Audio & Video Editor Guide

Welcome to the user guide for the Audio/Video Editor. This editor is fully keyboard-accessible and designed to work smoothly with screen readers (like NVDA and JAWS), helping you edit and mix recordings easily.

Basic Concepts

Clips

Your audio or video files are split into clips. You can cut a file into multiple clips, adjust the volume of each clip separately, speed them up, change their pitch, or play them backwards.

Background Tracks

You can add extra tracks below your main recording. This is helpful if you want to play background music, add sound effects, or mix multiple voice files together.

Voice Over Effect

This effect lowers the volume of background music when you speak, and raises it back up when you are quiet. This keeps your voice clear and easy to hear without needing manual volume editing.

How to Use the Editor

1 Add Your Media File

Press Ctrl + I to choose and load your main audio or video file. You can also copy a file path from your computer and paste it directly into the app using Ctrl + V.

2 Play and Listen

Press the Spacebar to play or pause the audio. Move back and forth in the file using arrow keys: Shift + Left/Right Arrow to jump slightly (100 milliseconds), and Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow to jump 5 seconds.

3 Cut Out Mistakes

To cut a part of the audio:

  • Move to the start of the mistake and press S to split the clip.
  • Move to the end of the mistake, and press S again.
  • Select that clip in the list and press Delete to remove it.

4 Add Background Music and Sound Effects

To mix background music or sound effects into your recording:

  • Add a Track: Press Ctrl + Shift + T to create a new track.
  • Import Audio: Tab to the tracks list, select your new track, and press Ctrl + I to select and load your music or sound effect file.
  • Positioning Sound Effects: If a sound effect should play at a specific time (for example, at the 10-second mark), press the Application Menu Key on the track, choose **Adjust Start Offset**, and type the start time in seconds (e.g., type `10`).
  • Adjust Volume: Select the track and press Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow to set its volume. You can also right-click or press the Menu key, choose **Adjust Volume**, and enter a precise percentage.
  • Enable Voice Over: If it is background music, open the options menu and select **Set as Background Track**. Make sure your voice track is set as **Voice Track** so the music will automatically lower when you speak.

5 Save (Export) Your File

When you are finished editing, select the **Export Project** option or press the export button. Choose your output format (like WAV, MP3, or MP4) to save your final mixed file.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Action Shortcut Key What it does
Play / Pause Spacebar Starts or pauses playback of the audio/video.
Split / Cut Clip S Cuts the selected clip at the current play position.
Reverse Clip R Plays the selected clip backwards.
Delete Clip or Track Delete Removes the selected clip or background music track.
Paste File Path Ctrl + V Imports a file using a copied path from your clipboard.
Import File (Browse) Ctrl + I Opens the browse dialog to select a file.
Add Background Track Ctrl + Shift + T Adds a new empty track for background music/sounds.
Track Options Menu Application Key / Menu Key Opens the options menu for the selected clip or track.
Moving Around (Seeking)
Tiny Step (10ms) Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Arrow Moves the play position backward or forward by a tiny bit.
Small Step (100ms) Shift + Left/Right Arrow Moves the play position backward or forward by a small step.
Medium Step (1s) Left / Right Arrow Moves the play position backward or forward by 1 second (when timeline slider is focused).
Large Step (5s) Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow Moves the play position backward or forward by 5 seconds.
Sound Adjustments
Volume Up / Down Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow Raises or lowers the volume of the selected clips by 10%.
Speed Up / Down Ctrl + Shift + Up/Down Arrow Speeds up or slows down the selected clips.
Pitch Up / Down Alt + Shift + Up/Down Arrow Raises or lowers the pitch of the selected clips.
Balance Left / Right Alt + Left/Right Arrow Adjusts the stereo balance (panning) left or right.

Examples

Example 1: Making a Podcast with Voice Over Music

To talk over a music track smoothly:

  1. Load your voice recording first by pressing Ctrl + I.
  2. Add a new music track by pressing Ctrl + Shift + T.
  3. Select the new track, press Ctrl + I, and choose your music file.
  4. Press the Menu Key on the music track, and select **Set as Background Track**.
  5. Make sure your main voice recording is set as **Voice Track** (this is usually set automatically).
  6. Save (Export) your project. The editor will automatically lower the music volume whenever you speak, and bring it back up during silences.

Example 2: Adding Sound Effects at Specific Times

To play a sound effect (like a chime or transition sound) at a specific moment in your project:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + T to add a new track for your sound effect.
  2. Select the new track, press Ctrl + I, and import your sound effect file.
  3. Press the Menu Key on the sound effect track, and select **Adjust Start Offset**.
  4. Type the exact time (in seconds) when the sound effect should play. For example, if you want it to play at 15 seconds, enter `15`.
  5. If the sound effect is too loud, press the Menu Key again, choose **Adjust Volume**, and set it to a lower percentage (such as `50` for half volume).