What Is a Compound Clip & How to Use it in CapCut? (2024)

In the world of creative content, video editing is an art, and CapCut is a powerful tool for that art. As a content creator, when you use CapCut to edit your videos, you may come across a mysterious element on the timeline called a compound clip.

You might wonder, what exactly is a compound clip? Why is it important to understand it? These questions will be answered in the upcoming tutorial.

In this tutorial, we will explore the compound clip feature of CapCut, giving you a complete understanding of how it works and teaching you how to leverage it to enhance your creations.

So keep reading and let's explore the enchanting world of compound clips in CapCut together!

In this article, you will learn:

1. What Is a Compound Clip in CapCut?
2. How to Create a Compound Clip in CapCut?
3. How to Undo a Compound Clip in CapCut?
4. What Is Pre-process in CapCut?
5. Frequently Asked Questions About CapCut Compound Clip

What Is a Compound Clip in CapCut?

Creating a compound clip in CapCut refers to packaging one or multiple assets on the CapCut tracks into a single entity, which can be seen as a new bundled asset placed on a single track.

You can consolidate clips from one or multiple tracks into a compound clip.

Next, we will demonstrate how to create a compound clip using the CapCut PC version. This will allow you to better understand and navigate this feature on a larger screen.

How to Create a Compound Clip in CapCut?

To create a compound clip, you need to first select the assets on the timeline that you want to include in the compound clip.

You can either use the mouse to drag-select all the desired assets or hold the Ctrl/Command key and click on each clip to select multiple ones.

If you find the timeline panel in the CapCut PC version too compact, you can click on the layout settings button at the top of the CapCut interface and choose "Timeline First." This will allow you to freely zoom in and out of the timeline panel.

Once you have selected the clips, right-click on the selected area and choose "Create Compound Clip" from the shortcut menu, as shown in the image below.

After clicking on "Create Compound Clip," you will see that the multiple tracks on the timeline have now been merged into a single track, as shown in the image below.

How to Undo a Compound Clip in CapCut?

Undoing a compound clip is also straightforward. Right-click on the compound clip asset and select "Undo Compound Clip" from the shortcut menu, as shown in the image below.

In CapCut, the shortcut key for creating a compound clip is "Alt/Option + G," and the shortcut key for undoing a compound clip is "Shift + Alt/Option + G."

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What Is Pre-process in CapCut?

When you right-click on a clip on the CapCut timeline, you'll see a "Pre-process" option. In most cases, this option appears grayed out, indicating that it's unavailable.

So, what is the purpose of "Pre-process"? How do you use it, and how can you activate it?

1. What Is the Purpose of Pre-Process?

Pre-process is used to pre-render compound clips, making their playback smoother and without any lag.

However, if your computer has good specifications and the playback of compound clips is already smooth, you may not need to use this feature!

2. How to Activate Pre-Process?

The Pre-process feature is only applicable to compound clips. When you right-click on a compound clip that you've created, you'll find that the Pre-process option is active.

If you select individual video or image clips, you'll notice that the option is not clickable.

3. How to Use Pre-Process?

First, you need to create a compound clip using the shortcut key "Alt/Option + G." This is a prerequisite for using Pre-process.

Right-click on the compound clip on the timeline and select "Pre-process" from the shortcut menu.

After clicking on it, you'll see a progress indicator for Pre-process on the compound clip.

Once the processing is complete, play the compound clip for a preview, and you'll notice that it plays much smoother!

Since "Pre-process" can be created, it can certainly be undone as well. After creating the pre-processing, right-click on the compound clip again and click on "Undo Pre-process" from the shortcut menu.

Frequently Asked Questions About CapCut Compound Clip

Question: Will Editing Changes Made Within a Compound Clip Affect the Original Clips?

No, they won't. A compound clip is an independent entity, and any edits made within it will not affect the original clip. You can perform edits, adjustments, and add effects within the compound clip without impacting the original clip.

Question: Can Different Transition Effects Be Applied to a Compound Clip?

Yes, you can apply different transition effects to a compound clip. Simply add a transition effect before or after the compound clip and adjust the settings for the transition.

Question: How to Add Audio to a Compound Clip?

To add audio to a compound clip, you can drag and drop an audio file onto the audio track below the compound clip. Make sure the audio duration matches the duration of the compound clip to ensure synchronization of the audio and video.

Question: Is It Possible to Add Subtitles to a Compound Clip?

Yes, you can add subtitles to a compound clip and adjust their style and position.

Product Recommendation:

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That concludes our tutorial on compound clips in CapCut. We hope this article has been helpful to you, and we also hope that TourBox becomes a valuable companion on your creative journey.