Contents

Chapter 1
Introduction

1.1 About Pitivi

• Pitivi is a free and open source video editor based on the GStreamer Multimedia Framework.
• It is distributed under LGPL.
• Runs on Linux, BSD, Windows and Mac.

1.2 Install

1.2.1 Debian

1.3 Supported audio/image/video formats

• Those supported by GStreamer.

1.4 The main window

1. Header bar: Basic functions.
2. Ruler: A time scale.
3. Timeline: Contains the video layers.
4. Timeline toolbar: Timeline edition.
5. Playback toolbar: To control the playback.
6. Previewer: To view your results.
7. Media and effect libraries.
8. Clip configuration, transitions and title editor.

Chapter 2
Importing media

• To load a clip into Pitivi:
  1. Use the file chooser dialog (Media Library -> Import) or use drag and drop (from a file browser).
  2. Clik on the button “Insert the selected clips at the end of the timeline” (this will concatenate the selected videos in the timeline).

• Notice that clips can be placed/moved between layers (up and down). In this case, the playback will reproduce all videos in parallel (in the same canvas).

Chapter 3
Controlling the timeline

1. : Select a video clip with the mouse.
2. : Use the mouse wheel anywhere over the timeline.
3. : Hold down the Shift key while using the mousewheel.
4. : Holding the Ctrl key while using the mousewheel over the timeline.
5. : Click on the ruler.
6. : Click on the ruler and move the mouse with the button still held down.

Chapter 4
Presets

• Click on the Main menu button and select “New project”.
• Allows to define the rendering (output) settings.
• Notice that new presets can be created.

Chapter 5
Trimming (cut and paste)

5.1 Basic trimming

• Trimming is the act of changing the length of a clip by moving its beginning or end point in its timeline.
• To perform a trimming do:
  1. Move the mouse cursor over the edge of a clip and a trimming handle will appear.
  2. Drag the trimming handle in an appropriate direction to either reduce or increase the length of the clip.

5.2 Ripple editing

• Ripple editing is a variant of basic trimming which, in addition to trimming a clip, also moves the following clips.
• To perform a ripple edition do:
  1. Place the mouse cursor on a trimming handle.
  2. Press and hold Shift.
  3. Drag the trimming handle.

5.3 Roll editing

• Roll editing is also a variant of basic trimming which, in addition to trimming a clip, trims the adjacent clips in a complementary way to prevent creating gaps.
• To perform a ripple edition do:
  1. Place the mouse cursor on a trimming handle between two adjacent clips.
  2. Press and hold Ctrl.
  3. Drag the trimming handle.

Chapter 6
Keyframe curves

• A keyframe is a frame (an image) of a video that does not depend on any other frame of the video when decoding.
• The keyframe curve is a piecewise “curve” with vertices in the keyframes and that allows to change the opacity, effects, volumen, etc. of the clips on both, audio a video.
• By default, all clips have an hidden fully-flat keyframe curve.
• Most effects can be controlled with keyframes curves.
• Keyframe (in yellow) curves appear when clicking on a layer. A vertice can be added by clicking on the keygrame curve.

Chapter 7
Splitting

7.1 Split the current clip

• Divides the selected clip into two adjacent clips. Notice that if no clips are selected, all the clips under the playhead will be split.
• To split a single clip:
  1. Click on the clip.
  2. Reposition the playhead (if needed).
  3. Click on the Split button on the timeline toolbar or press S.

7.2 Split all clips at the same time

• To split all the clips across the all layers:
  1. Click on a blank area of the timeline (this will deselect all selected clips, if any).
  2. Reposition the playhead (the vertical red line of the timeline), if needed.
  3. Click on the Split button on the timeline toolbar or press S.

7.3 Split multiple clips

• To split multiple selected clips:
  1. Position the playhead where you want to split.
  2. Add or remove clips to the selection with the Ctrl modifier key. This will not affect the playhead’s position.
  3. Click on the Split button on the timeline toolbar or press S.

Chapter 8
Transitions

8.1 Fade-in/out

• Use the keyframe curve. You need to create for the fade-in an uphill slope and viceversa.

8.2 Crossfading (not implemented)

• To do a crossfade between two clips on the same layer, simply drag one of the clips onto the other so that it overlaps. By default, a linear transition will be created. A loop mode is also available.

Chapter 9
Effects

• Click on Effect library.
• Available effects depend on the software installed on your computer. If you don’t see anything (or only a handful of effects) in the effect library, make sure that the gnome-video-effects package is installed on your system. Alternatively, you can look for packages containing GStreamer or frei0r effect plugins that are available in the repositories of your distribution.

9.1 Adding (applying) effects

1. Select an existing clip on the timeline.
2. Choose an effect in the effect library.
3. Drag the chosen effect into the middle pane -> Clip configuration -> Effects.

9.2 Removing effects

1. Select an existing clip on the timeline.
2. Select the effect from the middle pane -> Clip configuration -> Effects.
3. Click the Remove effect button.

9.3 Toggling effects

• If you want to temporarily disable an effect (to compare with and without the effect, or for performance reasons), click the corresponding Active checkbox in the middle pane -> Clip configuration -> Effects.