.  

Add Subtitles

Subtitles make your video content more accessible to a broader audience. Those who are hearing impaired or don’t speak English as their first language can still engage with your content if it has subtitles. 

Add a Branded Frame

Are you trying to make a name for yourself on social media? Video editing programs allow you to add a branded frame to your videos, so viewers always know who and what they’re watching. You can also use branded frames to deliver paid ad messages if you’ve monetized your content with podcast ads. 

Add a Logo

If you stream online video content, you know many creators feature logos in the corner of the screen of their videos. Zoom won’t let you do this, but you can brand your content with just a few clicks by adding a logo using any video editing program. 

Share Your Zoom Recording

Some, but not all, video editing programs give you the ability to share your videos right to Facebook and other social media sites once you finish editing. We recommend finding a content creation platform that includes video recording, editing, and sharing all in one place, as Zoom does not currently have all of these capabilities. 

Best Software to Edit a Zoom Recording

You’ll have to use video editing software to make changes to your Zoom recordings if you want to do more than cut out portions at the beginning and end. No matter your experience with video editing, there’s a program out there you can use effectively to improve your content. Some programs even have automated editing features, so you don’t need any technical knowledge to enhance your video (more on that later). 

We’ve chosen these three video editing programs because they’re easy to use, affordable, and provide all the editing features you need to produce great content. 

Best Software to Edit Zoom Recordings on a PC: Camtasia

Camtasia lets you add sounds and effects to videos to make them customized and professional. The program features automatic audio leveling, which will make your videos sound great and save you a lot of editing work. You can also add frames, images, logos, and other personal content to your videos simply by uploading them and placing them where you’d like in the video frame. Camtasia also has customizable keyboard shortcuts that will cut down on editing time once you get your workflow established. 

Best Software to Edit Zoom Recording on a Mac: iMovie

Apple’s iMovie comes installed on all Macs and is free to use. Because it has a wide range of editing features, it’s used by video editors of all skill levels. iMovie features all of the basic edits you’ll need, including zooming, cutting, cropping, and audio leveling. You can also add music and video transitions to give your Zoom recording a more polished feel. iMovie lets you share your content to social platforms once you’re finished making edits. 

Best Software to Edit Zoom Recordings on a Phone: Adobe Premiere Rush 

Adobe’s mobile app works on Android and iOS devices and conveniently links to the Adobe Creative Cloud. The app allows you to upload a Zoom recording and add titles, music, and graphics to your video. You can also add track overlays and adjust playback speeds. Once you’re finished editing, you can export your edited video right to social sharing sites like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. 

Edit a Zoom Recording on Any Device

In a previous article, we covered how to screen record on any device. But how do you make edits to a Zoom recording once you’ve captured it from your screen? We’ll explain how to import your recordings to edit Zoom videos using the software mentioned in the section above. 

How to Edit a Zoom Recording on a Computer or Laptop

How to edit a Zoom recording on a laptop or computer will vary depending on the type of system you’re using. While many software programs are compatible with all systems, some are specific to Mac or PC. Review the system requirements of any software before downloading or purchasing it.

How to Edit a Zoom Recording on Mac

To edit a Zoom recording using iMovie on your Mac, you’ll first have to import the Zoom video file. We’ll explain how to edit a Zoom recording for free using the iMovie program already installed on your Mac. Follow the steps below to bring your Zoom video recording into iMovie and begin making edits.

1. Open the iMovie program on your Mac. 
2. Locate your file using your Mac’s Finder. You can import single video files, a folder of files, or you can select multiple video files by holding Command and clicking the files you wish to import. 
3. Drag the files you want to edit to an Event in your iMovie Libraries List and drop them there. 
4. Your video clips will appear within the Event, and you can begin editing. 

How to Edit a Zoom Recording on PC

Camtasia provides users with many options for importing media files to the program from editing. Below, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions for the easiest way to import files into Camtasia.

1. Open Camtasia on your PC. 
2. Select Media from the navigation bar on the left. 
3. Click the + icon at the bottom of the Media Bin window. 
4. Choose Import Media.
5. Locate and select your Zoom recording in your computer’s Documents folder.
6. Your recording will upload, and you can begin making edits. 

How to Edit a Zoom Recording on a Phone

Adobe Premiere Rush makes it easy for you to edit video content from anywhere using your mobile device. Use these instructions to import your Zoom recording into Adobe Premiere Rush and start editing with a few taps.

1. Open Adobe Premiere Rush.
2. From the Home screen, select Create a New Project. 
3. Locate your file in the cloud or locally on your phone using the Media Browser. 
4. Select the files or files you want to edit. 
5. Click Create to finish importing your files.
6. Open the Edit workspace to make edits to your imported Zoom video. 

Alternative to Record & Automatically Edit HD Audio and Video

Zoom is convenient for recording video but does not offer many editing or sharing features. You’re better off using an all-in-one recording, editing, and sharing platform to create content. Using this type of program will save you a lot of time and hassle, especially if you need to edit many files. Instead of recording in Zoom and importing your files to another program, you can do everything in one place! The best all-in-one platforms also provide automated editing features that make the process even easier. 

Riverside

Riverside makes it simple to do all of your video recording, editing, and sharing in one place. It’s a great alternative to Zoom because it records better audio and video quality. The recording quality isn’t affected by your internet connection. You get a suite of easy tools to use to create professional video content. One of the top reasons we love Riverside is you don’t need any technical knowledge or experience to start creating high-definition videos in 4K. With Riverside's built-in editor, editing video is as easy as editing text. Our automated Ai transcriptions make speed up the editing process. Anytime you cut out text in your transcripts, the corresponding audio and video cuts off your recording timeline.

“Riverside is far better than Zoom for recording interviews.” - Seth Godin, author, entrepreneur and marketing leader.

Features that make Riverside.fm the perfect Zoom alternative: 

• Local recording where you capture audio and video directly on your device instead of relying on the internet. 
• Separate audio, video, and screen tracks for full control in post-production.
• Text-based video editor for easily removing unwanted sections as quickly as reading through a doc
• Automated editor tools for removing sections, fine-tuning audio, and adding customized backgrounds and logos.
• Magic Clip creator for turning your recordings into short shareable videos with just a few clicks.
• Producer Mode lets you interact with guests and co-hosts live without being recorded.
• Automatic AI transcription in over 100 languages for easy captions, subtitles and content repurposing. 
• Split-screen and share-screen features are easy to use and give your videos a professional feel.

These are just some of the features Riverside offers. You can find out more here.

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How to Edit a Zoom Recording on Any Device

Zoom has minimal editing options, so you’ll need video editing software to edit the Zoom video you record during a meeting or other Zoom event. There are video editing programs on the market for all skill levels and any device you want to edit Zoom recordings with. Though you can record video with Zoom and then upload it to a video editor to make changes, we recommend using an all-in-one recording, editing, and sharing platform like Riverside.fm to simplify the process. 

Editing Zoom Recordings FAQs

Do you still have questions about how to edit a Zoom recording? Keep reading for answers to some frequently asked questions about how to edit Zoom recordings. 

How Do You Cut and Edit Zoom Recordings?

The Zoom app allows you to cut out pieces from the beginning and end of your recording. You have to make any other edits by downloading your Zoom recording and uploading it to an editing software program.  

How Do I Trim a Zoom Recording?

Zoom provides an easy-to-use trim feature that lets you cut out bits at the beginning and end of your recorded Zoom video. If you want to make trims to the middle of your recordings, you’ll need video editing software. Zoom currently only supports trimming for the start and finish of video clips. 

Can You Crop a Zoom Recording?

It’s easy to crop out portions from the beginning or end of a Zoom recording using the program’s trimming feature. If you want to crop parts of the actual video picture or make other edits, you can do so with a third-party video editor. See the section in the article above for the best video editing software for phones, PCs, and Macs. 

How Do I Make an MP3 Recording From a Zoom File

You’ll have to use an MP3 converter to change your Zoom recording from MP4 format. Follow the below instructions to convert your Zoom file to an MP3 using iTunes. 

1. Open iTunes.
2. Drag the audio recording (m4a file) from your Zoom file into the iTunes window and drop it there.
3. Open iTunes Preferences and select General and then Notification - Import Settings. 
4. Select Import Using and choose MP3 Encoder from the dropdown menu. 
5. Click OK.
6. Select your Zoom file.
7. Click File, then Convert, then Create MP3 Version. 

How Do I Change My Zoom Recording to Video?

Zoom recordings are automatically saved as separate video and audio files once you’re finished recording. You don’t have to complete any sort of file conversion if you want to upload your Zoom audio or video to an editing program to make changes. 

How Do I Record Myself on Zoom?

You can record yourself on Zoom using the program’s built-in screen recorder if you’re the meeting host or have recording permissions from the host. If you don’t have recording permissions, you can record yourself with your device's native screen recording features or third-party recording software. 

How Do I Edit a Recorded Zoom Meeting?

You can trim the beginning or end of your Zoom meeting using the built-in editing features in the Zoom app. You’ll have to download your recording and then upload it to a video editing software program to make edits to improve the sound or video quality or add frames or logos.

How Can I Edit Zoom Recordings Online?

Zoom recordings saved to the cloud can be edited the same way as recordings stored locally on your device. See the section above titled “Can You Edit a Zoom Local Recording” for step-by-step instructions on trimming a Zoom recording from within the app. If you want to make more edits than just trims, you’ll have to use video editing software. 

How Do I Edit the Middle of a Zoom Recording

Zoom allows users to trim the beginning and end of recordings made in their app. If you want to complete more advanced edits or like to edit out sections in the middle of a Zoom recording, you’ll have to use a third-party editing program. Zoom has settings that can optimize your recording output for specific editing programs.