StreamLive ProFade in, fade out and dissolves in the video editor
Add a fade in, fade out, dip to black or white, or a dissolve at a cut in the StreamLive Pro editor, and fade music with the handles on audio clips.
In the StreamLive Pro editor, fades are set from the right-click menu of a clip. Dip to black and Dip to white fade the end of the clip nearer the playhead; Dissolve at the cut fades out one clip while the next one fades in. Audio clips also have small handles in their top corners: drag them to fade sound in and out. Every fade is rendered into the exported MP4.
Before you start
- How a transition works here. Each transition is a fade on a clip's own start or end. Dissolve at the cut pairs a fade out on the outgoing clip with a fade in on the incoming one over the same half second. Two clips are never decoded on top of each other, so there are no wipes, slides or 3D transitions.
- Default length. A transition lasts 0.5 seconds. A clip that is too short for it gets a message instead.
- Locked tracks cannot take a transition. Unlock the track in its header first.
- Open the project. In the menu choose Video editor.
Steps
- Fade the video in from black. Put the playhead in the first half of the first clip. Right-click the clip and choose Dip to black. Because the playhead is nearer the start, the clip fades in.
- Fade it out to black at the end. Put the playhead in the second half of the last clip, right-click it and choose Dip to black again. This time the end fades out.
- Use white for a bright style. Dip to white works the same way and suits light, clean videos.
- Soften a cut between two clips. Put the playhead near the cut, right-click one of the two clips and choose Dissolve at the cut. The clips must touch; a gap of more than about one frame is not treated as a cut.
- Fade music or sound. On an audio clip, drag the small handle at the top left corner to the right for a fade in, and the one at the top right to the left for a fade out.
- Remove a transition. Right-click the clip and choose Remove transition. The option appears only when the clip has one.
- Play it back. Watch each transition from a few seconds before. The preview shows the fade.
- Export. Press Export.
Which fade for which moment
| Moment | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The very first frame | Dip to black on the first clip, fade in | The video does not start with a hard cut |
| The last frame | Dip to black on the last clip, fade out | A clean ending before the end screen |
| A jump in a talking-head video | Dissolve at the cut | Softens the jump without a black frame |
| A change of scene or topic | Dip to black or white | Marks a new part clearly |
| Music start and end | Corner handles on the audio clip | Music never starts or stops abruptly |
| A logo that should appear gently | Opacity keyframes on the logo layer | The fade starts exactly when you choose |
Fading with keyframes
For a fade that is longer than half a second, or a fade of a logo or picture layer at a moment you choose, use Opacity keyframes: 1 where the fade starts, 0 where it ends. See Keyframes and effects. For audio, Volume keyframes do the same.
What can go wrong
- "Clip is too short for a transition". The clip is shorter than the fade needs. Lengthen it, or use Opacity keyframes over a shorter time.
- Dissolve at the cut did nothing. The two clips do not touch, or the track is locked. Close the gap (Shift+Delete on the gap) and try again.
- The fade went to the wrong end. Dip to black and Dip to white fade the end nearer the playhead. Remove the transition, move the playhead into the other half of the clip, and apply it again.
- There is no fade handle on a video clip. The corner handles are on audio clips. For video, use the right-click menu or Opacity keyframes.
Related pages
- Splitting before you add a dissolve: Cut and split clips in the editor
- Fading music: Add music and adjust the sound
- What the export includes: Exporting from the editor — formats and render settings
Frequently asked questions
How do I fade a video in from black?
Put the playhead in the first half of the first clip, right-click the clip and choose Dip to black. The clip fades in from black over half a second.
Can I make a crossfade between two clips?
Yes, Dissolve at the cut. The first clip fades out while the second fades in over the same half second. The clips must touch.
How do I fade out music at the end?
Drag the handle at the top right corner of the music clip to the left. The further you drag, the longer the fade.
Are there slide, wipe or zoom transitions?
No. Transitions are fades: dissolve, dip to black and dip to white. A zoom or a slide can be made with Scale or Position keyframes.
Keep reading
Add stickers to a video in the StreamLive Pro editor: arrows, highlight boxes, Subscribe and Like badges, reactions, with their place, size and timing.
Change a video's aspect ratio in the editorSwitch a video between 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 and 4:5 in the StreamLive Pro editor, choose which part of the picture stays, lock the frame, and export at the network's size.
Keyframes and effects in the video editorAnimate a clip with keyframes in the StreamLive Pro editor, such as a slow zoom, a move or a fade of opacity, and add looks like black and white or a vignette.
Color correction in the video editorColor correction in the StreamLive Pro editor: fix a dark, yellow or flat video with exposure, contrast, temperature and tint, or start from a preset.
Want to try it? 7-day trial, no credit card.
Start free