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✦ Free & open sourceSoftware

Auto-Editor

Command-line tool that cuts silence and dead motion from video and exports timelines to other editors.

Cut silence automatically from video

Auto-Editor makes a first-pass cut and exports to Premiere, Resolve and more.

Free forever · open source · Unlicense
✓ Light setup✓ Browser-based✓ Real-time collaboration
7.5
ZEKAI
Silence cutter for editors
Free & open source · Software
Ease of setup6
Usefulness7
Maintenance9.5
Community7.5
★ 5,873
GITHUB
Nov 2026
UPDATED
Unlicense
LICENSE
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⚡ Quick answer

Auto-Editor is a command-line tool that edits video and audio automatically, mainly by detecting quiet sections. It suits podcasters and YouTubers who want a fast first cut before finishing in a normal editor.

Runs on
Cross-platform
Hosting
Desktop
Languages
Nim
License
Unlicense

What it is

It analyses audio loudness to cut silence, and can also cut by motion or by combining methods. It can export a cut list for Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Shotcut and Kdenlive, or write individual clips.

Who it's for

It suits people who edit lots of talking-head or lecture footage and can use a terminal. It does not transcribe or edit by text, and the core tool has no timeline interface.

Key features

Silence cutting

Cuts quiet sections by an audio loudness threshold.

Motion-based cuts

Cut by motion level, or combine audio and motion rules.

Timeline exports

Writes cut lists for Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Shotcut, Kdenlive.

Margins

Keep padding before and after speech with --margin.

Clip sequence export

Save each kept section as its own clip.

Online and desktop apps

An online app and desktop download sit beside the CLI.

How to start

Up and running in 3 steps

1
Follow the install guide at auto-editor.com/installing for your operating system.
2
Run auto-editor path/to/video.mp4, adding --margin 0.2sec to keep padding around speech.
3
Add --export premiere, resolve, final-cut-pro, shotcut or kdenlive to continue the edit in that editor.
Real talk

Our honest verdict

What's great

  • Public domain code under the Unlicense, with no licence conditions on the repository.
  • Exports to five editors, so it slots into an existing workflow.
  • Rule syntax combines audio and motion thresholds in one command.
  • Very active; the repository received a commit and a release on the day it was read.

Where it falls short

  • It is a command-line tool; you must be comfortable with terminal flags.
  • It does not transcribe speech or edit by text, so filler words are not cut by meaning.
  • The README says the online and desktop apps carry a separate proprietary licence for their own assets.
  • Release binaries may carry other open-source licences, so check them if you redistribute.
Cost

Pricing & license

The code is free and in the public domain. The README links an online app and desktop app but shows no price for them.

Paid work

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870 open remote AI-training roles, updated November 14, 2026; most pay $20–$170 an hour. Zekai lists them free; the application goes to the employer’s platform.

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Questions

FAQ

What does Auto-Editor cut?

By default it cuts silence using audio loudness. It can also cut by motion, or combine both with rules in one command.

Which editors can open its output?

The README lists export options for Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, Shotcut and Kdenlive, plus individual clips.

Is there a graphical version?

The README links an online app and a desktop download. They use repository assets under the Unlicense, and their own assets are under a separate proprietary licence.

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