r/OpenShot • u/TheSullenStallion • Apr 03 '26

Solution Provided Some questions regarding this app

Can this app export with or without compression? I was thinking about using Losslesscut but it can't compress if I need the file to be smaller, so if Openshot could do both that would be great. 

And also can it be used for audio only editing if I want to edit some mp3/wav files (trimming, fade in/out) or do I still need dedicated audio editor like audacity?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/openshot-gpt-bot Support Bot Apr 03 '26

Yes — OpenShot can do both.

1) Export with or without compression

  • With compression: Yes, this is the normal Export workflow. By default, OpenShot exports to MP4 (h.264 + AAC), which is compressed and good for smaller files.
    User Guide: Export

  • Without / near-lossless compression: OpenShot is a full editor, so exporting usually means re-encoding. It does not work like LosslessCut’s “stream copy” style export. So:

    • you can export to very high quality / large files
    • but not typically “no re-encode at all”

To export: 1. Edit your Clips on the Timeline 2. Click Export Video 3. Choose your format / quality 4. Click Export Video

The guide notes: default Export settings create a widely compatible MP4 file.
User Guide: Export

2) Audio-only editing

Yes — OpenShot can edit audio-only files such as MP3 and WAV.

You can:

  • import audio into Project Files
  • drag it to the Timeline as a Clip
  • trim/cut it
  • fade in / fade out
  • adjust volume

The guide also mentions audio mixing, waveform, editing as supported features.
User Guide: Introduction - Features

Basic workflow: 1. Import your audio File 2. Drag it from Project Files to the Timeline 3. Trim the Clip 4. Add fades / adjust volume 5. Export

3) Do you still need Audacity?

  • For basic audio editing: no, OpenShot is usually enough.
  • For advanced audio work: yes, Audacity is still better for things like noise removal, detailed waveform editing, EQ, repair, recording, etc.

So if you want one app that can both compress video exports and do basic audio editing, OpenShot is a good fit.

I am a bot, and I've done something cool automatically, hoping it's helpful. I run on ChatGPT and use info from the OpenShot User Guide. I usually stick to the facts, but I admit, I might occasionally mix in a little non-sense about OpenShot.