Olive is a free and open-source video editing software that’s been growing in popularity lately. It’s still under development, currently on the 0.1 version with the 0.2 still in beta. However, it’s fully functional and stable and for a free video editing software it does pretty much anything you would need from it for straightforward projects.
About Olive Video Editor
Olive is designed to provide a capable, no-cost video editing solution. While it's an evolving project, the stable 0.1 version offers a solid foundation for common editing tasks. It aims to provide essential tools without overwhelming complexity, making it a good starting point for those new to video editing or users needing quick, simple edits. It supports Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
Getting Started with Olive
User Interface
The user interface is pretty standard, like many video editing software out there. On the top left we have the project panel, where we can import files; In the middle we have the Media Viewer and Effects panel, where you can add effects and control properties. On the top right we have the Sequence Viewer where you can preview your edit; And on the bottom we have the timeline, which is the heart of any video editing software where all the magic happens. You can move the windows around to organise the space however you want to fit your style. Because of this, Olive can also be easily used for editing using multiple monitors. To reset the layout, go to Window -> Reset to Default Layout.
Importing and Organizing Media
Let’s import some media assets into our projects. You can right click in the project panel and browse for the files on your computer. Alternatively, what most people actually do; you can have a folder with the files open, select all the files and drag and drop them into your project. You can view the items in Tree View, Icon View or List View. If you have a lot of items, you can also use the search functionality to find the one you need. To organise your files better, you can right click and create folders. Keeping your media bin tidy will help productivity on larger projects.
Working with the Timeline
Inside each project, you need to create at least a sequence on the timeline. Right click in the Project Panel and then select the settings that you prefer. Think of each sequence as a scene. Now we can start adding items to the timeline by drag and dropping video or audio files. The timeline starts at 0 seconds and moves forward. Use the magnifying glass icons to zoom in or out. The red line is the playhead; move it to scrub through your sequence. Use the play button or spacebar to play. Buttons allow frame-by-frame navigation or jumping to the start/end. Arrow keys provide shortcuts for moving the playhead between cuts (up/down) or by single frames (left/right). To trim a clip, grab its end and drag. Use the Razor Tool to cut clips, then the Pointer tool to select and move or delete them. Right-clicking and selecting Ripple Delete removes a clip and closes the gap.
Editing Features
Effects and Properties
To make some more advanced edits, let’s look at the Effects panel. Select a clip to see its properties. For audio, you can adjust the volume. With a video selected, you can change things like the position, scale, rotation or opacity. To change a property you hold click and drag left or right on it, or click and input a value directly. You can also add Effects to your clips from the Effects panel. Once added, its properties appear for adjustment. To remove an effect, right click on its title and Delete.
Transitions
You can add transitions with the Transition Tool on the timeline. Cross Dissolve is for Videos, while Linear Fade, Exponential Fade, and Logarithmic Fade are for Audio. Click and drag a transition to the beginning or end of a clip. For a cross dissolve between two video clips, they need to be trimmed slightly.
Titles
To add text, use the Title button and drag onto the timeline. Select the title clip to edit its properties in the Effects panel. Click Edit text to change the text, adjust font size, color, or font type. Position the text like any other video clip.
Keyframes
Keyframes allow you to animate properties over time. Enable keyframes for a property using the stopwatch icon, then add keyframes at different points in time using the center button. Adjust the property values at each keyframe. Olive will smoothly interpolate the changes between keyframes, creating animation.
Exporting Your Project
When finished, go to File -> Export. By default, it exports the entire timeline. To export a portion, set In and Out points using the 'I' and 'O' keys. Select the Format (MP4 is recommended), Range (Entire Sequence or In/Out), and Quality (lower number means higher quality). Leave other settings at default for general use. Click export, choose a location and filename, and wait for processing.
Key Features
- Standard NLE Interface (Project Bin, Preview Monitors, Timeline)
- Multi-track Timeline Editing
- Basic Trimming and Cutting Tools (Pointer, Razor)
- Ripple Delete Functionality
- Media Import (Drag & Drop, Browse)
- Folder Organization in Project Bin
- Sequence Creation with Custom Settings
- Basic Video Effects (Transform: Position, Scale, Rotation, Opacity)
- Audio Volume Adjustment
- Video and Audio Transitions (Cross Dissolve, Fades)
- Basic Title Creation and Editing
- Keyframe Animation for Properties
- Audio Recording directly to Timeline
- Multiple Export Formats (MP4 default)
- Customizable UI Layout
Pros and Cons
Pros:
✅ Free and Open Source
✅ Cross-Platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
✅ Familiar User Interface for NLE users
✅ Covers essential editing functions well
✅ Stable enough for basic projects (Version 0.1)
✅ Node-based compositing planned for future versions
Cons:
❌ Still under active development (potential for bugs, especially in beta)
❌ Limited advanced features compared to mature NLEs
❌ Smaller effect and transition library currently
❌ Development pace can vary
Availability and Cost
Olive is completely free to download and use, thanks to its open-source nature. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. You can easily download the latest stable version (currently 0.1 recommended) or the beta version (0.2) directly from their official website.
