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After you record, Cutaway can make a first cut: a ready-to-watch version of your video. It:
  • removes long pauses where nothing happens,
  • removes filler words like “um” and “uh”,
  • switches between your screen and your face at good moments,
  • adds zooms when you show something small.
You can change anything it does afterwards.

Make a first cut

The first cut screen: who it's for, length, pacing, movement, and the Create first cut button
1

Answer a few questions (or don't)

The choices already selected work well. Change only what you care about:
  • Who is it for? For example, “people learning this for the first time”.
  • Length: keep Natural length, or aim for about 3, 5, 8 or 12 minutes.
  • Pacing: Balanced is the default. Relaxed keeps more pauses. Energetic is snappier.
  • Movement: Balanced is the default. Calm means fewer zooms. Lively means more.
  • Use my B-roll where it fits: on by default. If you added pictures or videos to the project, the first cut can show them over your footage (this needs the AI helpers). Your voice keeps playing underneath. See B-roll.
  • Anything else? Write any wishes in your own words. This is optional.
2

Press Create first cut

Cutaway works for a little while, then opens your video in the editor.
Prefer to do it all yourself? Press Skip and edit by hand.

Make a new first cut

Changed your mind about the pacing? Press First cut in the top bar, change your choices, and press Create a new first cut. Your own changes are kept. Cutaway saves your current version first, so you can always go back. See Undo and versions.

With or without AI

The first cut works fine without any AI. Cutaway uses its own built-in rules, and nothing leaves your Mac. If you set up the AI helpers, Cutaway can also ask Claude or Codex for smarter choices, like which parts to keep. It always asks you first before sending anything.

See what changed

Open the AI review panel (the sparkle icon in the sidebar) to see every change the first cut made, and put back anything you want. See AI review.