Automatically add a one-second gap to all your video clips in SHOTCUT - using Auto HotKey
A Shotcut user asked on the forum if there was a way to add a one-second gap in between multiple clips on the timeline.
There's no automatic magic button for this, but you can do this with a series of keyboard shortcuts. You could then automate the process using Auto Hotkey if you are on Windows. I made this demo video to show you what I mean. * Please note, there is no audio commentary on this video*
In the demo I put several clips (colour clips, purple) on the timeline.
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First, to do this manually:
Step 1 is to select Ripple Track then move the first clip along so all clips are pushed forwards. Then, move the playhead to the beginning. Then select the first clip and press the following keyboard shortcuts:
c (copy the clip)
delete (delete the clip)
b (pastes the clip at the playhead. Playhead then positions itself at the end of the clip)
Page Down (moves the playhead one second forward)
Ctrl/Right arrow -TWICE (selects the next clip along).
Then repeat the process as many times as you need!
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To do it automatically using Auto HotKey (Windows only):
The Auto Hotkey script below automates this process so you don't have to press each succession of shortcuts each time. Just press the trigger key combination Ctrl/q and it will run through the process.
I also set up the script so if you press Ctrl/w it loops the series of shortcuts and runs through the process 4 times. You can change the number 4 to any number you like - so you could set it to say 100 times if you have 100 clips!
How to use Auto HotKey
(Note: Windows only…)
Download and install Auto HotKey.
Copy and paste the code below into Notepad.
Save as a .txt file.
Put it on your desktop (this is a suggestion - it can go anywhere).
Change the extension from .txt to .ahk (a dialog will ask you if you want to do this - press OK).
Right-click the file.
Select “Run Script”.
OpenShotcut, set your project up like in the description above - ie move the clips along, put the playhead at the beginning, select first clip.
Suggestion: save a backup copy of your file in case anything goes wrong......
Press CTRL/q.
Sit back and watch the clip automatically being copied, moved, then playhead advanced one second, then next clip selected.
Press Ctrl/w, and you'll see the action repeated 4 times.
To edit the AHK file, right-click it and select "Edit script". Edit it, save it, the right-click again and select "Run Script" again.
Here's the script (for you to copy and paste):
SetKeyDelay, 500
^q::
send, c{delete}b{pgDn}
send, ^{right}
send, ^{right}
return
^w::
loop, 4
{
send, c{delete}b{pgDn}
send, ^{right}
send, ^{right}
}
return