Simple ChatCut Guide: Edit Viral Videos with Codex in Plain Language

For solo creators going global, tools are colleagues.

Today's new colleague is called ChatCut. No salary required, quick to learn, with just one requirement—you must speak up and clearly describe what you want.

ChatCut is an AI editing tool that edits by voice. Describe what you want, and it cuts the video for you.

It is different from CapCut (Jianying). CapCut requires manual editing; ChatCut does the work for you.

Table of Contents

• 1. What is ChatCut — State your needs in one sentence, let it edit
• 2. Three Entry Points — Official recommends desktop app, how to connect Codex
• 3. Interface Overview — Assets, AI panel, timeline
• 4. First Cut: Import Assets, Speak One Sentence — From raw footage to first draft
• 5. Subtitles — Editing text means editing video
• 6. Export — Including conversion to CapCut drafts
• 7. What Else Can It Do? — Eight copy-paste prompts
• 8. Pricing — Free tier vs Pro
• 9. How to Combine with CapCut — Not an either/or choice
• 10. Advantages
• Common Pitfalls
• Quick Reference Table

1. What is ChatCut

Conclusion first: CapCut gives you tools; ChatCut gives you results.

In CapCut, you drag assets, cut clips, adjust volume, arranging frame by frame yourself. The software provides convenience; the human does the work.

ChatCut takes a different path. State your requirements—pick highlights, arrange order, add B-roll, add subtitles—and it generates a first version for you.

One is driving the car yourself; the other is telling the GPS where to go.

The Most Overlooked Feature

It can export as an editable CapCut draft.

This is significant: AI-edited content won't always be perfect. Exporting to a CapCut draft lets you return to a familiar timeline to refine it—rather than being locked into a tool you haven't mastered yet.

Just this feature alone means you don't have to choose between the two tools.

2. Three Entry Points

Official website: https://chatcut.io/ Registration recommended via email or Google account.

Officially, there are three entry points: ChatCut Desktop App, ChatCut Web App, and ChatCut Agent Plugin. The plugin supports Claude Code and Codex.

Connect any agent like ChatGPT, Claude Code, WorkBuddy, etc.

1Call get_active_project through the chatcut_desktop MCP server to connect to "Flying Lavender Anaconda", then read the project, summarize what is currently open, and wait for my instructions. Do not edit anything.

Beginners should try the Web App first. No installation needed, just open and use to understand the workflow.

If assets are local or you need high-resolution exports, switch to the Desktop App.

Supported systems: macOS (Apple Silicon), macOS (Intel), Windows. No Linux version.

Key differences affecting daily use:

The free tier's 60 minutes is a cumulative total across all projects, not monthly. Desktop exports do not consume this quota—if you have many assets or long videos, this decides whether to install the desktop app.

Official advice: Use the Desktop App for most editing. It reads local files directly, exports locally, and supports 4K/HDR if hardware allows.

Connecting Codex / Claude Code

No manual configuration needed. Official provides a prompt; let the agent handle the rest.

1. Log in to ChatCut Web App
2. Click top-right avatar, hover over "Agent Plugin"
3. Click "Copy" next to "Claude Code" or "ChatGPT/Codex"
4. Paste the copied command into the corresponding desktop app
5. Wait for ChatCut authorization page, log in and allow access
6. Open a NEW session—plugin tools only load at session start
7. In the new session, explicitly say "Use ChatCut" and describe your editing task

The command copied for Codex is:

1/goal Read chatcut.io/chatgpt to install the ChatCut plugin and set up a new task for me.

For Claude Code, replace URL with chatcut.io/claude. WorkBuddy lacks a copy button; follow its own guide.

Common issues:

• Only desktop apps support installation. Web versions of Claude/ChatGPT, remote browsers, and ChatCut Web App do not.
• Authorize one at a time. Don't run two simultaneously.
• Do not paste cookies/tokens/passwords into chat. Authorization page login is sufficient.
• Plugins do not auto-update. Manual update commands required from Git marketplace.

1# Claude Code
2claude plugin marketplace update chatcut-inc
3claude plugin update chatcut@chatcut-inc

1# Codex —— Marketplace name is auto-generated; list first
2codex plugin marketplace list
3codex plugin marketplace upgrade <marketplace-name>

Check connection:

1# Codex
2codex mcp get chatcut
3
4# Claude Code
5claude mcp get plugin:chatcut:chatcut

Reverse path: Keep conversation in Codex/Claude Code desktop app, let it control ChatCut Desktop App project. Requires local MCP, three conditions:

• ChatCut Desktop App installed and opened at least once
• Other app on same computer
• ChatCut Desktop App running

Once connected, an agent icon appears in ChatCut top bar. Shows who is connected and status. Click "Reconnect" if needed. Local MCP service is registered automatically by ChatCut Desktop App; no manual config.

3. Interface Overview

Open editor, recognize these blocks.

My Assets (Library). Stores video, images, music. Desktop app reads local folders directly.

AI Panel. Core here. Contains AI input box, Agent selection, Selection Mode, Skills, Design Styles.

Agent Selection determines who does the work: ChatCut's own agent, Claude Code, Codex CLI, Hermes Agent. Last three appear only if installed locally; otherwise it tells you what's missing.

Using local agents consumes their account credits, not ChatCut credits.

Preview Area. Watch the video.

Timeline. V1, V2... are video tracks; A1, A2... are audio tracks. Upper tracks cover lower ones. Track count is flexible. AI edits can still be manually dragged.

Subtitles. Not in sidebar, but on playback controls—a split "Subtitle" button. Left toggles visibility; right arrow opens style settings.

In ChatCut, "Editing" is not a button, it's a conversation. Biggest interface difference from CapCut—CapCut uses menus; ChatCut uses typing.

4. First Cut: Import Assets, Speak One Sentence

Three steps.

1. Upload from asset library, select files, or drag into window
2. Write clear requirements in AI input box
3. Generate first version, then refine segment by segment

Step 2 is key. More specific requirements yield closer-to-desired first versions.

1Edit these 12 clips into a 60-second video,
2pick the best shots, add B-roll, and include upbeat music.

First version is called "rough cut." Rough cut is not final product; it's for refinement. Don't expect perfection immediately.

Two ways to refine:

• Keep talking. "This part too long," "Change to rhythmic music," "Delete intro segment"
• Manual edit. Drag on timeline

Mix both for efficiency: structure via speech, details via hand.

5. Subtitles

Subtitles: Text with timecodes synced to video. Transcript: Speech-to-text content recording what was said.

In ChatCut, subtitles are text, not graphics. Editing text edits video.

Built-in styles: Plain, Netflix, TikTok Pop, etc. Select to apply; save custom styles for reuse.

Time-saver is text-based editing: Open transcript, select unwanted section, press Backspace—video segment deletes, gaps close automatically. Transcript has paragraph and clip views; clip view allows reordering.

Pauses can be standardized. Transcript track has "Gap" and "Pause" controls to tidy long silences. It only restores existing pauses; cannot create silence not recorded.

Reading transcript to fix typos is faster than finding sentences on timeline. This is core selling point and biggest feel difference from CapCut.

6. Export

Export happens locally (Desktop App). Choose format:

• Video file
• Audio
• Subtitle file
• Motion graphics
• Re-linkable NLE asset archive

Special path: Convert entire timeline to editable CapCut (or Jianying) draft. Desktop App only.

Process:

1. Open project in Desktop App, click top Export
2. Chinese UI shows "Jianying"; English UI shows "CapCut"—requires editor installed on machine
3. If multiple editors installed, select target in App
4. To include motion graphics, enable "Motion Graphics" in Include. May require Pro, renders graphics as transparent clips
5. If "Some content unsupported" appears, expand to check: Imported items are fine; Unsupported items need rebuilding in target editor
6. After export, click "Open CapCut/Jianying". If already open, click "Restart CapCut/Jianying" to show new draft

Note: It delivers a draft project, not rendered MP4. ChatCut-specific attributes may not transfer. Review in CapCut timeline before delivery.

If export button is grayed out, launch CapCut once to create draft directory, then reopen export settings.

7. What Else Can It Do?

By scenario, with copy-paste prompts.

Find Highlights
``plaintext
Extract key moments from these 8 screen recordings, edit into a 90-second tutorial
``

Talking Head to Video
``plaintext
This is my talking head video, smooth out pauses, add subtitles
``

Create Motion Graphics
``plaintext
Add chapter animation to this video, highlighting three key points
``

Generated animations are editable, not baked-in video. Supports chapter bars, bar charts, pie charts, timelines, keyword typing.

Add B-Roll
``plaintext
These lines discuss building a site independently, add matching stock footage
``

Supports reference images—provide one image, it generates similar visuals.

Add Music
``plaintext
Add light background music that doesn't overpower vocals
``

Generate Cover
``plaintext
Generate a clean cover image, leaving space for title
``

Search Assets
``plaintext
Are there city night scene clips in the asset library?
``

Package for Handoff
``plaintext
Package as CapCut draft, I will continue editing in CapCut
``

Actual usage effect is much better than previous local tools, especially ChatCut's voice tones and music! Below is ChatCut generated result, simple test only; real production is more complex!

8. Pricing

ChatCut has two tiers: Free and Pro.

Free includes full editor, AI features limited by account quota. Pro offers periodic credits, unlocking more generation/delivery capabilities.

Manual editing does not consume credits. Dragging timeline, cutting clips, uploading assets, browsing projects are free. Credits are consumed by AI processing and generation—video, image, music generation.

Advice: Run full workflow on Free tier first, confirm time savings, then decide on payment.

Specific prices and credit amounts depend on billing page in account. Official docs don't hardcode numbers due to frequent price changes. Check balance via Avatar menu → Plan & Balance → Credit History, filterable by day/type/detail.

Common pitfall: Exports do not consume credits, so buying credit packs does NOT unlock the free tier's 60-minute web export limit—that requires valid paid plan.

You can also install ChatCut plugin on agents like ChatGPT to make videos, or log into ChatGPT within ChatCut. Use this way first! Only pay when high demands require ChatCut credits.

9. Combining with CapCut

Not an either/or choice. Desktop ChatCut integrates with CapCut.

ChatCut handles first draft; CapCut handles final 10%.

Most time-consuming part isn't editing technique, but reviewing hundreds of clips, selecting usable ones, ordering them. Delegate this to ChatCut.

Remaining polish—sync transitions to beats, nudge subtitles two pixels—in CapCut, hands are more precise than typing.

Export to CapCut draft path exists specifically for this workflow.

10. Advantages

ChatCut resource library is richer, newer, more attractive than CapCut.

Common Pitfalls

Requires internet. "Local assets" means no upload needed, not offline functionality. Generation tasks still require connectivity.

Missing assets? Don't re-import. After reinstall, if assets missing, use "Relink Files" to point to originals. Re-importing creates duplicates, wasting space.

Projects live in your account, not hard drive. Switch devices, same account, projects remain. But local asset paths are machine-specific; relink after switching machines.

Web export quota is cumulative. Free tier "60 mins total across all projects," not monthly reset. Exports don't consume credits, so credit packs don't unlock it; upgrade plan required.

Free tier AI quota depends on generation volume. Manual editing free; heavy video generation drains quota faster than expected.

CapCut draft export button grayed out. Launch CapCut Pro once to create draft directory, then reopen export settings.

Dissatisfaction with rough cut is normal. It's a starting point, not final product. Specific requirements bring starting point closer to endpoint.

Quick Reference Table

Final Thoughts

Remember four things.

1. It's "Speak then Edit," not "Edit then Speak." Clearly stating requirements matters more than knowing every button.

2. First version is always rough. Value lies in saving selection/ordering time, not getting it right first try.

3. It pairs with CapCut. AI makes rough cut, human polishes in CapCut. Export to CapCut draft enables this. Note: Delivers draft project, not final video.

4. Subtitles edit text, not graphics. Biggest feel difference from CapCut; worth spending ten minutes exploring.

Try Free tier first, pay after confirming utility. #chatcut #codex #AIEditing

I am Xiang Feng @xaiwind, a creator focused on global expansion, AI, and AIGC.

This article combines AI assistance and personal practice. If helpful, please like, save, follow.

Articles continuously maintained/corrected. Contact or comment if issues. Small daily progress leads to destination!

Appendix · References

• ChatCut Official Docs · Desktop: https://chatcut.io/zh/docs/desktop-app
• Web, Desktop, Agent Plugin: https://chatcut.io/docs/chatcut-products
• Agent Plugin Install (Claude Code / Codex): https://chatcut.io/docs/agent-plugin
• Export to CapCut/Jianying Draft: https://chatcut.io/docs/export-capcut-jianying
• Transcription & Subtitles: https://chatcut.io/zh/docs/transcript-and-captions
• Timeline: https://chatcut.io/zh/docs/timeline
• Web Export Limits: https://chatcut.io/docs/web-export-limits
• Plans & Credits: https://chatcut.io/zh/docs/plans-and-credits
• ChatCut Website: https://chatcut.io

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