๐TestingCatalogโขStalecollected in 4m
Cutback launches AI tool to automate long-form video editing
๐กDiscover how AI-driven automated assembly can drastically reduce post-production time for long-form video content.
โก 30-Second TL;DR
What Changed
Automates the synchronization and organization of raw video footage.
Why It Matters
This tool significantly lowers the barrier to entry for long-form content creation by automating the most time-consuming aspects of video editing. It allows creators to focus on narrative structure rather than technical assembly.
What To Do Next
Sign up for the Cutback Selects waitlist or trial to benchmark its automated assembly speed against your current manual NLE workflow.
Who should care:Creators & Designers
๐ง Deep Insight
Web-grounded analysis with 12 cited sources.
๐ Enhanced Key Takeaways
- โขCutback's Selects tool goes beyond basic organization by transcribing audio, detecting speakers, removing silences and filler words, and segmenting content by topic, significantly reducing the manual effort in preparing raw footage.
- โขThe AI assistant features 'Storyline generation,' enabling users to create initial rough cuts by providing natural language prompts that specify desired duration, audience, key message, and moments to include.
- โขSelects is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing professional workflows, exporting structured project files directly to popular Non-Linear Editing (NLE) software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
- โขIn addition to Selects, Cutback also offers 'Premiere Assistant,' a plugin that automates repetitive editing tasks like captioning, cuts, trims, and animations directly within Adobe Premiere Pro.
- โขThe tool boasts a significant reduction in post-production prep time, claiming to cut up to 6 hours of raw footage preparation down to mere minutes, thereby allowing editors to focus more on creative storytelling.
๐ Competitor Analysisโธ Show
markdown
| Feature/Product | Cutback Selects | Descript | Adobe Premiere Pro (AI Features) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Function | AI-powered pre-editing assistant for long-form video prep (sync, organize, rough cut generation) | Text-based video editing, transcription, podcast/video editing, screen recording | Professional NLE with integrated AI features (e.g., Generative Extend, Text-Based Editing) |
| Key AI Capabilities | Multi-cam sync, speaker detection, silence/filler word removal, topic-based splitting, natural language draft generation ('Storyline generation'), export to NLEs. | Transcribes audio/video, allows editing by manipulating text, generates AI videos from transcripts, turns long-form into clips. | AI-powered masking, generative clip extension, text-based editing, auto-reframe, speech-to-text. |
| Workflow Integration | Exports structured project files (XML) to Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve. | Standalone editor, can export various formats; strong for repurposing content. | Native AI features integrated directly into the Premiere Pro editing environment. |
| Pricing (as of 2026) | Starts at $16/month (monthly); tiers for more footage/multi-cam (e.g., $20/month for Starter, $50/month for Creator). | Free plan (up to 1 media hour); paid plans available. | Monthly subscription (part of Adobe Creative Cloud). |
| Target User | Professional video editors, studios, and creators working with long-form content to streamline prep. | Podcasters, content creators, marketers for efficient text-based editing and repurposing. | Professional filmmakers, video editors, and broadcasters requiring comprehensive editing capabilities. |
๐ ๏ธ Technical Deep Dive
- AI-Powered Pre-processing: Selects utilizes AI for multi-cam synchronization, speech-to-text transcription, speaker detection, and the identification and removal of silences and filler words.
- Dialogue Analysis: The tool employs highly accurate dialogue analysis to label clips and organize footage into topic-based chapters, facilitating easier navigation and content management.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): The 'Chat to draft' and 'Storyline generation' features leverage NLP to interpret user prompts (e.g., desired duration, storyline, pacing) and automatically generate a structured rough cut.
- Non-Destructive Editing: Edits performed by Selects are non-destructive, preserving original footage while organizing outputs with categorized bins, color-coded topics, markers, and transcripts.
- NLE Compatibility: Selects generates structured project files (e.g., XML for Premiere Pro) that are compatible with industry-standard NLEs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
- Local Processing: Unlike some cloud-based AI tools, Selects is designed to analyze video without requiring the upload of entire raw footage files (which can be hundreds of gigabytes), suggesting local processing or efficient metadata/proxy handling.
- Underlying Technologies: Cutback's broader tech stack includes Amazon Web Services (PaaS), Naver Analytics, UIKit, Google Ads, and Google Tag Manager.
- GPU Utilization: For optimal performance, especially with AI features and exports, the system benefits from powerful GPUs, with NVIDIA RTX cards and 8GB+ VRAM being recommended for CUDA-accelerated edits, particularly in DaVinci Resolve workflows.
๐ฎ Future ImplicationsAI analysis grounded in cited sources
AI pre-editing tools like Selects will become standard in professional video production workflows.
By significantly reducing tedious prep time, these tools enable editors to allocate more resources to creative tasks, making them indispensable for efficiency and competitive advantage.
Traditional NLEs will accelerate the integration of similar advanced AI-powered organizational and drafting features.
The success of specialized AI prep tools will pressure established NLEs to natively incorporate comparable functionalities to retain users and offer comprehensive solutions.
Cutback may expand its AI capabilities beyond pre-production to offer more in-depth creative editing assistance.
As AI models advance, Cutback could leverage its understanding of footage and narrative to provide more sophisticated suggestions for storytelling, pacing, and stylistic choices within the editing process.
โณ Timeline
2024
Cutback (video editing company) founded.
2025-06
Premiere Assistant by Cutback plugin demonstrated, offering AI features within Adobe Premiere Pro.
2025-08-29
Cutback raises $2,500,000 in a funding round.
2026-01-26
Selects by Cutback officially launched, including 'Storyline generation' for automated draft edits.
2026-06-15
TestingCatalog publishes article announcing Cutback's AI tool 'Selects'.
๐ Sources (12)
Factual claims are grounded in the sources below. Forward-looking analysis is AI-generated interpretation.
๐ฐ
Weekly AI Recap
Read this week's curated digest of top AI events โ
๐Related Updates
AI-curated news aggregator. All content rights belong to original publishers.
Original source: TestingCatalog โ