How to edit a short video for Reels, Shorts and TikTok on your Mac with LUME Cortex
Updated
Quick answer
In LUME Cortex, editing a short video takes five stages: import the video, let the app cut the pauses, review the captions it adds on its own, check the motion graphics and export. Transitions, effects and speed ramping fine-tune the result. On the free version, videos export with a watermark, up to three a month.
LUME Cortex is built for everyday vertical video: you record yourself talking to the camera and it handles the tedious part of the edit. This article walks through one edit, from raw footage to a file ready for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts or TikTok.
Button names inside the Mac app can change between versions, so the steps below describe the stages of the edit rather than the exact label of each button.
Before you start
You need LUME Cortex installed on a Mac with Apple silicon and signed in with your LUME Hub account. If you haven't installed it yet, see how to download and install LUME Cortex on Mac.
Record in vertical format, the way the video will look on a phone. The cleaner the audio, the better the pause cutting and the captions.
Step by step
- Import: open LUME Cortex and bring the video you recorded into a new project.
- Cut pauses: Cortex removes the silences on its own. Watch the result and make sure no important line was cut.
- Captions: captions are added automatically. Review the text and fix names, technical terms and any misheard words.
- Motion graphics: these are added automatically too. Check that they match what you say in each part.
- Fine-tune: if you like, use transitions, effects and speed ramping (the speed curve) to set the pace.
- Export: export the finished video. On the Pro and Agency plans, you can also schedule it straight to Instagram.
What each plan changes
| Plan | When editing |
|---|---|
| Free | Pause cutting, captions and motion graphics; videos export with the Cortex watermark; up to three exports a month |
| Pro | No watermark, unlimited exports, AI to write the post caption and on-screen text, and Instagram scheduling |
| Agency | Everything in Pro, for up to 10 brands |
Once the Free plan reaches three videos in a month, the next export is available the following month or with a paid plan. LUME Hub checks your plan on every export.
Team edit requests
If the LUME team sent you a video to edit, it shows on the Cortex screen in LUME Hub under Pedidos de edição da equipe (Team edit requests). Click Abrir no Cortex (Open in Cortex) to open the request right in the app, with the script and media. The request moves from new to in progress when you open it, and to done when the video is scheduled or published.
Next steps
To polish the on-screen text, see how to add auto captions to a video. To publish without downloading and re-uploading, see how to schedule Instagram Reels from LUME Cortex. For the big picture, read the LUME Cortex guide.
Frequently asked questions
Does LUME Cortex cut the pauses automatically?
Yes. Cortex removes the silences from your video on its own, on every plan including Free. You just review the result.
How many videos can I export on the free version?
Up to three videos a month, with the Cortex watermark. The Cortex screen in LUME Hub shows how many you've used. Pro and Agency have no export limit.
Are motion graphics included in the free version?
Yes. Motion graphics are added automatically on every plan. AI writing help is what's limited to the paid plans.
Can I edit videos for several clients?
Yes, on the Agency plan, which has everything in Pro for editing videos for up to 10 brands.
Still need help?Ask the Community: other users and the LUME team answer.
Ask a question